Connector, connector module, and electronic device

Abstract

A connector 10 according to the present disclosure, which is connected to an object 50 for connection, comprises: an insulator 20 which includes a first recess portion 27 recessed in an inner surface of a side wall 22b of an outer peripheral wall 22, and which mates with the object 50 for connection; and a plurality of first contacts 30 which each include a contact portion 32c positioned on the inner side of the side wall 22b. The first contacts 30 are integrally formed with the side wall 22b. The contact portion 32c is disposed in the first recess portion 27. The insulator 20 is cut out on the side on which the plurality of first contacts 30 are arrayed with respect to the contact portion 32c, so that the insulator 20 can elastically deform integrally with the side wall 22b during mating.

Description

Connector, connector module, and electronic device CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-098421, filed on June 17, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a connector, a connector module, and an electronic device.

[0003] In recent years, electronic devices, including wearable devices, have become smaller and require robustness to compensate for the resulting loss of strength in the connectors used inside. For example, from a design perspective, the shape of the contacts attached to the connector has been changed to achieve smaller connectors, and the contacts have been molded integrally with the insulator by insert molding to increase robustness.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses an electrical connector that effectively prevents connectors from coming loose by avoiding a decrease in the locking strength between the connectors even when the thickness of the terminals is reduced to make the connector low-profile.

[0005] Patent No. 5444283

[0006] A connector according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a connector to be connected to a connection object, comprising: an insulator having a side wall of an outer peripheral wall and a first recess recessed from an inner surface of the side wall, the insulator mating with the connection object, and a plurality of first contacts having contact portions located inside the side wall. The first contacts are molded integrally with the side wall, the contact portions are disposed in the first recess, and the insulator is cut out on the side of the contact portions in the arrangement direction of the plurality of first contacts, and the first contacts elastically deform integrally with the side wall when the connector and the connection object are mated with each other.

[0007] A connector module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: the connector; and the connection object to be connected to the connector.

[0008] An electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes the connector or the connector module described above.

[0009] 5 is an external perspective view showing, as viewed from above, a connector module according to one embodiment in a state in which the first connector and the second connector are connected to each other. FIG. 6 is an external perspective view showing, as viewed from above, a connector module according to one embodiment in a state in which the first connector and the second connector are separated from each other. FIG. 7 is an external perspective view showing, as viewed from above, the first connector alone of FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is an external perspective view showing, as viewed from above, the first connector of FIG. 3, exploded, as viewed from above. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the V-V arrows of FIG. 3. FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the area VI enclosed by the dashed dotted line of FIG. 5. FIG. 11 is an external perspective view showing, as viewed from above, the second connector alone of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is an external perspective view showing, as viewed from above, the second connector of FIG. 7, exploded, as viewed from above. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the IX-IX arrows of FIG. 1. FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing the state of the first connector when insert molding is performed.

[0010] In the electrical connector described in Patent Document 1, the first contact and the insulator of the receptacle connector are integrally molded by insert molding. In this electrical connector, the U-shaped portion of the first contact is attached to the side wall of the insulator by insert molding. However, because both the first contact and the insulator are difficult to elastically deform, when the plug connector and the receptacle connector, which are the connection targets, are mated with each other, the second contact and the first contact of the plug connector may come into contact with each other, potentially causing wear on their contact portions. As a result, the contact reliability of the contacts is reduced.

[0011] According to the connector, connector module, and electronic device of one embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce the decrease in contact reliability of the contact even when the contact and the insulator are integrally molded.

[0012] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the front-to-back, left-to-right, and up-down directions refer to the directions of the arrows in the drawings. The directions of the arrows are consistent between different drawings in Figures 1 to 6 and Figures 9 and 10. The directions of the arrows are consistent between different drawings in Figures 7 and 8. For the purpose of simplifying the illustration, circuit boards CB1 and CB2, which will be described later, are omitted in some drawings.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the connector module 1 according to one embodiment, showing a state in which a first connector 10 and a second connector 50 are connected to each other, as viewed from above. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the connector module 1 according to one embodiment, showing a state in which the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are separated from each other, as viewed from above.

[0014] 2 , the connector module 1 includes a first connector 10 and a second connector 50 that are connectable to each other. The first connector 10 is connected to a connection object, with the second connector 50 serving as the connection object. The first connector 10 includes a first insulator 20 and first contacts 30 attached to the first insulator 20. The first connector 10 includes a first metal fitting 40 attached to the first insulator 20.

[0015] The second connector 50 is connectable to the first connector 10. The second connector 50 has a second insulator 60 that mates with the first insulator 20 in a connected state in which the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are connected. The second connector 50 has second contacts 70 attached to the second insulator 60. The second contacts 70 come into contact with the first contacts 30 in a mated state in which the first insulator 20 and the second insulator 60 are mated with each other. The second connector 50 has a second metal fitting 80 attached to the second insulator 60. The second metal fitting 80 comes into contact with the first metal fitting 40 in the mated state. At this time, the first metal fitting 40 elastically deforms.

[0016] In the following, for example, the first connector 10 according to one embodiment will be described as a receptacle connector. For example, the second connector 50 will be described as a plug connector. A first connector 10 in which the first contacts 30 elastically deform together with the first insulator 20 in a mated state in which the first insulator 20 and the second insulator 60 are mated with each other will be described as a receptacle connector. A second connector 50 in which the second contacts 70 do not elastically deform in a mated state will be described as a plug connector. The types of the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are not limited to these. For example, the first connector 10 may function as a plug connector. The second connector 50 may function as a receptacle connector.

[0017] The connection object connected to the first connector 10 is not limited to the second connector 50. The connection object may be any object other than a plug connector or a receptacle connector. For example, the connection object may be a flexible printed circuit board (FPC), a flexible flat cable, a rigid board, or a card edge of any circuit board.

[0018] In the following description, the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are assumed to be mounted on the circuit boards CB1 and CB2, respectively. When the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are connected to each other, they electrically connect the circuit boards CB1 and CB2. The circuit boards CB1 and CB2 may be rigid boards or any other circuit boards. For example, at least one of the circuit boards CB1 and CB2 may be an FPC.

[0019] In the following description, the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are connected to each other in a direction perpendicular to the circuit boards CB1 and CB2. As an example, the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are connected to each other in the up-and-down direction. The connection method is not limited to this. The first connector 10 and the second connector 50 may also be connected to each other in a direction parallel to the circuit boards CB1 and CB2. The first connector 10 and the second connector 50 may also be connected to each other so that one is perpendicular to the circuit board on which they are mounted and the other is parallel to the circuit board on which they are mounted.

[0020] In the present disclosure, the "mating direction" corresponds to the up-down direction, for example. The "longitudinal direction" corresponds to the left-right direction, for example. The "arrangement direction of the plurality of first contacts 30" corresponds to the left-right direction, for example. The "short direction" corresponds to the front-rear direction, for example. The "mating side" corresponds to the bottom side, for example. The "removal side" corresponds to the top side, for example. The "side of the circuit board CB1" corresponds to the bottom side, for example. The "opposite side from the circuit board CB1" corresponds to the top side, for example. The "inside" corresponds to the direction toward the center of the first connector 10. For example, the inside in the front-rear direction corresponds to the direction toward the center in the front-rear direction of the first connector 10. This is not limited to this, and the inside does not have to be a direction completely toward the center in the front-rear direction, but may correspond to a direction toward the center at a slight angle. The same applies to other directions. The "outside" is the opposite of the inside.

[0021] Fig. 3 is a top perspective view of the first connector 10 shown in Fig. 1. The first connector 10 is obtained, for example, by integrally molding the first contacts 30 and the first insulator 20 by insert molding, and then press-fitting the first metal fitting 40 into the first insulator 20.

[0022] Figure 4 is an external perspective view of the first connector 10 shown in Figure 3 , exploded and viewed from above. In reality, the first contacts 30 and the first insulator 20 are integrally molded by insert molding. However, for ease of understanding, Figure 4 shows the first insulator 20 and the first contacts 30 as virtually separated components. Accordingly, for example, the through-hole 24a, first recess 24b, second recess 24c, and third recess 24d of the first insulator 20, which will be described later, are named as such for convenience. However, it should be noted that these components are actually formed by the first contacts 30 and the first insulator 20 being integrally molded by insert molding, and are not inherent components of the first insulator 20.

[0023] The first insulator 20 constituting the first connector 10 is made of an insulating, heat-resistant synthetic resin material. The first insulator 20 extends in a plate shape in the left-right direction. The first insulator 20 has a bottom plate portion 21 constituting a lower portion. The first insulator 20 has an annular outer peripheral wall 22 protruding upward from the entire peripheral edge portion of the upper surface of the bottom plate portion 21. The outer peripheral wall 22 includes a pair of short walls 22a extending in the front-rear direction and a pair of long walls 22b extending in the left-right direction. The first insulator 20 has a mating recess 23 constituted by a space formed by the bottom plate portion 21 and the outer peripheral wall 22.

[0024] The first insulator 20 has a first contact holding groove 24 formed from the inner surface in the front-rear direction of a recess 27 (described later) in the longitudinal wall 22b of the outer peripheral wall 22, through the upper surface, and onto the outer surface opposite the inner surface. A plurality of first contact holding grooves 24 are formed corresponding to the number of first contacts 30. The plurality of first contact holding grooves 24 are arranged along the arrangement direction of the first contacts 30. The first contact holding grooves 24 hold the first contacts 30 integrally. Therefore, the surface shape of the portion of the first contact holding groove 24 that comes into contact with the inner surface of the first contact 30 is the same as the surface shape of the inner surface of the first contact 30.

[0025] The first contact holding groove 24 has a through-portion 24a penetrating a portion of the bottom plate portion 21 adjacent to the inner surface of the recess 27 of the longitudinal wall 22b toward the circuit board CB1. The first contact holding groove 24 has a first recess 24b that is recessed linearly upward from the through-portion 24a along the inner surface of the recess 27 of the longitudinal wall 22b. The first contact holding groove 24 has a second recess 24c that is formed in an inverted U-shape on the upper surface of the longitudinal wall 22b and recessed from the inner surface of the recess 27 to the outer surface of the longitudinal wall 22b via the upper surface of the longitudinal wall 22b. The second recess 24c is formed so as to fold back from the upper end of the first recess 24b. The first contact holding groove 24 has a third recess 24d that is recessed linearly downward from the second recess 24c along the outer surface of the longitudinal wall 22b.

[0026] The first insulator 20 has a first metal fitting attachment portion 25 formed across the left and right ends of the long side wall 22b and the short side wall 22a. A first metal fitting 40 is attached to the first metal fitting attachment portion 25.

[0027] The first metal fitting mounting portion 25 has a first wall portion 25a formed below the center portion of the short-side wall 22a in the front-rear direction and protruding outward in the left-right direction. The first metal fitting mounting portion 25 has a second wall portion 25b formed at a corner of the first insulator 20, extending from the short-side wall 22a to the long-side wall 22b. The second wall portion 25b protrudes outward in the front-rear and left-right directions. The first metal fitting mounting portion 25 has a third wall portion 25c formed on the long-side wall 22b and spaced apart from the second wall portion 25b in the left-right direction. The first wall portion 25a, the second wall portion 25b, and the third wall portion 25c form the outermost rectangular shape of the first insulator 20 in the front-rear and left-right directions.

[0028] The first metal fitting mounting portion 25 has a first mounting groove 25d formed between the first wall portion 25a and the second wall portion 25b. The first metal fitting mounting portion 25 has a second mounting groove 25e formed between the second wall portion 25b and the third wall portion 25c. The first metal fitting mounting portion 25 has a third mounting groove 25f recessed in the center of the inner surface of the short wall 22a in the front-to-rear direction.

[0029] The first insulator 20 has an outer wall 26 that extends from the third wall portion 25c of the first metal fitting mounting portion 25 located on one side in the left-right direction to the third wall portion 25c of the first metal fitting mounting portion 25 located on the other side, connecting the two third wall portions 25c. The outer wall 26 extends along the outer surface of the longitudinal wall 22b of the outer peripheral wall 22, over the area where the first contacts 30 are arranged. The outer wall 26 is formed in the longitudinal center of the first insulator 20, corresponding to the area located in the center of the longitudinal wall 22b.

[0030] The first insulator 20 has a recess 27 recessed from an inner surface 28 of a longitudinal wall 22b of the outer peripheral wall 22. A first contact holding groove 24 is recessed in the center of the recess 27 in the left-right direction. The first insulator 20 has an inner surface 28 of the outer peripheral wall 22 adjacent to the recess 27. The inner surface 28 is formed so as to be adjacent to the recess 27 in the left-right direction. The recesses 27 and the inner surfaces 28 are formed alternately on the longitudinal wall 22b from one side to the other in the left-right direction.

[0031] In the first portion where the first contact holding groove 24 and the recess 27 are formed, the width in the front-rear direction of the first insulator 20 is narrower than the width in the front-rear direction of the outer peripheral wall 22 at the inner surface 28. In the second portion where the inner surface 28 is formed, the width in the front-rear direction of the first insulator 20 is wider than the width in the front-rear direction of the first portion. Narrow portions formed by the first portion and wide portions formed by the second portion are alternately formed on the longitudinal wall 22b from one side to the other in the left-right direction.

[0032] The first contact 30 is formed, for example, by stamping a thin plate of spring-elastic copper alloy containing phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, or titanium copper, or a Corson copper alloy, into the shape shown in Fig. 4 using a progressive die. The method for processing the first contact 30 includes a step of punching and then bending the plate in the thickness direction. The surface of the first contact 30 is plated with gold, tin, or the like after forming a nickel base. The gold, tin, or the like plating may be applied to the entire surface of the first contact 30, or may be applied only to the surface of the contact portion 32c, which will be described later.

[0033] The first contact 30 has a mounting portion 31 that extends outward in an L-shape. The mounting portion 31 is located at one end of the first contact 30. The first contact 30 has an attachment portion 32 that is formed in an inverted U-shape and extends upward from the upper end of the mounting portion 31. The attachment portion 32 is formed so as to fold back from the upper end of the mounting portion 31.

[0034] The first contacts 30 have a wide portion 32a formed in a portion of the mounting portion 32 located on the outer side in the front-to-rear direction. The first contacts 30 have a curved portion 32b extending upward from the wide portion 32a in an inverted U shape in the mounting portion 32. The first contacts 30 have a contact portion 32c configured to include the inner surface in the front-to-rear direction inside the curved portion 32b in the front-to-rear direction. The first contacts 30 have a recess 32d formed in the mounting portion 32 directly below the contact portion 32c and continuous with the contact portion 32c. The first contacts 30 have a free end 32e formed in the mounting portion 32 directly below the recess 32d and continuous with the recess 32d. The free end 32e is the other end of the first contact 30 opposite the one end. The free end 32e is located on the mounting portion 32 opposite the mounting portion 31.

[0035] The contact portion 32c is located on the same side of the longitudinal wall 22b in the front-rear direction as the free end 32e of the first contact 30. The contact portion 32c is located on the same side of the longitudinal wall 22b in the front-rear direction as the free end 32e of the mounting portion 32. The contact portion 32c is formed in a portion of the first contact 30 that is located inside in the front-rear direction from where the free end 32e is formed.

[0036] The recess 32d is located between the contact portion 32c and the free end 32e and is recessed further than the contact portion 32c and the free end 32e. The recess 32d is formed in a portion of the first contact 30 that is located on the inner side in the front-rear direction where the contact portion 32c and the free end 32e are formed, so that it is recessed outward in the front-rear direction. Here, the front-rear direction is a direction perpendicular to the mating direction and the arrangement direction in which the multiple first contacts 30 are arranged.

[0037] The first contact 30 is formed so that the contact portion 32c protrudes inward in the front-rear direction and the recess 32d is recessed one step outward in the front-rear direction. The first contact 30 is formed so that the position of the inner surface in the front-rear direction at the free end 32e is substantially the same as the tip of the protruding contact portion 32c.

[0038] The first metal fitting 40 is formed from a thin plate of any metal material using a progressive die (stamping) into the shape shown in Fig. 4. The method for processing the first metal fitting 40 includes a step of punching the plate and then bending it in the plate thickness direction. The first metal fitting 40 is press-fitted into the first metal fitting attachment portion 25 of the first insulator 20 and is disposed on both the left and right sides of the first insulator 20.

[0039] The first metal fitting 40 has a first base 41 extending in the front-rear direction. The first metal fitting 40 has second bases 42 extending inward in the left-right direction from both front-rear end portions of the first base 41. The first metal fitting 40 has protruding pieces 43 extending linearly downward from the front and rear portions of the first base 41. A recess is formed by the opposing edges of a pair of protruding pieces 43 spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction and the lower edge of the first base 41.

[0040] The first metal fitting 40 has a first mounting portion 44 located at the lower end of the protruding piece 43. The first metal fitting 40 has a first locking portion 45 that includes a portion of the protruding piece 43 that is wider in the front-to-rear direction than other portions. The first metal fitting 40 has a contact portion 46 that extends inward in the left-to-right direction from the center of the first base portion 41 in the front-to-rear direction. The contact portion 46 extends diagonally downward from the first base portion 41 in the left-to-right direction and has spring elasticity.

[0041] The first metal fitting 40 has an inverted U-shaped protruding piece 47 formed on the inner end in the left-right direction of the second base 42. The first metal fitting 40 has an engaging portion 47a formed on a portion of the protruding piece 47 that extends inward in the front-to-rear direction. The engaging portion 47a is formed as a convex portion.

[0042] The first metal fitting 40 has a second locking portion 48 formed so as to continue downward from the lower end of the portion of the protruding piece 47 that extends outward in the front-to-rear direction. The second locking portion 48 is formed to be wider in the left-to-right direction than the portion of the protruding piece 47 that extends outward in the front-to-rear direction. The second locking portion 48 protrudes symmetrically on both sides in the left-to-right direction from this portion. The first metal fitting 40 has a second mounting portion 49 that extends downward in a straight line from the lower end of the second locking portion 48. The second mounting portion 49 is formed to have approximately the same left-to-right width as the portion of the protruding piece 47 that extends outward in the front-to-rear direction.

[0043] 3 and 4, the first contacts 30 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the first connector 10. The first contacts 30 are arranged in the center of the first insulator 20 in the left-right direction.

[0044] The first contact 30 is integrally held in the first contact holding groove 24 by integrating the entire portion of the first contact 30, excluding the mounting portion 31, with the first contact holding groove 24 by insert molding. More specifically, the attachment portion 32 of the first contact 30 is integrally held in the first contact holding groove 24. The first contact 30 is molded integrally with the outer peripheral wall 22.

[0045] The first contact 30 is molded integrally with the first contact holding groove 24 in the third recess 24d and the second recess 24c so as to be flush with the longitudinal wall 22b. The first contact 30 is molded integrally with the first contact holding groove 24 in the first recess 24b so that the contact portion 32c and the recess 32d protrude one step further inward from the outer peripheral wall 22 than the front-rear direction side surface of the recess 27 of the first insulator 20.

[0046] The contact portion 32c of the first contact 30 is disposed in the recess 27. More specifically, the contact portion 32c is located in the center of the recess 27 in the left-right direction. On both sides of the contact portion 32c along the arrangement direction of the multiple first contacts 30, the first insulator 20 is cut out in accordance with the formation of the recess 27. On the longitudinal wall 22b, from one side to the other in the left-right direction, an inner surface 28, a portion of the recess 27, the contact portion 32c, another portion of the recess 27, and the inner surface 28 are formed in this order. The recess 27, the contact portion 32c, the recess 32d, and the free end 32e overlap one another in the front-rear direction.

[0047] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the area VI enclosed by the dashed dotted line in Fig. 5.

[0048] The wide portion 32a of the mounting portion 32 is molded integrally with the third recess 24d of the first contact holding groove 24. The curved portion 32b of the mounting portion 32 is molded integrally with the second recess 24c of the first contact holding groove 24. The contact portion 32c and recess 32d of the mounting portion 32 are molded integrally with the first recess 24b of the first contact holding groove 24. The free end 32e of the mounting portion 32 is molded integrally with the through portion 24a of the first contact holding groove 24.

[0049] When the first contacts 30 are held in the first contact holding grooves 24 of the first insulator 20, the mounting portions 31 of the first contacts 30 are formed in an L-shape and extend outward beyond the outer surface of the outer peripheral wall 22. More specifically, the tip of the mounting portion 31 is located outward in the front-to-rear direction beyond the outer wall 26. The attachment portions 32 of the first contacts 30 extend in an inverted U-shape from the mounting portion 31 toward the side opposite the circuit board CB1 and are attached to the outer peripheral wall 22 from the outer surface of the outer peripheral wall 22 to the inner surface of the recess 27 of the outer peripheral wall 22.

[0050] At this time, the contact portion 32c of the first contact 30 is located inside the outer peripheral wall 22. The contact portion 32c is located inside the longitudinal wall 22b in the front-rear direction. The pair of contact portions 32c of the pair of first contacts 30 held at the same left-right positions on the pair of longitudinal walls 22b face each other in the front-rear direction. Only a space serving as the mating recess 23 is formed between the pair of contact portions 32c, and no other components related to the first contact 30 are formed therebetween.

[0051] The contact portion 32c is located more inward of the outer peripheral wall 22 than the inner surface 28 of the first insulator 20. The contact portion 32c is located more inward in the front-rear direction than the inner surface 28. The front-rear distance between the components formed at the same left-right position on the pair of longitudinal walls 22b is narrower in the pair of contact portions 32c of the pair of first contacts 30 held at the same left-right position on the pair of longitudinal walls 22b.

[0052] The free ends 32e of the first contacts 30 are exposed toward the circuit board CB1 from the bottom surface of the first insulator 20 that faces the circuit board CB1. At this time, the free ends 32e are flush with the lower surface of the bottom plate portion 21 of the first insulator 20 in the left-right direction perpendicular to the paper plane of Figures 5 and 6. The free ends 32e are located on the opposite side of the mounting portion 31 from the circuit board CB1. The free ends 32e are spaced apart from the circuit board CB1 in the up-down direction. A space is formed between the free ends 32e and the circuit board CB1.

[0053] 3 and 4 , the first metal fitting 40 is press-fitted from above the first insulator 20. The first metal fitting 40 is attached to the outer peripheral wall 22 so that a recess formed by the opposing edges of a pair of protruding pieces 43 spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction and the lower edge of the first base portion 41 sandwiches the first wall portion 25 a.

[0054] The first locking portion 45 locks onto the first wall portion 25a of the first metal fitting mounting portion 25 on the outside in the left-right direction of the short wall 22a. The pair of protruding pieces 43 and the first locking portion 45, which are spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction, are attached to the first mounting groove 25d. Similarly, the second locking portion 48 locks onto the second wall portion 25b and the third wall portion 25c of the first metal fitting mounting portion 25 on the outside in the front-to-rear direction of the long wall 22b. The second locking portion 48 is attached to the second mounting groove 25e. In this way, the first metal fitting 40 is held by the first metal fitting mounting portion 25.

[0055] When the first metal fitting 40 is held by the first metal fitting mounting portion 25 of the first insulator 20, it covers the entire short wall 22a and the left and right ends of the long wall 22b. At this time, the contact portion 46 is arranged in the third mounting groove 25f of the first insulator 20 so as to be elastically deformable in the left and right direction.

[0056] The first mounting portions 44 are disposed along the outer surfaces of the short-side walls 22a in the left-right direction. As shown in Fig. 5, the first mounting portions 44 extend downward from the lower ends of the short-side walls 22a. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the first mounting portions 44 are disposed on both sides of the first wall portion 25a of the first insulator 20 in the short direction of the first connector 10. The pair of first mounting portions 44 are positioned so as to sandwich the first wall portion 25a from both sides in the front-rear direction. For example, the pair of first mounting portions 44 are disposed at positions symmetrical in the front-rear direction with respect to the first wall portion 25a.

[0057] The second mounting portions 49 are arranged along the outer surface of the longitudinal wall 22b in the front-rear direction. The second mounting portions 49 extend downward below the lower end of the longitudinal wall 22b. The second mounting portions 49 are arranged on both sides of the first connector 10 in the short direction. The pair of second mounting portions 49 are positioned so as to sandwich the mating recess 23 from both sides in the front-rear direction. For example, the pair of second mounting portions 49 are respectively arranged at positions that are symmetrical in the front-rear direction with respect to the mating recess 23. The pair of second mounting portions 49 are arranged at approximately the same left-right positions.

[0058] In the first connector 10 having the above-described structure, the mounting portions 31 of the first contacts 30 are soldered to a circuit pattern formed on the mounting surface of the circuit board CB1. The first mounting portion 44 and the second mounting portion 49 of the first metal fitting 40 are soldered to the pattern formed on the mounting surface. In this manner, the first connector 10 is mounted on the circuit board CB1. Electronic components separate from the first connector 10, such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a controller, and a memory, are mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board CB1.

[0059] The configuration of the second connector 50 will be described mainly with reference to FIGS.

[0060] Fig. 7 is a top perspective view of the second connector 50 shown in Fig. 1. The second connector 50 is obtained, for example, by integrally molding the second contacts 70, the second metal fittings 80, and the second insulator 60 by insert molding.

[0061] Figure 8 is an external perspective view showing the second connector 50 of Figure 7 in an exploded top view. In reality, the second contacts 70, the second metal fittings 80, and the second insulator 60 are integrally molded by insert molding. However, in Figure 8, for ease of understanding, the second insulator 60, the second contacts 70, and the second metal fittings 80 are virtually separated and shown as individual components.

[0062] The second insulator 60 is a plate-shaped member extending in the left-right direction and made by injection molding an insulating and heat-resistant synthetic resin material. The second insulator 60 has a main body 61 formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The main body 61 is formed as a fitting portion.

[0063] The second insulator 60 has second contact holding grooves 62 formed on both front-rear side surfaces and the top surface of the main body 61. Second contacts 70 are attached to the second contact holding grooves 62. The second insulator 60 has second metal fitting holding grooves 63 formed on both left-right end surfaces of the main body 61. The second metal fitting holding grooves 63 are formed on both front-rear side surfaces, left-right side surfaces, and the top surface of the main body 61. A second metal fitting 80 is attached to the second metal fitting holding grooves 63.

[0064] The second contact 70 is formed by stamping a thin plate of, for example, phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, or copper alloy containing titanium copper, or a Corson copper alloy, into the shape shown in the figure. The surface of the second contact 70 is plated with gold, tin, or the like after forming a base with nickel.

[0065] The second contact 70 has a mounting portion 71 that extends outward in an L-shape in the front-to-rear direction. The second contact 70 has a base portion 72 that extends upward in a U-shape from one mounting portion 71 and is connected to the other mounting portion 71. The second contact 70 has a contact portion 73 that is recessed into the outer surface of the base portion 72 in the front-to-rear direction. The contact portion 73 is formed as a recess.

[0066] The second metal fitting 80 is formed by stamping a thin plate of any metal material into the shape shown in the drawing. The method for forming the second metal fitting 80 includes a step of punching the plate and then bending it in the plate thickness direction.

[0067] The second metal fitting 80 has a first mounting portion 81 that extends outward in an L-shape in the front-to-rear direction. The second metal fitting 80 has a base portion 82 that extends upward in a U-shape from one first mounting portion 81 and is connected to the other first mounting portion 81. The second metal fitting 80 has an engaging portion 83 that is recessed into the outer surface of the base portion 82 in the front-to-rear direction. The engaging portion 83 is formed as a recess.

[0068] The second metal fitting 80 has an extending portion 84 that extends in an L-shape outward in the left-right direction from the outer left-right end of the base portion 82. The second metal fitting 80 has a wide portion 85 that is formed wide in the front-to-rear direction at the extending portion 84. The second metal fitting 80 has a second mounting portion 86 located at the lower end of the extending portion 84.

[0069] The second contact 70 is molded integrally with the second contact holding groove 62 of the second insulator 60 by insert molding. At this time, substantially the entire base 72 of the second contact 70 is molded integrally with the second contact holding groove 62. The pair of contact portions 73 are respectively arranged along both outer surfaces in the front-rear direction of the main body portion 61. The mounting portion 71 extends outward in the front-rear direction from the outer surface in the front-rear direction of the main body portion 61.

[0070] The second fitting 80 is molded integrally with the second fitting retaining groove 63 of the second insulator 60 by insert molding. At this time, substantially the entire base 82 and extension 84 of the second fitting 80 are molded integrally with the second fitting retaining groove 63. The pair of engaging portions 83 are respectively arranged along both outer surfaces of the main body 61 in the front-rear direction. The first mounting portion 81 extends outward in the front-rear direction from the outer surface of the main body 61 in the front-rear direction. The second mounting portion 86 is arranged along the outer surface of the main body 61 in the left-right direction.

[0071] In the second connector 50 configured as described above, the mounting portions 71 of the second contacts 70 are soldered to a circuit pattern formed on the mounting surface of the circuit board CB2. The first mounting portion 81 and the second mounting portion 86 of the second metal fitting 80 are soldered to the pattern formed on the mounting surface. In this manner, the second connector 50 is mounted on the circuit board CB2. An electronic component separate from the second connector 50, such as a communication module, is mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board CB2.

[0072] 9, the configuration of the connector module 1 in a mated state in which the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 as the connection object are connected and the first insulator 20 and the second connector 50 as the connection object are mated will be mainly described. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrows IX-IX in FIG. 1.

[0073] For example, with the second connector 50 shown in Figure 7 facing upside down, the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are positioned facing each other in the up-down direction while their front-to-back and left-to-right positions are approximately aligned. The second connector 50 is then moved downward. This connects the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 to each other, achieving a connected state of the connector module 1. At this time, the mating recess 23 of the first insulator 20 and the main body 61 of the second insulator 60 are mated with each other.

[0074] When the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are mated with each other, the contact portions 32c of the first contacts 30 and the contact portions 73 of the second contacts 70 come into contact with each other, causing the spring-elastic mounting portions 32 to elastically deform outward in the front-to-rear direction. The first contacts 30 and the second contacts 70 come into contact with each other at two locations on both the front and rear sides by pairs of the contact portions 32c and 73.

[0075] When the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are mated with each other, one second contact 70 of the second connector 50 is positioned between a pair of first contacts 30 whose contact portions 32c are arranged to face each other. One second contact 70 contacts both of the pair of first contacts 30. More specifically, substantially the entire base 72 of one second contact 70 is positioned between the pair of first contacts 30. The base 72 of one second contact 70 contacts both of the pair of first contacts 30.

[0076] At this time, the first contacts 30 elastically deform integrally with the outer peripheral wall 22 of the first insulator 20 when the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are mated with each other. More specifically, the mounting portions 32 of the first contacts 30 elastically deform integrally with the longitudinal walls 22b when the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are mated with each other. When the mated state is maintained, the mounting portions 32 and the longitudinal walls 22b maintain their posture while tilting obliquely outward in the front-to-rear direction from below to above.

[0077] The first fitting 40 comes into contact with the second fitting 80 in a mated state in which the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are mated with each other. In the mated state, the contact portion 46 of the first fitting 40 comes into contact with the extension portion 84 of the second fitting 80. At this time, the contact portion 46, which has spring elasticity, elastically deforms outward in the left-right direction in the third mounting groove 25f of the first insulator 20. Additionally, in the mated state, the engaging portion 47a of the first fitting 40 and the engaging portion 83 of the second fitting 80 engage with each other.

[0078] According to the first connector 10 and connector module 1 of the embodiment described above, even when the first contacts 30 and the first insulator 20 are integrally molded, it is possible to reduce a decrease in contact reliability of the first contacts 30. For example, the first connector 10 is integrally molded with the outer peripheral wall 22 in a state in which the contact portions 32c are disposed in the recesses 27 of the first insulator 20 and the first insulator 20 is cut out on both sides of the contact portions 32c. This results in the first insulator 20 being formed narrow around the first contacts 30. Therefore, when the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are mated with each other, the first contacts 30 and the outer peripheral wall 22 elastically deform integrally, which facilitates elastic deformation.

[0079] As a result, when the second connector 50 as a connection object is mated with the first connector 10, it is possible to reduce excessive loads on these components compared to the prior art in which the insulator and the contacts are less likely to elastically deform, thereby reducing damage to the first insulator 20 and the first contacts 30. The first connector 10 can reduce damage, such as scraping of the first contacts 30, that occurs when the first contacts 30 and the second contacts 70 come into contact with each other.

[0080] In addition, when the first contact 30 and the first insulator 20 are integrally molded by insert molding, mold parts are placed in the notched portions of the recesses 27 located on both the left and right sides of the contact portion 32 c. This makes it difficult for the resin used to form the first insulator 20 to seep into the exposed surface of the contact portion 32 c of the first contact 30.

[0081] The first connector 10 can reduce the deterioration of contact reliability in the first contacts 30 by synergistically achieving the above effects.

[0082] By integrally molding the first contact 30 and the first insulator 20, the strength of the first connector 10 and the connector module 1 is improved even when the connector 10 and the connector module 1 are made smaller.

[0083] The first contacts 30 have a mounting portion 31 located at one end thereof and a free end 32e located at the other end opposite the one end, and the contact portion 32c is located on the same side of the first contact 30 as the free end 32e in the front-to-rear direction relative to the longitudinal wall 22b. This increases the distance between the mounting portion 31 and the contact portion 32c. This increases the distance between the portion of the first contact 30 fixed to the circuit board CB1 and the portion that receives an external force due to contact with the second contact 70. Therefore, the first contacts 30 are more likely to elastically deform when the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are mated with each other.

[0084] As a result, when the second connector 50 as a connection object is mated with the first connector 10, the application of excessive load to these components can be reduced compared to the prior art in which the insulator and the contacts are less likely to elastically deform. Therefore, damage to the first insulator 20 and the first contacts 30 is reduced. The first connector 10 can reduce damage, such as scraping of the first contacts 30, that occurs when the first contacts 30 and the second contacts 70 come into contact with each other. Therefore, the first connector 10 can reduce a decrease in contact reliability of the first contacts 30.

[0085] The first contacts 30 have mounting portions 31 formed in an L-shape and extending outward beyond the outer surface of the outer peripheral wall 22. The first contacts 30 have attachment portions 32 extending in an inverted U-shape from the mounting portions 31 toward the opposite side of the circuit board CB1, from the outer surface of the outer peripheral wall 22 to the inner surface of the recess 27, and attached to the outer peripheral wall 22. The first contacts 30 have free ends 32e located on the opposite side of the attachment portions 32 from the mounting portions 31, and contact portions 32c located on the same side of the attachment portions 32 as the free ends 32e relative to the longitudinal wall 22b in the front-to-rear direction. Forming the first contacts 30 in this shape increases the distance between the mounting portions 31 and the contact portions 32c. Therefore, the first connector 10 achieves the same effects as those described above.

[0086] The free ends 32e are exposed on the circuit board CB1 side from the bottom surface of the first insulator 20 that faces the circuit board CB1. This makes it possible to press the free ends 32e with mold parts when the first contacts 30 and the first insulator 20 are molded integrally by insert molding. This reduces shaking of the free ends 32e of the first contacts 30 when the resin for forming the first insulator 20 flows into the mold. Therefore, the first contacts 30 are stably integrated with the first insulator 20 during insert molding.

[0087] In addition, the free ends 32e of the first contacts 30 are molded integrally with the through portions 24a of the first contact holding grooves 24. This allows the first connector 10 to be made smaller in the front-to-rear direction compared to conventional contacts that have resilient contact pieces that extend inward in the front-to-rear direction and whose free ends are located inside the outer peripheral wall, for example.

[0088] By positioning the free end 32e on the opposite side of the mounting portion 31 from the circuit board CB1, a space is formed between the free end 32e and the circuit board CB1, which makes it possible to reduce damage to the circuit board CB1 due to contact between the free end 32e and the circuit board CB1.

[0089] 10 is a schematic diagram showing the state of the first connector 10 after insert molding, and corresponds to the enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG.

[0090] The first contact 30 has a recess 32d that is recessed further than the contact portion 32c and the free end 32e. This allows the contact portion 32c and the free end 32e to be surrounded from three directions by the mold 100 when the first contact 30 and the first insulator 20 are integrally molded by insert molding. For example, the mold 100 can surround the contact portion 32c and the free end 32e from the inside in the front-rear direction and from both the left-right direction.

[0091] This makes it difficult for the resin used to form the first insulator 20 to seep into the mold 100 during insert molding, thereby preventing the resin from seeping into the exposed surfaces of the contact portions 32c of the first contacts 30. If the resin were to form on the contact portions 32c of the first contacts 30, the contact reliability of the first contacts 30 would be reduced. The first connector 10 can reduce such a reduction in the contact reliability of the first contacts 30.

[0092] The first insulator 20 has an outer wall 26 that extends along the outer surface of the outer peripheral wall 22 and across the area where the first contacts 30 are arranged. This reduces solder flux wicking onto the contact portions 32c even when the first connector 10 is miniaturized. Therefore, the first connector 10 can reduce the formation of solder on the contact portions 32c and reduce a decrease in contact reliability of the first contacts 30.

[0093] By plating only the surface of the contact portion 32c with gold or tin, and by plating the other surfaces of the first contact 30 with low-wettability plating, the effect of preventing solder flux wicking becomes more pronounced.

[0094] The first insulator 20 has an inner surface 28 adjacent to the recess 27, and is therefore formed wide except in the vicinity of the exposed surfaces of the contact portions 32c of the first contacts 30. Therefore, even when the second connector 50, which is the connection object, is inserted at an angle relative to the first connector 10 and deviates from the correct mating posture, a portion of the second connector 50 comes into contact with the inner surface 28, thereby reducing misalignment of the contacts between the first connector 10 and the second connector 50. If the inner surface 28 were not formed, only the first contacts 30 would come into contact with the second connector 50 even during such diagonal mating, making it difficult to reduce the above-mentioned misalignment.

[0095] By positioning the contact portion 32c more inwardly of the outer peripheral wall 22 than the inner surface 28, the contact portion 73 of the second contact 70 more reliably contacts the contact portion 32c located more inwardly when the second connector 50 is mated with the first connector 10. By making the contact between the contact portion 32c of the first contact 30 and the contact portion 73 of the second contact 70 more reliably, a decrease in the contact reliability of the first contact 30 can be reduced.

[0096] In the connector module 1, one second contact 70 is located between a pair of first contacts 30 when the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are mated with each other, and comes into contact with both of the pair of first contacts 30. This makes it easier to make the entire connector module 1 smaller than in conventional connectors in which a pair of second contacts 70 are arranged along the front-rear direction.

[0097] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms other than the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Therefore, the foregoing description is illustrative and not limiting. The scope of the disclosure is defined not by the foregoing description but by the appended claims. All modifications within the range of equivalents of any modifications are intended to be embraced therein.

[0098] For example, the shape, size, arrangement, orientation, and number of each of the components described above are not limited to those described above and illustrated in the drawings, and may be arbitrarily configured as long as the function can be realized.

[0099] The assembly method of the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 described above is not limited to the above description. The assembly method of the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 may be any method as long as the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 can be assembled in a manner that allows the respective functions to be performed. For example, in the first connector 10, the first metal fitting 40 may be integrally molded with the first insulator 20 by insert molding rather than press-fitting. For example, in the second connector 50, at least one of the second contact 70 and the second metal fitting 80 may be attached to the second insulator 60 by press-fitting rather than insert molding.

[0100] In the above embodiment, the first contact 30 is described as being integrally formed with the long wall 22b, but this is not limiting. The first contact 30 may be integrally formed with the short wall 22a. In this case, the contact portion 32c may be disposed along the short wall 22a rather than the long wall 22b, and may be located inside the short wall 22a. The recess 27 may be recessed from the inner surface of the short wall 22a rather than the long wall 22b.

[0101] In the above embodiment, the contact portion 32c is located on the same side of the longitudinal wall 22b as the free end 32e of the first contact 30 in the front-rear direction, but this is not limitative. The contact portion 32c does not have to be located on the same side of the first contact 30 as the free end 32e.

[0102] In the above embodiment, the first insulator 20 is cut out on both sides of the contact portion 32 c along the arrangement direction of the first contacts 30 in accordance with the formation of the recesses 27. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The first insulator 20 may be cut out on at least one side of the contact portion 32 c along the arrangement direction of the first contacts 30.

[0103] In the above embodiment, the first contacts 30 have an L-shaped mounting portion 31 that extends outward beyond the outer surface of the outer peripheral wall 22. The first contacts 30 have an attachment portion 32 that extends from the mounting portion 31 in an inverted U-shape toward the side opposite the circuit board CB1 and is attached to the outer peripheral wall 22 from the outer surface to the inner surface of the recess 27. The first contacts 30 have a free end 32e of the attachment portion 32 that is located opposite the mounting portion 31, and a contact portion 32c of the attachment portion 32 that is located on the same side of the longitudinal wall 22b as the free end 32e in the front-to-rear direction. While the above description is not limited to this, the first contacts 30 may have any shape as long as the contact portion 32c is positioned in the recess 27 and the first insulator 20 is cut out on both sides of the contact portion 32c and is molded integrally with the outer peripheral wall 22.

[0104] In the above embodiment, the free end 32 e is described as being exposed from the bottom surface of the first insulator 20 facing the circuit board CB1 toward the circuit board CB1, but is not limited to this. The free end 32 e may be covered by the first insulator 20.

[0105] In the above embodiment, the free end 32e is described as being located on the opposite side of the circuit board CB1 from the mounting portion 31, but this is not limiting. The free end 32e may be located at approximately the same vertical position as the circuit board CB1, similar to the mounting portion 31.

[0106] In the above embodiment, the position of the inner surface of the free end 32 e in the front-rear direction is described as being substantially the same as the tip of the contact portion 32 c in the protruding direction, but this is not limited to this. The position of the inner surface of the free end 32 e in the front-rear direction may be located further inward in the front-rear direction than the tip of the contact portion 32 c in the protruding direction.

[0107] In the above embodiment, the first contact 30 has been described as having the recess 32d recessed from the contact portion 32c and the free end 32e, but is not limited to this. The first contact 30 does not necessarily have to have such a recess 32d.

[0108] In the above embodiment, the first insulator 20 has been described as having the outer wall 26 extending over the area in which the first contacts 30 are arranged, but this is not limiting. The first insulator 20 does not have to have such an outer wall 26. The outer wall 26 has been described as being arranged along the outer surface of the long wall 22b, but this is not limiting. When the first contacts 30 are arranged on the short wall 22a, the outer wall 26 may be arranged along the outer surface of the short wall 22a.

[0109] In the above embodiment, the first insulator 20 is described as being formed to be wide in the front-rear direction on the inner surface 28 adjacent to the recess 27, but this is not limited thereto. The first insulator 20 does not have to be formed to be wide in the front-rear direction on the inner surface 28. For example, the outer peripheral wall 22 may be formed to have a substantially uniform width.

[0110] In the above embodiment, the contact portion 32c is described as being located more inward of the outer peripheral wall 22 than the inner surface 28, but this is not limiting. The contact portion 32c may be formed inside the outer peripheral wall 22 at a position closer to the outer peripheral wall 22 than the inner surface 28.

[0111] In the above embodiment, the recess 27 is recessed one step outward in the front-rear direction relative to the inner surface 28, but the present invention is not limited to this. The recess 27 may be recessed two or more steps.

[0112] In the above embodiment, it has been described that one second contact 70 is located between the pair of first contacts 30 and contacts both of the pair of first contacts 30 when the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are mated with each other, but this is not limiting. The second connector 50 may have a pair of second contacts 70 that are located between the pair of first contacts 30 and that respectively contact the pair of first contacts 30 when the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are mated with each other.

[0113] In the above embodiment, the mounting portion 32 and the longitudinal wall 22b maintain their posture while tilting obliquely outward in the front-to-rear direction from bottom to top when the mated state is maintained, but this is not limiting. The mounting portion 32 and the longitudinal wall 22b do not need to be elastically deformed in the mated state after mating is complete.

[0114] In the above embodiment, three first contacts 30 are arranged along one longitudinal wall 22b, and the first connector 10 has a total of six first contacts 30. However, the first connector 10 is not limited to this. The first connector 10 may have any number of first contacts 30.

[0115] In the above embodiment, the first widths in the front-rear direction of the plurality of inner surfaces 28 arranged along the longitudinal wall 22b are constant. Similarly, the second widths in the front-rear direction of the longitudinal wall 22b of the plurality of recesses 27 arranged along the longitudinal wall 22b are constant. The first widths are greater than the second widths. The configuration is not limited to the above, and the first widths of the plurality of inner surfaces 28 of the longitudinal wall 22b may be different from one another, the second widths of the plurality of recesses 27 may be different from one another, or both may be possible.

[0116] For example, the longitudinal wall 22b may be formed such that at least one of the first width and the second width increases toward the center in the left-right direction, thereby reducing the deterioration of contact reliability of the first contacts 30 even when the first connector 10 has a larger number of first contacts 30 and has a more multi-polarized structure.

[0117] By forming the longitudinal walls 22b so that at least one of the first width and the second width increases toward the center of the longitudinal walls 22b, it is possible to reduce the amount of elastic deformation at the center of the first insulator 20 and obtain a substantially uniform amount of elastic deformation along the longitudinal walls 22b. This allows the first connector 10 to reduce a decrease in contact reliability of the first contacts 30. In addition, by reducing the amount of elastic deformation at the center of the longitudinal walls 22b, the first connector 10 can reduce plastic deformation at the center of the first insulator 20 in the left-right direction.

[0118] Although it has been described above that the longitudinal wall 22b may be formed such that at least one of the first width and the second width increases toward the center in the left-right direction, this is not limiting. In addition to or instead of the first width and the second width, the longitudinal wall 22b may be formed such that the width of the inner surface 28 in the left-right direction is greater than the width of the longitudinal wall 22b in the recess 27. Furthermore, the longitudinal wall 22b may be formed such that a portion of the outer peripheral wall 22 formed at the same left-right position as the inner surface 28 has a shape that increases in strength toward the center in the left-right direction. For example, the portion may be formed so as to be trapezoidal in top view. More specifically, the portion may be formed in an inverse tapered shape such that the width in the left-right direction increases from the inner side toward the outer side in the front-rear direction.

[0119] The first connector 10 and connector module 1 described above are mounted on an electronic device including a circuit board CB1 and a circuit board CB2. Examples of the electronic device include wearable devices such as smart watches, wireless earphones, and smart glasses, communication terminal devices such as smartphones, and information processing devices such as personal computers, copiers, printers, facsimiles, and multifunction devices. Other examples of the electronic device include any industrial equipment.

[0120] Such an electronic device can reduce a decrease in contact reliability of the first contacts 30 even when the first contacts 30 and the first insulator 20 are integrally molded in the first connector 10. Such an electronic device has good contact reliability in contacts including the first contacts 30 and the second contacts 70. Therefore, the reliability of the electronic device as a product is improved.

[0121] The following concepts can be extracted from the present disclosure. (1) A connector to be connected to a connection object, comprising: an insulator having a side wall of an outer peripheral wall and a first recess recessed from the inner surface of the side wall, the insulator mating with the connection object; and a plurality of first contacts having contact portions located inside the side wall, the first contacts being molded integrally with the side wall, the contact portions being located in the first recess, and the insulator being cut out on a side of the contact portions in an arrangement direction of the plurality of first contacts, the first contacts elastically deforming integrally with the side wall when the connector and the connection object are mated with each other. (2) The connector according to (1) above, wherein the first contacts are mounted on a circuit board and have a mounting portion located at one end of the first contact and a free end that is the other end opposite the one end, and the contact portion is located on the same side of the first contact as the free end. (3) The connector according to (2) above, wherein the first contact has the L-shaped mounting portion extending outward beyond the outer surface of the side wall, an attachment portion extending from the mounting portion in an inverted U-shape toward the opposite side from the circuit board and attached to the side wall from the outer surface to the inner surface of the first recess, the free end located on the opposite side of the attachment portion from the mounting portion, and the contact portion located on the same side of the attachment portion as the free end. (4) The connector according to (2) or (3) above, wherein the free end is exposed toward the circuit board from a bottom surface of the insulator facing the circuit board. (5) The connector according to any one of (2) to (4) above, wherein the free end is located on the opposite side of the circuit board from the mounting portion. (6) The connector according to any one of (2) to (5) above, wherein the first contact has a second recess located between the contact portion and the free end and recessed further than the contact portion and the free end. (7) The connector according to any one of (1) to (6) above, wherein the insulator has an outer wall that extends along an outer surface of the side wall into a region where the first contact is arranged.(8) The connector according to any one of (1) to (7) above, wherein the contact portion is located more inward than the inner surface of the side wall. (9) A connector module comprising: the connector according to any one of (1) to (8) above; and the connection object to be connected to the connector. (10) The connector module according to (9) above, wherein the connector has a pair of first contacts arranged so that the contact portions face each other, and the connection object has one second contact that is located between the pair of first contacts and contacts both of the pair of first contacts when the connector and the connection object are fitted together. (11) An electronic device comprising the connector according to any one of (1) to (8) above or the connector module according to (9) or (10) above.

[0122] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Connector module 10 First connector (connector) 20 First insulator (insulator) 21 Bottom plate portion 22 Outer peripheral wall 22a Short wall 22b Long wall (side wall) 23 Fitting recess 24 First contact holding groove 24a Penetration portion 24b First recess 24c Second recess 24d Third recess 25 First metal fitting attachment portion 25a First wall portion 25b Second wall portion 25c Third wall portion 25d First attachment groove 25e Second attachment groove 25f Third attachment groove 26 Outer wall 27 Recess (first recess) 28 Inner surface 30 First contact 31 Mounting portion 32 Attachment portion 32a Wide portion 32b Curved portion 32c Contact portion 32d Recess (second recess) 32e Free end 40 First metal fitting 41 First base portion 42 Second base portion 43 Projecting piece 44 First mounting portion 45 First locking portion 46 Contact portion 47 Projecting piece 47a Engaging portion 48 Second locking portion 49 Second mounting portion 50 Second connector (connection object) 60 Second insulator 61 Main body portion 62 Second contact holding groove 63 Second metal fitting holding groove 70 Second contact 71 Mounting portion 72 Base portion 73 Contact portion 80 Second metal fitting 81 First mounting portion 82 Base portion 83 Engaging portion 84 Extension portion 85 Wide portion 86 Second mounting portion 100 Mold CB1 Circuit board CB2 Circuit board

Claims

1. A connector to be connected to a connection object, an insulator having a side wall of an outer peripheral wall and a first recess recessed from an inner surface of the side wall, the insulator being adapted to be fitted with the connection object; a plurality of first contacts having contact portions located inside the sidewalls; Equipped with The first contact is the insulator is integrally formed with the side wall, the contact portion is disposed in the first recess, and the insulator is cut out on a side of the contact portion in a direction in which the first contacts are arranged, When the connector and the connection object are fitted together, the connector elastically deforms together with the side wall, a mounting portion that is mounted on a circuit board and that is located at one end of the first contact, and a free end that is the other end opposite to the one end, The contact portion is located on the same side of the first contact as the free end. connector.

2. 2. The connector of claim 1, the first contact has an L-shaped mounting portion extending outward beyond the outer surface of the side wall, an attachment portion extending from the mounting portion toward the opposite side to the circuit board in an inverted U-shape and attached to the side wall from the outer surface to the inner surface of the first recess, a free end located on the opposite side of the attachment portion to the mounting portion, and a contact portion located on the same side of the attachment portion as the free end. connector.

3. 3. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, the free end is exposed from a bottom surface of the insulator facing the circuit board toward the circuit board; connector.

4. 3. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, The free end is located on the opposite side of the mounting portion from the circuit board. connector.

5. 3. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, the first contact is located between the contact portion and the free end and has a second recess recessed below the contact portion and the free end; connector.

6. 3. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, the insulator has an outer wall extending along an outer surface of the side wall into a region in which the first contact is disposed; connector.

7. 3. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, the contact portion is located on the inner side of the side wall relative to the inner surface of the side wall; connector.

8. A connector according to claim 1 or 2; the connection object to be connected to the connector; Equipped with Connector module.

9. 9. The connector module of claim 8, the connector includes a pair of the first contacts arranged such that the contact portions face each other, the connection object has one second contact located between the pair of first contacts and in contact with both of the pair of first contacts when the connector and the connection object are fitted together; Connector module.

10. 3. An electronic device comprising the connector according to claim 1 or 2.

11. An electronic device comprising the connector module according to claim 8.