Connector set and connector assembly

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a connector set and a connector assembly that make it possible to prevent erroneous fitting between an end of a circuit board and a card edge connector which do not correspond to each other. [Solution] A connector set 9 includes a first card edge connector 7A and a second card edge connector 7B. The first and second card edge connectors are each provided with a plurality of wall bodies 31, 33, 35, 37 that demarcate an insertion hole 11 for accepting a corresponding end of a circuit board. At least one wall body of the first card edge connector is an erroneous insertion prevention wall body 37A, 35B the position of an end on the opposite side in the insertion direction with respect to an opening edge 44A, 44B of the insertion hole of which is different from that of the wall body of the corresponding second edge connector.

Description

Connector sets and connector assemblies

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector set including two card edge connectors and a connector assembly consisting of the connector set and a card edge set including two cards each connected to the card edge connectors, which connector set and connector assembly can prevent incorrect mating.

[0002] A connector assembly for preventing misconnection of connectors other than corresponding connectors is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). The connector assembly in Patent Document 1 includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector has a first surface from which a circuit board extends vertically. The second connector has a second surface formed with an insertion opening through which the circuit board of the first connector can be inserted.

[0003] A plurality of first holes are formed in the first surface of the first connector, and a plurality of second holes are formed in the second surface of the second connector at positions corresponding to the first holes. Some of the first holes on the first surface have mis-insertion prevention pins fitted therein to cover the holes. Some of the second holes on the second surface have embedded pins protruding therefrom.

[0004] When an attempt is made to insert the circuit board of the first connector into the insertion opening of the mating second connector, the embedded pins enter the corresponding second holes provided on the second surface, and the first and second connectors mate. On the other hand, when an attempt is made to insert the circuit board of the first connector into the insertion opening of the unmated second connector, the embedded pins collide with the mis-insertion prevention pin, preventing the first and second connectors from mating.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-209102

[0006] In the connector assembly described in Patent Document 1, a first connector is provided on a circuit board, an anti-misinsertion pin is fitted into a first surface of the first connector, and a recessed pin is protruded from a second surface of the second connector into which the circuit board is inserted, thereby preventing mis-mating.

[0007] However, there are cases where it is difficult to provide the first surface on the first connector, and in such cases, it is not possible to provide the first hole in the first connector, making it difficult to construct the connector assembly described in Patent Document 1.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above background, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connector set and a connector assembly that can prevent erroneous mating of an incompatible end of a circuit board with a card edge connector.

[0009] In order to solve the above problem, one aspect of the present invention is a connector set (9, 83) including a first card edge connector (7A) and a second card edge connector (7B), wherein the first card edge connector and the second card edge connector each have a plurality of walls (31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41) that define an insertion hole (11) that receives a corresponding end of a circuit board, and at least one of the walls of the first card edge connector is an incorrect insertion prevention wall (37A, 35B, 91A) whose end position on the opposite side of the insertion direction relative to the opening edge (44A, 44B, 44) of the insertion hole is different from that of the corresponding wall of the second card edge connector.

[0010] According to this aspect, the mis-insertion prevention wall cannot be inserted into the edge of the circuit board into which the second card edge connector is inserted, and by providing a notch into which a wall corresponding to the mis-insertion prevention wall of the second card edge connector can be inserted, it is possible to prevent the first card edge connector from being inserted into the edge of the circuit board into which the second card edge connector is inserted. Therefore, by using the connector set of this aspect, it is possible to prevent mis-mating of the card edge connector with an incompatible edge of the circuit board.

[0011] In the above aspect, the erroneous insertion prevention wall preferably defines an outer boundary of an end face of the circuit board inserted into the insertion hole.

[0012] According to this aspect, the first card edge connector can be provided with an erroneous insertion prevention wall with a simple configuration.

[0013] In the above aspect, the erroneous insertion prevention wall preferably forms a partition wall that partitions the insertion hole.

[0014] According to this aspect, the first card edge connector can be provided with an erroneous insertion prevention wall with a simple configuration.

[0015] In the above aspect, preferably, the erroneous insertion prevention wall protrudes in a direction opposite to the insertion direction beyond the corresponding wall of the second card edge connector.

[0016] According to this aspect, it is easy to distinguish between the first card edge connector and the second card edge connector.

[0017] In the above aspect, preferably, the first card edge connector and the second card edge connector each include, as the wall body, an upper wall (31) that defines the boundary of the front side of the circuit board received in the insertion hole and a lower wall (33) that defines the boundary of the back side, and ribs (49, 93) that connect the mis-insertion prevention wall and at least one of the upper wall and the lower wall are provided between the two.

[0018] According to this aspect, the rigidity of the erroneous insertion prevention wall can be increased.

[0019] In the above aspect, preferably, the connector assembly (1, 81) is composed of the connector set described above and a card edge set (5, 85) including a first card edge (3A) that forms an end of the circuit board and is to be inserted into the first card edge connector, and a second card edge (3B) that forms an end of the circuit board and is to be inserted into the second card edge connector, wherein the first card edge has a first notch (15AL, 15AR) cut out from an edge in the insertion direction and capable of receiving the mis-insertion prevention wall, and the second card edge has a second notch (15BL, 15BR) cut out from an edge in the insertion direction and unable to receive the mis-insertion prevention wall and capable of receiving the wall of the second card edge connector that corresponds to the mis-insertion prevention wall.

[0020] According to this aspect, the erroneous insertion prevention wall of the first card edge cannot be inserted into the notch provided in the second card edge, so that erroneous mating of the second card edge into the first card edge connector can be prevented.

[0021] In the above aspect, preferably, the first cutout has a longer cutout length than the second cutout.

[0022] According to this aspect, a simple configuration can be used to form a notch that can accommodate the mis-insertion prevention wall and a notch that can accommodate the wall of the second card edge connector that cannot accommodate the mis-insertion prevention wall but corresponds to the mis-insertion prevention wall.

[0023] According to the above aspects, it is possible to provide a connector set and a connector assembly that can prevent erroneous mating of an incompatible end of a circuit board with a card edge connector.

[0024] 1A-1D are perspective views of (A) a first edge connector, (B) a second edge connector, (C) a first card edge, and (D) a second card edge included in the connector assembly of the first embodiment; (A) a top view showing a state in which the first edge connector is fully mated with the first card edge, and (B) a state in which the second edge connector is fully mated with the second card edge; (B) a cross-sectional view taken along III-III in FIG. 2; (C) a perspective half-sectional view of the first edge connector taken along IV-IV in FIG. 1; (C) a perspective view of a terminal member; (A) a top view showing a state in which the second edge connector is inserted into the first card edge, and (B) a state in which the second edge connector is inserted into the first card edge; 12A and 12B are top cross-sectional views showing a case where a card edge is inserted into a second edge connector in an inverted state, and a case where a second card edge is inserted into a second edge connector in an inverted state. 13A and 13B are top cross-sectional views showing a case where a card edge is inserted into a second edge connector in an inverted state. 13B are top cross-sectional views showing a case where a card edge is inserted into a second edge connector in an inverted state. 13C are perspective views of a first edge connector, a second edge connector, a first card edge, and a second card edge included in a connector assembly according to a second embodiment. 13D are perspective cross-sectional views showing a state where a card edge is fully mated with a first card edge and a state where a card edge is fully mated with a second card edge. 13D are top cross-sectional views showing a case where a card edge is inserted into a first card edge and a state where a card edge is fully mated with a second card edge. 13D are top cross-sectional views showing a case where a card edge is inserted into a second card edge and a card edge insertion hole ... first card edge and a card edge insertion hole. 13D are top cross-sectional views showing a case where a card edge is inserted into a second card edge and a card edge insertion hole. 13D are top cross-sectional views showing a case where a card edge is inserted into a second card edge and a card edge insertion hole. 13D are top cross-sectional views showing a case where a card edge is inserted into a second card edge and a card edge insertion hole. 13D are top cross-sectional views showing a case where a

[0025] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a connector set and a connector assembly according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0026] (First embodiment) The connector assembly 1 according to the first embodiment includes a card edge set 5 that constitutes the ends of multiple circuit boards (hereinafter referred to as card edges 3), and a connector set 9 that consists of multiple card edge connectors (hereinafter referred to as edge connectors 7) that fit into the card edges 3, respectively.

[0027] 1A and 1B, the connector set 9 includes two edge connectors 7 (also referred to as card edge connectors). Hereinafter, the edge connector 7 shown in FIG. 1A will be referred to as the first edge connector 7A (also referred to as the first card edge connector), and the edge connector 7 shown in FIG. 1B will be referred to as the second edge connector 7B (also referred to as the second card edge connector). The first edge connector 7A and the second edge connector 7B each have card edge insertion holes 11 of the same shape that receive the corresponding card edge 3.

[0028] 1(C) and 1(D), the card edge set 5 includes two card edges 3. The card edges 3 are mated by being inserted into the card edge insertion holes 11 of the corresponding edge connectors 7. Hereinafter, the card edge 3 mated with the first edge connector 7A will be referred to as the first card edge 3A (see FIG. 1(C)), and the card edge 3 mated with the second edge connector 7B will be referred to as the second card edge 3B (see FIG. 1(D)).

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D , the first card edge 3A and the second card edge 3B each constitute a rear edge (edge ​​portion) of the circuit board. The circuit board may be a plate-shaped substrate, such as a printed circuit board (PCB). Metal pads 13 are provided on the front surfaces (front faces) of the first card edge 3A and the second card edge 3B. In this embodiment, the first card edge 3A and the second card edge 3B each have two pads 13, each having a rectangular shape extending in the front-to-rear direction. The first card edge 3A and the second card edge 3B may each be provided on separate circuit boards, or the first card edge 3A and the second card edge 3B may each be provided on a single circuit board.

[0030] In the following description, the insertion direction (also referred to as the insertion direction) of the card edge 3 into the edge connector 7 is defined as rearward, and the direction in which the surface (front surface) of the card edge 3 faces is defined as upward. In the following description, for example, the opposite insertion direction corresponds to the forward direction. However, this definition of direction is for convenience of explanation and is not limited to this.

[0031] As shown in Figures 1C and 1D, the first card edge 3A and the second card edge 3B each have a pair of left and right notches 15 cut forward at their rear edges. Each notch 15 is approximately rectangular and extends forward from the rear edge. By providing the notches 15, the first card edge 3A and the second card edge 3B each have a substantially rectangular card edge base 17 constituting a front portion and a card edge extension 19 extending rearward from either the left or right side of the rear edge of the card edge base 17. Hereinafter, the rear surface of the card edge base 17 that is not connected to the card edge extension 19 will be referred to as the abutment end surface 17S. The abutment end surface 17S defines the rear side surface of the notch 15. The card edge base 17 and the card edge extension 19 form a step 22 at the rear of the card edge 3.

[0032] Hereinafter, of the notches 15 (also referred to as first notches) of the first card edge 3A, the left notch 15 and the right notch 15 will be referred to as first left notch 15AL and first right notch 15AR, respectively. Also, of the notches 15 (also referred to as second notches) of the second card edge 3B, the left notch 15 and the right notch 15 will be referred to as second left notch 15BL and second right notch 15BR, respectively.

[0033] 1C and 1D and 2, the notch length of the first right cutout 15AR is longer than the notch length of the first left cutout 15AL. The notch length of the second left cutout 15BL is longer than the notch length of the second right cutout 15BR. The notch lengths of the first right cutout 15AR and the second left cutout 15BL are approximately equal, and the notch lengths of the first left cutout 15AL and the second right cutout 15BR are approximately equal.

[0034] Each card edge extension 19 has a slit 21 extending forward from its rear edge. The slit 21 is located approximately in the center of the card edge extension 19 in the left-right direction, slightly offset to the right. In this embodiment, the card edge extension 19 of the first card edge 3A and the card edge extension 19 of the second card edge 3B have the same shape. In this embodiment, each card edge extension 19 also has auxiliary slits 23 extending inward from both the left and right edges.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 3, each of the first edge connector 7A and the second edge connector 7B includes a housing 25 and a plurality of terminal members 27 supported by the housing 25.

[0036] 1A and 1B, the housing 25 is made of insulating resin and includes a main body 25M having a rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in the left-right direction, and a protruding portion 25N having a rectangular parallelepiped shape protruding rearward from the main body 25M.

[0037] The card edge insertion hole 11 is provided in the lower half of the front surface of the main body 25M and is recessed toward the rear. The card edge insertion hole 11 of the first edge connector 7A and the card edge insertion hole 11 of the second edge connector 7B have the same shape.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, each card edge insertion hole 11 is defined by an upper wall 31, a lower wall 33, a left wall 35, a right wall 37, a rear wall 39, and a partition wall 41.

[0039] 1 , the upper wall 31 defines the upper surface of the card edge insertion hole 11, i.e., the boundary on the front side of the circuit board inserted into the card edge insertion hole 11. The lower wall 33 defines the lower surface of the card edge insertion hole 11, i.e., the boundary on the back side of the card edge 3 inserted into the card edge insertion hole 11. The left wall 35 defines the left surface of the card edge insertion hole 11, i.e., the boundary on the outer left side (outer left end surface) of the left end surface of the card edge 3 inserted into the card edge insertion hole 11. The right wall 37 defines the right surface of the card edge insertion hole 11, i.e., the boundary on the outer right side (outer right end surface) of the right end surface of the card edge 3 inserted into the card edge insertion hole 11.

[0040] 4, the rear wall 39 defines the front surface of the card edge insertion hole 11, i.e., at least a portion of the rear boundary of the card edge 3 inserted into the card edge insertion hole 11. The upper wall 31, the lower wall 33, the right wall 37, and the left wall 35 each have a surface at their front end that faces forward.

[0041] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 , gaps 40A are formed between the rear wall 39 and the left wall 35, and between the rear wall 39 and the right wall 37. Furthermore, slits 40B extending from rear to front are formed between the rear of the top wall 31 and the rear of the left wall 35, and between the rear of the top wall 31 and the rear of the right wall 37. Slits 40C are formed on both left and right edges of the top wall 31, extending forward from near the rear end, passing near the left and right edges of the rear wall 39, and then continuing forward. The slits 40B and 40C form cantilevered locking pieces 42A supported at their front ends on both left and right edges of the top wall 31. Each of the locking pieces 42A has a locking claw 42B protruding downward. When the card edge 3 is fully inserted into the card edge insertion hole 11, the locking claw 42B enters the auxiliary slit 23, locking the card edge 3 to the housing 25 (edge ​​connector 7).

[0042] The partition wall 41 has a main surface facing the left-right direction, is a wall extending in the front-rear direction, and is connected at its upper end to the upper wall 31 and at its lower end to the lower wall 33. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 , the partition wall 41 is further connected at its rear end to the rear wall 39, but the partition wall 41 does not necessarily have to be connected to the rear wall 39. The partition wall 41 divides the card edge insertion hole 11 into two parts, left and right, and separates the card edge insertion hole 11 into two parts. In this embodiment, the partition wall 41 is located slightly to the right of the card edge insertion hole 11.

[0043] In both the first edge connector 7A and the second edge connector 7B, the front end of the partition wall 41 is located rearward of the front ends of the upper wall 31 , the lower wall 33 , the left wall 35 , and the right wall 37 .

[0044] Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the upper wall 31, lower wall 33, left wall 35, right wall 37, rear wall 39, and partition wall 41 of the first edge connector 7A will be referred to as the first upper wall 31A, first lower wall 33A, first left wall 35A, first right wall 37A, first rear wall 39A, and first partition wall 41A, respectively. Similarly, the upper wall 31, lower wall 33, left wall 35, right wall 37, rear wall 39, and partition wall 41 of the second edge connector 7B will be referred to as the second upper wall 31B, second lower wall 33B, second left wall 35B, second right wall 37B, second rear wall 39B, and second partition wall 41B, respectively.

[0045] The front ends of the first upper wall 31A and the first lower wall 33A are located at the same position in the front-to-rear direction. The second upper wall 31B and the second lower wall 33B have the same shape as the first upper wall 31A and the first lower wall 33A, respectively, and the front ends of the second upper wall 31B and the second lower wall 33B are also located at the same position in the front-to-rear direction.

[0046] The first right wall 37A extends further forward than the first upper wall 31A and the first lower wall 33A. Meanwhile, the front end of the second right wall 37B is located at the same position in the front-to-rear direction as the front ends of the second upper wall 31B and the second lower wall 33B. That is, when the front ends of the first upper wall 31A and the second upper wall 31B are aligned in the front-to-rear direction (side by side), the front end of the first right wall 37A (the end opposite the insertion direction) is located at a different position in the front-to-rear direction from the front end of the second right wall 37B, and the front end of the first right wall 37A is located further forward than the front end of the second right wall 37B.

[0047] In the first edge connector 7A, the opening edge 44A of the card edge insertion hole 11 is defined by the first upper wall 31A, the first left wall 35A, the first lower wall 33A, and the first right wall 37A, portions of which are aligned in the front-to-back direction with the front edges of the first upper wall 31A and the first lower wall 33A (see Figure 1 (A)).

[0048] In the second edge connector 7B, the opening edge 44B of the card edge insertion hole 11 is defined by the second upper wall 31B, the second right wall 37B, the second lower wall 33B, and the second left wall 35B, portions of which are aligned in the front-to-back direction with the front edges of the second upper wall 31B and the second lower wall 33B (see Figure 1 (B)).

[0049] The position of the front end of the first right wall 37A relative to the opening edge 44A is different from the position of the front end of the second right wall 37B relative to the opening edge 44A. Specifically, the position of the front end of the first right wall 37A relative to the opening edge 44A is located further forward than the position of the front end of the second right wall 37B.

[0050] A front portion of the first right wall 37A, which is in front of the first upper wall 31A and the first lower wall 33A (hereinafter referred to as the first protruding wall 43), is provided with a plurality of ribs 45 extending in the front-rear direction on its left side surface. The rear ends of the ribs 45 are connected to the first upper wall 31A or the first upper wall 31A, respectively. In this embodiment, the first right wall 37A is provided with two ribs 45 connected to the upper and lower edges of the first upper wall 31A, respectively, and one rib 45 connected to the first lower wall 33A.

[0051] The ribs 45 provided on the first protruding wall 43 are configured so that the protruding height, i.e., the protruding height in the left direction, increases toward the rear (main body 25M). As a result, the protruding end faces of the ribs 45 form inclined faces 45S that are inclined leftward toward the rear (main body 25M side).

[0052] The second left wall 35B extends further forward than the second upper wall 31B and the second lower wall 33B. Meanwhile, the front end of the first left wall 35A is located at the same position in the front-to-rear direction as the front ends of the first upper wall 31A and the first lower wall 33A. That is, when the front ends of the first upper wall 31A and the second upper wall 31B are aligned in the front-to-rear direction (side by side), the front end of the second left wall 35B (the end opposite the insertion direction) is located at a different position in the front-to-rear direction from the front end of the first left wall 35A, and the front end of the second left wall 35B is located further forward than the front end of the first left wall 35A.

[0053] 2A and 2B, the distance from the front end surface of the first right wall 37A to the first rear wall 39A is shorter than the notch length of the first right notch 15AR and longer than the notch length of the second right notch 15BR. The distance from the front end surface of the second left wall 35B to the second rear wall 39B is shorter than the notch length of the second left notch 15BL and longer than the notch length of the first right notch 15AR.

[0054] 1B , a front portion of the second left wall 35B, which is in front of the second upper wall 31B and the second lower wall 33B (hereinafter referred to as the second protruding wall 47), has a plurality of ribs 49 extending in the front-rear direction on its right side. The rear ends of the ribs 49 are connected to the second upper wall 31B or the second upper wall 31B, respectively. In this embodiment, the second left wall 35B has two ribs 49 connected to the upper and lower edges of the second upper wall 31B, respectively, and one rib 49 connected to the second lower wall 33B.

[0055] The ribs 49 provided on the second projecting wall 47 are configured so that the protruding height increases toward the rear (main body 25M), and the protruding end faces of the ribs 49 form inclined surfaces 49S that slope rightward toward the rear (main body 25M).

[0056] 1A and 1B, the first edge connector 7A, excluding the first protruding wall 43 and the rib 45 provided on the first protruding wall 43 (hereinafter referred to as a connector body 51), and the second edge connector 7B, excluding the second protruding wall 47 and the rib 49 provided on the second protruding wall 47, have the same shape. In other words, it can be said that the first edge connector 7A includes the connector body 51 and the first protruding wall 43, and the second edge connector 7B includes the connector body 51 and the second protruding wall 47.

[0057] A plurality of terminal insertion holes 59 (two in this embodiment) are provided on the rear surface of the housing 25. As shown in FIG. 3 , each of the terminal insertion holes 59 opens at the rear surface of the protrusion 25N and extends forward. The terminal insertion holes 59 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, each of the terminal insertion holes 59 extends from the upper half of the rear surface of the protrusion 25N to the front surface of the top wall 31 and opens at the front surface of the top wall 31.

[0058] Each terminal insertion hole 59 is provided with a communication hole 59M that communicates with the card edge insertion hole 11. The communication hole 59M is preferably provided in the front portion of the terminal insertion hole 59.

[0059] A lance piece 61 for engaging the terminal member 27 is provided on the wall defining the upper edge of the terminal insertion hole 59. The lance piece 61 is in the form of a cantilever that extends forward from the upper rear edge of the housing 25. A downwardly projecting engaging projection 61M is provided on the free end of the lance piece 61.

[0060] The terminal member 27 is a sheet metal member formed by bending a pressed metal plate. As shown in Fig. 5, the terminal member 27 includes a crimping portion 63, a housing 65 provided in front of the crimping portion 63, and a spring piece 67 supported by the housing 65.

[0061] The crimping portion 63 has a cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction. A conductor 69M, which is a core wire of the cable 69, is inserted into an inner hole of the crimping portion 63 and is crimped to the crimping portion 63. In this way, the terminal member 27 is electrically connected to the conductor 69M.

[0062] The housing 65 has a groove-shaped cross section that opens downward. As shown in Figure 3, the housing 65 has a locking hole 65M that penetrates vertically. The locking projection 61M of the lance piece 61 projects into the locking hole 65M, thereby locking the terminal member 27 to the housing 25.

[0063] In this embodiment, an opening 65N penetrating in the vertical direction is provided on the bottom surface of the housing 65. A retainer insertion hole 59N communicating with the terminal insertion hole 59 is provided in the bottom wall 33 that defines the lower side of the terminal insertion hole 59. A resin retainer 64 is inserted into the retainer insertion hole 59N. The retainer 64 is supported by the housing 25 by being inserted into the retainer insertion hole 59N. The upper end of the retainer 64 protrudes into the opening 65N and engages the terminal member 27 with the housing 25.

[0064] As shown in Figure 5, the spring piece 67 is housed in the housing 65. The base end of the spring piece 67 is connected to the housing 65. A pressing portion 67M and a contact portion 67N that protrude downward are provided on the underside of the spring piece 67. The pressing portion 67M and the contact portion 67N are formed by embossed portions of the spring piece 67 that protrude downward. The pressing portion 67M is located behind the contact portion 67N.

[0065] 3, the terminal members 27 are inserted into the terminal insertion holes 59. The spring pieces 67 protrude into the card edge insertion holes 11 through the communication holes 59M. When the card edge 3 is not inserted into the card edge insertion holes 11, the pressing portions 67M are positioned inside the card edge insertion holes 11.

[0066] Next, the effects of the connector assembly 1 and connector set 9 configured as above will be described.

[0067] As shown in Figure 2 (A), when the first edge connector 7A is fully engaged with the first card edge 3A, the card edge extension portion 19 of the first card edge 3A abuts against the first rear wall 39A and is completely accommodated in the card edge insertion hole 11 of the first edge connector 7A.

[0068] The distance from the front end face of the first right wall 37A to the first rear wall 39A is shorter than the length of the first right notch 15AR. Therefore, the first right wall 37A is accommodated within the first right notch 15AR, along the right edge of the card edge extension 19 of the first card edge 3A. The first partition wall 41A is accommodated in the slit 21.

[0069] When the first card edge 3A is inserted into the card edge insertion hole 11 of the first edge connector 7A, the first card edge 3A comes into contact with the pressing portion 67M, which moves toward the bottom wall of the housing 65. This causes the contact portion 67N to move toward the card edge insertion hole 11. When the first edge connector 7A is completely mated with the first card edge 3A, as shown in FIG. 3 , the contact portions 67N are in contact with the pads 13 of the first card edge 3A.

[0070] As shown in Figure 2 (B), when the second edge connector 7B is fully engaged with the second card edge 3B, the card edge extension portion 19 of the second card edge 3B abuts against the second rear wall 39B and is completely accommodated in the card edge insertion hole 11 of the second edge connector 7B.

[0071] The distance from the front end face of the second left wall 35B to the second rear wall 39B is shorter than the length of the second left notch 15BL. Therefore, the second left wall 35B is accommodated within the second left notch 15BL while being positioned along the left edge of the card edge extension 19 of the second card edge 3B. The second partition wall 41B is accommodated in the slit 21.

[0072] The front end face of the first right wall 37A is positioned further forward relative to the opening edge 44A than the front end face of the second right wall 37B, and the card edge insertion holes 11 of the first edge connector 7A and the second edge connector 7B have the same shape. The distance between the front end face of the first right wall 37A and the first rear wall 39A is greater than the distance between the front end face of the second right wall 37B and the second rear wall 39B, and is greater than the length of the second right cutout 15BR. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6A , when an operator attempts to insert a second card edge 3B into the first edge connector 7A, the second card edge 3B cannot be inserted into the first edge connector 7A until the front end face of the first right wall 37A abuts against the abutment end face 17S and the card edge extension 19 of the second card edge 3B abuts against the first rear wall 39A. This prevents mis-mating of the first edge connector 7A with the incompatible second card edge 3B. That is, the first right wall 37A cooperates with the second right cutout 15BR to function as a mis-mating prevention wall that prevents mis-mating.

[0073] In this embodiment, the terminal members 27 are configured not to abut against the pads 13 of the second card edge 3B when the second card edge 3B cannot be inserted into the first edge connector 7A until the card edge extension 19 of the second card edge 3B abuts against the first rear wall 39A. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 7, there is no conductive connection between the terminal members 27 of the first edge connector 7A and the pads 13 of the second card edge 3B.

[0074] In this way, by providing a notch 15 in the card edge 3 (edge ​​of the circuit board) that cannot accommodate the mis-insertion prevention wall (first right wall 37A) of the first edge connector 7A and can accommodate the wall (second right wall 37B) corresponding to the mis-insertion prevention wall of the second edge connector 7B, the second card edge 3B cannot be inserted into the first edge connector 7A. Therefore, the connector set 9 including the first edge connector 7A and the second edge connector 7B can prevent mis-mating.

[0075] Similarly, as shown in FIG. 6B , when an operator attempts to insert a first card edge 3A into the second edge connector 7B, the second card edge 3B cannot be inserted into the first edge connector 7A until the front end surface of the second left wall 35B abuts against the abutment end surface 17S and the card edge extension 19 of the first card edge 3A abuts against the first rear wall 39A. This prevents mis-mating of the second edge connector 7B with an incompatible first card edge 3A. That is, the second left wall 35B cooperates with the first left cutout 15AL to function as a mis-mating prevention wall that prevents mis-mating.

[0076] The mis-mating prevention wall is configured by changing the position and extension length of the end of the first right wall 37A or the second left wall 37B, resulting in a simple configuration. Furthermore, because the first right wall 37A and the second right wall 37B each protrude forward beyond the edge of the card edge insertion hole 11, an operator can easily visually distinguish between the first edge connector 7A and the second edge connector 7B.

[0077] 1A and 1B, ribs 45, 49 are provided on the front portion of the first right wall 37A and the front portion of the second left wall 35B, respectively, which increases the rigidity of the front portions of the first right wall 37A and the second left wall 35B that protrude forward from the opening edges 44A, 44B of the card edge insertion hole 11.

[0078] The partition wall 41 is located at a position offset to the right in the card edge insertion hole 11, and the slit 21 is also located at a position offset to the right in the card edge extension portion 19. Therefore, when attempting to insert the first card edge 3A upside down into the first edge connector 7A as shown in FIG. 8A, the partition wall 41 abuts against the rear end of the first card edge 3A, preventing it from being inserted into the slit 21 as shown in FIG. 9A. Therefore, the first card edge 3A cannot be inserted into the first edge connector 7A. Furthermore, when attempting to insert the second card edge 3B upside down into the second edge connector 7B as shown in FIG. 8B, the partition wall 41 abuts against the rear end of the second card edge 3B, preventing it from being inserted into the slit 21 as shown in FIG. 9B. Therefore, the second card edge 3B cannot be inserted into the second edge connector 7B. In this way, by providing the partition wall 41 at a position biased to either the left or right side of the card edge insertion hole 11, it is possible to prevent the card edge 3 from being inserted incorrectly due to being upside down.

[0079] Second Embodiment Similar to the first embodiment, a connector assembly 81 according to the second embodiment includes a connector set 83 including a first edge connector 7A and a second edge connector 7B, and a card edge set 85 including a first card edge 3A and a second card edge 3B. However, as shown in FIGS. 10A to 10D , the left wall 35, the right wall 37, and the partition wall 91 of the housing 25 of the first edge connector 7A and the second edge connector 7B are different from those of the first embodiment. Furthermore, the lengths of the notches 15 and the slits 21 of the first card edge 3A and the second card edge 3B are different from those of the first embodiment. The other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, a description of the other configurations will be omitted.

[0080] In the second embodiment, the front ends of the first right wall 37A, first left wall 35A, first upper wall 31A, and first lower wall 33A of the first edge connector 7A are aligned in the front-to-rear direction, and the opening edge 44 of the card edge insertion hole 11 of the first edge connector 7A is defined by the front ends of the first right wall 37A, first left wall 35A, first upper wall 31A, and first lower wall 33A.

[0081] The front ends of the second right wall 37B, second left wall 35B, second upper wall 31B, and second lower wall 33B of the second edge connector 7B are aligned in the front-to-rear direction. The opening edge 44 of the card edge insertion hole 11 of the second edge connector 7B is defined by the front ends of the second right wall 37B, second left wall 35B, second upper wall 31B, and second lower wall 33B.

[0082] The front end face of the first partition wall 91A is located forward of the front ends of the first right wall 37A, the first left wall 35A, the first upper wall 31A, and the first lower wall 33A. In other words, the front end face of the first partition wall 91A is located forward of the opening edge 44 of the card edge insertion hole 11.

[0083] On the other hand, the front end face of the second partition wall 91B is located rearward of the front end of the second right wall 37B, the front end of the second left wall 35B, the front end of the second upper wall 31B, and the front end of the second lower wall 33B, i.e., the front end face of the second partition wall 91B is located rearward of the opening edge 44 of the card edge insertion hole 11.

[0084] That is, when the front ends of the first upper wall 31A and the second upper wall 31B are aligned in the front-to-rear direction (side by side), the position of the front end of the first partition wall 91A (the end opposite the insertion direction) differs from the position of the front end of the second partition wall 91B in the front-to-rear direction, and the front end of the first partition wall 91A is located further forward than the front end of the second partition wall 91B. As shown in Figures 11A and 11B, the distance between the front end of the first partition wall 91A and the first rear wall 39A is greater than the distance between the front end of the second partition wall 91B and the second rear wall 39B. Furthermore, the position of the front end surface of the first partition wall 91A relative to the opening edge 44 differs from that of the second partition wall 91B.

[0085] The card edge insertion hole 11 provided in the first edge connector 7A and the card edge insertion hole 11 provided in the second edge connector 7B are generally the same shape, although they do not exactly match because the shapes of the first partition wall 91A and the second partition wall 91B are different.

[0086] As shown in FIG. 10A , a plurality of ribs 93 extending in the front-rear direction are provided in the front portion of the first partition wall 91A, in a portion forward of the first upper wall 31A and the first lower wall 33A. Each of the ribs 93 extends rearward from near the front edge of the first partition wall 91A and is connected at its rear end to the first upper wall 31A or the first lower wall 33A. In this embodiment, the first partition wall is provided with two ribs 93, one connected to the lower edge of the first upper wall 31A and the other to the first lower wall 33A. The provision of the ribs 93 increases the rigidity of the front portion of the first partition wall 91A. In this embodiment, the protruding height (protruding amount in the right direction) of the ribs 93 from the first partition wall 91A increases toward the rear.

[0087] Similar to the first embodiment, the first card edge 3A and the second card edge 3B each include a card edge base 17 and a card edge extension 19. Notches 15 are provided on both the left and right edges of the rear ends of the first card edge 3A and the second card edge 3B. As a result, in the first card edge 3A and the second card edge 3B, the card edge extensions 19 extend rearward from the center of the rear edge of the card edge base 17 in the left-right direction. The notches 15 have substantially the same shape, and the length of each notch is greater than the distance between the front end of the first right wall 37A and the first rear wall 39A, the distance between the front end of the first left wall 35A and the first rear wall 39A, the distance between the front end of the second right wall 37B and the second rear wall 39B, and the distance between the front end of the second left wall 35B and the second rear wall 39B.

[0088] The slit 21 of the first card edge 3A (hereinafter referred to as the first slit 21A) and the slit 21 of the second card edge 3B (hereinafter referred to as the second slit 21B) each extend forward from the rear edge of the card edge extension 19.

[0089] The cutout length of the first slit 21A is longer than any of the distance between the front end face of the first partition wall 91A and the first rear wall 39A, the distance between the front end face of the second partition wall 91B and the second rear wall 39B, and the cutout length of the second slit 21B. The first slit 21A also extends forward beyond the rear end face of the card edge extension 19 and reaches the card edge base 17.

[0090] The cutout length of the second slit 21B is shorter than both the distance between the front end face of the first partition wall 91A and the first rear wall 39A and the cutout length of the first slit 21A, and is longer than the distance between the front end face of the second partition wall 91B and the second rear wall 39B. The rear end of the second slit 21B does not reach the card edge base 17.

[0091] Next, the effects of the connector assembly 81 and the connector set 83 according to the second embodiment will be described.

[0092] When the first edge connector 7A is fully mated with the first card edge 3A, as shown in Figure 11A, the card edge extension 19 of the first card edge 3A abuts against the first rear wall 39A and is completely housed in the card edge insertion hole 11 of the first edge connector 7A. At this time, the terminal members 27 are in contact with the corresponding pads 13.

[0093] The cutout length of the first slit 21A is longer than the distance between the front end face of the first partition wall 91A and the first rear wall 39A. Therefore, the first partition wall 91A is received in the first slit 21A. Furthermore, the length of the cutout 15 is longer than both the distance between the front end of the first right wall 37A and the first rear wall 39A and the distance between the front end of the first left wall 35A and the first rear wall 39A. Therefore, the first right wall 37A and the first left wall 35A are received in the cutout 15. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11A , when fully mated, the first right wall 37A and the first left wall 35A may be spaced apart from or in contact with the rear end face of the card edge base 17 of the first card edge 3A.

[0094] When the second edge connector 7B is fully mated with the second card edge 3B, as shown in Figure 11(B), the card edge extension 19 of the second card edge 3B abuts against the second rear wall 39B and is completely housed in the card edge insertion hole 11 of the second edge connector 7B. At this time, the terminal members 27 are in contact with the corresponding pads 13.

[0095] The cutout length of the second slit 21B is longer than the distance between the front end surface of the second partition wall 91B and the second rear wall 39B. Therefore, the second partition wall 91B is received in the second slit 21B. Furthermore, the length of the cutout portion 15 is longer than both the distance between the front end of the second right wall 37B and the second rear wall 39B and the distance between the front end of the second left wall 35B and the second rear wall 39B. Therefore, the second right wall 37B and the second left wall 35B are received in the cutout portion 15. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11B , when fully mated, the second right wall 37B and the second left wall 35B may be spaced apart from or in contact with the rear end surface of the card edge base 17 of the second card edge 3B.

[0096] The front end face of the first partition wall 91A is positioned further forward than the front end face of the second partition wall 91B relative to the opening edge 44, and the card edge insertion holes 11 of the first edge connector 7A and the second edge connector 7B have the same shape. The distance between the front end face of the first partition wall 91A and the first rear wall 39A is longer than the cutout length of the second slit 21B. Therefore, as shown in Figures 12(A) and 12(B), when attempting to insert a second card edge 3B into the first edge connector 7A, the front end face of the first partition wall 91A abuts against the wall surface defining the second slit 21B, and the operator cannot insert the second card edge 3B into the first edge connector 7A until the first rear wall 39A abuts against the card edge extension 19 of the second card edge 3B. This prevents mis-mating of the first edge connector 7A with an incompatible second card edge 3B. In other words, the first partition wall 91A cooperates with the second slit 21B to function as an erroneous mating prevention wall that prevents the first edge connector 7A from mating with the second card edge 3B.

[0097] When inserting the second card edge 3B into the first edge connector 7A, the terminal members 27 do not contact the pads 13, as shown in FIG. 13 , until the front end face of the first partition wall 91A abuts against the wall surface defining the second slit 21B. Therefore, even when the second card edge 3B is inserted into the first edge connector 7A, an electrical connection between the terminal members 27 of the first edge connector 7A and the pads 13 of the second card edge 3B is prevented. In this way, by differentiating the position of the front end face of the first partition wall 91A relative to the first rear wall 39A (i.e., the position of the front end face of the first partition wall 91A relative to the opening edge 44) from the position of the front end face of the second partition wall 91B relative to the second rear wall 39B (i.e., the position of the front end face of the second partition wall 91B relative to the opening edge 44), a mis-mating prevention wall can be easily formed, thereby preventing mis-mating.

[0098] In the second embodiment, the partition wall 91 is also provided in a position offset to the right in the card edge insertion hole 11, and the slit 21 is also provided in a corresponding position offset to the right in the card edge extension 19. By providing the partition wall 91 in a position offset to either the left or right in the card edge insertion hole 11 in this way, it is possible to prevent erroneous insertion of the card edge 3 due to inversion, as in the first embodiment.

[0099] Although the description of the specific embodiment has been completed above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and its modifications, and can be modified in a wide range of ways.

[0100] In the first and second embodiments described above, the first card edge 3A and the second card edge 3B are provided on separate circuit boards, respectively, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. Furthermore, as shown in a first modified example in Fig. 14(A), the first card edge 3A and the second card edge 3B may be connected to each other and integrated, or the first card edge 3A and the second card edge 3B may each be provided on a single circuit board.

[0101] 14(B), the first card edge 3A may be provided with a notch 95A spaced apart in front of the first left notch 15AL in addition to the first left notch 15AL and the first right notch 15AR, and the second card edge 3B may be provided with a notch 95B spaced apart in front of the second right notch 15BR in addition to the second left notch 15BL and the second right notch 15BR. As a result, the first card edge 3A and the second card edge 3B may be configured to include protrusions 97 that protrude outward to the left and right from the left and right edges of the card edge base 17, respectively.

[0102] The card edge set 5 may include three or more card edges 3 , and the connector set 9 may include three or more edge connectors 7 corresponding to the card edges 3 respectively.

[0103] For example, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15 , the connector set 9 may include a third edge connector 7C that does not have the first protruding wall 43 and the second protruding wall 47, in addition to the first edge connector 7A and the second edge connector 7B of the first embodiment. The card edge set 5 may also include a third edge connector 7C that has a third left notch 15CL on its front left edge and a third right notch 15CR on its front right edge, in addition to the first edge connector 7A and the second edge connector 7B of the first embodiment. The lengths of the third left notch 15CL and the third right notch 15CR may be set equal to the length of the first left notch 15AL. This prevents mis-mating of the first edge connector 7A with the second edge connector 7B and the third edge connector 7C, and prevents mis-mating of the second edge connector 7B with the first edge connector 7A and the third edge connector 7C.

[0104] In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16 , in addition to the first edge connector 7A and second edge connector 7B of the second embodiment, the connector set 83 may include a third edge connector 7C, which differs from the first and second embodiments in the distance between the front end of the partition wall 41 and the rear wall 39. FIG. 15 shows an example in which the distance between the front end of the partition wall 41 and the rear wall 39 in the third edge connector 7C is set shorter than that in the second edge connector 7B. In this case, the cutout length of the slit 21 (third slit 21C) in the third edge connector 7C may be set shorter than the first slit 21A and the second slit 21B. This prevents mis-mating of the first edge connector 7A with the second card edge 3B and the third card edge 3C, and mis-mating of the second edge connector 7B with the third card edge 3C. In this way, the provision of the mis-mating prevention wall prevents mis-mating in at least one incompatible combination of card edges 3 and edge connectors 7.

[0105] In the above embodiment, when the edge connector 7 is fully mated with the card edge 3, the card edge 3 abuts against the rear wall 39, but this is not limited to this, and a slight gap may be formed between the card edge 3 and the rear wall 39 due to, for example, manufacturing errors. Alternatively, the full mating of the edge connector 7 with the card edge 3 may be determined based on electrical contact between the terminal members 27 provided on the edge connector 7 and the corresponding pads 13 provided on the card edge 3, or based on whether the terminal members 27 and the corresponding pads 13 are in the correct positions.

[0106] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: Connector assembly according to first embodiment 3: Card edge 3A: First card edge 3B: Second card edge 3C: Third card edge 5: Card edge set according to first embodiment 7: Edge connector 7A: First edge connector 7B: Second edge connector 7C: Third edge connector 9: Connector set according to first embodiment 11: Card edge insertion hole (insertion hole) 13: Pad 15: Notch 15AL: First left notch (first notch) 15AR: First right notch (first notch) 15BL: Second left notch (second notch) 15BR: Second right notch (second notch) 15CL: Third left notch 15CR: Third right notch 17: Card edge base 17S: Contact end face 19 : Card edge extension 21 : Slit 21A : First slit 21B : Second slit 21C : Third slit 22 : Step 23 : Auxiliary slit 25 : Housing 25M : Main body 25N : Protrusion 27 : Terminal member 31 : Upper wall 31A : First upper wall 31B : Second upper wall (mis-mating prevention wall) 33 : Lower wall 33A : First lower wall (mis-mating prevention wall) 33B : Second lower wall 35 : Left wall 35A : First left wall 35B : Second left wall 37 : Right wall 37A : First right wall 37B : Second right wall 39 : Rear wall 39A : First rear wall 39B : Second rear wall 41 : Partition wall 40A : Gap 40B : Slit 40C : Slit 41A : First partition wall 41B : Second partition wall 42A : Locking piece 42B : Locking claw 43 : First projecting wall 44 : Opening edge 44A : Opening edge 44B : Opening edge 45 : Rib 45S : Inclined surface 47 : Second projecting wall 49 : Rib 49S : Inclined surface 51 : Connector body 59 : Terminal insertion hole 59M : Communication hole 59N : Retainer insertion hole 61 : Lance piece 61M : Locking protrusion 63 : Crimping portion 64 : Retainer 65 : Housing 65M : Locking hole 65N : Opening 67 : Spring piece 67M : Pressing portion 67N : Contact portion69: Cable 69M: Conductor 81: Connector assembly according to second embodiment 83: Connector set according to second embodiment 85: Card edge set according to second embodiment 91: Partition wall 91A: First partition wall (mis-mating prevention wall) 91B: Second partition wall 93: Rib 95A: Notch 95B: Notch 97: Protrusion

Claims

1. A connector set including a first card edge connector and a second card edge connector, The first card edge connector and the second card edge connector each include: a plurality of walls defining insertion holes for receiving corresponding ends of a circuit board; A connector set in which at least one of the walls of the first card edge connector is an anti-misinsertion wall whose end position on the opposite side of the insertion direction relative to the opening edge of the insertion hole is different from that of the corresponding wall of the second card edge connector.

2. The connector set according to claim 1 , wherein the erroneous insertion prevention wall defines an outer boundary of an end face of the circuit board inserted into the insertion hole.

3. 2. The connector set according to claim 1, wherein the erroneous insertion prevention wall constitutes a partition wall that divides the insertion hole.

4. The connector set according to claim 1 , wherein the erroneous insertion prevention wall protrudes in a direction opposite to the insertion direction beyond the corresponding wall of the second card edge connector.

5. the first card edge connector and the second card edge connector each include, as the wall body, an upper wall that defines a boundary of a front side of the circuit board received in the insertion hole and a lower wall that defines a boundary of a back side of the circuit board; 5. The connector set according to claim 1, wherein a rib is provided between the erroneous insertion prevention wall and at least one of the upper wall and the lower wall, connecting the two together.

6. A connector set according to any one of claims 1 to 4, a first card edge that constitutes an end of the circuit board and is to be inserted into the first card edge connector, and a card edge set that includes a second card edge that constitutes an end of the circuit board and is to be inserted into the second card edge connector, the first card edge is provided with a first notch that is cut from an edge portion in the insertion direction and is capable of receiving the erroneous insertion prevention wall; A connector assembly in which the second card edge is provided with a second notch that is cut out from an edge in the insertion direction, is unable to receive the mis-insertion prevention wall, and is capable of receiving the wall of the second card edge connector that corresponds to the mis-insertion prevention wall.

7. The connector assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the first cutout has a length greater than that of the second cutout.

8. A connector, a plurality of walls defining insertion holes for receiving corresponding ends of a circuit board; the plurality of walls include an upper wall that defines a boundary of a front side of the circuit board received in the insertion hole, a lower wall that defines a boundary of a back side, and an erroneous insertion prevention wall that prevents erroneous insertion of the circuit board into the insertion hole; the erroneous insertion prevention wall is at least one of a left wall and a right wall that define an outer boundary of an end face of the circuit board inserted into the insertion hole, and a partition wall that partitions the insertion hole, A connector in which a rib is provided between the erroneous insertion prevention wall and at least one of the upper wall and the lower wall, connecting the two together.