Connector and connector assembly

Abstract

A connector includes a housing; a plurality of terminals attached to the housing; and a shielding part; the connector shaped to mate with a counterpart connector; wherein the shielding part includes an outer plate exposed to an outside of the connector, an inner plate exposed to an inside of the connector, and a connecting part connecting upper ends of the outer plate and the inner plate. The shielding part can be disposed on four sides of the housing and the outer plate can include a board connecting part disposed at a lower end thereof. The inner plate can include a support part and a plurality of contact parts that elastically contact the shielding part of the counterpart connector and the support part and the contact parts can be separated by a slit part.

Description

Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCTCONNECTOR AND CONNECTOR ASSEMBLYTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector and a connector assembly.BACKGROUND

[0002] Conventionally, connector assemblies such as board-to-board connectors have been used to electrically connect pairs of parallel circuit boards to each other. The connectors constituting this manner of connector assembly are attached to the opposing surfaces of a pair of circuit boards, and are mated together to provide electrical continuity. Furthermore, in order to reduce the influence of noise and radio waves from the outside and also to suppress the emission of noise and radio waves to the outside, a technique of providing a shielding member has been proposed (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

[0003] FIG. 25 is a perspective view depicting a conventional connector assembly.

[0004] In the diagram, reference numeral 811 denotes a housing of a connector mounted on the surface of a first circuit board (not depicted), and has a receiving recessed part 812 for receiving a counterpart connector mounted on the surface of a second circuit board (not depicted). Furthermore, a plurality of terminals 861 are attached to the housing 811 and aligned in two rows in the longitudinal direction.

[0005] Furthermore, a conductive shield plate 850 is attached to the housing 811 so as to cover the entire outer wall surface of the housing 811. The shield plate 850 includes a band-shaped outer wall plate 852 that continuously covers the outer wall surface of the housing 811, and an inner wall plate 851 that is located inside the outer wall plate 852 and is generally parallel to the outer wall plate 852. The inner wall plate 851 is formed by bending the upper end of the outer wall plate 852 inward, and the inner wall plate 851 and the outer wall plate 852 constitute a double shield with their upper ends connected to each other.

[0006] On the other hand, reference numeral 911 denotes a counterpart housing for the counterpart connector, and a plurality of counterpart terminals 961 are attached to the counterpart housing 911 in two rows aligned in the longitudinal direction. When the connector and the counterpart connectorAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT are mated with each other, each counterpart terminal 961 comes into contact with a corresponding terminal 861 and the terminals are electrically connected together. Further, a conductive counterpart shield plate 950 is attached to the counterpart housing 911 so as to cover the entire outer wall surface of the counterpart housing 911.

[0007] Note that the diagram depicts the connector and the counterpart connector in a state immediately prior to being mated together, with the mating surface of the connector and the mating surface of the counterpart connector facing each other, and the mounting surface of the counterpart connector facing upward.

[0008] In this manner, the outer peripheral surface of the housing 811 is covered by the conductive shield plate 850 that forms a double shield, and further, the outer peripheral surface of the counterpart housing 911 is covered by the conductive counterpart shield plate 950, so that the shield plate 850 and the counterpart shield plate 950 provide an electromagnetic shielding effect to both the connector and the counterpart connector received in the receiving recessed part 812.

[0009] Prior Art Documents: Patent Document 1 : Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2021-9836SUMMARY

[0010] However, the conventional connectors and connector assemblies described above are unable to adequately accommodate the trend toward smaller members, faster signal speeds, and more poles in recent electronic devices. In recent years, in electronic devices such as laptop computers, tablets, smartphones, digital cameras, music players, game consoles, and navigation devices, there has been demand for smaller and lower-profile housings and therefore smaller and lower-profile components, as well as faster and more multi-polarized signals to cope with increases in communication data volume and faster communication and data processing speeds. However, in the conventional connectors described above, when pursuing a smaller size, lower height, and increased number of poles, the shield plate 850 becomes elongated along with the housing 811, and warping occurs, making the shape of the shield plate 850 unstable and reducing the contact reliability between the shield plate 850 and the counterpart shield plate 950 and the connection pads on the circuit board. Furthermore, the shield plate 850 has a poorAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT guiding function for guiding the counterpart connector during the process of mating the connector and the counterpart connector.

[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a connector and connector assembly which resolves the above-mentioned conventional problems, is small and low-profile, exhibits high strength even when multi-pole, and can obtain a high shielding effect, thereby providing high reliability.

[0012] To achieve this, a connector includes: a housing; a plurality of terminals attached to the housing; and a shielding part; the connector having a generally rectangular planar shape so as to mate with a counterpart connector; wherein the shielding part includes an outer plate exposed to an outside of the connector, an inner plate exposed to an inside of the connector, and a connecting part connecting upper ends of the outer plate and the inner plate, the shielding part is disposed on four sides of the housing, the outer plate includes a board connecting part disposed at a lower end thereof, an inner plate includes a support part and a plurality of contact parts that elastically contact the shielding part of the counterpart connector, the support part and the contact parts are separated by a slit part, and the support part is secured to a board.

[0013] In another connector, the contact parts are disposed on both sides of the support part, and the support part of the inner plate, which is parallel to the short direction of the connector, includes a tongue part that extends inward of the connector, and a protective cover is connected to a tip end of the tongue part.

[0014] In yet another connector, the support part includes an inclined surface that guides the counterpart connector and a main body part extending downward from a lower end of the inclined surface, and the upper end of the inclined surface is positioned higher than an upper surface of a terminal retention part that retains the terminals in the housing.

[0015] In yet another connector, the support part includes an inclined surface that guides the counterpart connector, a main body part extending downward from a lower end of the inclined surface, and a board connecting part disposed at the lower end of the main body part and secured to the board, and the lower end of the inclined surface is positioned higher than an upper surface of a terminal retention part that retains the terminals in the housing.Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT

[0016] In yet another connector, an outer plate parallel to the longitudinal direction of the connector includes a plurality of board connecting parts arranged at the lower end thereof, and a plurality of support parts of an inner plate opposite the outer plate each include one board connecting part arranged at the lower end thereof, and the board connecting parts of the outer plate and the board connecting parts of the inner plate are not opposite each other in the short direction of the connector.

[0017] In yet another connector, ends of the connecting parts of each of the shielding parts disposed on the four sides of the housing are connected by comer parts, and each of the shielding parts are electrically connected to each other.

[0018] In yet another connector, the corner part includes an inwardly tapered part for guiding the counterpart connector.

[0019] In yet another connector, the terminals are arranged side by side to form a row extending in a longitudinal direction of the connector, the terminals including power supply terminals, the power supply terminals being disposed at both ends of the row.

[0020] A connector assembly includes the connector according to the present disclosure, and a counterpart connector that mates with the aforementioned connector.

[0021] According to the present disclosure, the connector and the connector assembly are small and low-profile, yet exhibit high strength even when multi-pole, and can obtain a high shielding effect, thereby improving reliability.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIGS. 1 Aand IB area perspective view of a connector assembly according to Embodiment 1, as viewed from the second connector side, in which FIG. lAdepicts a mated state, and FIG. IBdepicts a state immediately before mating;

[0023] FIGS. 2 A and 2B area perspective view of a connector assembly according to Embodiment 1, as viewed from the first connector side, in which FIG. 2 A depicts a mated state, and FIG. 2Bdepicts a state immediately before mating;Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT

[0024] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first connector according to Embodiment 1;

[0025] FIGS. 4A-4D are a four-plane diagram of the first connector according to Embodiment 1, where FIG. 4Ais a plan view, FIG. 4Bis a side view, FIG. 4Cis a bottom view, and FIG. 4Dis a front view;

[0026] FIGS. 5 A and 5B are a perspective view depicting the first connector according to Embodiment 1, where FIG. 5Ais a perspective view when viewed from a mating surface, and FIG. 5Bis a perspective view when viewed from a mounting surface;

[0027] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the second connector according to Embodiment 1;

[0028] FIGS. 7A-7D are a four-plane diagram of the second connector according to Embodiment 1, where FIG. 7Ais a plan view, FIG. 7B is a side view, FIG. 7C is a bottom view, and FIG. 7D is a front view;

[0029] FIGS. 8A and 8 B are a perspective view depicting the second connector according to Embodiment 1, where FIG. 8 A is a perspective view when viewed from a mating surface, and FIG. 8B is a perspective view when viewed from a mounting surface;

[0030] FIGS. 9A-9C are a first diagram depicting a cross section of the first connector and second connector of Embodiment 1 in a mated state where FIG. 9A is a top view of the second connector as viewed from the side, FIG. 9B is a cross sectional view along line A-A, and FIG. 9C is a cross sectional view along line B-B in 9A;

[0031] FIGS. 10A-10C are a second diagram of a cross section of the state in which the first connector and the second connector according to Embodiment 1 are mated, where FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view along line C-C in FIG. 9 A, FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view along line D-D in FIG. 9A, and FIG. 10C is a cross-sectional view along line E-E in FIG. 9A- 9C;

[0032] FIG. 11 is a perspective view from the mating surface side of the first connector according to Embodiment 2;

[0033] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the first connector according to Embodiment 2;Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT

[0034] FIGS. 13A and 13B are a perspective view of a connector assembly according to Embodiment 3, as viewed from the second connector side, in which FIG. 13 A depicts a mated state, and FIG. 13B depicts a state immediately before mating;

[0035] FIGS. 14 A and 14B are a perspective view of a connector assembly according to Embodiment 3, as viewed from the first connector side, in which FIG. 14Adepicts a mated state, and FIG. 14B depicts a state immediately before mating;

[0036] FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the first connector according to Embodiment 3;

[0037] FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the second connector according to Embodiment 3;

[0038] FIGS. 17A and 17B are a perspective view of a connector assembly according to Embodiment 4, as viewed from the second connector side, in which FIG. 17A depicts a mated state, and FIG. 17B depicts a state immediately before mating;

[0039] FIGS. 18A and 18B are a perspective view of a connector assembly according to Embodiment 4, as viewed from the first connector side, in which FIG. 18A depicts a mated state, and FIG. 18B depicts a state immediately before mating;

[0040] FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of the first connector according to Embodiment 4;

[0041] FIGS. 20A-20D are a four-plane diagram of the first connector according to Embodiment 4, where FIG. 20Ais a plan view, FIG. 20B is a side view, FIG. 20C is a bottom view, and FIG. 20D is a front view;

[0042] FIGS. 21A and 21B are a perspective view depicting the first connector according to Embodiment 4, where FIG. 21A is a perspective view when viewed from a mating surface, and FIG. 2 IB is a perspective view when viewed from a mounting surface;

[0043] FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of the second connector according to Embodiment 4;Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT

[0044] FIGS. 23A-23D are a four-plane diagram of the second connector according to Embodiment 4, where FIG. 23 A is a plan view, FIG. 23B is a side view, FIG. 23C is a bottom view, and FIG. 23D is a front view;

[0045] FIGS. 24A and 24B are a perspective view depicting the second connector according to Embodiment 4, where FIG. 24A is a perspective view when viewed from a mating surface, and FIG. 24B is a perspective view when viewed from a mounting surface; and

[0046] FIG. 25 is a perspective view depicting a conventional connector assembly.DETAILED DISCRIPTION

[0047] Embodiments will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0048] FIGS. 1 Aand IB area perspective view of a connector assembly according to Embodiment 1, as viewed from the second connector side. FIGS. 2 A and 2B are a perspective view of a connector assembly according to Embodiment 1, as viewed from the first connector side. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first connector according to Embodiment 1. FIGS. 4A-4D are a four-plane diagram of the first connector according to Embodiment 1. FIGS. 5 A and 5B are a perspective view of the first connector according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the second connector according to Embodiment 1. FIGS. 7 A- 7D are a four- plane diagram of the second connector according to Embodiment 1. FIGS. 8A and 8B are a perspective view of the second connector according to Embodiment 1. FIGS. 9A-9C are a first diagram depicting a cross-sectional view of a mated state of the first connector and the second connector in Embodiment 1. FIGS. 10A- 10C are a second diagram depicting a cross-sectional view of a mated state of the first connector and the second connector in Embodiment 1. Note that in FIGS. 1 A and IB and FIGS. 2 A and 2 BFIGS. 1 A and 2 A are a diagram depicting a mated state and FIGS. IB and 2B are a diagram depicting a state immediately before mating. In FIGS. 4A- 4DFIG. 4Ais a top view, FIG. 4B is a side view, FIG. 4C is a bottom view, and FIG. 4D is a front view. In FIGS. 5A-5BFIG. 5A is a view as seen from the mating surface side, and FIG. 5B is a view as seen from the mounting surface side. In FIGS. 7A-7DFIG. 7Ais a top view, FIG. 7B is a side view, FIG. 7C is a bottom view, and FIG. 7D is a front view. In FIGS. 8A and 8BFIG. 8A is a view as seen from the mating surface side, and FIG. 8B is a view as seen from the mounting surface side. In FIGS. 9A-9C FIG. 9Ais a top view as viewed from the second connector side, FIG. 9BisAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT a cross-sectional view along line A-A in FIG. 9A, and FIG. 9C is a cross-sectional view along line B-B in FIG. 9A. In FIGS. 10A-10CFIG. lOAis a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 9A, FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in FIG. 9A, and FIG. IOC is a cross- sectional view taken along line E-E in FIG. 9A.

[0049] In the drawings, 1 is a first connector of the present embodiment, and is a first of a pair of board-to-board connectors that are a connector assembly or a connector pair. The first connector 1 is a surface-mount type receptacle connector that is mounted on a surface of a first board, which is a board (not depicted) serving as a mounting member. The first connector 1 has a generally rectangular planar shape and is mated with a second connector 101 serving as a counterpart connector. Furthermore, the second connector 101 is a second of the pair of board-to-board connectors and is a surface-mount type plug connector mounted on a surface of a second board (not depicted) serving as a mounting member. Each of the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 serves as the counterpart connector, of a pair of board-to-board connectors, for the other.

[0050] Note that the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 of the connector assembly according to the present embodiment are preferably used to electrically connect the first board to the second board but can also be used to electrically connect other members. For example, the first board and the second board are each a printed circuit board, a flexible flat cable (FFC), a flexible circuit board (FPC), or the like as used in electronic devices or the like, but may be any type of board.

[0051] In addition, with the present embodiment, expressions indicating direction such as top, bottom, left, right, front, rear, and the like used to describe the configuration and operation of each part of the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 of the connector assembly are relative rather than absolute and are appropriate when each part of the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 are in the positions depicted in the drawings; that said, these directions should be interpreted as changing in accordance with the change in position when the position thereof is changed.

[0052] Furthermore, the first connector 1 includes a first shield 50, which serves as a shielding part that is a shielding member formed by performing punching, drawing, or other processing on a conductive metal plate, and a first housing 11, which serves as a connector main body andAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT is a housing integrally formed of an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The first housing 11 includes a flat bottom plate 18; a first protruding part 13, which serves as a terminal retention part and is formed to protrude upward from an upper surface of the bottom plate 18 so as to retain terminals; and corner parts 17, which are formed to protrude upward from four corners of the bottom plate 18. The first connector 1, for example, has dimensions of approximately 9 [mm] in length (dimension in X-axis direction), approximately 3.5 mm] in width (dimension in Y-axis direction), and approximately 0.8 [mm] in thickness (dimension in Z-axis direction); however, these dimensions may be changed as appropriate.

[0053] The corner part 17 is a main portion that is connected to the first shield 50 when the first shield 50 is integrated with the first housing 11 by over-molding or insert molding. Specifically, the first housing 11 is molded by filling a cavity of a mold in which the first shield 50 is internally set in advance, with an insulating material such as synthetic resin or the like, and is integrally connected to the first shield 50 at the comer parts 17 and other portions. Therefore, the first housing 11 and the first shield 50 do not exist separately, but in FIG. 3, for convenience of description, the first housing 11 and the first shield 50 are depicted as if existing separately.

[0054] As depicted in FIG. 3, each corner part 17 has a shape resembling one-fourth of a tubular wall of a tubular body having a generally square outer shape and a generally circular inner shape. In a plan view, each corner part 17 includes: an upper wall part 17a composed of an arc-shaped portion having a central angle of approximately 90 degrees and linear portions extending in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) and the lateral direction (Y-axis direction) of the first connector 1; an outer wall part 17b extending downward (in the negative Z-axis direction) from a linear outer edge of the upper wall part 17a; and a cylindrical inner wall part 17c extending downward from an arcuate inner edge of the upper wall part 17a. Furthermore, an inclined part 17d, which is covered by an inclined wall 5 Idl of a corner portion 5 Id serving as a tapered part inclined inward in the first shield 50, is provided at an upper end portion of the inner wall part 17c. A shield receiving part 17e, which is recessed so as to stow a lower end wall 51d2 of the corner portion 5 Id, is also present. Note that the lower end of the inner wall part 17c is connected to the tip end of the connecting part 18a extending outward at each of the four corners of the bottom plate 18.Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT

[0055] The first protruding part 13 is a generally rectangular parallelepiped-shaped member extending in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the first connector 1, and includes: a pair of outer protruding wall parts 13a that extend in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1 on both sides in the width direction (Y-axis direction); an inner protruding part 13b that extends in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1 at a center in the width direction; and outer end protruding wall parts 13c that extend in the width direction of the first connector 1 so as to connect both longitudinal ends of the respective outer protruding wall parts 13a and both longitudinal ends of the inner protruding part 13b. Furthermore, a pair of inner recessed groove parts 12a, which are recessed parts extending in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1, are formed as a part of a first recessed part 12 between the outer protruding wall parts 13a on both left and right sides of the inner protruding part 13b.

[0056] Here, first terminal stowing cavities 15 are formed starting at both left and right side surfaces of the inner protruding part 13b, along the bottom surface of the inner recessed groove part 12a, and to the side surface of the outer protruding wall parts 13 a. In the example depicted, the first terminal stowing cavities 15 are formed so as to pass through the bottom plate 18 in the plate-thickness direction (Z-axis direction). Note that, of the first terminal stowing cavities 15, recessed groove portions formed on both left and right side surfaces of the inner protruding part 13b are referred to as first terminal stowing inner side cavities 15a, and recessed groove portions formed on side surfaces facing the inner protruding part 13b at the outer protruding wall parts 13a are referred to as first terminal stowing outer side cavities 15b.

[0057] The first terminal stowing cavities 15 are arranged side by side so as to form a row with a plurality thereof extending in the longitudinal direction at a prescribed pitch (for example, 0.18mm). Note that the pitch and the number of the first terminal stowing cavities 15 can be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, a plurality of first terminals 61, which are terminals stowed in the respective first terminal stowing cavities 15 and attached to the first housing 11, are also provided at a similar pitch on both sides of the inner protruding parts 13b. That is, a plurality of first terminals 61 are arranged along the respective inner recessed groove parts 12a, and are arranged side by side so as to form a row extending in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1. Note that in the example depicted, the number of the first terminals 61 on each of the left and right sides is 15, and the number of the poles of the first connector 1 is 30. However, the number of the first terminals 61 may be increased, for example, and the number of poles of the first connector 1 may be 70 or more.Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT

[0058] Furthermore, as in the example depicted in the drawing, when there are two types of first terminals 61 to be stowed in the respective first terminal stowing cavities 15, in other words, narrow-width first terminals 61 A and wide-width first terminals 61B, there are also two types of first terminal stowing cavities 15: narrow-width first terminal stowing cavities 15Afor stowing the narrow-width first terminals 61A, and wide-width first terminal stowing cavities 15B for stowing the wide-width first terminals 61B. Furthermore, the wide-width first terminal stowing cavities 15B are respectively formed at both longitudinal ends of each row on both sides in the width direction of the first housing 11, and the narrow- width first terminal stowing cavities 15A are formed, in each row, between the wide-width first terminal stowing cavities 15B at both ends.

[0059] The narrow-width first terminals 61A are used, for example, as signal terminals for transmitting signals, and the wide-width first terminals 6 IB may be used, for example, as power terminals or power supply terminals for transmitting electric power. Note that, if necessary, the wide-width first terminals 6 IB may be omitted, and all the first terminals 61 may be narrowwidth first terminals 61 A. In this case, the wide-width first terminal stowing cavities 15B are omitted, and all the first terminal stowing cavities 15 are formed as the narrow-width first terminal stowing cavities 15 A.

[0060] Furthermore, since the narrow-width first terminal stowing cavities 15 A and the wide- width first terminal stowing cavities 15B have the same configuration except for the width dimension, the cavities are referred to as first terminal stowing cavities 15 when described collectively. Furthermore, since the narrow-width first terminals 61 A and the wide-width first terminals 61B have the same configuration except for the width dimension, the terminals are referred to as the first terminals 61 when described collectively.

[0061] The bottom plate 18 on the outer side in the width direction of the first connector 1 in the first protruding part 13 is formed with a side recessed part 18b, whereby the bottom plate 18 is formed to have a smaller dimension in the width direction of the first connector 1, that is, to be narrower. In addition, end recessed parts 18c are formed at both ends of the bottom plate 18 in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1, and therefore, the bottom plate 18 has a small dimension in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1, or in other words, is formed to be short.Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT

[0062] Furthermore, cover attachment parts 16 to which island-end cover parts 55 of the first shield 50 are attached are formed at both longitudinal ends of the inner protruding part 13b. A cover tip stowing groove 16a for stowing a tip end part 55c of the island-end cover part 55 is formed at a boundary portion between the cover attachment part 16 and both longitudinal ends of the inner protruding part 13b. Furthermore, on the outer side of the cover attachment part 16 in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1, a cover connection part stowing opening 18d, which is an opening that penetrates through the bottom plate 18 in the plate thickness direction, is formed. The cover connection part stowing opening 18d stows a coupling piece 55a of the island-end cover parts 55.

[0063] The first shield 50 is a member formed by applying processing such as punching and tapering to a conductive metal plate, and when viewed from above, that is, in a plan view, is a generally rectangular frame-shaped member that surrounds, or encircles, the periphery of the first housing 11. Note that in the present embodiment, the expressions “surround” or “encircle” refer not only to continuously surrounding the entire periphery of a target obj ect such as the first housing 11 without any gaps, but also to intermittently surrounding the entire periphery of the target object while including multiple gaps. Furthermore, these expressions also refer to continuously without gaps or intermittently surrounding more than half of the circumference of the target object, with some gaps.

[0064] Furthermore, the first connector 1 includes, on all four sides of the first housing 11, a first shield 50 serving as a shielding part. In other words, the first connector 1 includes the first shield 50 as four shielding parts. Note that the four shielding parts can be electrically connected to each other. In the example depicted in the drawing, the first shield 50 includes: long side parts 50a, serving as lateral shields and formed as a plurality (in the example depicted, a pair) of first shield members that extend linearly in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1; short side parts 50b, serving as end shields and formed as a plurality (in the example depicted, a pair) of second shield members; and corner parts 50c for connecting both ends of the long side parts 50a and both ends of the short side parts 50b at positions corresponding to the respective corner parts 17 of the first housing 11. When the long side parts 50a, the short side parts 50b, and the comer parts 50c are described collectively, these parts are referred to as the first shield 50. Furthermore, an enclosed space surrounded on the circumference by the first shield 50 is a stowing part 50d in which the second connector 101, which is a plug connector, is inserted and stowed.Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT

[0065] In addition, the first shield 50 also includes outer walls 52 as outer plates exposed to the outside of the first connector 1, inner walls 51 as inner plates exposed to the inside of the first connector 1, and connecting parts 53 that connect upper ends of the outer walls 52 and upper ends of the inner walls 51. The outer walls 52 include band-shape long-side outer plates 52a that extend continuously in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1 along the long side parts 50a, and band shape short-side outer plates 52b that extend continuously in the lateral direction of the first connector 1 along the short side parts 50b. Furthermore, the long-side outer plates 52a and the short-side outer plates 52b are separated from each other by outer plate discontinuity parts 52c. However, the long-side outer plates 52a and the short-side outer plates 52b are connected via upper end parts 53a of the connecting parts 53 that are positioned above the outer plate discontinuity parts 52c.

[0066] Note that a plurality of outer leg parts 52al, serving as board connecting parts, are formed at a lower edge of the long-side outer plates 52a so as to protrude downward (in the negative Z-axis direction). It is preferable that a lower end of each outer leg part 52al be connected and secured, by means such as soldering, to a grounding connection pad or the like formed on a surface of the first board (not depicted). In addition, the lower end sides of the short-side outer plates 52b are formed as one continuous outer leg part 52b 1. It is also preferable that a lower end of the outer leg parts 52b 1 be connected, by means such as soldering, to a grounding connection pad or the like formed on a surface of the first board (not depicted).

[0067] The inner wall 51 includes a plurality of support parts 51a and a plurality of contact parts 5 lb adj acent to both sides of the support parts 51a. Note that each support part 51a and each contact part 5 lb are separated from each other by a slit part 51c. Each support part 51a includes: an upper part 5 lai that extends inclined from an inner edge of the upper end part 53a of the connecting part 53 toward a diagonally downward inner side of a stowing part 50d; a lower part 51a2, as a main body part, that extends linearly downward from a lower end of the upper part 5 lai; and an inner leg part 51a3, as a board connecting part, that protrudes downward from a lower end of the lower part 51a2. A lower end of each inner leg part 51a3 is preferably connected and secured to a grounding connection pad or the like formed on the surface of the first board (not depicted), by means such as soldering. Accordingly, each support part 5 la is firmly connected and secured to the first board. In addition, when the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 are mated together,Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT the second connector 101, which is inserted into the stowing part 50d, is guided by coming into contact with the upper part 51 al , which is an inclined surface, and is thereby smoothly inserted into the stowing part 50d.

[0068] Each contact part 5 lb is a member that comes into elastic contact with the second shield 150, which is a shielding part of the second connector 101, and includes a spring part 5 Ibl that extends in an inclined manner from the inner edge of the upper end part 53a of the connecting part 53 toward the inner obliquely downward side of the stowing part 50d, and a contact protruding part 51b2 that is curved so as to bulge to the inside of the stowing part 50d near the lower end of the spring part 5 Ibl. The spring part 5 Ibl is formed to have a steeper incline than the upper part 51 al of the support part 51 a. As a result, when the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 are mated together, the upper part 5 lai of the support part 51a first comes into contact with the second connector 101 inserted into the stowing part 50d, and then the spring part 5 Ibl of the contact part 51b comes into contact. Accordingly, when the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 are mated together, the damage sustained by the spring part 5 Ibl of the contact part 5 lb can be reduced.

[0069] In the example depicted in the drawing, seven contact parts 5 lb are arranged at a pitch of approximately 1 ,0[mm] along each long side part 50a, and two contact parts 5 lb are arranged at a pitch of approximately 1.0[mm] along each short side part 50b; however, the number and pitch of the contact parts 51b may be modified as appropriate.

[0070] Furthermore, the spring part 5 lb 1 is separated from the adjacent support part 51a by the slit part 51c, and is formed so that the width thereof decreases from the upper end toward the lower end, thereby providing high flexibility. As a result, the contact protruding part 5 lb2 formed near the lower end of the spring part 5 Ibl is capable of flexibly displacing in the longitudinal direction or lateral direction of the first connector 1, thereby reliably maintaining the contact state with an outer wall 152 of the second shield 150 of the second connector 101 inserted into the stowing part 50d.

[0071] In each short side part 50b, a support part 51a positioned at the widthwise center of the first connector 1 (in the example depicted in the drawing, only one is disposed at the widthwise center of the first connector 1, but the number thereof can be changed as appropriate) has, at the lower end of a lower part 51a2, a tongue part 51a4 connected in place of an inner leg part 51a3. TheAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT tongue part 51a4 is a band-shaped member that extends horizontally from the lower end of the lower part 5 la2 to the longitudinal center of the first connector 1, in other words, toward the inside, and in the example depicted in the diagram, has the same width dimension as the lower part 51a2. It is preferable that the lower surface of the tongue part 51a4 is connected, by means such as soldering, at a plurality of locations (for example, in the vicinity of the lower end of the lower part 5 la2, in the vicinity of the tip of the tongue part 5 la4, and the like) to a grounding connection pad or the like formed on the surface of the first board (not depicted).

[0072] Furthermore, an island-end cover part 55 serving as a protective cover is connected to the tip end of the tongue part 51a4. In the example depicted in the diagram, the island-end cover part 55 is prepared by bending a band-shaped member having the same width dimension as the tongue part 51a4, and includes: the coupling piece 55a extending upward (Z-axis positive direction) from the tip of the tongue part 51a4; a curved part 55b having a first end connected to the upper end of the coupling piece 55a; and a tip end part 55c extending downward from a second end of the curved part 55b.

[0073] When the first shield 50 and the first housing 11 are integrated, the island-end cover part 55 is integrated with a cover mounting part 16 on the surface of the outer end protruding wall part 13c, in an orientation where the tip end part 55c is stowed in the cover tip stowing groove 16a and the coupling piece 55a covers the cover attachment part 16 and is exposed at the end part of the first protruding part 13. As a result, the end part of the first protruding part 13 is reliably protected, since at least a part of the surface of the outer end protruding wall part 13c is covered by the islandend cover part 55 integrated therewith. Furthermore, since at both longitudinal ends of the first shield 50, at least a part of the short-side outer plate 52b is integrated with the comer part 17 and the island-end cover part 55 is integrated with the first protruding part 13, strength is improved.

[0074] The corner part 50c includes a corner portion 5 Id of the inner wall 51. The comer portion 5 Id is integrated with the comer part 17 of the first housing 11. The corner portion 5 Id has a shape in plan view resembling a sector with a central angle of approximately 90 degrees, and includes: an inclined wall 51 dl that is connected at the upper end thereof to an upper end part 53a of the connecting part 53 and extends gradually downward and inward toward the interior of the stowing part 50d; and a lower end wall 5 ld2 that extends substantially vertically downward from the lower end of the inclined wall 5 Idl . When the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 are mated together, the inclined wall 5 Idl abuts against and guides theAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT four comers of the second connector 101 that is inserted into the stowing part 50d. As a result, when the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 are mated together, positioning of the second connector 101 relative to the first connector 1 is performed.

[0075] Note that the vicinity of both ends of the long side part 50a and the vicinity of both ends of the short side part 50b are integrated with the corner parts 17 of the first housing 11 together with the comer portions 5 Id, but most of the long side part 50a and most of the short side part 50b are not integrated with the first housing 11.

[0076] However, with the long side part 50a, the long-side outer plate 52a which is the outer wall 52 includes a plurality of outer leg parts 52al, and the lower ends of each outer leg part 52al is capable of being connected to a grounding connection pad or the like formed on the surface of the first board, and the inner wall 51 includes a plurality of support parts 51a, and the lower ends of inner leg parts 51a3 protruding from the lower ends of each support part 51a are capable of being connected to a grounding connection pad or the like formed on the surface of the first board. In addition, with the short side part 50b, the outer wall 52, which is a short-side outer plate 52b, includes an outer leg part 52b 1, and the lower end of the outer leg part 52b 1 is configured to be connectable to a grounding connection pad or the like formed on the surface of the first board. The inner wall 51 includes a support part 51a, and the lower surface of the tongue part 5 la4 connected to the lower end of the support part 51a is also configured to be connectable to a grounding connection pad or the like formed on the surface of the first board. Accordingly, although the long side part 50a and the short side part 50b are elongated members with a large portion thereof not integrated with the first housing 11, these parts maintain high strength and do not deform.

[0077] In addition, each support part 5 la is strong because the bottom surface of the tongue part 51a4 can be connected to a grounding connection pad or the like formed on the surface of the first board, and the upper part 5 lai, which is an inclined surface, abuts against the second connector 101 inserted into the stowing part 50d and functions as a guide for the second connector 101. Note that, as is clear from FIG. 9Cand other diagrams, the lower end of the upper part 5 lai is positioned above (Z-axis positive direction) the upper surface of the first protruding part 13 of the first housing 11. Therefore, the second connector 101 inserted into the stowing part 50d abuts against the upper part 5 lai and then against the inner protruding part 13b, so that the inner protruding part 13b is not damaged when abutting with the second connector 101.Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT

[0078] Furthermore, since the contact part 51b is separated from the adjacent support part 51a and the comer portion 5 Id by the slit part 51c, the contact part is capable of freely undergoing elastic deformation without being restricted by the support part 51a. In addition, as described above, the spring part 5 lb 1 of the contact part 5 lb is formed so as to have a steeper incline than the upper part 5 lai of the support part 51a. Therefore, when the second connector 101 is inserted into the stowing part 50d, the spring part 5 lb 1 of the contact part 51b abuts against the second connector 101 after the upper part 5 lai of the support part 51a abuts against the second connector. Accordingly, when the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 are mated together, the damage sustained by the spring part 5 lb 1 of the contact part 51b can be reduced.

[0079] In each long side part 50a, each outer leg part 52al of the long-side outer plate 52a and each inner leg part 51a3 of each support part 51a of the inner wall 51 are positioned so as not to face each other when viewed in the width direction (short direction) of the first connector 1. That is, in a plan view, the outer leg parts 52al and the inner leg parts 51a3 arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction of the long side part 50a are arranged in a staggered (zigzag) pattern. This enables the long side part 50a to maintain high strength so as to not deform. Moreover, noise entering from the outside and noise emitted to the outside can be effectively blocked.

[0080] Furthermore, when the first shield 50 is integrated with the first housing 11 by overmolding or insert molding, the corner parts 50c are integrated with the corner parts 17, and the island-end cover parts 55 are integrated with the cover attachment part 16. This ensures that the first shield 50 and the first housing 11 are integrated and cannot be separated. Note that the bottom surface of the tongue part 51a4 is exposed from the bottom surface of the bottom plate 18, and the lower end of the outer leg part 52al of the long-side outer plate 52a, the lower end of the outer leg part 52b 1 of the short-side outer plate 52b, and the lower end of the inner leg part 51a3 of the support part 51a protrude downward from the bottom surface of the bottom plate 18 and can be connected to a grounding connection pad or the like formed on the surface of the first board. Therefore, the first shield 50 can maintain high strength, and is conductive to the grounding connection pads, and the like of the first board, so that the entire first shield is at the same potential as the ground line of the first board, thereby providing a high shielding effect.Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT

[0081] Furthermore, when the first housing 11 is connected to the first shield 50 in the stowing part 50d, a first recessed part 12 that mates with the second connector 101 is formed in the stowing part 50d, which is a recessed part with a circumference surrounded by the inner wall 51 and a lower part is demarcated by the bottom plate 18. Furthermore, an inner recessed groove part 12a, which is an elongated recess extending in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1 is formed between the outer protruding wall parts 13a on both left and right sides of the inner protruding part 13b, as a part of the first recessed part 12. Furthermore, mating recessed parts 12b are formed at two outer ends of the first protruding part 13 with regard to the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1 as a part of the first recessed part 12. Furthermore, a lateral space 12c, which is an elongated recess extending in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1, is formed between the outer protruding wall parts 13a on both the left and right sides of the inner protruding part 13b and the inner wall 51 of the long side part 50a, as part of the first recessed part 12. The lateral space 12c is formed in a range wider than the range corresponding to the row of the first terminals 61 in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1.

[0082] Furthermore, the first terminal 61 is a member integrally formed by punching, bending, or the like process of a conductive metal plate, and is provided with a retained part63, a tail part 62 serving as a board connecting part connected to a lower end of the retained part 63, a proximal connecting part 65 connected to an upper end of the retained part 63, and a lower connecting part 64 connected to a lower end of the proximal connecting part 65 having an essentially U-shaped side surface shape. A proximal contact part 65a curved so as to swell inward in the width direction of the first connector 1 is formed in the vicinity of the lower end of the proximal connecting part 65. Furthermore, the first terminal 61 is further provided with a distal connecting part 66 connected to a tip end of a lower connecting part64. The distal connecting part 66 is bent and connected to the lower connecting part 64, and extends upward (Z-axis positive direction), and near the upper end thereof is formed a distal contact part 66a that is curved so as to bulge outward in the width direction of the first connector 1. The distal contact part 66a, similar to the proximal contact part 65a of the proximal connecting part 65, is a portion that comes into contact with a second terminal 161 (described below) provided on the second connector 101. In other words, the first terminal 61 in the present embodiment has a proximal contact part 65a of the proximal connecting part 65 and a distal contact part 66a of the distal connecting part 66 that face each other, and is configured to make two-point contact with the second terminal 161. When the first terminal 61 is attached to the first housing 11, the proximal contact part 65a of the proximal connectingAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT part 65 and the distal contact part 66a of the distal connecting part 66 protrude into the inner recessed groove part 12a and face each other.

[0083] Furthermore, the first terminal 61 is press fit into the first terminal stowing cavity 15 from the mounting surface 10b side, which is the bottom surface (Z-axis negative direction surface) of the first connector 1, and the retained part 63 is clamped from both sides by the inner side surface of the first terminal stowing outer side cavity 15b, thereby securing the first terminal to the first housing 11. It is preferable that the retained part 63 is formed with an engaging protruding part 63a that bites into the inner side surface of the first terminal stowing outer side cavity 15b. Note that the first terminal 61 is not necessarily attached to the first housing 11, and can be integrated with the first housing 11 by overmolding or insert molding. However, for convenience of description, a case where the retained part 63 is retained by inserting in the first terminal stowing outer side cavity 15b is described.

[0084] Furthermore, the tail part 62 is bent and connected to the retained part 63, extends in a left-right direction (Y-axis direction), in other words, outward in the width direction of the first connector 1, and is connected to the connection pad connected to a conductive trace of the first board by soldering or the like. Note that when the first terminal 61 is a narrow- width first terminal 61 A, the conductive trace is typically a signal line, and when the first terminal 61 is a wide-width first terminal 6 IB, the conductive trace is typically a power line.

[0085] For example, the first connector 1 is placed on the surface of the first board with solder applied to the mounting surface 10b side portions of the first shield 50, the first terminals 61, and the like, and the solder is heated and melted in a heating furnace or the like, and thereby the first connector is secured and mounted on the surface of the first board. The solder is applied by applying a solder sheet, applying a solder paste, transferring a cream solder, dipping, jet soldering, or the like. Note that the means for connecting the first shield 50, the first terminal 61, and the like to the connection pads of the first board, and the like is not necessarily limited to soldering, and may be, for example, a conductive adhesive, or the like; however, here we will describe the case where soldering is used.

[0086] When solder applied in this manner is heated and melted, and the first connector 1 is mounted on the surface of the first board, the lower end of the outer leg part 52al of the long-side outer plate 52a and the lower end of the inner leg part 51a3 of the support part 51a are connectedAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT to the grounding connection pads on the surface of the first board at the long side part 50a of the first shield 50. Furthermore, at the short side part 50b, the lower end of the outer leg part 52b 1 of the short-side outer plate 52b and the lower surface of the tongue part 51 a4 of the support part 51a are connected to a grounding connection pad on the surface of the first board. Therefore, the long- side outer plate 52a and short-side outer plate 52b which form the outer wall 52 of the first shield 50 connected to the connection pad on the surface of the first board are long, narrow, flat bandshaped plates, yet are strong and resistant to deformation; similarly, the support part 51a which forms the inner wall 51 is also strong and resistant to deformation, thereby resulting in high strength for the entire first connector 1, the outer periphery thereof being surrounded by the long side part 50a and short side part 50b.

[0087] In addition, since the long-side outer plate 52a of the long side part 50a is a band-shaped shielding wall that is continuous in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1, and the shortside outer plate 52b of the short side part 50b is a band-shaped shielding wall that is continuous in the short direction (width direction) of the first connector 1, the outer periphery of the first connector 1 is surrounded by a continuous shielding wall, except for the outer plate discontinuity part 52c, and is effectively electromagnetically shielded. Furthermore, the long side part 50a and short side part 50b, which are connected at a plurality of points to the grounding connection pads on the surface of the first board, are entirely at the same potential as the grounding line of the first board, thereby providing a very high electromagnetic shielding effect, and the first connector 1, the outer periphery thereof being surrounded by the long side part 50a and short side part 50b, is electromagnetically shielded very effectively.

[0088] Incidentally, the support part 51a on the short side part 50b and the island-end cover part 55 connected to the support part 51a are a continuous, long, band-like metal plate as a whole, and have a roughly U-shaped shape when viewed from the width direction of the first connector 1. As such, functioning as an antenna and generating noise may occur as-is. However, in the example depicted in the diagram, the bottom surface of the tongue part 51a4 is connected to grounding connection pads formed on the surface of the first board at a plurality of points (for example, near the bottom end of the lower part 51a2, near the tip of the tongue part 51a4, and the like), so there is no risk of functioning as an antenna and no noise is generated. Furthermore, since a large number of contact parts 51b that come into contact with the second shield 150 of the second connector 101 are arranged, there is no risk of each part of the first shield 50 functioning as an antenna, and generation of noise can be suppressed.Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT

[0089] In addition, the contact part 51b, positioned at the outermost longitudinal end of the long side part 50a, is positioned at both ends of the row of first terminals 61 and is positioned further outward in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1 than the wide-width first terminal 61B which is connected to the power line as a power terminal. Since electric current as power also generates noise, albeit at a low frequency, one of the contact parts 5 lb that contacts the second shield 150 of the second connector 101 is positioned outside the wide-width first terminal 61B, which is a power terminal through which electric current flows as power, in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1, thereby effectively suppressing the noise generated by the wide- width first terminal 6 IB.

[0090] Furthermore, the outer surface of the first shield 50 that surrounds the outer periphery of the first connector 1 does not have any protruding portions such as spring members. Therefore, the first connector 1 is easy to handle when transporting the first connector 1 or when mating the first connector 1 with the second connector 101, and there is no risk of damaging protruding portions such as the spring member.

[0091] Next, the configuration of the second connector 101 will be described.

[0092] The second connector 101 in the present embodiment has a second shield 150 as a shielding member, which is a plug shield formed by subjecting a conductive metal plate to processing such as punching and drawing, and a second housing 111 as a counterpart connector main body, which is a counterpart housing integrally formed from an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The second housing 111 has a flat bottom plate 118, a second protruding part 112 as a protruding part that protrudes upward from an upper surface of the bottom plate 118, and a pair of protruding end parts 117 that protrude upward from the upper surface of the bottom plate 118 at each end in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the second connector 101. The second connector 101, for example, has dimensions of approximately 8 [mm] in length (dimension in X-axis direction), approximately 3 [mm] in width (dimension in Y-axis direction), and approximately 0.7 [mm] in thickness (dimension in Z-axis direction); however, these dimensions may be changed as appropriate.

[0093] The protruding end part 117 is a main portion that is connected to the second shield 150 when the second shield 150 is integrated with the second housing 111 by overmoldingAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT or insert molding. In other words, the second housing 111 is molded by filling a cavity of a mold in which the second shield 150 is internally set in advance, with an insulating material such as synthetic resin or the like, and is integrally connected to the second shield 150 at the protruding end part 117 and other portions. Therefore, the second housing 111 and the second shield 150 do not exist separately, but in FIG. 6, for convenience of description, the second housing 111 and the second shield 150 are depicted as if existing separately.

[0094] As depicted in FIG. 6, each protruding end part 117 has a cross-section shape resembling a rectangular prism extending in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the second connector 101. Furthermore, each protruding end part 117 includes a rectangular column-shaped end wall part 117a extending in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the second connector 101, and curved wall part 117b formed on both ends of the end wall part 117a. Note that the curved wall part 117b is an arc-shaped portion with a central angle of approximately 90 degrees in a plan view. Furthermore, the lower ends of the protruding end parts 117 are connected to both ends of the bottom plates 118 in the longitudinal direction.

[0095] The second protruding part 112 includes a pair of terminal support walls 112a extending in the longitudinal direction of the second connector 101 at both ends in the width direction (Y- axis direction) of the bottom plate 118. Note that the dimension of the terminal support wall 112a in the longitudinal direction of the second connector 101 is set smaller than that of the bottom plate 118, and both longitudinal ends of the terminal support walls 112a are spaced apart from the protruding end parts 117. In addition, there is no member connecting both ends of the pair of terminal support walls 112a in the longitudinal direction, and the terminal support walls are spaced apart from each other. Furthermore, a center groove part 112b is formed as a space where the lower part thereof is demarcated by the bottom plate 118 and by the terminal support walls 112a on the left and right side ends. The center groove part 112b is a long and narrow groove-like space that is open at both longitudinal ends, and stows the inner protruding part 13b of the first connector 1 when the second connector 101 is mated with the first connector 1.

[0096] Furthermore, a lateral space 112c that is an elongated space extending in the longitudinal direction of the second connector 101 is formed between each terminal support wall 112a and the outer wall 152 of the long side part 150a of the second shield 150. TheAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT lateral space 112c is formed in an area wider than the area corresponding to the row of the second terminals 161 in the longitudinal direction of the second connector 101.

[0097] Furthermore, the second terminals 161 that are terminals attached to the second housing 111 are attached to the terminal supporting walls 112a. The second terminals 161 are provided at a pitch corresponding to the first terminals 61 at a number corresponding to the first terminals such that at least part of the second terminals 161 are exposed on the surface of the terminal supporting wall 112a. Thus, the plurality of second terminals 161 are arranged along each of the terminal supporting walls 112a, and arranged to form rows extending in the longitudinal direction of the second connector 101. In the example depicted in the diagram, the number of second terminals 161 is 15 on each side, similar to the first terminals 61, and the number of poles of the second connector 101 is 30, similar to the first connector 1; however, the number of second terminals 161 may be increased, for example, so that the number of poles of the second connector 101 is 70 or more.

[0098] In the example depicted in the diagram, there are two types of second terminals 161 attached to the terminal support wall 112a: narrow-width second terminals 161 A and wide-width second terminals 161B. Furthermore, the wide-width second terminals 161B are attached to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the row of second terminals 161 attached to each terminal support wall 112a, and the narrow- width second terminals 161 A are attached between the wide- width second terminals 16 IB that are at both ends in each row. Note that the second terminals 161 may be attached to the terminal supporting walls 112a by press fitting, as in the case of the first terminals 61. Still, a case where the second terminals 161 are integrated with the terminal supporting walls 112a by over-molding or insert molding will be described herein for the sake of description.

[0099] The narrow-width second terminal 161A, like the narrow-width first terminal 61A, can be used, for example, as a signal terminal for transmitting signals, and the wide-width second terminal 161B, like the first terminal 61B, can be used, for example, as a power terminal or power supply terminal for transmitting power. Note that, if necessary, the wide- width second terminals 161B may be omitted, and all the second terminals 161 may be narrow-width second terminals 161 A.Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT

[0100] Furthermore, since the narrow- width second terminals 161 A and the wide-width second terminals 161B have the same configuration except for the width dimension, these terminals are referred to as the second terminals 161 when described collectively.

[0101] A side recessed part 118b is formed in the bottom plate 118 on the widthwise outer side of the second connector 101 in the second protruding part 112, so that the bottom plate 118 has a smaller dimension in the widthwise direction of the second connector 101 than the protruding end part 117, in other words, is formed narrower.

[0102] The second shield 150 is a member formed by punching, drawing, or the like on a conductive metal plate, and as depicted in FIG. 7A, is an generally rectangular frame-shaped member which surrounds an entire circumference of the second housing 111 when viewed from above, or in other words, in plan view. The second connector 101 includes second shields 150 as shielding parts on the four sides of the second housing 111. In other words, the second connector 101 includes the second shield 150 as four shielding parts. Note that the four shielding parts can be electrically connected to each other.

[0103] In the example depicted in the diagram, the second shield 150 includes a plurality (in the example depicted in the diagram, a pair) of long side parts 150a serving as side shields which are first shielding members extending linearly in the longitudinal direction of the second connector 101, a plurality (in the example depicted in the diagram, a pair) of short side parts 150b serving as end shields which are second shielding members, and connecting parts 150c connecting both ends of each long side part 150a to both ends of each short side part 150b. When the long side parts 150a, the short side parts 150b, and connecting parts 150c are described collectively, these parts are referred to as the second shield 150. Furthermore, the space surrounded by the second shield 150 serves as a stowing part 150d in which the second terminal 161 is stowed.

[0104] Furthermore, the second shield 150 has an outer wall 152 serving as an outer plate exposed to the outside of the second connector 101, and a connecting part 153 connected to the upper end of the outer wall 152. The outer walls 152 include band shape long-side outer plates 152a that extend contiguously in the longitudinal direction of the second connector 101 along the long side parts 150a, and band shape short-side outer plates 152b that extend contiguously in the lateral direction of the second connector 101 along the short side parts 150b. Furthermore, the long-side outer plates 152a and the short-side outer plates 152b are separated from each other byAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT outer plate discontinuity parts 152c. However, the long-side outer plates 152a and the short-side outer plates 152b are connected via upper end parts 153a of the connecting parts 153 that are positioned above the outer plate discontinuity parts 152c. Furthermore, the upper end parts 153a are connected to the long-side outer plates 152a and the short-side outer plates 152b by curved parts 153b that are curved.

[0105] Note that a plurality of outer leg parts 152al are formed on the lower end side of the long-side outer plates 152a, protruding downward (Z-axis positive direction). A lower end of each outer leg part 152al is preferably connected and secured to a grounding connection pad or the like formed on the surface of the second board (not depicted), by means such as soldering. Furthermore, a plurality of engagement recessed parts 152a2 may be formed on the outer surface of the long-side outer plates 152a. In the example depicted in the diagram, the engagement recessed parts 152a2 are formed in the vicinity of the lower end edge of the long- side outer plates 152a at positions corresponding to each outer leg part 152al. The engagement recessed part 152a2 is a portion with which the contact protruding part 5 lb2 of the contact part 51b of the first shield 50 of the first connector 1 engages and comes into contact when the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 are mated.

[0106] Furthermore, an outer leg part 152b 1 is formed on the lower end edge of each of the short-side outer plates 152b, while being bent so as to face outward in the longitudinal direction of the second connector 101. It is also preferable that a lower surface of the outer leg parts 152b 1 be connected, by means such as soldering, to a grounding connection pad or the like formed on a surface of the second board (not depicted). Each outer leg 152b 1 is a single, elongated member that is continuous in the width direction of the second connector 101, but as depicted in FIG. 8B, one or more notch parts 152b2 can be formed at any location on each outer leg part 152b 1.

[0107] In the short side part 150b, the upper end part 153a of the connecting part 153 is a bandshaped flat plate that is continuous in the short direction of the second connector 101 and is integrated with the protruding end part 117 together with the short-side outer plate 152b when the second shield 150 is integrated with the second housing 111 by overmolding or insert molding. Furthermore, the portions near both longitudinal ends of the long-side outer plate 152a are also integrated with the protruding end part 117, but most of the long side part 150a is not integrated with the second housing 111. However, since the lower ends of the pluralityAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT of outer leg parts 152al of the long-side outer plates 152a can be connected to grounding connection pads, and the like, formed on the surface of the second board, the long side parts 150a maintain high strength and do not deform. Furthermore, due to being electrically connected to a grounding connection pad or the like of the second board, the entirety thereof attains the same potential as the ground line of the second board, thereby exhibiting a high shielding effect.

[0108] Furthermore, when the second housing 111 is integrally connected to the second shield 150 within the stowing part 150d, a lateral space 112c, which is an elongated recess extending in the longitudinal direction of the second connector 101, is formed between the long side parts 150a on both the left and right sides of the second protruding part 112. The lateral space 112c is formed in a range wider than the range corresponding to the row of the second terminal 161 in the longitudinal direction of the second connector 101.

[0109] The second terminal 161 is a member integrally formed by punching, bending, or the like on a conductive metal plate, and has: a proximal connecting part 165 extending in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction); a tail part 162 as a board connecting part that is connected to a lower end of the proximal connecting part 165 and extends outward in the width direction of the second housing 111 ; an upper connecting part 164 connected to the upper end of the proximal connecting part 165; and a distal connecting part 166 connected to the lower end of the upper connecting part 164 and facing the proximal connecting part 165. The tail part 162 extends in the horizontal direction (Y-axis direction) while passing below the distal connecting part 166, and the tip end thereof is positioned to the outside of the distal connecting part 166. As described above, the second terminal 161 is integrated with the second housing 111 by overmolding or insert molding. In other words, the second housing Ill is molded by filling a cavity of a metal die in which the second terminals 161 are set in advance with an insulating material such as a synthetic resin.

[0110] As a result, the second terminal 161 is integrally attached to the terminal supporting wall 112a such that at least a portion thereof is embedded in the terminal supporting wall 112a of the second protruding part 112 in the second housing 111, and the substantial entirety of the surface of the proximal connecting part 165 and the upper connecting part 164, as well as at least part of the surface of the distal connecting part 166 are exposed on an inner side surface, the upper surface, and outer side surface of the terminal supporting wall 112a. Note that the surfaces of the proximal connecting part 165 and the distal connecting part 166 function as contact parts and come intoAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT contact with the first terminal 61 provided on the first connector 1. That is, the second terminal 161 in the present embodiment is configured to make two-point contact with the first terminal 61.

[0111] Furthermore, the tail part 162 extends to an outer side in the width direction of the second housing 111 from the terminal supporting wall 112a and is connected by soldering or the like to a connection pad connected to a conductive trace of the second board. Note that when the second terminal 161 is a narrow-width second terminal 161 A, the conductive trace is typically a signal line, and when the second terminal 161 is a wide-width second terminal 161B, the conductive trace is typically a power line.

[0112] For example, the second connector 101 is placed on the surface of the second board after solder is applied to the mounting surface 101b side of the second shield 150, the second terminals 161, and the like, and the solder is heated and melted in a heating furnace or the like, and thereby the second connector is secured and mounted on the surface of the second board. The solder is applied by applying a solder sheet, applying a solder paste, transferring a cream solder, dipping, jet soldering, or the like. Note that the means for connecting the second shield 150, the second terminal 161, and the like to the connection pads of the second board, and the like is not necessarily limited to soldering, and may be, for example, a conductive adhesive, or the like; however, here we will describe the case where soldering is used.

[0113] When the solder applied in this manner is heated and melted, and the second connector 101 is mounted on the surface of the second board, the lower end of the outer leg part 152al of the long-side outer plate 152a at the long side part 150a of the second shield 150 is connected to a grounding connection pad on the surface of the second board. Furthermore, at the short side part 150b, the lower surface of the outer leg part 152bl of the short-side outer plate 152b is connected to a grounding connection pad on the surface of the second board. Therefore, the long- side outer plate 152a and the short-side outer plate 152b, which are the outer wall 152 of the second shield 150 connected to the connection pad on the surface of the second board, are long, narrow, flat, band-shaped plates that are strong and resistant to deformation, thereby increasing the strength of the entire second connector 101, the outer periphery thereof being surrounded by the long side part 150a and the short side part 150b.

[0114] Furthermore, since the long-side outer plate 152a of the long side part 150a is a bandshaped shielding wall that is continuous in the longitudinal direction of the second connectorAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT101, and the short-side outer plate 152b of the short side part 150b is a band-shaped shielding wall that is continuous in the short direction (width direction) of the second connector 101, the outer periphery of the second connector 101 is surrounded by a continuous shielding wall, except for the outer plate discontinuity part 152c, and is effectively electromagnetically shielded. Furthermore, the long side part 150a and short side part 150b, which are connected at a plurality of points to the grounding connection pads on the surface of the second board, are entirely at the same potential as the grounding line of the second board, thereby providing a very high electromagnetic shielding effect, and the second connector 101, the outer periphery thereof being surrounded by the long side part 150a and short side part 150b, is electromagnetically shielded very effectively.

[0115] Furthermore, the outer surface of the second shield 150 that surrounds the outer periphery of the second connector 101 does not have any protruding parts such as spring members. Therefore, the second connector 101 is easy to handle when transporting the second connector 101 or when mating the first connector 1 with the second connector 101, and there is no risk of damaging protruding parts such as the spring member.

[0116] Subsequently, the operation of mating together the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 with the above configuration will be described.

[0117] Here, it is assumed that the first connector 1 is surface-mounted on the first board (not depicted). Specifically, at the long side part 50a of the first shield 50, the lower end of the outer leg part 52al of the long-side outer plate 52a and the lower end of the inner leg part 51a3 of the support part 51a are connected to grounding connection pads on the surface of the first board, and at the short side part 50b, the lower end of the outer leg part 52b 1 of the short-side outer plate 52b and the lower surface of the tongue part 51a4 of the support part 51a are connected to grounding connection pads on the surface of the first board. Furthermore, the tail part 62 of the first terminal 61 is connected to a connection pad on the surface of the first board, which is coupled to a conductive trace. Note that when the first terminal 61 is a narrow- width first terminal 61 A, the conductive trace is a signal line that transmits high-frequency signals, and the like, and when the first terminal 61 is a wide-width first terminal 6 IB, the conductive trace is a power line that supplies power.Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT

[0118] Similarly, the second connector 101 is assumed to be surface mounted on a second board (not depicted). Specifically, at the long side part 150a of the second shield 150, the lower end of the outer leg part 152al of the long-side outer plate 152a is connected to a grounding connection pad on the surface of the second board, and at the short side part 150b, the lower surface of the outer leg part 152b 1 of the short-side outer plate 152b is connected to a grounding connection pad on the surface of the second board. Furthermore, the tail part 162 of the second terminal 161 is assumed to be connected to a connection pad on the surface of the second board, the connection pad being coupled to a conductive trace. Note that when the second terminal 161 is narrow-width second terminals 161 A, the conductive trace is a signal line that transmits high-frequency signals, and the like, and when the second terminal 161 is wide-width second terminals 161B, the conductive trace is a power line that supplies power.

[0119] First, the operator places a mating surface 10a of the first connector 1 and a mating surface 101a of the second connector 101 opposite each other, as depicted in FIGS. IB and FIGS. 2B, and when the position of the inner protruding part 13b of the first connector 1 matches the position of the center groove part 112b of the second connector 101 and the position of the protruding end part 117 of the second connector 101 matches the position of the mating recessed part 12b of the first connector 1, the alignment of the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 is completed.

[0120] In this state, when the first connector 1 and / or the second connector 101 are moved in a direction approaching a counterpart side, in other words, in a mating direction, the second shield 150 of the second connector 101 is inserted into the stowing part 50d of the first shield 50 of the first connector 1, the inner protruding part 13b of the first connector 1 is inserted into the center groove part 112b of the second connector 101, and the protruding end part 117 of the second connector 101 is inserted into the mating recessed part 12b of the first connector 1.

[0121] Note that the connecting part 53 of the first shield 50 is present on the mating surface 10a of the first connector 1 so as to surround the periphery thereof, and a connecting part 153 of the second shield 150 is present on the mating surface 101a of the second connector 101. Therefore, even if the mating surface 10a of the first connector 1 and the mating surface 101a of the second connector 101 come into contact with each other during mating, no damage or breakage occurs.Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT

[0122] Furthermore, in the initial mating state, in other words, when the portion near the mating surface 101a of the second connector 101 has slightly advanced into the stowing part 50d of the first shield 50 of the first connector 1, the curved part 153b formed around the upper end part 153a of the connecting part 153 of the second shield 150 abuts against the inclined upper part 5 lai of the support part 51a on the inner wall 51 of the first shield 50, and is smoothly inserted into the stowing part 50d while being guided by the upper part 5 lai. In addition, the curved wall parts 117b of the protruding end parts 117 positioned at the four corners of the second connector 101 abut against the inclined walls 5 Idl of the corner portions 5 Id of the inner wall 51 of the first shield 50, thereby positioning the second connector 101 relative to the first connector 1. Furthermore, since the end part of the first protruding part 13 of the first housing 11 is at least partially covered by the island-end cover part 55, the end part will not suffer significant damage even if there is contact with the protruding end part 117 of the second connector 101, or the like.

[0123] Next, as depicted in FIGS. 1A and FIGS. 2A, when the mating of the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 is complete, the first terminal 61 and the second terminal 161 come into contact and are conductive, and the first shield 50 and the second shield 150 come into contact and are conductive. Note that the distance from the mounting surface 10b of the first connector 1 to the mounting surface 101b of the second connector 101 when the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 are mated, in other words, the mating height, is, for example, approximately 1 [mm],

[0124] Specifically, as depicted in FIGS. 9A-9C a pair of terminal support walls 112a of the second protruding part 112 of the second housing 111 are inserted into a pair of inner recessed groove parts 12a of the first housing 11 and protrude into the inner recessed groove parts 12a, so that the proximal contact part 65a of the proximal connecting part 65 and the distal contact part 66a of the distal connecting part 66 of the first terminal 61, which face each other, contact the distal connecting part 166 and the proximal connecting part 165 of the second terminal 161 exposed on the outer and inner surfaces of the terminal support walls 112a.

[0125] In this case, the lower connecting part 64 of the first terminal 61 and the vicinity thereof have a roughly U-shaped configuration and are elastically deformable, so that the distance between the proximal contact part 65a of the proximal connecting part 65 and the distal contact part 66a ofAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT the distal connecting part 66 which face each other can be elastically expanded. Therefore, the gap between the proximal contact part 65a of the proximal connecting part 65 and the distal contact part 66a of the distal connecting part 66 is elastically pushed apart by the second terminal 161 inserted therebetween, and as a reaction to this, the second terminal 161 is elastically clamped on both sides by the proximal contact part 65a of the proximal connecting part 65 and the distal contact part 66a of the distal connecting part 66. As a result, the proximal contact part 65a of the proximal connecting part 65 of the first terminal 61 and the distal connecting part 166 of the second terminal 161, which correspond to each other, and the distal contact part 66a of the distal connecting part 66 of the first terminal 61 and the proximal connecting part 165 of the second terminal 161, maintain contact and do not separate even when subjected to impact or vibration, and can maintain a stable conductive state. Furthermore, the mutually corresponding first terminal 61 and second terminal 161 are in a state of contact at two points, a so-called two-point contact, and even if contact at one point is released, the contact at the other point is maintained, and thus a contact state can be stably maintained.

[0126] In this manner, the first terminal 61 and second terminal 161, which are in contact with each other, have entire circumferences that are continuously surrounded by the inner wall 51 and outer wall 52 of the first shield 50 and the outer wall 152 of the second shield 150, and moreover, are continuously enclosed, thereby being extremely effectively shielded. Therefore, good electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) can be achieved.

[0127] Furthermore, when the second shield 150 of the second connector 101 is inserted into the stowing part 50d of the first shield 50 of the first connector 1, as depicted in FIGS. 9B and FIGS. 10B, the contact protruding part 5 lb2 at the contact part 5 lb of the first shield 50 contacts the outer surfaces of the long-side outer plate 152a and the short-side outer plate 152b of the second shield 150, thereby establishing electrical conductivity. As described above, the contact parts 51b are arranged in large numbers with a pitch of approximately 1.0 mm, so that the first shield 50 and the second shield 150 are mutually conductive through the numerous contact points arranged with a short pitch, resulting in an equipotential throughout, improving the electromagnetic shielding properties and eliminating the risk of any portion functioning as an antenna at a specific frequency, thereby preventing the generation of noise. Furthermore, the contact protruding part 51b2 engages with the engagement recessed part 152a2 formed on the long-side outer plate 152a of the second shield 150, so that the first shield 50 and the second shield 150 are locked together, and the contactAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT state between the first shield 50 and the second shield 150 is reliably maintained, thereby preventing release of the engagement between the first shield 50 and the second shield 150.

[0128] Furthermore, since the lower ends of the outer leg parts 52al formed in large numbers on the long-side outer plate 52a of the first shield 50 and the lower ends of outer leg parts 152al formed in large numbers on the long-side outer plate 152a of the second shield 150 are connected to connection pads coupled to ground lines on the surfaces of the first board and second board, even if the long side parts 50a and 150a are long, an equipotential can be maintained over the entire longitudinal range. Therefore, even better electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) can be maintained.

[0129] Thus, in the present embodiment, the first connector 1 is a connector that includes a first housing 11, a plurality of first terminals 61 attached to the first housing 11, and a first shield 50, and has a generally rectangular planar shape that mates with the second connector 101. Furthermore, the first shield 50 includes an outer wall 52 exposed to the outside of the first connector 1, an inner wall 51 exposed to the inside of the first connector 1, and a connecting part 53 connecting the upper ends of the outer wall 52 and the inner wall 51, the first shield 50 is arranged on the four sides of the first housing 11, the outer wall 52 includes an outer leg part 52al arranged at the lower end thereof, the inner wall 51 includes a support part 51a and a plurality of contact parts 51b that elastically contact the second shield 150 of the second connector 101, the support part 51a and the contact part 51b are separated by a slit part 51c, and the support part 51a is secured on the first board.

[0130] As a result, the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 are small and low- profile, yet exhibit high strength even when multi -pole, and can obtain a high shielding effect, thereby improving reliability.

[0131] In addition, the contact parts 51b are arranged on both sides of the support part 51a, and the support part 51a of the inner wall 51 parallel to the short direction of the first connector 1 includes a tongue part 51a4 extending inwardly of the first connector 1, and an island-end cover part 55 is connected to the tip end of the tongue part 51a4.

[0132] Furthermore, the support part 51a includes an upper part 51al that guides the second connector 101 , a lower part 51 a2 that extends downward from the lower end of the upper part 51 a 1 ,Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT and an inner leg part 51a3 that is arranged at the lower end of the lower part 51a2 and secured to the first board, and the lower end of the upper part 5 lai is positioned higher than the upper surface of the first protruding part 13 that retains the first terminal 61 in the first housing 11.

[0133] Furthermore, the outer wall 52 parallel to the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1 includes a plurality of outer leg parts 52al arranged at the lower end thereof, and the plurality of support parts 51a of the inner wall 51 facing the outer wall 52 each include one inner leg part 51a3 arranged at the lower end thereof, and the outer leg part 52al of the outer wall 52 and the inner leg parts 51a3 of the inner wall 51 do not face each other in the short direction of the first connector 1.

[0134] Furthermore, the ends of the connecting parts 53 of the first shields 50 disposed on the four sides of the first housing 11 are connected by corner parts 50c, and each of the first shields 50 are electrically connected.

[0135] Additionally, the comer part 50c includes an inwardly inclined comer portion 51 d to guide the second connector 101.

[0136] Furthermore, the first terminals 61 are arranged so as to form a row extending in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1, the first terminals 61 include wide- width first terminals 61B, and the wide-width first terminals 61B are disposed at both ends of the row.

[0137] Next, Embodiment 2 will be described. It should be noted that a description is omitted for parts having the same structure as those of Embodiment 1 by assigning the same reference numbers. Moreover, descriptions of the same operations and effects as those of Embodiment 1 will be omitted.

[0138] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the first connector according to Embodiment 2 as viewed from the mating surface side, and FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the first connector according to Embodiment 2.

[0139] In the first connector 1 of the present embodiment, the island-end cover part 55 of the first shield 50 has a larger dimension in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the first connector 1 than the island-end cover part 55 in Embodiment 1, and the cover attachment part 16 to which theAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT island-end cover part 55 is attached is configured to cover almost the entire outer end protruding wall part 13c of the first protruding part 13 of the first housing 11 in the width direction (Y-axis direction). In addition, the cover tip stowing groove 16a for stowing the tip end part 55c of the island-end cover part 55 is also formed so as to extend over almost the entire outer end protruding wall part 13c in the width direction.

[0140] The island-end cover part 55 in the present embodiment, similar to the island-end cover part 55 in Embodiment 1, is connected to the tip end of a tongue part 51a4 that is connected to the lower end of a lower part 5 la2 of a support part 51a positioned in the widthwise center of the first connector 1 at the short side part 50b of the first shield 50. Furthermore, the island-end cover part 55, similar the island-end cover part 55 in Embodiment 1, is made by bending a band-shaped member, and has a coupling piece 55a extending upward (Z-axis positive direction) from the tip of the tongue part 51a4, a curved part 55b having a first end connected to the upper end of the coupling piece 55a, and a tip end part 55c extending downward from a second end of the curved part 55b.

[0141] In the present embodiment, the coupling piece 55a includes a narrow part 55al connected to the tip end of the tongue part 5 la4 and having a width dimension similar to that of the tongue part 51a4, and a wide part 55a2 connected to the upper end of the narrow part 55al and having a width dimension similar to the width dimension of the outer end protruding wall part 13c. Furthermore, the upper end of the coupling piece 55a, in other words, the curved part 55b having a first end connected to the upper end of the wide part 55a2, and the tip end part 55c extending downward from a second end of the curved part 55b, have the same width dimension as the wide part 55a2.

[0142] In this manner, the outer end protruding wall part 13c of the first protruding part 13 in the present embodiment is covered by the island-end cover part 55 over almost the entirety thereof in the width direction (Y-axis direction). As a result, each corner part 17 of the first protruding part 13, which is considered to have relatively low strength, in other words, the portions where both ends of the outer protruding wall part 13a and both ends of the outer end protruding wall part 13c are connected, are covered by the island-end cover part 55, so that the cover parts do not suffer significant damage even if coming into contact with various parts of the second connector 101 during operations such as mating the first connector 1 and the second connector 101.Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT

[0143] Note that other components of the first connector 1 in the present embodiment are the same as those in Embodiment 1, and thus, description thereof is omitted. In addition, the configuration of the second connector 101 in the present embodiment is also similar to that of Embodiment 1, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. Furthermore, other basic configurations and effects in the state in which the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 are mated are also similar to those of Embodiment 1, and therefore a description thereof is omitted.

[0144] Next, Embodiment 3 will be described. It should be noted that a description is omitted for parts having the same structure as those of Embodiments 1 and 2 by assigning the same reference numbers. Moreover, descriptions of the same operations and effects as those of Embodiments 1 and 2 will be omitted.

[0145] FIGS. 13A-13B are a perspective view of the connector assembly according to Embodiment 3, viewed from the second connector side, FIGS. 14A and 14B are a perspective view of the connector assembly according to Embodiment 3, viewed from the first connector side, FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the first connector according to Embodiment 3, and FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the second connector according to Embodiment 3. Note that in FIGS. 13A and 13 B and FIGS. 14A and 14BFIG. 13 A and FIG. 14A are a diagram depicting a mated state, and FIG. 13B and FIG. 14B are a diagram depicting a state immediately before mating.

[0146] In Embodiment 1, an example was described in which the first shield 50 of the first connector 1 is integrated with the first housing 11 by overmolding or insert molding. However, in the present embodiment, an example is described in which the first shield 50 of the first connector 1 and the first housing 11 are not integrated, and the first shield 50 is attached to the first housing 11, which is prepared separately, by a method such as insertion or press-fitting.

[0147] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a pair of comer parts 17 formed at a first longitudinal end of the first housing 11 are connected to each other by a band-shaped comer connecting part 17f extending in the width direction of the first housing 11, and a pair of comer parts 17 formed at a second longitudinal end of the first housing 11 are also connected to each otherAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT by the band-shaped comer connecting part 17f extending in the width direction of the first housing 11.

[0148] Furthermore, a first recessed part 17fl is formed on the inner surface of the corner connecting part 17f to stow the support part 51a positioned at the widthwise center of the first connector 1 at the short side part 50b of the first shield 50, and a second recessed part 17f2 is formed on both sides of the first recessed part 17fl to stow the contact part 51b adjacent to the support part 51a. Furthermore, a third recessed part 17f3 is formed on the outer surface of the corner connecting part 17f, in which the short-side outer plate 52b of the short side part 50b of the first shield 50 is stowed.

[0149] In the present embodiment, a side edge protrusion 52b2 is formed on each of the two side edges of the short-side outer plate 52b. When attaching the first shield 50 to the first housing 11 and the short-side outer plate 52b is inserted into the third recessed part 17f3 relatively from above, the side edge protrusions 52b2 bite into the inner wall surfaces 17f4 on both sides of the third recessed part 17f3, and the short-side outer plate 52b is secured within the third recessed part 17f3.

[0150] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an outer wall protruding part 17bl that protrudes in the width direction of the first housing 11 is formed on the outer wall part 17b of the corner part 17. Meanwhile, on the lower edges of both longitudinal ends of the long-side outer plate 52a of the long side part 50a of the first shield 50, there are formed notched mating recessed parts 52a2 into which the outer wall protruding parts 17b 1 are mated. Furthermore, a side edge protrusion 52a3 is formed on a side edge facing outward in the longitudinal direction of the long-side outer plate 52a in the mating recessed part 52a2. When attaching the first shield 50 to the first housing 11 and the long-side outer plate 52a is moved relatively from above, the outer wall protruding part 17bl fits into the mating recessed part 52a2, and the side edge protrusion 52a3 bites into the side wall surface 17b2 facing inward in the longitudinal direction of the long-side outer plate 52a at the outer wall protruding part 17b 1 , and the long-side outer plate 52a is secured between the pair of corner parts 17 formed on both longitudinal ends of the first housing 11. Furthermore, the tip end parts 55c of the island-end cover parts 55 are inserted into the cover tip stowing groove 16a formed in the first protruding part 13.

[0151] This enables the first shield 50 in the present embodiment to be securely attached to the first housing 11 which is prepared separately.Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT

[0152] In addition, in the present embodiment, the lower part 51a2 of the support part 51a positioned in the widthwise center of the first connector 1 on the short side part 50b of the first shield 50, the tongue part 51a4 connected to the lower end of the lower part 51a2, and the islandend cover part 55 connected to the tip end of the tongue part 51a4 are made by bending a bandshaped member, similar to the lower part 51a2, tongue part 51a4 and island-end cover part 55 in Embodiment 1, but their width dimensions are set smaller than the width dimensions of the lower part 5 la2, tongue part 5 la4 and island-end cover part 55 in Embodiment 1. Furthermore, the upper part 5 lai as an inclined surface of each support part 51a does not extend flatly from the inner end edge of the upper end part 53a of the connecting part 53 toward the inside diagonally downward of the stowing part 50d as in Embodiments 1 and 2, but has a curved surface that curves from the inner end edge of the upper end part 53a of the connecting part 53 and faces downward. Furthermore, the support part 5 la includes an upper part 5 lai that guides the second connector 101 and a lower part 51a2 that extends downward from the lower end of the upper part 5 lai, and the upper end of the upper part 5 lai is positioned higher than the upper surface of the first protruding part 13 that retains the first terminals 61 in the first housing 11.

[0153] Note that other components of the first connector 1 in the present embodiment are the same as those in Embodiment 1, and thus, description thereof is omitted.

[0154] Next, the configuration of the second connector 101 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0155] In Embodiment 1, an example was described in which the second shield 150 was integrated with the second housing 111 by overmolding or insert molding. However, in the present embodiment, an example is described in which the second shield 150 and the second housing 111 are not integrated, and the second shield 150 is attached to the second housing 111, which is prepared separately, by a method such as insertion or press-fitting.

[0156] In the present embodiment, an outside recessed part 117c is formed on the outer surface of the end wall parts 117a of the protruding end parts 117 formed on both longitudinal ends of the second housing 111 , in which the short-side outer plates 152b of the second shield 150 are stowed. Note that in the present embodiment, the outer leg part 152b 1 is not bent with respect to the shortside outer plate 152b, and protrudes downward (Z-axis positive direction). Furthermore, aAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT protruding end recess entry part 117d is formed on the widthwise outer surface of the second housing 111 at the curved wall part 117b of the protruding end part 117, and the longitudinal outer end of the second housing 111 at the protruding end recess entry part 117d is demarcated by a curved wall protruding part 117b 1. Meanwhile, a side edge protrusion 152a3 is formed on a side edge facing outward in the longitudinal direction of the long-side outer plate 152a of the long side part 150a of the second shield 150.

[0157] Furthermore, in the process of attaching the second shield 150 to the second housing 111, the short-side outer plate 152b is inserted into the outside recessed part 117c relatively from above and stowed, and when the long-side outer plate 152a is moved relatively from above, the vicinity of the longitudinal outer end of the long-side outer plate 152a is inserted into the protruding end recess entry part 117d, and the side edge protrusion 152a3 bites into a side wall surface 117b2 facing inward in the longitudinal direction of the long-side outer plate 152a at the curved wall protruding part 117b 1, and the long-side outer plate 152a is secured between a pair of curved wall parts 117b formed on both longitudinal ends of the second housing 111.

[0158] This enables the second shield 150 in the present embodiment to be securely attached to the second housing 111 which is prepared separately.

[0159] Note that other components of the second connector 101 in the present embodiment are the same as those in Embodiment 1, and thus, description thereof is omitted.

[0160] In addition, other basic configurations and effects in the state in which the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 are mated are also similar to those of Embodiment 1, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0161] Next, Embodiment 4 will be described. It should be noted that a description is omitted for parts having the same structure as those of the Embodiments 1 to 3 by assigning the same reference numbers. Moreover, descriptions of the same operations and effects as those of Embodiments 1 to 3 will be omitted.

[0162] FIGS. 17A and 17B are a perspective view of a connector assembly according to Embodiment 4, as viewed from the second connector side. FIGS. 18A and 18B are a perspectiveAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT view of a connector assembly according to Embodiment 4, as viewed from the first connector side. FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of the first connector according to Embodiment 4. FIGS. 20A- 20Dare a four-plane diagram of the first connector according to Embodiment 4. FIGS. 21 A and 21B are a perspective view of the first connector according to Embodiment 4. FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of the second connector according to Embodiment 4. FIGS. 23A- 23Dare a four-plane diagram of the second connector according to Embodiment 4. FIGS. 24A and 24B are a perspective view of the second connector according to Embodiment 4. Note that, in FIGS. 17A and 17B and FIGS. 18A and 18BFIG. 17A and FIG. 18A are a diagram depicting a mated state and FIG. 17B and FIG. 18B are a diagram depicting a state immediately before mating. In FIGS. 20A-20DFIG. 20Ais a top view, FIG. 20B is a side view, FIG. 20C is a bottom view, and FIG. 20D is a front view. In FIGS. 21 A and 21BFIG. 21 Ais a view as seen from the mating surface side, and FIG. 21B is a view as seen from the mounting surface side. In FIGS. 23A-23DFIG. 23A is a top view, FIG. 23B is a side view, FIG. 23C is a bottom view, and FIG. 23D is a front view. In FIGS. 24A and BFIG. 24A is a view as seen from the mating surface side, and FIG. 24B is a view as seen from the mounting surface side.

[0163] In the present embodiment, similar to Embodiment 3, an example will be described in which the first shield 50 and the first housing 11 of the first connector 1 are not integrated, and the first shield 50 is attached to the separately prepared first housing 11 by a method such as insertion or press-fitting. Note that if necessary, the first shield 50 to be integrated with the first housing 11 by overmolding or insert molding can be changed, as in Embodiment 1 described above. However, for the sake of convenience, only the case in which the first shield 50 of the first connector 1 is attached to the first housing 11 that is produced separately will be described here.

[0164] In the present embodiment, the first terminal stowing cavity 15 includes a hole-shaped first terminal stowing hole cavity 15c formed in the outer protruding wall part 13a and the inner protruding part 13b of the first housing 11. The first terminal stowing hole cavity 15c is connected to and integrated with the first terminal stowing inner cavity 15a or the first terminal stowing outer side cavity 15b at the bottom surface of the inner recessed groove part 12a.

[0165] In addition, the narrow-width first terminal 61A in the present embodiment is a member formed as a single unit by subjecting a conductive metal plate to processing such as punching, and includes a retained part 63 extending in the vertical direction (Z-axisAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT direction), a tail part 62 as a board connecting part connected to the lower end (negative Z- axis end) of the retained part 63, a retained connecting part 63b extending in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the first connector 1 from near the lower end of the retained part 63, a proximal connecting part 65 extending in the vertical direction and connected near the lower end thereof to the tip end of the retained connecting part 63b, a lower connecting part 64 extending in the width direction of the first connector 1 from the lower end of the proximal connecting part 65, and a distal connecting part 66 extending upward (Z-axis positive direction) from the tip end of the lower connecting part 64.

[0166] Note that near the tip ends of the proximal connecting part 65 and the distal connecting part 66, a proximal contact part 65a and a distal contact part 66a are formed so as to protrude toward each other. Furthermore, the retained part 63 is a portion that is pressed into the first terminal stowing hole cavity 15c from below the first housing 11 and retained therein, and an engaging protruding part 63a that bites into the side of the first terminal stowing hole cavity 15c is preferably formed near the tip end thereof.

[0167] In addition, the narrow- width first terminals 61 A attached to each inner recessed groove part 12a form a terminal row extending in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1 along each inner recessed groove part 12a, and in each terminal row, the orientations of adjacent narrow-width first terminals 61A are oriented so as to be in opposite directions in the width direction of the inner recessed groove part 12a. In the example depicted in the diagram, the narrow-width first terminal 61 A positioned at the front end (end in the positive direction of the X-axis) of the narrow-width first terminals 61A attached to the inner recessed groove part 12a on the positive side of the Y-axis is oriented so that the tail part 62 thereof protrudes in the Y-axis positive direction, while the narrow-width first terminal 61 A positioned second from the front end is oriented so that the tail part 62 thereof protrudes in the Y-axis negative direction. In this manner, the first terminals 16A are attached to each inner recessed groove part 12a in an alternating arrangement facing in opposite directions, so that the pitch of the tail parts 62 exposed to a mounting surface 11b on both sides of the inner recessed groove part 12a is twice the pitch of the narrow-width first terminals 61 A. Therefore, connection work by soldering or the like to the connection pad of the first board can easily be performed. In addition, the pitch of the proximal connecting part 65 and the distal connecting part 66 exposed in the inner recessed groove part 12a is also twice the pitch of the narrow-width first terminal 61 A.Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT

[0168] In addition, the narrow- width first terminals 61 A attached to each inner recessed groove part 12a are oriented so that adjacent terminals in the width direction of the first connector 1 are oriented in the same direction. In the example depicted in the diagram, in both terminal rows on the Y-axis positive direction side and the Y-axis negative direction sides, the orientation of the narrow-width first terminal 61 A positioned on the front end (X-axis positive direction end) is aligned such that the tail part 62 protrudes in the Y-axis positive direction, and the orientation of the narrow-width first terminal 61 A positioned second from the front end is aligned such that the tail part 62 protrudes in the Y-axis negative direction.

[0169] Note that for the wide-width first terminal 61B, the shape, structure, arrangement, and method of mounting to the first housing 11 are the same as those in Embodiments 1 to 3, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0170] Furthermore, other components of the first connector 1 in the present embodiment are the same as those in Embodiment 3, and thus, a description thereof is omitted.

[0171] Next, the configuration of the second connector 101 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0172] In the present embodiment, similar to Embodiment 3, an example will be described in which the second shield 150 and the second housing 111 of the second connector 101 are not integrated, and the second shield 150 is attached to the separately prepared second housing 111 by a method such as insertion or press-fitting. Note that if necessary, the second shield 150 can be changed so as to be integrated with the second housing 111 by overmolding or insert molding, as in Embodiment 1. However, for the sake of convenience, only the case will be described in which the second shield 150 of the second connector 101 is attached to a second housing 111 that is produced separately.

[0173] In the present embodiment, the second housing I ll is constructed by integrally molding and joining a pair of left and right half-body parts, in other words, a left half-body part 111 A and a right half-body part 11 IB, via a pair of connecting members 119 by overmolding or insert molding. Note that as depicted in FIG. 22, the left half-body part 111 A and the right half-body part 11 IB are the same members arranged to face each other on the left and right.Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT

[0174] The left half-body part 111 A and the right half-body part 11 IB each include a second protruding part 112 and a protruding end part 117 connected to both ends of the second protruding part 112 in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, each connecting member 119 is positioned between the protruding end part 117 of the left half-body part 111 A and the protruding end part 117 of the right half-body part 11 IB, and is integrated with the left half-body part 111 A and the right half-body part 11 IB by overmolding or insert molding. The protruding end part 117 thus obtained is the same as the protruding end part 117 according to Embodiment 3, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0175] Note that in the second housing 111 obtained by integrating the left half-body part 111 A and the right half-body part 11 IB, the center groove part 112b between the terminal support wall 112a of the second protruding part 112 of the left half-body part 111 A and the terminal support wall 112a of the second protruding part 112 of the right half-body part 11 IB is a through hole that penetrates from the mating surface 101a to the mounting surface 101b of the second connector 101.

[0176] In addition, in the present embodiment, the second terminal 161 is a member that is integrally formed by subjecting a conductive metal plate to processing such as punching and bending. Furthermore, the second terminal 161 includes a proximal connecting part 165 extending in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), a tail part 162 connected to the lower end of the proximal connecting part 165 and serving as a board connecting part extending in the width direction of the second housing 111, an upper connecting part 164 connected to the upper end of the proximal connecting part 165, and a distal connecting part 166 connected to the lower end of the upper connecting part 164 and facing the proximal connecting part 165.

[0177] Note that while with the second terminal 161 in Embodiments 1 to 3, the tail part 162 extends in the direction in which the distal connecting part 166 is located, the second terminal 161 in the present embodiment differs from Embodiments 1 to 3 only in that the tail part 162 extends in the opposite direction to the direction in which the distal connecting part 166 is located.

[0178] In addition, the narrow-width second terminals 161 A attached to each terminal support wall 112a form a terminal row extending in the longitudinal direction of the second connectorAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT101 along each terminal support wall 112a, and in each terminal row, the orientation of adjacent narrow- width second terminals 161 A are oriented so as to be opposite to each other in the width direction of the second connector 101. In the example depicted in the diagram, the narrowwidth second terminal 161 A positioned at the front end (end in the positive direction of the X- axis) of the narrow-width second terminals 161 A attached to the terminal support wall 112a on the positive side of the Y-axis is oriented so that the tail part 162 protrudes in the positive direction of the Y-axis, while the narrow-width second terminal 161 A positioned second from the front end is oriented so that the tail part 162 protrudes in the negative direction of the Y- axis. In this manner, the narrow-width second terminals 161A are attached to each terminal support wall 112a in an alternating arrangement facing in opposite directions, so that the pitch of the tail parts 162 exposed to a mounting surface 111b on both sides of the terminal support wall 112a is twice the pitch of the narrow-width second terminals 161 A. Therefore, connection work by soldering or the like to the connection pad of the second board can easily be performed. In addition, the pitch of the proximal connecting part 165 and the distal connecting part 166 exposed to the terminal support wall 112a is also twice the pitch of the narrow-width second terminals 161 A.

[0179] Note that the proximal connecting part 165 is positioned closer to the center in the width direction (thickness direction) of the terminal support wall 112a than the distal connecting part 166 is. That is, the proximal connecting part 165 of the narrow-width second terminals 161A is shifted so as to be recessed more inward in the width direction of the terminal support wall 112a than the distal connecting part 166. In this manner, in each terminal row, the proximal connecting part 165 and distal connecting parts 166 serving as contact surfaces between adjacent narrow- width second terminals 161 A are shifted from each other in the width direction of the terminal support wall 112a.

[0180] In addition, the narrow-width second terminals 161A attached to each terminal support wall 112a are oriented so that adjacent terminals in the width direction of the second connector 101 are oriented in the same direction. In the example depicted in the diagram, in both terminal rows on the Y-axis positive direction side and the Y-axis negative direction sides, the orientation of the narrow-width second terminal 161A positioned on the front end (X-axis positive direction end) is aligned such that the tail part 162 protrudes in the Y-axis positive direction, and the orientation of the narrow-width second terminal 161 A positionedAttorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT second from the front end is aligned such that the tail part 62 protrudes in the Y-axis negative direction.

[0181] Note that as for the wide-width second terminals 161B, the arrangement method and the like are similar to those in Embodiments 1 to 3, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0182] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the wide-width second terminals 161B are integrated with the left half-body part 111 A and the right half-body part 11 IB by overmolding or insert molding before the left half-body part 111 A and the right half-body part 11 IB are integrated together. Furthermore, the left half-body part 111 A and the right half-body part 11 IB, to which the wide-width second terminals 16 IB are respectively integrated, are joined via a pair of connecting members 119 to form the integrated second housing 111.

[0183] Note that other components of the second connector 101 in the present embodiment are the same as those in Embodiment 3, and thus, description thereof is omitted. Furthermore, other basic configurations and effects in the state in which the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 are mated are also similar to those of Embodiment 1, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0184] Moreover, the specification disclosure herein describes features relating to suitable typical embodiments. Various other embodiments, modifications, and variations within the scope and spirit of the patent claims appended hereto will naturally be conceived of by a person of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the specification herein.

[0185] The present disclosure can be applied to a connector and a connector assembly.

Claims

Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCTClaims1. A connector, comprising:(a) a housing; a plurality of terminals attached to the housing; and a shielding part; the connector having a generally rectangular planar shape so as to mate with a counterpart connector; wherein(b) the shielding part includes an outer plate exposed to an outside of the connector, an inner plate exposed to an inside of the connector, and a connecting part connecting upper ends of the outer plate and the inner plate,(c) the shielding part is disposed on four sides of the housing,(d) the outer plate includes a board connecting part disposed at a lower end thereof, and(e) the inner plate includes a support part and a plurality of contact parts that elastically contact the shielding part of the counterpart connector, the support part and the contact parts being separated by a slit part, and the support part is secured to a board.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the contact parts are disposed on both sides of the support part, and the support part of the inner plate, which is parallel to the short direction of the connector, includes a tongue part that extends inward of the connector, and a protective cover is connected to a tip end of the tongue part.

3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the support part includes an inclined surface that guides the counterpart connector and a main body part extending downward from a lower end of the inclined surface, and the upper end of the inclined surface is positioned higher than an upper surface of a terminal retention part that retains the terminals in the housing.

4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the support part includes an inclined surface that guides the counterpart connector, a main body part extending downward from a lower end of the inclined surface, and a board connecting part disposed at the lower end of the main body part and secured to the board, and the lower end of the inclined surface is positioned higher than an upper surface of a terminal retention part that retains the terminals in the housing.Attorney Docket No. MX-24398-WO-PCT5. A connector according to claim 1, wherein an outer plate parallel to the longitudinal direction of the connector includes a plurality of board connecting parts arranged at the lower end thereof, and a plurality of support parts of an inner plate opposite the outer plate each include one board connecting part arranged at the lower end thereof, and the board connecting parts of the outer plate and the board connecting parts of the inner plate are not opposite each other in the short direction of the connector.

6. The connector according to claim 1, wherein ends of the connecting parts of each of the shielding parts disposed on the four sides of the housing are connected by corner parts, and each of the shielding parts are electrically connected to each other.

7. The connector according to claim 6, wherein the comer part includes an inwardly tapered part for guiding the counterpart connector.

8. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the terminals are arranged side by side to form a row extending in a longitudinal direction of the connector, the terminals including power supply terminals, the power supply terminals being disposed at both ends of the row.

9. A connector assembly comprising the connector according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and a counterpart connector that mates with the connector.

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