Connector device
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/JP2026/005002
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2025-02-19
- Filing Date
- 2026-02-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-27
Smart Images
Figure JP2026005002_27082026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Connector device
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector device.
[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a floating connector. The contact of the floating connector described in Patent Document 1 contacts the mating contact of the mating connector. At this time, the contact and the mating contact contact at two points, namely, the position of the contact portion in the contact and the position of the mating contact portion in the mating contact.
[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-190258
[0004] When absorbing the displacement between the connector and the mating connector in the fitting direction, it is desirable that the impedance change is small.
[0005] Therefore, an object is to provide a technique capable of reducing the impedance change when absorbing the displacement between the connector and the mating connector in the fitting direction.
[0006] The connector device of the present disclosure comprises a first connector and a second connector that mates with the first connector along a first direction, wherein the first connector includes a first signal terminal and a first connector housing that holds the first signal terminal, and the second connector includes a second signal terminal connected to the first signal terminal and a second connector housing that holds the second signal terminal, the contact portion between the first signal terminal and the second signal terminal has a first spring contact portion and a second spring contact portion that are separated from each other along the first direction, the first signal terminal has a first extending portion that extends between the first spring contact portion and the second spring contact portion, and the second signal terminal has the The connector device has a second extending portion that extends between a first spring contact portion and a second spring contact portion, and in the first direction, the first connector and the second connector take a mating dimension between a first mating dimension and a second mating dimension that is larger than the first mating dimension, the distance between the first spring contact portion and the second spring contact portion becomes the contact distance when the second mating dimension is set, and a spacing maintenance portion is provided that makes the variation in the distance between the first spring contact portion and the second spring contact portion with respect to the contact distance smaller than the variation in the mating dimension when the mating dimension of the first connector and the second connector becomes smaller than the second mating dimension.
[0007] According to this disclosure, when absorbing the misalignment between the connector and the mating connector in the mating direction, the change in impedance can be minimized.
[0008] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a connector device according to Embodiment 1. Figure 2 is an exploded front view showing the connector device shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is an exploded side view showing the connector device shown in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line IV-IV in Figure 2. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line V-V in Figure 2. Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the floating connector shown in Figure 1. Figure 7 is an exploded plan view showing a movable housing according to Embodiment 1. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a signal terminal according to Embodiment 1. Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the mating connector shown in Figure 1. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector device at the second mating dimension. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector device at the first mating dimension. Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the connection portion between the signal terminal and the mating signal terminal at the second mating dimension. Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the connection portion between the signal terminal and the mating signal terminal in a reference example.
[0009] [Description of Embodiments of the Disclosure] First, embodiments of the Disclosure will be listed and described.
[0010] The connector device of this disclosure is as follows:
[0011] (1) A first connector and a second connector that mates with the first connector along a first direction, wherein the first connector includes a first signal terminal and a first connector housing that holds the first signal terminal, and the second connector includes a second signal terminal connected to the first signal terminal and a second connector housing that holds the second signal terminal, the contact portion between the first signal terminal and the second signal terminal has a first spring contact portion and a second spring contact portion that are separated from each other along the first direction, the first signal terminal has a first extending portion that extends between the first spring contact portion and the second spring contact portion, and the second signal terminal has the first spring A connector device having a second extending portion that extends between a contact portion and the second spring contact portion, wherein in the first direction, the first connector and the second connector take a mating dimension between a first mating dimension and a second mating dimension that is larger than the first mating dimension, the distance between the first spring contact portion and the second spring contact portion becomes the contact distance when the second mating dimension is set, and a spacing maintenance portion is provided to make the variation in the distance between the first spring contact portion and the second spring contact portion with respect to the contact distance smaller than the variation in the mating dimension when the mating dimension of the first connector and the second connector becomes smaller than the second mating dimension.
[0012] According to the connector device of (1), the inventors of the present invention have found that when the misalignment between the first connector and the second connector in the mating direction is absorbed, the impedance changes as the distance between the two contact points, the first signal terminal of the first connector and the second signal terminal of the second connector, changes. The presence of a spacing maintenance part ensures that the distance between the first spring contact and the second spring contact is maintained as close to the contact distance as possible, regardless of the mating dimensions of the first and second connectors. This makes it possible to reduce the change in impedance when absorbing the misalignment between the first and second connectors in the mating direction.
[0013] (2) In the connector device of (1), the second connector housing has a fixed housing and a movable housing that can move in the first direction relative to the fixed housing, the second signal terminal has a first end held by the fixed housing, a second end held by the movable housing, and a connecting portion between the first end and the second end, the first extending portion is provided at the second end, the spacing maintenance portion has a pressing portion provided on the first connector housing and an elastic portion provided on the connecting portion, the pressing portion contacts the movable housing when the second mating dimension is reached and pushes the movable housing toward the fixed housing when the mating dimension becomes smaller than the second mating dimension, and the elastic portion may elastically deform in the first direction in response to the force with which the movable housing is pressed by the pressing portion. This makes it possible to provide a spacing maintenance portion that maintains the distance between contacts with a simple configuration.
[0014] (3) In the connector device of (2), the movable housing is movable relative to the fixed housing in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the second end may follow the movement of the movable housing in the second direction relative to the first end by deformation of the elastic part. This allows for the absorption of displacement in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
[0015] (4) In the connector device of (2) or (3), the first connector includes a first power terminal held in the first connector housing, the second connector includes a second power terminal held in the second connector housing and connected to the first power terminal, and the second connector housing may have a movable housing for power terminals that is provided separately from the movable housing and holds the second power terminal. Power terminals may be less prone to deformation because their conductor cross-sectional area is larger than that of signal terminals. Separating the movable housing for signal terminals from the movable housing for power terminals makes it easier to maintain a constant distance between contacts.
[0016] (5) In any one connector device of (2) to (4), the elastic portion has a first bend, a second bend located on the second end side of the first bend along the extending direction of the second signal terminal, and an intermediate portion between the first bend and the second bend, wherein the portion of the second signal terminal on the first end side of the first bend extends along the first direction, the portion of the second signal terminal on the second end side of the second bend extends along the first direction and connects to the second extending portion, and one end of the intermediate portion on the first bend side is located on the first connector side along the first direction more than the other end on the second bend side. This makes it easier for the elastic portion to bend so that the second end of the second signal terminal follows the movable housing when the movable housing is moved in the first direction by a force pressed by the pressing portion.
[0017] (6) In the connector device of (5), the radius of curvature of the second bend may be smaller than the radius of curvature of the first bend. This makes it easier for the elastic part to bend so that the second end of the second signal terminal follows the movable housing when the movable housing moves in the first direction due to the force applied to the pressing part.
[0018] [Details of Embodiments of the Disclosure] Specific examples of connector devices of the Disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the Disclosure is not limited to these examples and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims, as indicated by the claims.
[0019] In each drawing, some parts of the configuration may be exaggerated or simplified for ease of explanation. Also, the dimensional ratios of each part may differ in each drawing. Furthermore, in this specification, "parallel" and "orthogonal" do not only refer to strictly parallel or orthogonal connections, but also to connections that are approximately parallel or orthogonal within the range that achieves the function and effect of this embodiment.
[0020] In this disclosure, the three mutually orthogonal directions are defined as the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction. One side of the X direction is designated as the X1 direction, and the other side as the X2 direction. One side of the Y direction is designated as the Y1 direction, and the other side as the Y2 direction. One side of the Z direction is designated as the Z1 direction, and the other side as the Z2 direction. In each drawing, the X1 direction, X2 direction, Y1 direction, Y2 direction, Z1 direction, and Z2 direction are shown.
[0021] [Embodiment 1] The connector device according to Embodiment 1 will be described below.
[0022] <Connector Device> The overall configuration of the connector device will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the connector device 100 according to Embodiment 1. Figure 2 is an exploded front view showing the connector device 100 shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is an exploded side view showing the connector device 100 shown in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line IV-IV in Figure 2. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line V-V in Figure 2.
[0023] The connector device 100 comprises a floating connector 10 and a mating connector 80 that mates with the floating connector 10. As shown in Figure 2 and other figures, in this embodiment, the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 are described as board connectors that are electrically connected to the boards B1 and B2, respectively. When the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 are mated, the terminals of the floating connector 10 and the terminals of the mating connector 80 are electrically connected. As a result, the boards B1 and B2 to which the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 are connected are electrically connected. The floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 may be connectors other than board connectors.
[0024] The floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 are mated by moving toward each other along a first direction, which is the mating direction. In this embodiment, the first direction is the direction perpendicular to the main surfaces of the substrates B1 and B2, and is indicated by the Z direction in each figure. Hereafter, the Z direction may be referred to as the up and down direction. The X and Y directions in each figure are directions perpendicular to the first direction and are directions along the main surfaces of the substrates B1 and B2. Note that the mating direction of the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 may be a direction other than the Z direction.
[0025] <Floating Connector> The floating connector 10 will be described with further reference to Figures 6 to 8. Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the floating connector 10 shown in Figure 1. Figure 7 is an exploded plan view showing the movable housings 30 and 35 according to Embodiment 1. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the signal terminal 40 according to Embodiment 1.
[0026] The floating connector 10 comprises a housing and a plurality of signal terminals 40 held by the housing. Here, the floating connector 10 comprises a fixed housing 20 and movable housings 30 and 35 as housings. The signal terminals 40 are terminals for signal transmission. In addition to the signal terminals 40, the floating connector 10 comprises a plurality of power terminals 60. The power terminals 60 are terminals for power supply. The fixed housing 20 is fixed to the circuit board B1 via a fixing device 70. The movable housings 30 and 35 are provided so as to be movable relative to the fixed housing 20. The movable housing 30 holds the signal terminals 40 but does not hold the power terminals 60. The movable housing 35 holds the power terminals 60 but does not hold the signal terminals 40. The plurality of signal terminals 40 are bridged between the fixed housing 20 and the movable housing 30. The plurality of power terminals 60 are bridged between the fixed housing 20 and the movable housing 35. In this embodiment, the movable housings 30 and 35 are supported in a floating state relative to the fixed housing 20 at a predetermined position via the signal terminal 40 and the power terminal 60. As a result, the movable housing 30 is supported so as to be movable relative to the fixed housing 20.
[0027] The movable housing 30 is movable relative to the fixed housing 20 along a first direction (Z direction). In this embodiment, the movable housing 30 is movable relative to the fixed housing 20 along a second direction intersecting the first direction (Z direction). In this embodiment, the movable housing 30 is movable relative to the fixed housing 20 along a third direction intersecting the first direction (Z direction) and the second direction. In this embodiment, the Y direction represents the second direction and the X direction represents the third direction. However, the movable housing 30 only needs to be movable along the first direction (Z direction) and does not need to be movable along the second direction (Y direction) and the third direction (X direction).
[0028] In this embodiment, the movable housing 30 is movable in both the second direction (Y direction) and the third direction (X direction) without being restricted by each other. That is, the movable housing 30 is movable relative to the fixed housing 20 not only in the X and Y directions, but also in directions inclined with respect to the X and Y directions within the XY plane. The movable housing 30 is movable relative to the fixed housing 20 in any direction within the plane, including the second direction (Y direction) and the third direction (X direction). The movement vector indicating the direction and amount of movement of the movable housing 30 can also be considered as the sum of the movement vector in the second direction (Y direction) and the movement vector in the third direction (X direction).
[0029] In this embodiment, multiple signal terminals 40 and multiple power terminals 60 are arranged along the X and Y directions. The multiple power terminals 60 are arranged along the X direction on both sides of the multiple signal terminals 40. For example, the number of parallel signal terminals 40 along the X direction is 10 or more (40 in this case), and the number of parallel signal terminals 40 along the Y direction is 2. On each side of the multiple signal terminals 40 along the X direction, the power terminals 60 are arranged in one row along the X direction and two rows along the Y direction. However, the number of parallel terminals 40 and 60 along the X direction and the number of parallel terminals 40 and 60 along the Y direction are not particularly limited and can be set as appropriate. As in the example of the embodiment, it is preferable that the number of parallel signal terminals 40 along the X direction is greater than the number of parallel signal terminals 40 along the Y direction.
[0030] The orientation of adjacent signal terminals 40 along the X direction is the same. The orientation of adjacent signal terminals 40 along the Y direction is opposite. Similarly, the orientation of adjacent power terminals 60 along the X direction is the same, while the orientation of adjacent power terminals 60 along the Y direction is opposite.
[0031] The fixed housing 20 is molded using an electrically insulating material such as synthetic resin. The fixed housing 20 includes a pair of wall portions 21X extending along the X direction and a pair of wall portions 21Y extending along the Y direction. The pair of wall portions 21X and the pair of wall portions 21Y are connected to form a peripheral wall 21. The upper part of the peripheral wall 21 is open, and the lower part is closed. The fixed housing 20 includes a bottom block portion 22 that closes the lower opening of the peripheral wall 21. Multiple through holes are formed in the bottom block portion 22. Therefore, the fixed housing 20 is formed in a cylindrical shape with the upper part of the peripheral wall 21 open and the lower part of the peripheral wall 21 having multiple through holes, each smaller than the upper opening. The lower part of the movable housing 35 is positioned in the internal space of the peripheral wall 21, above the bottom block portion 22. The upper part of the movable housing 35 protrudes upward from the upper opening of the fixed housing 20. In the X and Y directions, the inner surface of the peripheral wall 21 and the outer surface of the movable housing 35 face each other with a gap between them. This gap is, for example, the same as the amount of movement of the movable housing 35 in the X and Y directions.
[0032] The fixed housing 20 includes a signal terminal holding portion 23, a power terminal holding portion 24, and a fixing device holding portion 29. Here, the signal terminal holding portion 23 and the power terminal holding portion 24 are provided on the bottom block portion 22, and the fixing device holding portion 29 is provided on the outer surface of the wall portion 21Y.
[0033] The signal terminal holding portion 23 is the part that holds the first end portion 41 of the signal terminal 40. The signal terminal holding portion 23 is the part of the bottom block portion 22 located in the middle of the X direction, where the holding grooves 23G and holding holes 23H are formed. The number of holding grooves 23G and holding holes 23H is the same as the number of signal terminals 40. Each signal terminal 40 is individually passed through one holding groove 23G and one holding hole 23H. The holding grooves 23G and holding holes 23H are separated along the extending direction of the signal terminal 40. The fixed housing 20 does not have a wall separating adjacent signal terminals 40 in the X direction between the holding grooves 23G and the holding holes 23H. The fixed housing 20 may have a wall separating adjacent signal terminals 40 in the X direction between the holding grooves 23G and the holding holes 23H.
[0034] The power terminal holding portion 24 is the part that holds the first end portion 61 of the power terminal 60. The power terminal holding portion 24 is the part of the bottom block portion 22 that is located outside the signal terminal holding portion 23 in the X direction and has a holding hole 24H formed as a through hole. A pair of power terminal holding portions 24 are provided, separated from each other in the X direction. The signal terminal holding portion 23 is located between the pair of power terminal holding portions 24. The same number of holding holes 24H as there are power terminals 60 are provided. A power terminal 60 is individually housed in each holding hole 24H.
[0035] Here, the portion of the bottom block portion 22 located outward in the X direction from the pair of power terminal holding portions 24 is designated as the housing support portion 25 that supports the lower end of the movable housing 30. The housing support portion 25 is surrounded by the ends of the pair of wall portions 21X along the X direction and the wall portion 21Y.
[0036] The fastener holding portion 29 is the part that holds the fastener 70. The fastener holding portion 29 is formed in a slot shape into which the fastener 70 can be inserted from above.
[0037] The movable housings 30 and 35 are each molded using an electrically insulating material such as synthetic resin. The movable housings 30 and 35 are each formed in a block shape that is longer in the X direction than in the Y direction. The movable housing 30 includes a signal terminal holding portion 31. The movable housing 35 includes a power terminal holding portion 36.
[0038] The signal terminal holding portion 31 is the part that holds the second end portion 46 of the signal terminal 40. The signal terminal holding portion 31 includes a first block portion 32 and a second block portion 33. The first block portion 32 has a plurality of holding holes 32H formed therein. The second block portion 33 protrudes upward from the top of the first block portion 32. The second block portion 33 is located between a pair of signal terminals 40 that are aligned in the Y direction. The outer surface of the second block portion 33 that faces outward in the Y direction has a plurality of holding grooves 33G formed therein. The plurality of holding holes 32H and the plurality of holding grooves 33G are provided in the same number and correspond one to one. Each holding hole 32H and each holding groove 33G are continuous in the Z direction. The lower part of the second end portion 46 of the plurality of signal terminals 40 is passed through the plurality of holding holes 32H individually. The upper part of the second end portion 46 of the plurality of signal terminals 40 is housed in the plurality of holding grooves 33G individually.
[0039] The power terminal holding portion 36 holds the second end portion 64 of the power terminal 60. The power terminal holding portion 36 has two holding bodies 36A formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped block. The two holding bodies 36A are arranged apart from each other in the X direction. Multiple holding holes 36H are formed in each holding body 36A. Multiple power terminals 60 are passed through the multiple holding holes 36H individually.
[0040] Here, the movable housing 35 includes a peripheral wall 37. The peripheral wall 37 is configured to surround the two holding bodies 36A. The peripheral wall 37 has a pair of wall portions 37X extending in the X direction and a pair of wall portions 37Y extending in the Y direction. The pair of wall portions 37X and the pair of wall portions 37Y are connected.
[0041] In the movable housing 35, the area surrounded by a pair of wall portions 37X and two holding bodies 36A is a through-hole-shaped housing fitting hole 35H. When viewed from the first direction (Z direction), the inner surface of the housing fitting hole 35H and the outer surface of the movable housing 30 are formed to be approximately the same size. When the movable housing 35 moves in the second direction (Y direction) or the third direction (X direction), the inner surface of the housing fitting hole 35H pushes against the outer surface of the movable housing 30, causing the movable housing 30 to follow the movable housing 35.
[0042] The peripheral wall 37 surrounds the periphery of the second block portion 33 of the signal terminal holding portion 31 and the portion of the power supply terminal 60 that protrudes above the power supply terminal holding portion 36. In the connector device 100, the tip of the mating connector 80 is accommodated inside the peripheral wall 37. Both end portions of the peripheral wall 37 along the X direction are formed as guide receiving portions 38 that receive the guide portions 84 of the mating connector 80. As shown in FIG. 7, a fitting recess 38A into which the guide portion 84 fits is provided below the guide receiving portion 38. The fitting recess 38A is a portion surrounded by the end portions of the pair of wall portions 37X in the X direction, one wall portion 37Y, and the holding body 36A.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 6, protrusions 39 supported by the housing support portion 25 are provided at the four corners of the lower portion of the movable housing 35. Here, among the movable housing 35, along the X direction and outside the power supply terminal holding portion 36, the pair of wall portions 37X and the pair of wall portions 37Y extend below the fitting recess 38A. The protrusions 39 are provided at the lower portions of the portions of the pair of wall portions 37X that are located outside the power supply terminal holding portion 36.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 5, the portion of the wall portion 21X that extends above the power supply terminal holding portion 24 faces the wall portion 36X of the movable housing 35. The wall portion 36X is located outside the power supply terminal 60 in the Y direction within the holding body 36A. In a state where the movable housing 35 is in the initial position with respect to the fixed housing 20 (a state without displacement with respect to the fixed housing 20, hereinafter referred to as the initial state), as shown in FIG. 5, the wall portions 21X and 36X face each other with a gap therebetween. As shown in FIG. 4, in the initial state, the outer wall of the movable housing 30 also faces the inner surface of the fixed housing 20 with a gap in the Y direction. These gaps are, for example, the same as the amount of movement of the movable housing 35 in the Y direction.
[0045] Each of the signal terminals 40 and power terminals 60 is formed into a predetermined shape by press-forming (punching and bending) a flat plate of a conductive material such as metal. This flat plate is curved in the YZ plane and extends generally in the Z direction, becoming longer in the Z direction. The cross-section of this flat plate is, for example, rectangular. In the rectangular cross-section, the shorter direction is the plate thickness direction, and the longer direction is the plate width direction. Each of the signal terminals 40 and power terminals 60 is positioned such that the plate width direction of the flat plate is aligned with the X direction. Furthermore, the thickness of the flat plate in the Y direction in the portion of the flat plate that extends parallel to the Z direction is the plate thickness. Therefore, in this embodiment, the first direction (Z direction) is the extension direction of the plate material, the second direction (Y direction) is the plate thickness direction of the plate material, and the third direction (X direction) is the plate width direction of the plate material.
[0046] The signal terminal 40 includes a first end 41 held by the fixed housing 20, a second end 46 held by the movable housing 30, and a connecting portion 54 connecting the first end 41 and the second end 46. The first end 41 and the second end 46 are separated from each other along a first direction (Z direction) (here, the Z direction). The connecting portion 54 extends along the first direction (Z direction). When the movable housing 30 moves along the X or Y direction, the connecting portion 54 elastically deforms so that the second end 46 can follow the movable housing 30.
[0047] The first end portion 41 has a substrate connection portion 42 connected to the substrate B1 and a first retained portion 43 held by the fixed housing 20. The substrate connection portion 42 is exposed below the fixed housing 20. The substrate connection portion 42 is formed in a shape that extends along the main surface of the substrate B1 and is formed to be surface-mountable on the substrate B1. The substrate connection portion 42 may also be formed in the shape of a pin that can be connected to the substrate B1 through a hole. The first retained portion 43 is press-fitted and held in the retaining hole 23H of the fixed housing 20. A press-fit projection 44 is provided in the first retained portion 43. The press-fit projection 44 protrudes outward from both outer edges along the plate width direction (X direction). The press-fit projection 44 is provided in the portion that fits into the retaining groove 23G.
[0048] The second end portion 46 has a terminal portion 47 connected to a mating signal terminal 85 of the mating connector 80 and a second held portion 51 held by the movable housing 30. The terminal portion 47 has a leaf spring-like spring contact portion 48 bent in the plate thickness direction and an extending portion 49 extending from the spring contact portion 48 toward the first end portion 41 side. The main portion of the second held portion 51 is lower than the extending portion 49 and here includes a portion inserted into the holding hole 32H.
[0049] Of the holding holes 32H, the inner surfaces facing each other along the plate thickness direction (here, the Y direction) of the signal terminal 40 are inner surfaces 32A and 32B. Here, the surface continuous with the bottom surface of the holding groove 33G is the inner surface 32A. The interval between the inner surfaces 32A and 32B is larger than the plate thickness of the signal terminal 40. The interval between the inner surfaces 32A and 32B is larger than the dimension of the spring contact portion 48 along the Y direction. Thereby, when the terminal portion 47 having the spring contact portion 48 passes through the holding hole 32H, contact with both the inner surface 32A and the inner surface 32B is suppressed.
[0050] The signal terminal 40 and the movable housing 30 move integrally in the first direction (Z direction). Here, press-fit protrusions 52 and 53 are provided on the second held portion 51. The press-fit protrusion 52 is formed in a portion of the second end portion 46 inserted into the holding hole 32H. The press-fit protrusion 53 is formed in a portion of the second end portion 46 inserted into the holding groove 33G.
[0051] From one end to the other end of the signal terminal 40, the substrate connection portion 42, the first held portion 43, the connecting portion 54, the second held portion 51, and the terminal portion 47 are connected in this order. When assembling the floating connector 10, the signal terminal 40 is passed through the holding holes 23H and 32H in order from the terminal portion 47 side. Since the spring contact portion 48 is provided on the terminal portion 47, the dimension of the terminal portion 47 along the Y direction is larger than the plate thickness. In order to pass the terminal portion 47, the dimensions of the holding holes 23H and 32H along the Y direction are larger than the plate thickness.
[0052] The connecting portion 54 connects the upper end of the first retained portion 43 and the lower end of the second retained portion 51. The upper end of the first retained portion 43 is, for example, the portion on which a press-fit projection 44 is provided along the extending direction of the signal terminal 40. The lower end of the second retained portion 51 is, for example, the portion on which a press-fit projection 52 is provided along the extending direction of the signal terminal 40. The upper end of the first retained portion 43 and the lower end of the second retained portion 51 are separated along the Y direction. The upper end of the first retained portion 43 is located outward in the Y direction from the lower end of the second retained portion 51. The connecting portion 54 has an elastic portion 55 and a linear portion 56. The elastic portion 55 is located on the first end portion 41 side of the linear portion 56.
[0053] The elastic portion 55 extends in a curved manner from the first end 41 to the second end 46. In the example shown in Figure 4, the elastic portion 55 is bent in a Z-shape.
[0054] The elastic portion 55 has a first bent portion 55A, a second bent portion 55B, and an intermediate portion 55C. The second bent portion 55B is located on the second end 46 side of the first bent portion 55A along the extending direction of the signal terminal 40. The intermediate portion 55C is located between the first bent portion 55A and the second bent portion 55B.
[0055] The portion of the signal terminal 40 closer to the first end 41 than the first bend 55A extends along the first direction (Z direction). The portion of the signal terminal 40 closer to the second end 46 than the second bend 55B extends along the first direction (Z direction) and connects to the extended portion 49. One end of the intermediate portion 55C on the first bend 55A side is located closer to the mating connector 80 along the first direction (Z direction) than the other end on the second bend 55B side. The intermediate portion 55C extends towards the Z2 direction from the first bend 55A towards the second bend 55B.
[0056] The radius of curvature of the second bend 55B is smaller than the radius of curvature of the first bend 55A. The radius of curvature of the second bend 55B may be the same as or larger than the radius of curvature of the first bend 55A.
[0057] The straight portion 56 is located above the connecting portion 54. The straight portion 56 extends straight downward from the lower end of the second retained portion 51. Here, the signal terminal 40 extends linearly from the extended portion 49 to the second bent portion 55B, and the lower part of this linearly extending portion is the straight portion 56.
[0058] Retaining holes 23H and 32H are formed in the fixed housing 20 and the movable housing 30, respectively, through which the signal terminals 40 pass. The retaining hole 32H of the movable housing 30 is located on the extension of the retaining hole 23H of the fixed housing 20. The retaining holes 23H of the fixed housing 20 and 32H of the movable housing 30 are approximately the same size in the XY plane, excluding the guide surface. The retaining holes 23H and 32H are in the same position in the XY plane and overlap when viewed from the first direction (Z direction). For example, the size of the retaining holes 23H and 32H in the X direction is approximately the same as the width of the plate in the portion of the flat plate without the press-fit projection 44 (for example, the same or slightly smaller). The size of the retaining holes 23H and 32H in the Y direction is the same as the offset amount in the Y direction at the spring contact portion 48.
[0059] The power terminal 60 has a larger conductor cross-sectional area than the signal terminal 40. The power terminal 60 is also held in a press-fit state in the fixed housing 20. Like the signal terminal 40, the power terminal 60 has a first end 61 held in the fixed housing 20, a second end 64 held in the movable housing 30, and a connecting portion 67 that connects the first end 61 and the second end 64.
[0060] The first end 61 of the power terminal 60 is longer in the Y direction than the first end 41 of the signal terminal 40. The first end 61 of the power terminal 60 is provided with three orthogonal bends, and the portion between the first and third orthogonal bends fits into the holding hole 24H of the power terminal holding portion 24. The first end 61 has a substrate connection portion 62 and a held portion 63. Here, a press-fit projection 63A is formed on the held portion 63, and it is press-fitted and held in the power terminal holding portion 24 of the fixed housing 20.
[0061] The second end 64 of the power terminal 60 has a larger dimension in the thickness direction than the first end 61. For example, the flat plates constituting the power terminal 60 are folded and overlapped at the second end 64 to increase the dimension in the thickness direction. For example, the second end 64 is inserted and held in the holding hole 36H of the power terminal holding portion 36 of the movable housing 30. The tip of the second end 64 is a tab terminal portion 65 that connects to the mating power terminal 90, and the portion closer to the first end 61 than the tab terminal portion 65 is a held portion 66 that is held by the movable housing 30.
[0062] The tab terminal portion 65 extends straight in the Z direction in its initial state. The mating power terminal 90 is provided with a spring contact portion 94, while the power terminal 60 is not provided with a spring contact portion. However, the power terminal 60 may be provided with a spring contact portion.
[0063] The retained portion 66 is provided with two locking claws 66A and 66B. The two locking claws 66A and 66B are spaced apart in the Z direction. Locking claw 66A is located closer to Z1 than locking claw 66B. Locking claws 66A and 66B engage with the power terminal retaining portion 36 of the movable housing 35. Locking claw 66A engages with the power terminal retaining portion 36 on one side (in this case, the Z1 side) along the first direction (Z direction). Locking claw 66A can elastically deform and pass through the retaining hole 36H. After passing through the retaining hole 36H, locking claw 66A elastically returns to its original position and engages with the periphery of the retaining hole 36H. Locking claw 66B engages with the power terminal retaining portion 36 on the other side (Z2 side) along the first direction (Z direction).
[0064] Furthermore, the fixed housing 20 supports the movable housing 35 from the other side (Z2 side) along the first direction (Z direction). For example, the housing support portion 25 of the fixed housing 20 supports the movable housing 35 from the Z2 side by contacting the projection portion 39 of the movable housing 35 from the Z2 side. The fixed housing 20 restricts the downward movement of the movable housing 35.
[0065] The power terminal 60 is held in the power terminal holding portion 36 so as to be movable along the X direction. The holding hole 36H of the power terminal holding portion 36 is larger than the dimension of the held portion 66 of the power terminal 60 in the X direction. When the movable housing 30 moves in the X direction, the connecting portion 67 of the power terminal 60 does not deform, and the second end portion 64 of the power terminal 60 does not follow the movable housing 30. When the movable housing 30 moves in the X direction, the power terminal 60 and the mating power terminal 90 can be connected while allowing for misalignment.
[0066] When the movable housing 30 moves in the Y direction, the connecting portion 67 of the power terminal 60 deforms, allowing the second end portion 64 to follow the movable housing 30. An elastic portion 68 is also provided in the connecting portion 67 of the power terminal 60. The elastic portion 68 extends in a trapezoidal wave shape along the first direction (Z direction). Furthermore, in the intermediate portion along the extending direction of the power terminal 60, a slit 69 is formed in the intermediate portion in the width direction of the flat plate, extending along the extending direction. As a result, in the intermediate portion along the extending direction of the power terminal 60, the flat plate is divided in the width direction.
[0067] Before the floating connector 10 is connected to the mating connector 80, the movable housings 30 and 35 are positioned in their initial state. In this initial state, the positions of the movable housings 30 and 35 in the X and Y directions are such that, for example, the centers of the movable housings 30 and 35 coincide with the centers of the peripheral walls 21 of the fixed housing 20. Also in the initial state, the position of the movable housing 35 in the Z direction is such that, for example, the lower part of the movable housing 35 is supported by the fixed housing 20. Furthermore, in the initial state, the position of the movable housing 30 in the Z direction is such that it is floating above the movable housing 35 in the Z direction. For example, the rigidity of the multiple signal terminals 40 press-fitted into the fixed housing 20 and the movable housing 30 keeps the movable housing 30 floating above the movable housing 35 in the Z direction.
[0068] <Regarding the mating connector> The mating connector 80 will be explained with further reference to Figure 9. Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the mating connector 80 shown in Figure 1.
[0069] The mating connector 80 has a mating housing 81, a plurality of mating signal terminals 85, and a plurality of mating power terminals 90. The mating signal terminals 85 are terminals for signal transmission. The mating power terminals 90 are terminals for power supply. The mating connector 80 is fixed to the substrate B2 by a fixing device 98, similar to the floating connector 10. The mating housing 81 holds the plurality of mating terminals 85 and 90 in the same arrangement as the plurality of terminals 40 and 60. The mating housing 81 has a signal terminal holding portion 82 for holding the mating signal terminals 85, a power terminal holding portion 83 for holding the mating power terminals 90, and a guide portion 84 that contacts the guide receiving portion 38. The signal terminal holding portion 82 has a holding groove 82G and a holding hole 82H. The power terminal holding portion 83 has a holding hole 83H.
[0070] The signal terminal holding portion 31 of the movable housing 30 and the signal terminal holding portion 82 of the mating housing 81 engage with each other, and the power terminal holding portion 36 of the movable housing 35 engages with the power terminal holding portion 83 of the mating housing 81. Before these engagements occur, the guide receiving portion 38 and the guide portion 84 come into contact, correcting any misalignment in the X and Y directions.
[0071] Guide portions 84 are provided at both ends of the mating housing 81 along the X direction. Two power terminal holding portions 83 are located between the two guide portions 84, and one signal terminal holding portion 82 is located between the two power terminal holding portions 83. The guide portions 84 are the parts that first contact the floating connector 10 when the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80, which are located at a distance from each other, approach each other along the first direction (Z direction). By providing the guide portions 84, the misalignment between the movable housing 35 of the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 in the X and Y directions is corrected before the terminals make contact with each other. Along with the correction of the misalignment of the movable housing 35 in the X and Y directions, the misalignment of the movable housing 30 is also corrected.
[0072] The mating signal terminal 85 is press-fitted into the retaining groove 82G and retaining hole 82H of the signal terminal retaining portion 82. The mating signal terminal 85 has a spring contact portion 86, an extended portion 87, a substrate connection portion 88, and a press-fit projection 89. The substrate connection portion 88 is the portion that is connected to the substrate B1. The press-fit projection 89 is the portion that is press-fitted into the signal terminal retaining portion 82. The spring contact portion 86 contacts the extended portion 49 of the signal terminal 40. The extended portion 87 extends from the spring contact portion 86 toward the substrate connection portion 88. The extended portion 87 is the portion that contacts the spring contact portion 48 of the signal terminal 40. The signal terminal 40 and the mating signal terminal 85 are connected by the spring contact portions 48 and 86 contacting the extended portions 87 and 49.
[0073] The mating power terminal 90 has a board connection portion 91, a cylindrical portion 92, a spring contact portion 94, and a fixed contact portion 96. It is connected to the board B2 by the board connection portion 91. The cylindrical portion 92 surrounds the power terminal 60. The cylindrical portion 92 is formed by bending the plate material that constitutes the mating power terminal 90 into a cylindrical shape. For example, the cylindrical portion 92 is a rectangular cylinder. A press-fit projection 93 is provided on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 92 for press-fitting into the power terminal holding portion 83. A spring contact portion 94 is provided on the inside of the cylindrical portion 92. The spring contact portion 94 is the part that contacts the power terminal 60 and is electrically connected. A fixed contact portion 96 is provided on the part of the cylindrical portion 92 that faces the spring contact portion 94. The power terminal 60 and the mating power terminal 90 are connected by the spring contact portion 94 and the fixed contact portion 96 of the mating power terminal 90, which clamp the tab terminal portion 65 of the power terminal 60.
[0074] <Regarding the mating of the floating connector and the mating connector> When connecting the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80, the worker moves the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 relative to each other along the first direction (Z direction). In this case, the substrates B1 and B2 are moved relative to each other along the first direction (Z direction).
[0075] When the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 approach each other, if there is no misalignment in the X and Y directions between the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80, the movable housings 30 and 35 will not move, and the signal terminal holding parts 31 and 82 will fit together, as will the power terminal holding parts 36 and 83. As a result, the signal terminals 40 and 85 will be electrically connected to each other, and the power terminals 60 and 90 will be electrically connected to each other.
[0076] When the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 approach each other, if there is a misalignment in the X or Y direction between the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80, the guide portion 84 of the mating connector 80 contacts and is guided by the guide receiving portion 38 of the floating connector 10, causing the movable housing 35 to move in the direction of the misalignment, and consequently the movable housing 30 to move as well. Here, one side of one guide portion 84 that faces outward in the X direction and the two sides that face outward in the Y direction are each provided with guide surfaces that are inclined with respect to the Z direction. The guide surfaces of the two guide portions 84 that face outward in the X direction constitute a pair of guide surfaces in the X direction. Also, the guide surfaces of the two guide portions 84 that face outward in the Y direction constitute two pairs of guide surfaces in the Y direction. The correction of misalignment in the X and Y directions will be explained in more detail below. Furthermore, if the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 are misaligned in both the X and Y directions, both X-direction misalignment correction and Y-direction misalignment correction will be performed.
[0077] <Regarding correction of misalignment in the X direction> If the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 are misaligned in the X direction, one of the pair of guide surfaces of the mating connector 80 in the X direction will come into contact with the tip of one of the pair of wall portions 37Y of the movable housing 35. As a result, the movable housing 35 receives a force in the X direction from the mating connector 80, causing the movable housing 35 to move in the X direction, and in response, the movable housing 30 also moves in the X direction.
[0078] In the X direction, when the movable housing 30 moves due to the force from the guide portion 84, the second end 46 of the signal terminal 40 receives a force from the movable housing 30 at the contact surface with the movable housing 30. As a result, the connecting portion 54 of the signal terminal 40 elastically deforms, and the second end 46 of the signal terminal 40 moves in accordance with the movable housing 30. In this case, the linear portion 56 of the connecting portion 54 of the signal terminal 40 elastically deforms so as to bend in the X direction.
[0079] On the other hand, the movable housing 35 is also movable along the X direction with respect to the portion of the power terminal 60 that includes the second end 64. Here, in the X direction, the dimension of the holding hole 36H is larger than the dimension of the held portion 66. In the X direction, even if the movable housing 35 moves, the second end 64 of the power terminal 60 does not come into contact with the movable housing 35 and therefore does not receive any force from the movable housing 35. For this reason, in the X direction, the power terminal holding portion 36 of the movable housing 35 moves, but the second end 64 of the power terminal 60 does not move.
[0080] The spring contact portion 94 of the mating power terminal 90 and the tab terminal portion 65 of the power terminal 60 make contact at a point and a surface (point-surface contact). Here, when correcting the misalignment in the X direction, the position of the tab terminal portion 65 of the power terminal 60 along the X direction within the cylindrical portion 92 of the mating power terminal 90 may change. In this case, regardless of the position of the tab terminal portion 65 along the X direction within the cylindrical portion 92, approximately the same portion of the spring contact portion 94 will contact the tab terminal portion 65 of the power terminal 60. On the other hand, when correcting the misalignment in the X direction, the portion of the tab terminal portion 65 that contacts the spring contact portion 94 may change.
[0081] As described above, if there is a misalignment between the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 in the X direction, the movable housings 30 and 35 and the second end 46 of the signal terminal 40 move, correcting the misalignment. The second end 64 of the power terminal 60 does not move and is connected to the mating power terminal 90 while allowing the misalignment.
[0082] <Regarding correction of misalignment in the Y direction> If the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 are misaligned in the Y direction, two of the two pairs of guide surfaces of the mating connector 80 in the Y direction will come into contact with the tip of one of the pair of wall portions 37X of the movable housing 35. As a result, the movable housing 35 receives a force in the Y direction from the mating connector 80. This causes the movable housing 35 to move in the Y direction relative to the fixed housing 20, and in response, the movable housing 30 also moves in the Y direction.
[0083] In the Y direction, when the movable housings 30 and 35 move under the force from the guide portion 84, the second end 46 of the signal terminal 40 and the second end 64 of the power terminal 60 receive force from the movable housings 30 and 35 at their contact surfaces. For example, when the movable housing 30 moves to the right from the state shown in Figure 4, the right-side signal terminal 40 receives a force directed to the right from the inner surface 32B and the bottom surface of the retaining groove 33G. The left-side signal terminal 40 receives a force directed to the right from the inner surface 32A. As a result, the portion of the connecting portion 54 of the signal terminal 40 including the elastic portion 55 undergoes elastic deformation, and the second end 46 of the signal terminal 40 moves in accordance with the movable housing 30. Similarly, when the movable housing 35 moves to the right from the state shown in Figure 5, the left and right-side power terminals 60 each receive a force directed to the right from the inner surface of the retaining hole 36H that faces to the right along the Y direction. As a result, the elastic portion 68 of the power terminal 60 undergoes elastic deformation, and the second end portion 64 of the power terminal 60 moves in accordance with the movable housing 35. This corrects the misalignment between the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 along the Y direction.
[0084] If there is a misalignment in the X or Y direction between the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80, the misalignment is corrected as described above. With the misalignments in the X and Y directions corrected, when the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 move closer together in the first direction (Z direction), the signal terminal holding parts 31 and 82 engage with each other, and the power terminal holding parts 36 and 83 engage with each other. As a result, the signal terminals 40 and 85 are electrically connected to each other, and the power terminals 60 and 90 are electrically connected to each other.
[0085] <Regarding Z-direction misalignment correction> The Z-direction misalignment correction will be explained with further reference to Figures 10 and 11. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector device 100 at the second mating dimension. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector device 100 at the first mating dimension. In Figures 10 and 11, the end faces of the cross-sections are shown for parts other than the substrates B1 and B2, and parts other than the end faces are omitted.
[0086] The floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 have a mating dimension in the first direction (Z direction) that is between a first mating dimension and a second mating dimension that is larger than the first mating dimension. For example, if the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 are PCB connectors, the mating dimension is the distance between PCBs B1 and B2. The second mating dimension is the state where the distance between PCBs B1 and B2 is largest. The first mating dimension is the state where the distance between PCBs B1 and B2 is smallest. The connector device 100 at the second mating dimension shown in Figure 10 is the state in which the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 are first connected when they move closer together in the first direction (Z direction) from a state where they are far apart. The connector device 100 at the first mating dimension shown in Figure 11 is the state in which the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 move even closer together in the first direction (Z direction) from the state shown in Figure 10. The distance D1 shown in Figure 11 is the first mating dimension. The spacing D2 shown in Figure 10 is the second mating dimension. In Figure 11, the substrate B2 and signal terminal 40, indicated by dashed lines, represent the second mating dimension. The spacing D3 is the difference between the second mating dimension D2 and the first mating dimension D1.
[0087] The distance between the spring contacts 48 and 86 becomes the contact distance when the second mating dimension is reached. The connector device 100 is provided with a spacing maintenance unit. The spacing maintenance unit reduces the variation in the distance between the spring contacts 48 and 86 relative to the contact distance to less than the variation in the mating dimension when the mating dimension between the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 becomes smaller than the second mating dimension. For example, the spacing maintenance unit may keep the variation in the distance between the spring contacts 48 and 86 relative to the contact distance within 30 percent of the variation in the mating dimension. For example, the spacing maintenance unit may keep the variation in the distance between the spring contacts 48 and 86 relative to the contact distance within 20 percent of the variation in the mating dimension. For example, the spacing maintenance unit may keep the variation in the distance between the spring contacts 48 and 86 relative to the contact distance within 10 percent of the variation in the mating dimension. For example, the spacing maintenance unit may keep the variation in the spacing between the spring contact portions 48 and 86 relative to the distance between the contacts within 5 percent of the variation in the fitting dimensions.
[0088] The spacing maintenance section has a pressing section 82A provided on the mating housing 81. The pressing section 82A contacts the movable housing 30 when the second fitting dimension is reached. The pressing section 82A pushes the movable housing 30 toward the fixed housing 20 when the fitting dimension becomes smaller than the second fitting dimension. The movable housing 30 has a receiving section 33A that is pressed by the pressing section 82A. Here, the pressing section 82A is the portion of the signal terminal holding section 82 of the mating housing 81 between the two holding holes 82H aligned in the Y direction. The receiving section 33A is the Z1 direction tip of the second block section 33 of the movable housing 30.
[0089] Furthermore, the elastic portion 55 is also considered one of the components of the spacing maintenance portion. The elastic portion 55 elastically deforms in the first direction (Z direction) when it receives the force that the movable housing 30 is pressed by the pressing portion 82A. When the pressing portion 82A presses the receiving portion 33A, the movable housing 30 moves in the Z2 direction. The second end portion 46 of the signal terminal 40, which is held by the movable housing 30, also follows the movable housing 30. The first end portion 41 of the signal terminal 40 does not follow the movable housing 30 and remains held by the fixed housing 20. The second end portion 46 can follow the movable housing 30 by the deformation of the connecting portion 54 between the first end portion 41 and the second end portion 46 of the signal terminal 40. For example, the connecting portion 54 deforms so that the second bending portion 55B of the elastic portion 55 moves towards the Z2 side.
[0090] Here, the second end 46 of the signal terminal 40 has two press-fit protrusions 52 and 53. The portion of the signal terminal 40 with the press-fit protrusions 52 and 53 and the portion between the press-fit protrusions 52 and 53 first follow the movable housing 30, and the portion on the Z2 side of the press-fit protrusion 52 and the portion on the Z1 side of the press-fit protrusion 53 also follow this.
[0091] When the mating housing 81 presses against the movable housing 30, it does not press against the movable housing 35. At the second mating dimension, the mating housing 81 and the movable housing 35 are separated in the Z direction. When moving from the second mating dimension towards the first mating dimension, the mating housing 81 can be inserted deeper into the movable housing 35. The power terminal 60 and the mating power terminal 90 allow for a misalignment in the Z direction because the position in the Z direction changes where the tab terminal portion 65 of the power terminal 60 is held between the spring contact portion 94 and the fixed contact portion 96 of the mating power terminal 90.
[0092] <Regarding the connection between the signal terminal and the mating signal terminal> The connection between signal terminal 40 and the mating signal terminal 85 will be explained with further reference to Figures 12 and 13. Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the connection between signal terminal 40 and the mating signal terminal 85 when the second mating dimension is reached. Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the connection between signal terminal S1 and the mating signal terminal S2 in a reference example.
[0093] As shown in Figure 12, the spring contact portion 86 of the mating signal terminal 85 contacts the extended portion 49 of the signal terminal 40. The contact portion CP1 between the extended portion 49 and the spring contact portion 86 is, for example, the Z1-side end of the linear portion of the extended portion 49. The spring contact portion 48 of the signal terminal 40 contacts the extended portion 87 of the mating signal terminal 85. The distance D4 in Figure 12 is the contact distance when the second mating dimension is set. The contact portion CP2 between the extended portion 87 and the spring contact portion 86 is, for example, the Z2-side end of the linear portion of the extended portion 87. Between the two contact portions CP1 and CP2, the signal terminal 40 and the mating signal terminal 85 extend in close proximity.
[0094] In this disclosure, because a spacing maintenance portion is provided, even when the signal terminal 40 and the mating signal terminal 85 are in the first mating position, the spacing between the spring contact portions 48 and 86 is the same as the spacing D4 between the spring contact portions 48 and 86 in Figure 12. Furthermore, even when the signal terminal 40 and the mating signal terminal 85 are in the first mating position, they extend in close proximity between the two contact portions CP1 and CP2.
[0095] The reference example shown in Figure 13 shows the signal terminal S1 and mating signal terminal S2 of a connector device when a spacing maintenance section is not provided. In the reference example shown in Figure 13, the state of signal terminal S1 and mating signal terminal S2 at the first mating dimension is shown. In the reference example as well, the connection state of signal terminal S1 and mating signal terminal S2 at the second mating dimension is assumed to be the same as in Figure 12.
[0096] In the example, since no spacing maintenance section is provided, when the mating dimension becomes the first mating dimension, the spacing D5 between the spring contact portions S1A and S2A of the signal terminal S1 and the mating signal terminal S2 fluctuates. The amount of fluctuation in the spacing between the spring contact portions S1A and S2A is equivalent to the amount of fluctuation in the mating dimension along the Z direction. In other words, the difference between spacing D5 and spacing D4 is the same as spacing D3. Therefore, when the first mating dimension is reached, the spacing between the spring contact portions S1A and S2A becomes larger. Also, the signal terminal S1 and the mating signal terminal S2 become far apart between the two contact portions CP3 and CP4. This can cause impedance fluctuations.
[0097] <Effects, etc.> With the connector device 100 configured as described above, the inventors of the present invention have found that when the misalignment of two connectors in the mating direction (Z direction) is absorbed, the impedance changes as the distance between the two contact points of the two signal terminals changes. In the connector device 100 of the present disclosure, the presence of a spacing maintenance part keeps the distance between the two spring contact points 48 and 86 as close to the contact distance as possible, regardless of the mating dimensions of the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80. This makes it possible to reduce the change in impedance when absorbing the misalignment of the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 in the mating direction (Z direction).
[0098] Furthermore, the spacing maintenance unit has a pressing portion 82A provided on the mating housing 81 and an elastic portion 55 provided on the connecting portion 54 of the signal terminal 40. The pressing portion 82A contacts the movable housing 30 when it is in the second fitting dimension, and pushes the movable housing 30 toward the fixed housing 20 when the fitting dimension becomes smaller than the second fitting dimension. The elastic portion 55 elastically deforms in the first direction in response to the force with which the movable housing 30 is pressed by the pressing portion 82A. This makes it possible to provide a spacing maintenance unit that maintains the distance between contacts with a simple configuration.
[0099] The movable housing 30 is movable relative to the fixed housing 20 in a second direction (Y direction) perpendicular to the first direction (Z direction), and the second end 46 of the signal terminal 40 follows the movement of the movable housing 30 in the second direction (Y direction) relative to the first end 41 due to the deformation of the connecting portion 54. This allows for the absorption of the displacement in the second direction (Y direction) perpendicular to the first direction (Z direction). Here, displacement in the third direction (X direction) can also be absorbed.
[0100] Furthermore, the housing of the floating connector 10 has a movable housing 35 for the power terminals 60, which is provided separately from the movable housing 30 to hold the power terminals 60. The power terminals 60 may be less prone to deformation because their conductor cross-sectional area is larger than that of the signal terminals 40. By separating the movable housing 30 for the signal terminals 40 from the movable housing 35 for the power terminals 60, it becomes easier to move the movable housing 30 in the first direction (Z direction) and easier to maintain a constant distance between the contacts.
[0101] Furthermore, one end of the intermediate portion 55C of the signal terminal 40 on the side of the first bend 55A is positioned closer to the mating connector 80 in the first direction (Z direction) than the other end on the side of the second bend 55B. As a result, when the movable housing 30 moves in the first direction (Z direction) in response to the force pressed by the pressing portion 82A, the elastic portion 55 of the signal terminal 40 is more likely to bend so that the second end 46 of the signal terminal 40 follows the movable housing 30.
[0102] Furthermore, the radius of curvature of the second bent portion 55B is smaller than the radius of curvature of the first bent portion 55A. As a result, when the movable housing 30 moves in the first direction (Z direction) in response to the force applied by the pressing portion 82A, the elastic portion 55 is more likely to bend so that the second end portion 46 of the signal terminal 40 follows the movement of the movable housing 30.
[0103] [Note] The components described in each of the above embodiments and modifications can be combined as appropriate, as long as they do not contradict each other.
[0104] 10 Floating connector (second connector) 20 Fixed housing 21 Peripheral wall 21X, 21Y Wall section 22 Bottom block section 23 Signal terminal holding section 23G Holding groove 23H Holding hole 24 Power terminal holding section 24H Holding hole 25 Housing support section 29 Fixing device holding section 30 Movable housing 31 Signal terminal holding section 32 First block section 32H Holding hole 33 Second block section 33A Receiving section 33G Holding groove 35 Movable housing (movable housing for power terminal) 35H Housing fitting hole 36 Power terminal holding section 36A Holding body 36H Holding hole 37 Peripheral wall 37X, 37Y Wall section 38 Guide receiving section 39 Projection section 40 Signal terminal (second signal terminal) 41 First end section 42 Board connection section 43 60 Power terminal (second power terminal) 61 First retained part 44 Press-fit projection 46 Second end part 47 Terminal part 48 Spring contact part (second spring contact part) 49 Extended part (second extended part) 51 Second retained part 52, 53 Press-fit projection 54 Connecting part 55 Elastic part 55A First bent part 55B Second bent part 55C Intermediate part 56 Straight part 60 Power terminal (second power terminal) 61 First end part 62 Board connection part 63 Retained part 63A Press-fit projection 64 Second end part 65 Tab terminal part 66 Retained part 66A, 66B Locking claw 67 Connecting part 68 Elastic part 69 Slit 70 Fixing device 80 Mating connector (first connector) 81 Mating housing (first connector housing) 82 Signal terminal retaining part 82A Pressing part 82G Retaining groove 82H Retaining hole 83 Power terminal retaining part 83H Retaining hole 84 Guide part 85 Mating signal terminal (first signal terminal) 86 Spring contact part (first spring contact part) 87 Extended part (first extended part) 88 Board connection part 89 Press-fit projection 90 Mating power terminal (first power terminal) 91 Board connection part 92 Cylinder part 93 Press-fit projection 94 Spring contact part 96 Fixed contact part 98 Fixing device 100 Connector device B1, B2 Board CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4 Contact part S1 Reference example signal terminal S1A, S2A Reference example spring contact part S2 Reference example Mating signal terminal
Claims
1. A first connector and a second connector that mates with the first connector along a first direction, wherein the first connector includes a first signal terminal and a first connector housing that holds the first signal terminal, the second connector includes a second signal terminal connected to the first signal terminal and a second connector housing that holds the second signal terminal, the contact portion between the first signal terminal and the second signal terminal has a first spring contact portion and a second spring contact portion that are spaced apart from each other along the first direction, the first signal terminal has a first extending portion that extends between the first spring contact portion and the second spring contact portion, the second signal terminal has a second extending portion that extends between the first spring contact portion and the second spring contact portion, and in the first direction, the first connector and the second connector have a mating dimension between a first mating dimension and a second mating dimension that is larger than the first mating dimension. A connector device is provided in which the distance between the first spring contact portion and the second spring contact portion becomes the contact distance when the second mating dimension is reached, and when the mating dimension between the first connector and the second connector becomes smaller than the second mating dimension, the variation in the distance between the first spring contact portion and the second spring contact portion with respect to the contact distance is made smaller than the variation in the mating dimension.
2. A connector device according to claim 1, wherein the second connector housing comprises a fixed housing and a movable housing movable in a first direction relative to the fixed housing, the second signal terminal comprises a first end held by the fixed housing, a second end held by the movable housing, and a connecting portion between the first end and the second end, the first extending portion is provided at the second end, the spacing maintenance portion comprises a pressing portion provided on the first connector housing and an elastic portion provided at the connecting portion, the pressing portion contacts the movable housing when the second mating dimension is set, and pushes the movable housing toward the fixed housing when the mating dimension becomes smaller than the second mating dimension, and the elastic portion elastically deforms in a first direction in response to the force with which the movable housing is pressed by the pressing portion.
3. A connector device according to claim 2, wherein the movable housing is movable in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction relative to the fixed housing, and the second end follows the movement of the movable housing in the second direction relative to the first end by deformation of the elastic part.
4. A connector device according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the first connector includes a first power terminal held in the first connector housing, the second connector includes a second power terminal held in the second connector housing and connected to the first power terminal, and the second connector housing has a movable housing for power terminals provided separately from the movable housing and holding the second power terminal.
5. A connector device according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the elastic portion has a first bend, a second bend located on the second end side of the first bend along the extending direction of the second signal terminal, and an intermediate portion between the first bend and the second bend, the portion of the second signal terminal on the first end side of the first bend extends along the first direction, the portion of the second signal terminal on the second end side of the second bend extends along the first direction and connects to the second extending portion, and one end of the intermediate portion on the first bend side is located on the first connector side in the first direction more than the other end on the second bend side.
6. A connector device according to claim 5, wherein the radius of curvature of the second bent portion is smaller than the radius of curvature of the first bent portion.