Composite electric connector, holder for composite electric connector, connection structure for fluorescent tube, and connection method for fluorescent tube

Abstract

A composite electric connector is provided with a plurality of electric connectors and a holder which holds the electric connectors in such a manner that the electric connectors are lined up side by side along an aligning direction. Each electric connector includes a housing and a fluorescent tube connecting contact which is held by the housing and connects a terminal disposed on an end part of a corresponding fluorescent tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view which shows the outline of the structure of a liquid crystal display device which includes a composite connector according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of a circuit board, the composite connector and cold-cathode tubes;

FIG. 3 is a partial exploded perspective view of the composite connector;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a single connector;

FIG. 5 is a sectional perspective view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the connector;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the connector as it is viewed along the arrow direction VII in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a contact;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a main part taken along the line IX-IX of FIG. 3, showing a state where outer leads are not connected with the contact;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a main part taken along the line X-X of FIG. 2, showing a state where outer leads are connected with the contact;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line XI-XI of FIG. 3;

FIG. 12A is a perspective view for describing an operation of mounting the composite connector to the circuit board, while FIG. 12B is a sectional view of a main part taken along the line XIIB-XIIB of FIG. 12A;

FIG. 13A is a perspective view for describing an operation of mounting the composite connector to the circuit board while FIG. 13B is a sectional view of a main part taken along the line XIIIB-XIIIB of FIG. 13A;

FIG. 14 is a side view of a main part according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a side view of a main part according to another further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16A is a side view of a main part according to another further embodiment of the present invention, while FIG. 16B is a view seen from the arrow direction XVIB in FIG. 16A;

FIG. 17A is a perspective view of a main part according to another further embodiment of the present invention, while FIG. 17B is a plan view of the main part viewed from the arrow direction XVIIB in FIG. 17A;

FIGS. 18A and 18B are sectional views of a main part each for describing a connection between a composite connector and a circuit board;

FIG. 19 is a partial exploded perspective view of a main part according to another further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a sectional view of the main part taken along the line XX-XX of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a main part according to another further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a partial exploded perspective view of a main part according to a further another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 23A and 23B are partially sectional views of a main part according to another further embodiment of the present invention, of which FIG. 23A shows a state before a pair of elastic pieces pinch an outer lead and FIG. 23B shows a state where the pair of elastic pieces pinch the outer lead;

FIG. 24A shows a state where the pair of elastic pieces are being pressed after FIG. 23B, while FIG. 24B shows a state where pressing of the pair of elastic pieces are completed;

FIG. 25 is a partially sectional view of a main part according to another further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a schematic perspective view of a main part for describing mounting of a cold-cathode tube according to another further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 27A is a sectional view of a main part which shows an insertion preparing step, FIG. 27B is a cross sectional view of a main part which shows an insertion step, and FIGS. 27C and 27D are cross sectional views of a main part which show a pinching step;

FIG. 28A is a sectional view of a main part which shows the insertion preparing step according to another further embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 28B is a sectional view of a main part which shows the insertion step, and FIG. 28C is a sectional view of a main part which shows a holding release step;

FIG. 29A is a sectional view of a main part which shows the insertion preparing step according to another further embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 29B is a cross sectional view of a main part which shows the insertion step, FIGS. 29C and 29D are sectional views of a main part which show the pinching step, and FIG. 29E is a sectional view of a main part which shows the holding release step;

FIG. 30 is a sectional view of a main part according to another further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 31 is a sectional view of a main part according to another further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 32 is a schematic perspective view of a main part for describing mounting of a cold-cathode tube according to another further embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 33A, 33B and 33C are sectional views of a main part which show the insertion preparing step, and FIG. 33D is a sectional view of a main part which shows the insertion step;

FIG. 34 is a sectional view of a main part according to another further embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 35A and 35B are partial sectional views of a main part according to another further embodiment of the present invention, of which FIG. 35A shows a state as it is prior to insertion of outer leads between pair of elastic pieces and FIG. 35B shows a state as it is upon insertion of the outer leads between the pair of elastic pieces;

FIG. 36A shows a state as it is during pressing of the pair of elastic pieces after a state shows in FIG. 35B, and FIG. 36B shows a state as it is at the completion of the pressing of the pair of elastic pieces;

FIG. 37 is a sectional view of a main part according to another further embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 38A is a side view of a main part according to another further embodiment of the present invention, while FIG. 38B is a sectional view taken along the line XXXVIIIB-XXXVIIIB of FIG. 38A.

Claims

1. A composite electric connector, comprising: a plurality of electric connectors; anda holder which holds the electric connectors in such a manner that the electric connectors are lined up side by side along an aligning direction,wherein each electric connector includes a housing and a fluorescent tube connecting contact which is held by the housing and connects a terminal disposed on an end part of a corresponding fluorescent tube.

2. A composite electric connector according to claim 1, wherein a circuit board connecting contact is provided which is held by the housing and connects a conductive pattern on a front surface or a back surface of a circuit board, and the fluorescent tube connecting contact and the circuit board connecting contact are electrically connected with each other.

3. A composite electric connector according to claim 2, wherein the housing of each electric connector includes an insertion concave portion into which the circuit board can be inserted along an insertion direction orthogonal to the aligning direction, andthe insertion concave portions of the electric connectors are open in the same direction.

4. A composite electric connector according to claim 3, wherein the circuit board connecting contact includes a contact portion which elastically contacts the conductive pattern of the circuit board inserted into the insertion concave portion.

5. A composite electric connector according to claim 4, wherein when the circuit board is inserted into the insertion concave portion, the contact portion of the circuit board connecting contact contacts with the conductive pattern of the circuit board with slide.

6. A composite electric connector according to claim 3, wherein the holder includes a receiving portion which receives the front surface or the back surface of the circuit board inserted in the insertion concave portion.

7. A composite electric connector according to claim 3, wherein the holder includes a guide portion which contacts with the circuit board with slide, for guiding the circuit board insert into the insertion concave portion.

8. A composite electric connector according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of attaching holes, to which the housings of the respective connectors are attached, are formed in the holder.

9. A composite electric connector according to claim 8, wherein a lock mechanism which locks the housings of the respective connectors in the corresponding attaching holes such that the housings can be detached is provided.

10. A composite electric connector according to claim 9, wherein the lock mechanism locks the housings during insertion of the housings of the respective connectors into the corresponding attaching holes along an insertion direction.

11. A composite electric connector according to claim 9, wherein the lock mechanism locks the housings when the housings of the respective connectors inserted into the corresponding attaching holes along the insertion direction slide in a direction which is orthogonal to the insertion direction.

12. A composite electric connector according to claim 8, wherein the housing of the connector includes a main portion which can be inserted into the corresponding attaching hole of the holder and a flange portion for dust-proofing which extends from the main portion and at least partially cover the peripheral edge of the attaching hole of the holder.

13. A composite electric connector according to claim 2, wherein the holder includes a main body which is long and in a plate shape, and the main body includes attaching holes for the plurality of electric connectors which are lined up along a longitudinal direction of the main body and notches which are each provided between the adjacent attaching holes.

14. A holder which is used for a composite electric connector according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A connection structure for a fluorescent tube, comprising: a circuit board with a conductive pattern formed on a front or back surface thereof; anda composite electric connector,wherein the composite electric connector includes a plurality of electric connectors and a holder which holds the electric connectors in such a manner that the electric connectors are lined up side by side along an aligning direction,each electric connector includes a housing, a fluorescent tube connecting contact which is held by the housing and connects a terminal disposed on an end part of a corresponding fluorescent tube and a circuit board connecting contact which is held by the housing and connects the conductive pattern on the front surface or the back surface of the circuit board, and the fluorescent tube connecting contact and the circuit board connecting contact are electrically connected with each other, andvia the fluorescent tube connecting contact and the circuit board connecting contact, the terminal of the fluorescent tube is electrically connected with the circuit board.

16. A connection method for a fluorescent tube for use in a connection structure for a fluorescent tube according to claim 15, comprising a step of simultaneously connecting the conductive pattern of the circuit board with the circuit board connecting contacts of the plurality of electric connectors which are lined up side by side along the aligning direction by the holder of the composite electric connector.

17. A connection method for a fluorescent tube according to claim 16, comprising a step of connecting the fluorescent tube connecting contacts of the respective electric connectors of the composite electric connector, with which the circuit board is connected, with the terminals of the corresponding fluorescent tubes.