This application claims benefit of priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-012631, filed Jan. 31, 2022, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a connector.
For example, a socket described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021-057247 is known as an disclosure related to an existing connector. The socket includes a shield member, a socket housing, and a plurality of socket terminal portions. When viewed in an up and down direction, the socket housing has a rectangular shape. The plurality of socket terminal portions is supported by the socket housing. The plurality of socket terminal portions is arranged in a right and left direction. A radio-frequency signal is input to and output from each of the plurality of socket terminal portions. When viewed in the up and down direction, the shield member has a rectangular shape along the outer edge of the socket housing. The shield member is connected to a ground potential.
The above socket is connected to a header. At this time, the shield member of the socket is connected to a shield member of the header.
Incidentally, in the socket described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021-057247, there is a request to reduce the profile of a socket while suppressing a decrease in the reliability of connection between the shield members.
The present disclosure provides a connector capable of reducing the profile of a connector while suppressing a decrease in the reliability of connection between terminals.
A connector according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a resin body member, a first terminal supported by the resin body member, and a second terminal supported by the resin body member. The first terminal has an inclined surface. The inclined surface faces in a rear upper direction and is exposed from the resin body member. The second terminal includes a spring part extending in a right and left direction, a fixing part coupled to any one of a right end or a left end of the spring part and supported by the resin body member, and a contact part coupled to the other one of the right end and the left end of the spring part. The contact part is exposed from the resin body member at a surface facing in a rearward direction of the resin body member. The contact part is displaced in a forward direction when the contact part is pushed in the forward direction to cause the spring part to elastically deform. There is no other terminal between the contact part and the inclined surface. The contact part is located below the inclined surface.
Hereinafter, a positional relationship among members in the specification will be defined. A first member to a third member are components of a connector set. In the specification, the first member and the second member arranged in a front and rear direction represent the following state. This is a state where, when the first member and the second member are viewed in a direction perpendicular to the front and rear direction, both the first member and the second member are disposed on a selected straight line representing the front and rear direction. In the specification, the first member and the second member arranged in the front and rear direction when viewed in an up and down direction represent the following state. When the first member and the second member are viewed in the up and down direction, both the first member and the second member are disposed on a selected straight line representing the front and rear direction. In this case, when the first member and the second member are viewed in a right and left direction different from the up and down direction, any one of the first member and the second member does not need to be disposed on a selected straight line representing the front and rear direction. The first member and the second member may be in contact with each other. The first member and the second member may be separated from each other. The third member may be present between the first member and the second member. This definition also applies to directions other than the front and rear direction.
In the specification, a state where the first member is disposed on or over the second member means the following state. At least part of the first member is located just on or over the second member. Therefore, when viewed in the up and down direction, the first member overlaps the second member. This definition also applies to directions other than the up and down direction.
In the specification, a state where the first member is disposed on or above the second member includes a case where at least part of the first member is located just on or over the second member and a case where the first member is not located just on or over the second member and the first member is located obliquely above the second member. In this case, when viewed in the up and down direction, the first member does not need to overlap the second member. The term “obliquely above” includes, for example, upper left and upper right. This definition also applies to directions other than the up and down direction.
In the specification, unless otherwise specified, parts of the first member are defined as follows. A front part of the first member means a front half of the first member. A rear part of the first member means a rear half of the first member. A left part of the first member means a left half of the first member. A right part of the first member means a right half of the first member. An upper part of the first member means an upper half of the first member. A lower part of the first member means a lower half of the first member. A front end of the first member means a forward end of the first member. A rear end of the first member means a rearward end of the first member. A left end of the first member means a leftward end of the first member. A right end of the first member means a rightward end of the first member. An upper end of the first member means an upward end of the first member. A lower end of the first member means a downward end of the first member. A front end part of the first member means the front end of the first member and its neighborhood. A rear end part of the first member means the rear end of the first member and its neighborhood. A left end part of the first member means the left end of the first member and its neighborhood. A right end part of the first member means the right end of the first member and its neighborhood. An upper end part of the first member means the upper end of the first member and its neighborhood. A lower end part of the first member means the lower end of the first member and its neighborhood.
When selected two members in the specification are defined as the first member and the second member, the relationship between the selected two members means as follows. In the specification, a state where the first member is supported by the second member includes a case where the first member is attached to (that is, fixed to) the second member so as to be not movable with respect to the second member and a case where the first member is attached to the second member so as to be movable with respect to the second member. A state where the first member is supported by the second member includes both a case where the first member is directly attached to the second member and a case where the first member is attached to the second member with the third member interposed therebetween.
In the specification, a state where the first member is held by the second member includes a case where the first member is attached to (that is, fixed to) the second member so as to be not movable with respect to the second member and does not include a case where the first member is attached to the second member so as to be movable with respect to the second member. A state where the first member is held by the second member includes both a case where the first member is directly attached to the second member and a case where the first member is attached to the second member with the third member interposed therebetween.
In the specification, the phrase “the first member and the second member are electrically connected” means that the first member and the second member are electrically continuous. Therefore, the first member and the second member may be in contact with each other or the first member and the second member do not need to be in contact with each other. When the first member and the second member are not in contact with each other, the third member having electrical conductivity is disposed between the first member and the second member.
Hereinafter, a connector set 1 including a first connector 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.
In the following description, as shown in
The connector set 1 is, for example, used to connect two circuit boards. The connector set 1 includes the first connector 10 and the second connector 110. When the first connector 10 and the second connector 110 are connected, the second connector 110 is located on or over the first connector 10.
Structure of First Connector
Next, the structure of the first connector 10 will be described.
As shown in
As shown in
When viewed in the up and down direction, the frame portion 12b has an annular shape surrounding the protruding portion 12a. The frame portion 12b has a front side and a rear side extending in the right and left direction and a right side and a left side extending in the front and rear direction. When viewed in the up and down direction, the protruding portion 12a is located in a region surrounded by the frame portion 12b. The protruding portion 12a is not in contact with the frame portion 12b.
As shown in
A radio-frequency signal is input to and output from each of the signal terminals 13a to 13v. The signal terminals 13a to 13v are supported by the resin body member 12. More specifically, part of each of the signal terminals 13a to 13k is embedded in the rear side of the frame portion 12b. Thus, the signal terminals 13a to 13k are supported by the frame portion 12b so as to be arranged in the right and left direction in a region in back of the protruding portion 12a. The signal terminals 13a to 13k are arranged in a line in this order from the left to the right. Part of each of the signal terminals 13l to 13v is embedded in the front side of the frame portion 12b. The signal terminals 13l to 13v are supported by the frame portion 12b so as to be arranged in the right and left direction in a region in front of the protruding portion 12a. The signal terminals 13l to 13v are respectively located in front of the signal terminals 13a to 13k. The signal terminals 13l to 13v are arranged in a line in this order from the left to the right. Each of the signal terminals 13a to 13k is manufactured by bending a rod metal member. The material of the signal terminals 13a to 13k is, for example, a copper-based material, such as phosphor bronze.
The floating terminal 15l is not connected to any of the terminals of the first connector 10, including the signal terminals 13a to 13v and the ground terminals 14l, 14r (details will be described later). Therefore, the potential of the floating terminal 15l is a floating potential. The floating terminal 15l is supported by the resin body member 12. As shown in
The ground terminal 14l is connected to a ground potential. The ground terminal 14l (first terminal) is supported by the resin body member 12. Specifically, the ground terminal 14l is supported by the left side, the front side, and the rear side of the frame portion 12b. However, when viewed in the up and down direction, the left front corner portion and the left rear corner portion of the frame portion 12b are not covered with the ground terminal 14l. The ground terminal 14l is supported by the frame portion 12b so as to be opposed to the floating terminal 15l in the front and rear direction and in the right and left direction. Hereinafter, the structure of the ground terminal 14l will be described.
As shown in
The second part 14lb is provided on the front surface, the top surface, and the rear surface of the left end of the front side of the frame portion 12b. Part of the second part 14lb is embedded in the front side of the frame portion 12b. Thus, the second part 14lb is opposed to the floating terminal 15l in the front and rear direction. The third part 14lc is provided on the front surface, the top surface, and the rear surface of the left end of the rear side of the frame portion 12b. Part of the third part 14lc is embedded in the rear side of the frame portion 12b. Thus, the third part 14lc is opposed to the floating terminal 15l in the front and rear direction.
The connecting part 14ld couples the first part 14la to the second part 14lb. The connecting part 14le couples the first part 14la to the third part 14lc. The ground protrusion 14lf extends in the rightward direction from the lower end of the first part 14la.
The above ground terminal 14l (first terminal) has inclined surfaces 141bS, 141cS. The inclined surface 141bS is provided on part of the top surface and part of the rear surface of the front side of the resin body member 12. The inclined surface 141bS faces in a rear upper direction. The inclined surface 141bS is exposed from the resin body member 12. In the present embodiment, the inclined surface 141bS is exposed from the front side of the resin body member 12. The inclined surface 141cS is provided on part of the top surface and part of the front surface of the rear side of the resin body member 12. The inclined surface 141cS faces in a front upper direction. The inclined surface 141cS is exposed from the resin body member 12. In the present embodiment, the inclined surface 141cS is exposed from the rear side of the resin body member 12. The structure of the ground terminal 14r and the structure of the ground terminal 14l are bilaterally symmetrical, so the description of the structure of the ground terminal 14r is omitted. Each of the ground terminals 14l, 14r is manufactured by bending a metal member. The material of the ground terminals 14l, 14r is, for example, a copper-based material, such as phosphor bronze.
The ground terminal 16b is connected to a ground potential. The ground terminal 16b (second terminal) is supported by the resin body member 12. In the present embodiment, the ground terminal 16b is supported by the left front part of the resin body member 12. When viewed in the front and rear direction, the ground terminal 16b overlaps the second part 14lb of the ground terminal 14l. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The external connecting part 16bd extends in the leftward direction from the fixing part 16bc. The fixing part 16bc and the external connecting part 16bd are parts to which solder is applied when the first connector 10 is mounted on the circuit board.
In the above ground terminal 16b, the contact part 16ba can be displaced in the forward direction when the contact part 16ba is pushed in the forward direction to cause the spring part 16bb to elastically deform. The ground terminal 16b is manufactured by bending a metal member. The material of the ground terminal 16b is, for example, a copper-based material, such as phosphor bronze. The structure of the ground terminal 16a and the structure of the ground terminal 16b are symmetrical in the front and back, so the description of the structure of the ground terminal 16a is omitted. The structure of the ground terminal 16d and the structure of the ground terminal 16b are bilaterally symmetrical, so the description of the structure of the ground terminal 16d is omitted. The structure of the ground terminal 16c and the structure of the ground terminal 16a are bilaterally symmetrical, so the description of the structure of the ground terminal 16c is omitted.
As shown in
In the above first connector 10, the first connector 10 is mounted on a first circuit board (not shown) such that the bottom surface of the resin body member 12 is opposed to the first circuit board. Specifically, parts of the signal terminals 13a to 13v, ground terminals 14l, 14r, floating terminals 15l, 15r, and ground terminals 16a to 16d are exposed from the bottom surface of the resin body member 12. Solder is applied to each of these parts. Thus, the signal terminals 13a to 13v, the ground terminals 14l, 14r, the floating terminals 15l, 15r, and the ground terminals 16a to 16d are respectively connected to the electrodes of the first circuit board.
Structure of Second Connector
Next, the structure of the second connector 110 will be described.
As shown in
The resin body member 112 includes a bottom portion 112a and a frame portion 112b. When viewed in the up and down direction, the frame portion 112b has an annular shape. More specifically, when viewed in the up and down direction, the frame portion 112b has a rectangular outer edge and a rectangular inner edge. When viewed in the up and down direction, each of the outer edge of the frame portion 112b and the inner edge of the frame portion 112b has two long sides extending in the right and left direction and two short sides extending in the front and rear direction. As shown in
A radio-frequency signal is input to and output from each of the signal terminals 113a to 113v. The signal terminals 113a to 113v are supported by the resin body member 112. More specifically, part of each of the signal terminals 113a to 113k is embedded in the rear side of the frame portion 112b. The signal terminals 113a to 113k are arranged in a line in this order from the left to the right. Part of each of the signal terminals 113l to 113v is embedded in the front side of the frame portion 112b. The signal terminals 113l to 113v are respectively located in front of the signal terminals 113a to 113k. The signal terminals 113l to 113v are arranged in a line in this order from the left to the right. Each of the signal terminals 113a to 113k is manufactured by bending a rod metal member. The material of the signal terminals 113a to 113k is, for example, a copper-based material, such as phosphor bronze.
The ground terminal 114l is connected to a ground potential. The ground terminal 114l is supported by the resin body member 112. Part of the ground terminal 114l is embedded in the left end of the front side of the frame portion 112b, the left end of the rear side of the frame portion 112b, and the left side of the frame portion 112b. The ground terminal 114l is manufactured by bending a metal member. The material of the ground terminal 114l is, for example, a copper-based material, such as phosphor bronze. The structure of the ground terminal 114r and the structure of the ground terminal 114l are bilaterally symmetrical, so the description of the structure of the ground terminal 114r is omitted.
In the above second connector 110, the second connector 110 is mounted on a second circuit board (not shown) such that the top surface of the resin body member 112 is opposed to the second circuit board. Specifically, parts of the signal terminals 113a to 113v and ground terminals 114l, 114r are exposed from the top surface of the resin body member 112. Solder is applied to each of these parts. Thus, the signal terminals 113a to 113v and the ground terminals 114l, 114r are respectively connected to the electrodes of the second circuit board.
Structure of Connector Set
Next, the structure of the connector set 1 will be described.
As shown in
However, the floating terminals 15l, 15r do not contact with the signal terminals 113a to 113v or the ground terminals 114l, 114r. Thus, in a state where the second connector 110 is connected to the first connector 10 as well, the potential of each of the floating terminals 15l, 15r remains at a floating potential.
With the first connector 10, the profile of the first connector 10 is reduced while a decrease in the reliability of connection between the ground terminal 16b and the ground terminal 114l is suppressed. Hereinafter, a first connector 10 that does not include the ground terminals 16a to 16d is assumed as a first connector according to a comparative example. In the first connector according to the comparative example, if the profile of the first connector is reduced, the height of the ground terminal 14l in the up and down direction reduces. In this case, the ground terminal 14l is difficult to deform. Therefore, in connecting the first connector according to the comparative example with the second connector 110, even when the ground terminal 114l contacts with the ground terminal 14l, the ground terminal 14l does not sufficiently elastically deform. Thus, it is difficult to reliably connect the ground terminal 14l with the ground terminal 114l.
In the first connector 10, the ground terminal 14l has the inclined surface 141bS. The inclined surface 141bS faces in the rear upper direction and is exposed from the resin body member 12. The inclined surface 141bS is located below the contact part 16ba. Thus, the ground terminal 114l contacts with the inclined surface 141bS before contacting with the contact part 16ba. The ground terminal 114l slides on the inclined surface 141bS and is aligned with the ground terminal 14l. After that, as the ground terminal 114l goes down, the ground terminal 114l contacts with the contact part 16ba. As a result, the contact part 16ba is pushed in the forward direction by the ground terminal 114l to cause the spring part 16bb to elastically deform. Thus, the contact part 16ba is displaced in the forward direction. However, the ground terminal 14l does not deform. As described above, in the first connector 10, the ground terminal 14l provides a guide function, and the ground terminal 16b provides a press-contact function. Therefore, in the first connector 10, even when the height of the ground terminal 14l in the up and down direction reduces and, as a result, the ground terminal 14l is less likely to deform, reliable connection between the ground terminal 114l and each of the ground terminals 14l, 16b is less likely to be impaired. Since the ground terminal 16b is in press-contact with the ground terminal 114l, reliable connection between the ground terminal 16b and the ground terminal 114l is less likely to decrease. In addition, the ground terminal 16b includes the spring part 16bb extending in the right and left direction. For this reason, the height of the ground terminal 16b in the up and down direction is low. Therefore, the profile of the first connector 10 is reduced.
In the first connector 10, the lower end t1 of the fixing part 16bc is located below the lower end t2 of the spring part 16bb. Thus, in mounting the first connector 10 on a circuit board, application of solder to the spring part 16bb is suppressed. As a result, fixing of the spring part 16bb to the circuit board with solder interposed therebetween is suppressed, so the elastic deformation of the spring part 16bb is not impaired.
With the first connector 10, spreading of solder to an unnecessary part is suppressed. More specifically, part of the front surface and part of the rear surface of the lower end of the fixing part 16bc are not in contact with the resin body member 12. In other words, as shown in
With the first connector 10, the front surface of the spring part 16bb is not in contact with the resin body member 12. Thus, the spring part 16bb is elastically deformable so as to deflect in the forward direction.
With the first connector 10, the size of the first connector 10 is reduced while a decrease in the reliability of connection between the ground terminal 16b and the ground terminal 114l is suppressed. More specifically, the spring part 16bb includes the curved section A1 curved from the fixing part 16bc in the forward direction and the straight section A2 extending in the rightward direction from the curved section A1. Thus, the length of the spring part 16bb is extended while an increase in the length of the spring part 16bb in the right and left direction is suppressed. In other words, the spring part 16bb more easily elastically deforms while an increase in the length of the spring part 16bb in the right and left direction is suppressed. The size of the first connector 10 is reduced while a decrease in the reliability of connection between the ground terminal 16b and the ground terminal 114l is suppressed.
Modification
Hereinafter, the ground terminal 16d according to a modification will be described.
A protrusion 16be is provided on the fixing part 16bc of the ground terminal 16d. The protrusion 16be protrudes in the rearward direction from the fixing part 16bc. Thus, when the ground terminal 16d is press-fitted to the resin body member 12, the protrusion 16be hooks on the resin body member 12 to firmly fix the ground terminal 16d to the resin body member 12.
With the protrusion 16be, when the ground terminal 16d is press-fitted to the resin body member 12, the resin body member 12 receives a force in the front and rear direction. Thus, the longitudinal direction of the resin body member 12 is the right and left direction. Therefore, warpage of the resin body member 12 in the longitudinal direction is suppressed.
The connector according to the present disclosure is not limited to the first connector 10 and may be changed within the scope of the purport of the present disclosure.
In the specification, the annular shape is not limited to a complete ring and includes a partially cut-out ring. However, in the annular shape, the ratio of the cut-out part to the ring is lower than or equal to 20%.
As in the case of the ground terminal 16d (second terminal), the fixing part may be coupled to the right end of the spring part, and the contact part may be coupled to the left end of the spring part. At this time, the spring part includes a curved section curved in the forward direction from the fixing part and a straight section extending in the leftward direction from the curved section.
Part of the front surface or part of the rear surface of the lower end of the fixing part 16bc does not need to be in contact with the resin body member 12. In other words, a gap just needs to be present in front of part of the front surface or in back of part of the rear surface of the lower end of the fixing part 16bc.
The through-holes Hl, Hr do not need to be provided.
The ground protrusions 14lf, 14rf and the floating protrusions 15ld, 15rd are not indispensable components.
The floating terminals 15l, 15r may be connected to the electrodes of the circuit board or may be configured not to be connected to the electrodes of the circuit board.
The first connector 10 may include any one of the set of signal terminals 13a to 13k and the set of signal terminals 13l to 13v.
The first terminal and the second terminal may be terminals other than the ground terminals. The first terminal and the second terminal may be, for example, power supply terminals to which a power supply voltage is applied or signal terminals to which a radio-frequency signal is input to or output from.
The ground terminal 14l that is the first terminal and the ground terminal 16b that is the second terminal are in contact with the ground terminal 114l that is one terminal. However, the ground terminal 14l that is the first terminal and the ground terminal 16b that is the second terminal may be respectively in contact with different terminals.
The gaps Spb, Splb are not indispensable components.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2022-012631 | Jan 2022 | JP | national |