JP2005174696A - Socket - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a socket capable of preventing a short circuit due to electrical connection between terminals of a plug and showing effective ESD (Electro Static Discharge) protection performance. <P>SOLUTION: In the socket 1 comprising an electrostatic discharge mechanism 8, which is provided on a socket body 4 including terminals 3 connected with terminals 2 of a plug when the plug is inserted, for discharging static electricity of the plug without influence on the terminals 3, the electrostatic discharge mechanism 8 includes a discharge plate 12 attached to a plug confronting surface 9 of the socket body 4, formed in plate-shape to cover the terminals 3 and having insertion holes 13 each at a position corresponding to the terminal 3; an insulating member 14 provided on the discharge plate 12 and formed at least to cover a plug confronting surface 12a of the discharge plate 12 and having plug holes 15 each at a position corresponding to the insertion hole 13; and discharge holes 18 each having a cross section shape smaller than that of the terminal 2 of the plug. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a socket for ESD (Electro Static Discharge) protection.

  For example, there are many devices such as a personal computer and a monitor that transmit and receive electrical signals between various electronic devices and perform desired operations. In such a system, each electronic device (personal computer, monitor, etc.) is provided with sockets having signal terminals connected to the internal electronic circuits, and plugs having signal terminals etc. are provided at both ends of the cable body. An attached connection cable is prepared, and a plug of the cable is fitted into a socket of the device to connect the terminals to each other so that an electrical signal can be transmitted and received between the devices.

  By the way, when static electricity is charged in one electronic device (personal computer), the plug on the opposite side of the cable of the plug fitted in the socket of the electronic device is fitted in the socket of the other electronic device (monitor). In some cases, static electricity is discharged from the plug to the signal terminal of the socket, and the electronic circuit inside the other electronic device (monitor) may be damaged. The same problem occurs when static electricity is charged to the operator who fits the plug into the socket.

  Therefore, a socket having an electrostatic discharge mechanism that discharges static electricity on the plug side without affecting the terminals on the socket side when the plug is fitted has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). This socket for ESD protection is configured by attaching a conductor wire for discharge to a socket body having a terminal connected to a terminal on the plug side, positioned on the front side in the fitting direction with respect to the terminal.

  According to such a socket, when the plug is brought close to the socket for mating, static electricity charged on the plug side is discharged to the wire located on the front side in the mating direction. Discharge to the terminal of the socket body located is prevented. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the electronic circuit on the socket side connected to this terminal from being damaged by electrostatic discharge.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-162578

  However, in the socket described above, the wire for electrostatic discharge is provided exposed on the forefront of the socket body, so that when the plug signal terminal is accidentally touched by mistake when the plug is fitted, There is a possibility of short-circuiting.

  That is, since the plug has a ground terminal, a power terminal, etc. in addition to the signal terminal, if the signal terminal of the plug and the power terminal are in contact with the discharge wire at the same time, a signal is transmitted from the power terminal through the wire. An unexpected power supply current flows backward to the terminal, and the electronic circuit on the plug side connected to the signal terminal may be damaged. Such a short circuit may occur, for example, when trying to connect a cable to a monitor with the personal computer activated.

  An object of the present invention created in view of the above circumstances is to provide a socket capable of preventing the short circuit and exhibiting an effective ESD protection function.

  The present invention devised to solve the above-described problem is that the socket body having a terminal connected to the plug-side terminal does not affect the plug-side static electricity when the plug is fitted. A socket provided with an electrostatic discharge mechanism for discharging, wherein the electrostatic discharge mechanism is mounted on a plug-facing surface of the socket body, is formed in a plate shape covering the terminal, and has an insertion hole in accordance with the position of the terminal. An open discharge plate, an insulating member provided on the discharge plate and formed so as to cover at least a plug-facing surface of the discharge plate, and having a plug hole opened in accordance with the position of the insertion hole, and the insulation And a discharge hole formed on the plug-facing surface of the member and having an opening cross-sectional shape smaller than the cross-sectional shape of the terminal of the plug.

  The electrostatic discharge mechanism may be formed by connecting a shell member formed in a cylindrical shape from a conductive metal and attached to the socket body and the discharge plate (claim 2).

  The electrostatic discharge mechanism may be one in which the plug hole is formed smaller than the insertion hole.

  According to the present invention, the following effects can be exhibited.

  (1) According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the plug is brought close to the socket, before the plug-side terminal comes into contact with the terminal of the socket body, static electricity charged on the plug side is discharged to the discharge plate through the discharge hole. Since it is discharged, an effective ESD protection function can be exhibited, and since the opening cross-sectional shape of the discharge hole is smaller than the cross-sectional shape of the plug terminal, the plug terminal directly contacts the discharge plate through the discharge hole. There is no so-called short circuit on the plug side.

  (2) According to the invention of claim 2, since the static electricity charged on the plug side is discharged to the shell member of the socket, the ESD protection function is improved.

  (3) According to the invention of claim 3, since the plug hole of the insulating member is smaller than the insertion hole of the discharge plate, the static electricity on the plug side is difficult to discharge to the terminal on the socket side disposed behind the insertion hole. Thus, the ESD protection function is improved.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 is a perspective view of a socket according to the present embodiment, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V in FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the socket 1 includes a socket body 4 having a terminal 3 connected to a plug-side terminal 2 (see FIG. 5) when the plug is fitted. The socket body 4 includes a housing 5 made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The housing 5 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape and is integrally formed with the base portion 5a and a base portion 5a that is attached to an electronic device such as a personal computer. The connection part 5b to which the plug which is not connected is connected.

  Various terminals 3 such as a signal terminal, a ground terminal, and a power supply terminal are mounted on the housing 5. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, these terminals 3 have a cross section in which a central portion 3a is press-fitted and fixed in a terminal press-fit groove 6 formed in a base portion 5b, and a front end portion 3b is formed in a connection portion 5b. It is accommodated in the rectangular terminal connection hole 7, and the rear end portion 3c protrudes rearward from the base portion 5a. The rear end 3c is connected to a wiring board of an electronic device (not shown).

  The socket body 4 is provided with an electrostatic discharge mechanism 8 which is a feature of the present embodiment. The electrostatic discharge mechanism 8 discharges the plug-side static electricity without affecting the terminals 3 of the socket body 4, and as shown in FIG. It is engaged and mounted. The nail | claw part 10 is formed in the opening inner edge of the shell member 11 mentioned later.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the electrostatic discharge mechanism 8 includes a discharge plate 12 made of a conductive metal formed in a plate shape covering the plug facing surface 9 (top surface) of the connection portion 5b. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the discharge plate 12 is disposed so as to cover the terminal 3 in the terminal connection hole 7 on the front side of the front end portion 3b of the terminal 3 in the plug fitting direction. ing. An insertion hole 13 having the same cross-sectional shape (square shape) as the terminal connection hole 7 is formed in the discharge plate 12 in accordance with the position of the terminal connection hole 7.

  The electrostatic discharge mechanism 8 includes an insulating member 14 provided on the discharge plate 12. The insulating member 14 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, and is formed so as to cover at least the plug facing surface 12a of the discharge plate 12. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the insulating member 14 is formed in a shape that covers not only the plug facing surface 12 a of the discharge plate 12 but also the plug opposite surface 12 b, and the insertion hole 13 of the discharge plate 12. It is formed in the shape which covers the inner peripheral part.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the insulating member 14 covers the front insulating portion 14 a formed in a plate shape covering the plug facing surface 12 a of the discharge plate 12 and the plug opposite facing surface 12 b of the discharge plate 12. A rear insulating portion 14b formed in a plate shape and a hole insulating portion 14c formed in a cylindrical shape covering the inner peripheral portion of the insertion hole 13 of the discharge plate 12 are provided. This structure is manufactured by injection molding an insulating material such as synthetic resin so that the discharge plate 12 is inserted, that is, insert molding or the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the front insulating portion 14 a is provided with a front plug hole 15 opened in accordance with the position of the insertion hole 13 of the discharge plate 12. The front plug hole 15 is formed in a long hexagonal shape and is opened smaller than the insertion hole 13 (square shape) of the discharge plate 12. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 2, a triangular shielding part 22 is provided in the vicinity of the front plug hole 15 (long hexagonal shape) to cover opposite corners of the insertion hole 13 (square shape). .

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the rear insulating portion 14 b is also provided with a rear plug hole 16 opened in accordance with the position of the insertion hole 13 of the discharge plate 12. The rear plug hole 16 is also formed in a long hexagonal shape, and is opened smaller than the insertion hole 13 (square shape) of the discharge plate 12. Thereby, the triangular shielding part 17 which covers the corner | angular part which the insertion hole 13 (square shape) opposes is provided in the vicinity of the rear surface plug hole 16 (long hexagon shape).

  The front plug hole 15 and the rear plug hole 16 are formed in the same shape, and are set to a size that allows insertion and removal of the terminal 2 of the plug shown in FIG. The front plug hole 15 and the rear plug hole 16 are not limited to the long hexagonal shape as described above, and may have any shape as long as the terminal 2 of the plug can be inserted and removed. The insertion hole 13 is not limited to a square shape.

  Moreover, the electrostatic discharge mechanism 8 has the discharge hole 18 formed in the front surface insulation part 14a, as shown in FIGS. The discharge hole 18 has an opening cross-sectional shape smaller than the cross-sectional shape of the terminal 2 of the plug shown in FIG. In the illustrated example, the discharge holes 18 are disposed between the front plug holes 15 in the vertical direction. However, the discharge holes 18 are not limited thereto, and may be disposed between the front plug holes 15 in the left-right direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the electrostatic discharge mechanism 8 is configured by connecting a shell member 11 formed in a cylindrical shape from a conductive metal and mounted on the socket body 4 to the discharge plate 12. Has been. The shell member 11 includes a cylindrical portion 11a formed so as to surround the side surface portion of the housing connection portion 5b of the socket body 4, and a flange portion 11b formed so as to cover the front surface of the housing base portion 5a of the socket body 4. As shown in FIG. 5, the cylindrical portion 11 a is connected to the ear portion 12 c of the discharge plate 12.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the shell member 11 is grounded to the earth of an electronic device to which the socket 1 is attached via a bolt 19. That is, bolt holes 20 and 21 are respectively formed in the flange portion 11b of the shell member 11 and the base portion 5a of the housing 5, and the bolts 19 are inserted into these bolt holes 20 and 21 to connect the socket 1 to the electronic device. Is attached to the earth of the electronic device via the bolt 19.

  The operation of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the plug is brought close to the socket 1, static electricity charged on the plug side is seen from the discharge hole 18 shown in FIG. 2 before the terminal 2 on the plug side comes into contact with the terminal 3 on the socket body 4. The discharge plate 12 or the shell member 11 is discharged to the opening 11c of the cylindrical portion 11a. Since the static electricity sometimes has a high voltage of tens of thousands of volts, even if the plug-side terminal 2 is away from the discharge plate 12 or the opening 11c of the shell member 11 as viewed from the discharge hole 18, the discharge occurs when it approaches a predetermined distance or less. It happens.

  Here, since the discharge plate 12 and the opening 11c of the shell member 11 viewed from the discharge hole 18 are arranged on the near side in the plug fitting direction with respect to the terminal 3 of the socket body 4, the static electricity on the plug side is It discharges to the discharge plate 12 and / or the opening 11c of the shell member 11 that is viewed from the discharge hole 18 arranged on the front side in the fitting direction, not the terminal 3 of the socket body 4 located on the back side in the fitting direction. is there.

  The discharged static electricity is grounded via a bolt 19 to the earth of the electronic device to which the socket 1 is attached. Therefore, the terminals 3 of the socket body 4 are not affected by static electricity, and the electronic circuit connected to these terminals 3 is not damaged by static electricity. Thereafter, when the plug is fitted into the socket 1, the plug-side terminal 2 is connected to the terminal 3 of the socket body 4.

  Thus, when the plug is brought close to the socket 1, the static electricity on the plug side is automatically discharged and grounded without affecting the terminal 3 of the socket body 4, and then the socket 1 is fitted to the plug to both sides. Since the terminals 2 and 3 are connected to each other, an effective ESD protection function can be exhibited.

  Further, when the plug is fitted into the socket 1, even if the plug terminal 2 is accidentally pressed against the discharge hole 18 of the socket 1, the opening cross-sectional shape of the discharge hole 18 is formed smaller than the cross-sectional shape of the plug terminal 2. Therefore, the terminal 2 of the plug does not directly contact the discharge plate 12 through the discharge hole 18. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a problem caused when the plug terminals 2 are short-circuited via the discharge plate 12.

  That is, if the signal terminal 2 and the power supply terminal 2 of the plug are short-circuited via the discharge plate 12, an unexpected power supply current flows backward from the power supply terminal 2 to the signal terminal 2 via the discharge plate 12. However, in the socket 1, since the opening cross-sectional shape of the discharge hole 18 is smaller than the cross-sectional shape of the terminal 2 of the plug, such a problem can be prevented physically.

  The power supply voltage of the terminal 2 of the plug is remarkably smaller than the electrostatic voltage charged on the plug side, so that the terminal 2 is discharged to the discharge plate 12 as long as it is separated from the discharge plate 12 viewed through the discharge hole 18. The short-circuit problem occurs only when the signal terminal 2 and the power supply terminal 2 of the plug are in direct contact with the discharge plate 12. Therefore, in the socket 1 in which the opening cross-sectional shape of the discharge hole 18 is smaller than the cross-sectional shape of the terminal 2 of the plug, the short-circuit problem can be completely prevented.

  If the pitch (interval) of the discharge holes 18 is different from the pitch of the terminal 2 of the plug, when one terminal 2 faces one discharge hole 18, the remaining terminals 2 face the remaining discharge holes 18. Therefore, the short circuit problem can be avoided.

  Further, since the plug holes 15 and 16 of the insulating member 14 are smaller than the insertion holes 13 of the discharge plate 12 and are minimum openings through which the terminals 2 can be inserted by the shielding portions 22 and 17, static electricity on the plug side is prevented. It becomes difficult to discharge to the terminal 3 of the socket main body 4 arranged in the back of the insertion hole 13, and the ESD protection function is improved.

  Further, since the static electricity charged on the plug side is discharged not only to the discharge plate 12 viewed from the discharge hole 18 but also to the opening 11c of the shell member 11, the ESD protection function is improved.

  Further, since the electrostatic discharge mechanism 8 has a structure in which the discharge plate 12 is housed in the insulating member 14 by insert molding, the discharge plate 12 has the insulating member 14 (front insulating portion 14a) except for the discharge hole 18 portion. , The rear insulating portion 14b and the hole insulating portion 14c) are completely covered.

  Therefore, the discharge plate 12 does not cause a short circuit of the plug-side terminal 2 (see FIG. 5) inserted into the discharge hole 18, and the terminal 3 of the socket body 4 accommodated in the back of the discharge hole 18. It will not cause a short circuit. Further, secondary discharge from the discharge plate 12 to the terminal 3 can also be prevented.

  A modification will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 (a), (b), and (c).

  6A is a plan sectional view showing the electrostatic discharge mechanism 8 of the above embodiment, FIG. 6B is a plan sectional view showing a modification of the electrostatic discharge mechanism, and FIG. 6C is another diagram of the electrostatic discharge mechanism. It is a plane sectional view showing a modification.

  In the modification shown in FIG. 6B, the configuration of the insulating member 14 'of the electrostatic discharge mechanism 8' is different from that shown in FIG. That is, the insulating member 14 'is omitted from the hole insulating portion 14c shown in FIG. This structure is manufactured by sticking the front insulating part 14a and the rear insulating part 14b formed in a film shape or a thin plate shape so as to sandwich the discharge plate 12 therebetween.

  Further, the front plug hole 15 opened in the front insulating part 14 a and the rear plug hole 16 opened in the rear insulating part 14 b are formed smaller than the insertion hole 13 opened in the discharge plate 12. Thus, predetermined gaps C are formed between the opening edge of the front plug hole 15 and the opening edge of the insertion hole 13 and between the opening edge of the rear plug hole 16 and the opening edge of the insertion hole 13, respectively. Therefore, when the plug terminal 2 is inserted, the terminal 2 is prevented from coming into contact with the discharge plate 12, and a short circuit can be prevented.

  In the modification shown in FIG. 6C, the configuration of the insulating member 14 ″ of the electrostatic discharge mechanism 8 ″ is different from that shown in FIG. That is, the insulating member 14 ″ omits the rear insulating portion 14 b and the hole insulating portion 14 c shown in FIG. This configuration is manufactured by sticking the front insulating portion 14a formed in a film shape or a thin plate shape to the plug facing surface 12a of the discharge plate 12 or the like.

  Further, the front plug hole 15 opened in the front insulating portion 14 a is formed smaller than the insertion hole 13 opened in the discharge plate 12. As a result, a predetermined gap C is formed between the opening edge of the front plug hole 15 and the opening edge of the insertion hole 13. Therefore, when the plug terminal 2 is inserted, the terminal 2 is prevented from coming into contact with the discharge plate 12, and a short circuit can be prevented.

It is a perspective view of the socket which concerns on this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows a mode that a part of front insulation part of the electrostatic discharge mechanism was excised from FIG. It is the III-III sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the electrostatic discharge mechanism was removed from FIG. It is the VV sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the modification of an electrostatic discharge mechanism, (a) is plane sectional drawing of the said electrostatic discharge mechanism, (b) is plane sectional drawing which shows the modification of an electrostatic discharge mechanism, (c) is static electricity It is a plane sectional view showing another modification of a discharge mechanism.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Socket 2 Plug side terminal 3 Socket side terminal 8 Electrostatic discharge mechanism 9 Plug opposing surface 11 Shell member 12 Discharge plate 12a Plug opposing surface 12b Plug opposite surface 13 Insertion hole 14 Insulating member 14a Front insulating part 14b Rear insulating part 14c Hole insulation part 15 Plug hole 18 Discharge hole

Claims (3)

A socket provided with an electrostatic discharge mechanism that discharges static electricity on the plug side without affecting the above terminals on the socket body having a terminal connected to the terminal on the plug side when the plug is fitted,
The electrostatic discharge mechanism is
A discharge plate that is mounted on the plug-facing surface of the socket body, is formed in a plate shape that covers the terminal, and has an insertion hole opened in accordance with the position of the terminal;
An insulating member provided on the discharge plate and formed so as to cover at least a plug-facing surface of the discharge plate and having a plug hole opened in accordance with the position of the insertion hole;
A socket comprising: a discharge hole formed on a plug-facing surface of the insulating member and having an opening cross-sectional shape smaller than a cross-sectional shape of a terminal of the plug.   The socket according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic discharge mechanism is formed by connecting a shell member formed in a cylindrical shape from a conductive metal and attached to the socket body and the discharge plate. The socket according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electrostatic discharge mechanism is such that the plug hole is formed smaller than the insertion hole.

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