JP2017168460A - Electrical connector for circuit board - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrical connector for a circuit board that can prevent adhesion of soldering or coating agent to a contact arm portion of a terminal.SOLUTION: A housing 10 includes a bottom wall 11 parallel to a mounting surface of a circuit board, and an erection wall 12 which is erected upwards from the bottom wall 11 in a connector insertion/pull-out direction and extends in a connector length direction. The erection wall 12 has a groove portion 12A that recesses from the side face of the erection wall 12 and extends in the connector insertion/pull-out direction. The terminal 20 includes a base portion 21 molded integrally with and held by the bottom wall 11, a contact arm portion 22 extending from one end of the base portion 21 in the connector insertion/pull-out direction in the groove portion 12A, and a connecting portion 24 which is formed at a portion extending from the other end of the base portion 21 and connectable to the mounting surface with solder. The groove portion 12A of the erection wall 12 is formed over the entire erection area of the erection wall 12, and the bottom wall 11 is formed to contain the range corresponding to the contact arm portion 22 in the connector width direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connector for a circuit board disposed on a mounting surface of a circuit board.

  As such an electrical connector for a circuit board, for example, a connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. The connector of Patent Document 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped outer housing and terminals that are arranged and held in the housing by integral molding in the connector length direction (longitudinal direction of the housing). The housing includes a bottom wall facing the mounting surface of the circuit board, a rectangular frame-shaped peripheral wall that rises upward from the peripheral edge of the bottom wall, and a connector width direction (a short side perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing). And a protruding wall that protrudes upward from the bottom wall and extends in the connector length direction. A quadrangular annular space surrounded by the peripheral wall and the protruding wall and opening upward is formed as a receiving portion for receiving the mating connector from above.

  The terminal has a base portion extending in the connector width direction along the bottom wall, and a contact arm portion elastically displaceable in the connector width direction extends upward from the one end of the base portion along the protruding wall. . At the upper end portion of the contact arm portion, a contact portion for contacting a mating terminal provided on the mating connector protrudes toward the receiving portion. The free end portion of the portion extending from the other end of the base portion is formed with a connection portion that can be soldered to the mounting surface outside the housing.

  On the protruding wall of the housing, a groove portion that allows entry of the displacement when the contact arm portion is elastically displaced at a terminal position in the connector length direction is a side surface of the protruding wall (perpendicular to the connector width direction). And is formed extending in the vertical direction. The lower end of the groove is open, but the upper end is closed. In addition, a gap is formed between the opposed inner wall surface (inner wall surface opposed in the connector length direction) of the groove portion and the contact arm portion, and the groove portion and the receiving portion communicate with each other through the gap. doing.

  Further, a hole is formed in the bottom wall at a terminal position in the connector length direction so as to penetrate in a vertical direction (thickness direction of the bottom wall) over a range including the contact arm portion and the protruding wall in the connector width direction. Has been. The groove portion of the protruding wall and the hole portion of the bottom wall are spaces formed by removing the mold downward after integral molding of the housing and the terminal when the connector is manufactured, and communicate with each other.

JP2012-160360

  When the connector of Patent Document 1 is mounted on the circuit board, when the terminal connection portion is solder-connected to the mounting surface of the circuit board, the molten solder (molten solder) is between the bottom surface of the bottom wall of the housing and the mounting surface. In other words, so-called soldering may occur in which the surface of the contact arm portion of the terminal climbs up through the gap in the bottom wall and through the hole in the bottom wall. If the solder attached to the surface of the contact arm portion is hardened, there is a possibility that a sufficient elastic displacement state of the contact arm portion cannot be obtained sufficiently. Further, the molten solder that has moved up the surface of the contact arm portion further reaches the protruding surface of the contact portion, that is, the contact surface with the mating terminal, through the gap between the contact arm portion and the opposed inner wall surface of the groove portion of the protruding wall. In some cases, there is a risk of poor contact with the mating terminal.

  In addition, a coating agent such as a resin may be applied to the solder connection portion in order to prevent corrosion of the solder connection portion between the connection portion and the mounting surface. In the same manner as above, it flows in a molten state and adheres to the surface of the contact arm portion, which may cause an elastic displacement of the contact arm portion or a poor contact state with the mating terminal.

  In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector for a circuit board that can prevent solder and a coating agent from adhering to a contact arm portion of a terminal.

  An electrical connector for a circuit board according to the present invention is an electrical connector for a circuit board that has a housing and a terminal held by the housing, and is disposed on a mounting surface of the circuit board. A receiving portion for receiving the mating connector in a connector insertion / removal direction perpendicular to the surface, a bottom wall that is parallel to the mounting surface and forms a bottom surface of the receiving portion, and stands in the connector insertion / removal direction from the bottom wall And a standing wall extending in the connector length direction perpendicular to the connector width direction, and the standing wall is formed with a groove portion that sunk from the side surface perpendicular to the connector width direction and extends in the connector insertion / removal direction. The terminal extends in the connector width direction along the bottom wall and is held in the bottom wall by integral molding; and a mating connector extending from one end of the base in the connector insertion / removal direction. A contact arm portion that can contact the connector, and a connection portion that is formed at a portion extending from the other end of the base portion and can be soldered to the mounting surface. The contact arm portion includes a connector width direction and a connector length. It is accommodated in the groove part with a gap between the inner wall surface of the groove part in the direction and can be elastically displaced in the connector width direction.

  In such an electrical connector for a circuit board, in the present invention, the groove portion of the standing wall is formed over the entire standing range of the standing wall, and the bottom wall is a connector at least at a terminal position in the connector length direction. It is characterized by being formed including a range corresponding to the contact arm portion in the width direction.

  In the present invention, the groove portion of the standing wall is formed over the entire standing range of the standing wall. That is, the groove is opened in the connector insertion / removal direction at the top surface position (the end surface on the opposite side of the bottom wall) of the standing wall. Therefore, the standing wall having the groove can be formed by moving and arranging the mold from the top surface side to the bottom wall side in the connector insertion / extraction direction. As a result, on the side opposite to the top surface side, at the terminal position in the connector length direction, in a range corresponding to the groove portion in the connector width direction, in other words, the contact of the terminal accommodated in the groove portion The bottom wall can be formed in a range corresponding to the arm portion.

  Therefore, in the present invention, when the connector is mounted, when the terminal connection portion is solder-connected to the mounting surface, the molten solder is directed between the bottom wall of the housing and the mounting surface toward the contact arm portion side of the terminal, That is, even if it tries to flow toward the above range, the bottom wall is closed in this range, so that the molten solder does not crawl up the surface of the contact arm part, and the solder adheres to the contact arm part. Is prevented. As a result, the elastic displacement of the contact arm portion is not hindered by the solder. Moreover, since the solder does not adhere to the contact portion of the contact arm portion, a poor contact state at the contact portion can be prevented. Also, when a coating agent such as resin is applied to the solder connection portion, the adhesion of the coating agent to the contact arm portion is prevented as in the case of the solder described above, and the elastic displacement state of the contact arm portion and the mating terminal A good contact state with is ensured.

  In the present invention, the bottom wall of the housing is formed with a bottom hole that penetrates the bottom wall in the connector insertion / removal direction in a range different from the contact arm in the connector width direction, and the base of the terminal is in the connector width direction. The base hole may be formed to include a range corresponding to the bottom hole, the bottom surface of the base may be exposed at the bottom hole, and both side end surfaces of the base may be held by the bottom wall. .

  When the bottom hole is formed in the bottom wall of the housing in this way, when the housing and the terminal are integrally formed, the bottom of the base is formed by a mold within the range in which the bottom hole in the connector width direction is formed. Pressed. By removing the mold, the bottom hole portion is formed in the bottom wall in the above range. In the bottom hole portion, both end surfaces of the base portion whose bottom surface is exposed are held by the bottom wall. That is, there is no gap between the both side end faces of the base and the bottom wall, and the bottom hole is closed by the base. Therefore, even if the molten solder or coating agent flows into the bottom hole portion from the mounting surface side of the circuit board, the solder or coating agent is prevented from further progressing by the bottom surface of the base portion, and the bottom hole Since it stays in the part, solder and coating agent do not crawl up to the contact arm part side of the terminal. As described above, in the present invention, even when the bottom hole is formed by pressing the terminal with the mold, it is possible to satisfactorily ensure the elastic displacement state of the contact arm portion and the contact state with the mating terminal.

  In the present invention, the terminal base has a terminal width in the connector length direction that is larger than the bottom hole, and at least one plate surface at the side edge of the terminal width is the bottom in addition to the end faces on both sides. It may be held by a wall.

  In this way, the base of the terminal is held not only on both side end surfaces but also the plate surface at the side edge of the terminal width by the bottom wall, so that the bottom hole is more reliably closed by the base. The Accordingly, it is possible to more reliably prevent the solder and coating agent from climbing up to the contact arm portion side of the terminal through the bottom hole portion.

  In the present invention, a plurality of terminals are arranged in the connector length direction, terminals located at both ends of the terminal arrangement range form power terminals, and other terminals located in the intermediate area of the terminal arrangement range are signal terminals. A plurality of bottom hole portions of the bottom wall of the housing are arranged at equal intervals in the connector length direction, and a base portion of the power terminal is formed of the plurality of bottom hole portions in the connector length direction. The base of the signal terminal may be formed to cover at least one bottom hole in the connector length direction.

  The base portion of the terminal formed so as to cover the plurality of bottom holes is pressed by the mold at each position of the plurality of bottom holes when the terminal and the housing are integrally formed. Therefore, when the base portion of the terminal is formed so as to cover one bottom hole portion, that is, compared with the case where the base portion of the terminal is pressed by the mold at the position of the one bottom hole portion during integral molding. Since the position of pressing the plate surface of the base portion increases, the area for pressing the plate surface is increased correspondingly, and the terminal posture at the time of integral molding can be further stabilized.

  As described above, in the present invention, the groove portion for accommodating the contact arm portion of the terminal is formed over the entire standing range of the standing wall of the housing, and is opened in the connector insertion / removal direction at the top surface position of the standing wall. Therefore, the standing wall can be formed by moving and arranging the mold from the top surface side to the bottom wall side in the connector insertion / extraction direction. Therefore, since the bottom wall of the housing can be formed in a range corresponding to the contact arm portion accommodated in the groove portion in the connector width direction, by blocking the inflow of molten solder or coating agent at the bottom wall, The solder and coating agent can be prevented from adhering to the contact arm portion. As a result, the elastic displacement state of the contact arm portion and the contact state with the mating terminal can be ensured satisfactorily.

It is a perspective view of the receptacle connector which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and the plug connector fitted with respect to this from the upper direction, The state before connector fitting is shown. 1A is a cross-sectional perspective view of the plug connector of FIG. 1 in a plane perpendicular to the connector length direction, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional perspective view of the receptacle connector in FIG. 1 perpendicular to the connector length direction. It is a figure, each showing a cross section at the center position in the connector length direction, showing a state where the housing is omitted in the left half, and a reinforcing bracket held by the right half in the lower position of the right half Show. (A) is the perspective view which turned up and down and showed the plug connector of FIG. 1, (B) is the perspective view which abbreviate | omitted and showed the housing of the plug connector of (A). FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing a part of the bottom surface of the receptacle connector of FIG. 1, in which a receptacle signal terminal and a receptacle reinforcing bracket are shown by broken lines. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector and the plug connector of FIG. 1 in a plane perpendicular to the connector length direction, showing a cross section at the position of the signal terminal, (A) is a state before connector fitting; B) shows the connector fitting state. It is sectional drawing in the surface at right angles to the connector width direction of the receptacle connector of FIG. 1, and a plug connector, The cross section in the connector width direction center position is shown, (A) is the state before connector fitting, ( B) shows the connector fitting state.

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

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle connector according to the present embodiment and a plug connector as a mating connector fitted to the receptacle connector from above, and shows a state before connector fitting. The receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 in the present embodiment are circuit board electrical connectors arranged on different circuit board (not shown) mounting surfaces, and are perpendicular to the mounting surfaces of the circuit boards. A connector assembly having the insertion / extraction direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1) is configured. In this embodiment, the fitting direction of the plug connector 2 with respect to the receptacle connector 1, that is, the direction in which the plug connector 2 is moved downward in FIG. 1 is referred to as “connector fitting direction”, and the opposite direction, that is, in FIG. The upward direction is described as “connector extraction direction”. Further, the fitting direction and the extracting direction of the receptacle connector 1 which is the mating connector with respect to the plug connector 2 are opposite to the “connector fitting direction” and the “connector extracting direction” of the plug connector 2 described above, respectively.

[Configuration of Receptacle Connector 1]
As shown in FIG. 1, the receptacle connector 1 includes a housing 10 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and a connector length direction (longitudinal direction of the housing 10) that is one direction parallel to the mounting surface. It has a plurality of receptacle signal terminals 20 and a receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 that are arranged and held by integral molding. The receptacle connector 1 is arranged and mounted on a circuit board in the posture shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the receptacle signal terminals 20 are provided in two rows symmetrical in the connector width direction in the range of a protruding wall 12 described later of the housing 10 in the connector length direction. The receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 is provided in the housing 10 at both outer positions with respect to the arrangement range of the receptacle signal terminals 20 in the connector length direction. As will be described later, the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 has a receptacle power supply terminal 45 as a part of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30. As shown in FIG. 1, the receptacle power supply terminals 45 are located on both outer sides with respect to the arrangement range of the receptacle signal terminals 20 in both end regions of the protruding wall 12 in the connector length direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 10 is made of an electrical insulating material such as resin, and has a bottom surface parallel to the mounting surface of a circuit board (not shown), which is a surface to be attached. A bottom wall 11 (see FIG. 4) extending in the longitudinal direction as a longitudinal direction, and a projecting wall 12 that stands upward from the bottom wall 11 in the central region of the bottom wall 11 in the connector width direction and extends in the connector length direction; It has a square frame-shaped peripheral wall 13 that stands up from the bottom wall 11 and surrounds the protruding wall 12. The peripheral wall 13 stands up from the edge of the bottom wall 11 facing in the connector width direction and extends as a pair of outer walls 14 in the connector length direction, and the edge of the bottom wall 11 facing in the connector length direction And a pair of end walls 15 as a pair of outer walls that connect the ends of the pair of side walls 14 and extend in the connector width direction. A square annular space opened upward between the peripheral wall 13 and the projecting wall 12 forms a receiving portion 16 for receiving the fitting portion of the plug connector 2.

  As can be seen in FIG. 4 which is a bottom view of the receptacle connector 1, the bottom wall 11 is in the connector insertion / extraction direction (perpendicular to the paper surface) at the terminal position in the connector length direction (left-right direction in FIG. 4). The bottom hole portions 11A penetrating in the direction) are arranged in the connector length direction (see also FIGS. 5A and 5B). The bottom hole portion 11A is formed when the mold is removed downward after integral molding of the housing 10, the receptacle signal terminal 20, and the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30. The bottom hole portions 11A are formed at regular intervals except for the bottom hole portions 11A located at both ends in the connector length direction (see FIG. 4). The distance between the two bottom hole portions 11A located at both end regions in the connector length direction is slightly narrower than the distance between the other bottom hole portions 11A (see FIG. 4). Further, the bottom hole portions 11A located at both ends in the connector length direction have slightly smaller dimensions in the connector width direction than the other bottom hole portions 11A.

  As seen in FIGS. 5A and 5B, which are cross-sectional views at the position of the receptacle terminal 20, the bottom hole portion 11A is a connector when viewed in the connector length direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface). In the width direction (left and right direction in FIGS. 5A and 5B), it is formed in a range extending from a position slightly outside the side surface of the protruding wall 12 to a position slightly outside the inner surface of the side wall 14. . That is, the bottom hole portion 11A is formed in a range outside the contact arm portion 22 of the receptacle signal terminal 20 described later in the connector width direction. Similarly, the bottom hole portion 11A formed at the position of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 in the connector length direction is also formed in a range outside the contact arm portion 44 of the receptacle power supply terminal 45 described later of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30. Yes. In other words, the bottom wall 11 is closed in a range corresponding to the contact arm portions 22 and 44 in the connector width direction. Hereinafter, the receptacle signal terminal 20 and the receptacle power supply terminal 45 are collectively referred to as “receptacle terminals 20 and 45” when it is not necessary to distinguish them.

  Further, the bottom wall 11 is located at a position corresponding to the connection portion 24 of the receptacle signal terminal 20 and the side fixing portion 42 of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30, and the bottom surface of the bottom wall 11 is the top surface and side fixing portion of the connection portion 24. It is in contact with the upper surface of 42. Further, the bottom wall 11 is located between the connecting portions 24 and between the connecting portion 24 and the side fixing portion 42 so that the bottom surface of the bottom wall 11 is the upper surface and the side fixing portion of the connecting portion 24. The bottom groove portion 11B is formed below the bottom surface (see also FIG. 4).

  The protruding wall 12 has a signal terminal groove 12A at a position corresponding to the receptacle signal terminal 20 in the connector length direction, and a power terminal groove 12B at a position corresponding to the receptacle power terminal 45. It is formed by sunk from the plane perpendicular to the connector width direction and extending in the vertical direction (see FIGS. 5A and 5B). Hereinafter, the signal terminal groove portion 12A and the power supply terminal groove portion 12B are collectively referred to as “terminal groove portions 12A and 12B” when it is not particularly necessary to distinguish them. As seen in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the terminal groove portions 12A and 12B are formed over the entire standing range of the protruding wall 12, open at the upper end position, and bottom wall at the lower end position. 11 is obstructed. The terminal groove portions 12A and 12B accommodate the contact arm portions 22 and 44 of the receptacle terminals 20 and 45, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, the signal terminal groove 12A and the power terminal groove 12B are formed with the same groove width dimension (dimension in the connector length direction).

  As seen in FIG. 1, the housing 10 is formed such that the end in the connector length direction is higher than the portion of the arrangement range of the receptacle terminals 20 and 30. In the end portion, a side guide surface 14A that is inclined inward in the connector width direction as it goes downward is formed on the upper surface of the inner surface of the side wall 14 (the surface located on the receiving portion 16 side). The side guide surface 14A guides the plug connector 2 toward the receiving portion 16 in the connector width direction in the connector fitting process.

  At the upper part of the inner surface of the end wall 15 (the surface located on the receiving portion 16 side), an end guide surface 15A is formed which inclines inward in the connector length direction as it goes downward in both end regions in the connector width direction. . As seen in FIG. 1, the upper and lower edges of the end guide surface 15A are located at the same height as the upper and lower edges of the side guide surface 14A. The end guide surface 15A guides the plug connector 2 into the receiving portion 16 in the connector length direction in the connector fitting process.

  Further, a corner guide surface 10A is formed between the side guide surface 14A and the end guide surface 15A. The corner guide surface 10A is inclined inward in the connector width direction and in the connector length direction as it goes downward. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the upper and lower edges of the corner guide surface 10A are located at the same height as the upper and lower edges of the side guide surface 14A and the end guide surface 15A. The corner guide surface 10A guides the plug connector 2 into the receiving portion 16 in the connector width direction and the connector length direction in the connector fitting process.

  2A is a cross-sectional perspective view in a plane perpendicular to the connector length direction of the receptacle connector 1 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a view of the connector length direction of the plug connector 2 of FIG. It is a cross-sectional perspective view in a perpendicular plane. 2 (A) and 2 (B) show a cross section of the housing at the center position in the connector length direction, showing a state in which the housing is omitted in the left half, and the right half below the right half. The reinforcement metal fitting hold | maintained by a half part is shown. Further, in the left half of FIGS. 2A and 2B, for convenience of explanation, the distance between the terminals and the distance between the terminal and the reinforcing bracket are shown larger than those in FIG.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the receptacle signal terminal 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2B, and 5A. The receptacle signal terminal 20 is formed by bending a strip-shaped metal plate strip in the plate thickness direction, a base portion 21 extending in the connector width direction along the bottom wall 11 of the housing, and the protruding wall 12 side of the base portion 21. A signal contact arm portion 22 that extends upward from the end portion of the base portion 21, and an inverted U-shaped held portion 23 that extends upward at the end portion on the side wall 14 side of the base portion 21 and is folded downward. And a connecting portion 24 extending outward from the lower end of the held portion 23 in the connector width direction.

  As seen in FIG. 5A, the base 21 extends over the range including the receiving portion 16 in the connector width direction, and is held on the bottom wall 11 by integral molding. The base 21 has its upper surface exposed toward the receiving portion 16 and its lower surface exposed to the circuit board side in a range corresponding to the bottom hole 11 </ b> A of the bottom wall 11. Further, the base portion 21 is formed such that a portion on the protruding wall 12 side in the longitudinal direction (connector width direction) is a narrow portion, and a portion on the side wall 14 side is a terminal width (in the connector length direction) than the narrow portion. It is formed as a wide part with a large dimension.

  As shown by a broken line in FIG. 4, the base 21 has the wide portion located in the connector width direction corresponding to the most range of the bottom hole portion 11 </ b> A of the bottom wall 11, and the narrow width. The part is located corresponding to the range of the remaining part of the bottom hole part 11A. Further, the narrow portion and the wide portion of the base portion 21 have a terminal width larger than the bottom hole portion 11A of the bottom wall 11, and both side end surfaces and both side edge portions (edge portions extending in the connector width direction) of the base portion 21. ) Is held by the bottom wall 11. Accordingly, there is no gap between both side end surfaces (side end surfaces extending in the connector width direction) of the base portion 21 and the bottom wall 11, and the bottom hole portion 11 </ b> A has its upper end opening covered by the lower surface of the base portion 21. Blocked. In addition, it is not essential that the plate surface of the side edge portion of the base portion 21 is held by the bottom wall 11 in a range corresponding to the bottom hole portion 11A, and at least only both side end surfaces of the base portion 21 may be held. . Moreover, when the plate | board surface of the side edge part of the base 21 is hold | maintained at the bottom wall 11, only the upper surface of a side edge part, or both a lower surface and an upper surface may be hold | maintained.

  The signal contact arm portion 22 is accommodated in the signal terminal groove portion 12A of the protruding wall 12, and can be elastically displaced in the plate thickness direction (connector width direction). The signal contact arm portion 22 has a lower portion formed with the same width dimension (dimension in the connector length direction) as the base portion 21 and an upper portion formed with a smaller width dimension than the lower portion. Further, the signal contact arm portion 22 is a signal contact protrusion 22A for making the upper end side portion, which is the free end side, convexly curved toward the side wall 14 so as to contact a plug signal terminal 60 of the plug connector 2 described later. It is formed (see FIG. 5B). In the free state, the signal contact arm portion 22 is positioned in the receiving portion 16 with the curved top portion of the signal contact projection portion 22A protruding from the signal terminal groove portion 12A of the housing 10 (see FIG. 5A).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the held portion 23 includes an inner arm portion 23A extending upward from the end portion of the base portion 21 on the side wall 14 along the inner surface of the side wall 14, and an upper end of the inner arm portion 23A. A transition portion 23B that is continuously folded downward from the inner arm portion 23A at a position on the outer side in the connector width direction, and an outer arm portion 23C that extends downward through the transition portion 23B. The side wall 14 is held by integral molding.

  A plate surface of the inner arm portion 23A is exposed toward the inside of the receiving portion 16, and a lock concave portion 23A-1 is formed in a rectangular shape from the plate surface. The lock recess 23A-1 is formed, for example, by pressing or the like, and its width dimension (dimension in the arrangement direction) is smaller than the width dimension of the inner arm 23A. The locking recess 23A-1 is engaged with the locked stepped portion 61A-1 of the plug signal terminal 60 of the plug connector 2 to be described later, thereby maintaining the connector fitting state and preventing the connectors from coming off, By contacting and electrically conducting at the time of locking with the locked stepped portion 61A-1, it also serves to assist the signal contact protrusion 22A (see FIG. 5B).

  The transition portion 23B is convexly curved upward, and the upper surface of the transition portion 23B is exposed from the side wall 14. The outer arm portion 23C is embedded and held in the side wall 14 without being exposed from the side wall 14 (see also FIG. 5A). As is often seen in FIG. 2B, the outer arm portion 23C has a lower end portion that is smaller in width than the other portion (a dimension in the arrangement direction).

  The connecting portion 24 extends below the base 21 in a straight line from the lower end of the outer arm portion 23 </ b> C outward in the connector width direction to substantially the same position as the outer surface of the side wall 14. 11 is exposed. The connecting portion 24 is soldered to the corresponding signal circuit portion of the circuit board.

  In the present embodiment, the size of the receptacle connector 1 in the connector width direction is avoided by making the tip end position of the connection portion 24 in the connector width direction substantially the same as the outer surface of the side wall 14 as described above. . Further, as described above, the bottom groove portion 11 </ b> B is formed in the bottom wall 11 of the housing 10 at the position between the connection portions 24. Therefore, when the solder is connected, the molten solder flows into the bottom groove portion 11B, so that it can be soldered to both side end surfaces (side surfaces extending in the connector width direction) of the connection portion 24. As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to secure a sufficiently large area of a portion that can be soldered at the connection portion 24 while avoiding an increase in size of the connector in the connector width direction.

  Next, the configuration of the receptacle reinforcing metal fitting 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2B. In this embodiment, the receptacle reinforcing metal fitting 30 has not only a function of reinforcing the housing 10 but also a function as a lock metal fitting and further a function as a power supply terminal as will be described later. However, it is not essential that the receptacle reinforcing metal fitting 30 has a function as a lock metal fitting and a function as a power supply terminal.

  The receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 is made by bending a metal plate member in the plate thickness direction. When viewed from above, the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 includes a portion provided at the position of the end wall 15, a portion provided at the position of the protruding wall 12, and two parts. It is roughly divided into a portion provided at each position of the two side walls 14 and a portion provided at the position of the receiving portion 16.

  A portion of the receptacle reinforcing metal fitting 30 provided at the position of the end wall 15 is folded back downward from the upper end of the end wall inner surface reinforcing portion 31 and the end wall inner surface reinforcing portion 31 extending along the inner surface of the end wall 15. End wall top surface reinforcing portion 32, end wall side supported portion 33 extending downward along the outer surface of end wall 15 through end wall top surface reinforcing portion 32, and end wall inner surface reinforcing portion in the connector width direction An end fixing portion 34 extending from the lower end of the end wall inner surface reinforcing portion 31 outward in the connector length direction at positions near both ends of the end wall 31 is provided.

  The end wall inner surface reinforcing portion 31 has a lower half extending over the entire end wall 15 in the connector width direction, and an upper half extending upward from the upper edge of the lower half in the center region in the lower half connector width direction. ing. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2B, the plate surface of the end wall inner surface reinforcing portion 31 protrudes slightly from the inner surface of the end wall 15 and is exposed. The end wall top surface reinforcing portion 32 is formed to have the same width dimension (dimension in the connector width direction) as the upper half portion of the end wall inner surface reinforcing portion 31 and protrudes upward continuously from the upper half portion. It is curved and its upper surface slightly protrudes from the upper surface of the end wall 15. The end wall side held portion 33 is formed with the same width as the end wall top surface reinforcing portion 32, and extends continuously from the end wall top surface reinforcing portion 32, and its plate surface extends from the outer surface of the end wall 15. It protrudes slightly. In the present embodiment, since the end wall inner surface reinforcing portion 31 and the end wall top surface reinforcing portion 32 cover the inner surface and the upper surface of the end wall 15, respectively, the inner surface and the upper surface of the end wall 15 are plugged in the connector insertion / extraction process. Damage due to interference with the connector 2 can be prevented.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the end fixing portion 34 is exposed from the bottom wall 11 of the housing 10, and the lower surface thereof is fixed by being soldered to the corresponding power supply circuit portion of the circuit board. The end fixing portion 34 extends to substantially the same position as the outer surface of the end wall 15 in the connector length direction. Thus, by making the tip position of the end fixing portion 34 substantially the same as the outer surface of the end wall 15, an increase in size of the receptacle connector 1 in the connector length direction is avoided.

  The portion provided at the position of the protruding wall 12 in the receptacle reinforcing metal fitting 30 extends along an end surface (a surface perpendicular to the connector length direction) of the protruding wall 12 as shown in FIG. A protruding wall end surface reinforcing portion 35, a protruding wall top surface reinforcing portion 36 that is folded downward from the upper end of the protruding wall end surface reinforcing portion 35, and a protruding wall side covering that extends downward through the protruding wall top surface reinforcing portion 36. A holding portion 37 and a power contact arm portion 44 extending upward from a later-described extension portion 43 in the power terminal groove portion 12B of the protruding wall 12 are provided.

  The projecting wall end surface reinforcing portion 35 and the projecting wall top surface reinforcing portion 36 are held by the projecting wall 12, and each plate surface exposes the same level surface as the end surface and upper surface (top surface) of the projecting wall 12. ing. In the present embodiment, the protruding wall end surface reinforcing portion 35 and the protruding wall top surface reinforcing portion 36 cover the end surface and the upper surface of the protruding wall 12, respectively. Therefore, in the connector insertion / extraction process, the end surface and the upper surface of the protruding wall 12 are plug connectors. It is possible to prevent damage due to the interference with 2.

  The power contact arm portion 44 is located in the same row as the signal contact arm portion 22 of the receptacle terminal 20 and is elastically displaced in the plate thickness direction (connector width direction) so as to correspond to the corresponding power source provided in the plug reinforcing bracket 70 described later. The inner plate portion 73 (see FIG. 2A) as a contact portion can be contacted with a contact pressure (see FIG. 5B). The power contact arm portion 44 is formed as a power contact projection 44 </ b> A for the upper end side portion that is the free end side is convexly curved toward the side wall 14, and the convexly curved portion is in contact with the inner side plate portion 73. Has been. In the free state, the power contact arm portion 44 is positioned in the receiving portion 16 so that the curved top portion of the power contact projection 44 </ b> A protrudes from the power terminal groove 12 </ b> B of the housing 10. Note that, when the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 is not provided with a function as a power supply terminal, the power contact arm portion 44 is omitted.

  A portion of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 provided at the position of the side wall 14 is a side wall-side held portion that extends inward in the connector length direction along the side wall 14 from both ends of the lower half of the end wall inner surface reinforcing portion 31 in the connector width direction. 39, a transition portion 40 that is folded downward from the upper edge of the sidewall-side held portion 39, a lock plate portion 41 that extends downward along the inner surface of the sidewall 14 via the transition portion 40, and a sidewall-side covering It has a side fixing portion 42 that extends outward from the lower edge of the holding portion 39 in the connector width direction.

  The side wall held portion 39 is embedded and held in the side wall 14. The transition portion 40 is convexly curved upward, and as shown in FIG. 1, the upper surface thereof exposes the same level surface as the upper surface of the side wall 14. The lock plate portion 41 is held on the side wall 14 in a state where the plate surface located on the receiving portion 16 side is exposed from the inner surface of the side wall 14, and a lock recess 41 </ b> A is formed that is submerged in a rectangular shape from the exposed plate surface. Has been. When the receptacle reinforcing metal fitting 30 is not provided with a function as a lock metal fitting, the lock plate portion 41 may be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the side fixing portion 42 is exposed from the bottom wall 11 of the housing 10, and is fixed by being soldered to the corresponding power supply circuit portion of the circuit board on the lower surface thereof. It also has a function as a connection part for. The side fixing portion 42 extends to substantially the same position as the outer surface of the side wall 14 in the connector width direction. In the present embodiment, the size of the receptacle connector 1 in the connector width direction is avoided by making the tip position of the side fixing portion 42 in the connector width direction substantially the same as the outer surface of the side wall 14 in this way. Yes. Further, a bottom groove portion 11B is formed in the bottom wall 11 of the housing 10 at a position between the side fixing portions 42 adjacent to each other in the connector length direction and the connection portion 24 of the receptacle signal terminal 20, and when soldering, The molten solder flows into the bottom groove portion 11B and can be soldered to the side end face of the side fixing portion. In this way, as a result, it is possible to ensure the area of the portion that can be soldered at the connection portion 24 while avoiding an increase in size of the connector in the connector width direction.

  The portion of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 provided at the position of the receiving portion 16 extends in the connector length direction along the bottom wall 11 and connects the lower end portions of the end wall inner surface reinforcing portion 31 and the protruding wall end surface reinforcing portion 35 to each other. An extension that extends in the connector width direction along the bottom wall 11 and connects the lower end portions of the power contact arm portion 44 and the lock plate portion 41 to the connecting bottom portion 38 (see also FIGS. 6A and 6B). Part 43. The connecting bottom portion 38 and the extending portion 43 are held by the bottom wall 11 with their upper surfaces exposed to the receiving portion 16. In addition, when the function as a power supply terminal is not provided in the receptacle reinforcing metal fitting 30, the extending portion 43 may be omitted.

  The extending portion 43 has the same terminal width as the lock plate portion 41 and extends from the lower edge of the lock plate portion toward the protruding wall 12. Further, at the same position as the power terminal groove 12B of the protruding wall 12 in the connector length direction, the edge of the extending portion 43 near the protruding wall 12 (the edge extending in the connector length direction) is directed upward. The power contact arm 44 extends. Hereinafter, a portion including the extending portion 43 and the power contact arm portion 44 is referred to as a “power terminal 45”. In the present embodiment, an example in which the power supply terminal 45 is formed as a part of the receptacle reinforcing metal fitting 30 will be described, but instead, the power supply terminal is made as a separate member from the receptacle reinforcing metal fitting. Also good.

  The extension part 43 forms the base part of the power supply terminal 45. The extending portion 43 extends over a range including the receiving portion 16 in the connector width direction, like the base portion 21 of the receptacle signal terminal 20 described above (the base portion 21 of the receptacle signal terminal 20 is shown in FIG. 5A). (See (B)). Further, as shown by a broken line in FIG. 4, the extending portion 43 is formed including a range corresponding to the two bottom hole portions 11A located at both end regions in the connector length direction, The bottom wall 11 holds the lower surface (plate surface) at both side end surfaces and both side edge portions (edge portions extending in the connector width direction) of the extension portion 43. Therefore, there is no gap between both side end surfaces (side end surfaces extending in the connector width direction) of the extending portion 43 and the bottom wall 11, and the upper end openings of the two bottom hole portions 11 </ b> A form one extension. It is covered and closed by the lower surface of the protruding portion 43.

  The receptacle connector 1 having the above configuration is manufactured in the following manner. First, the receptacle signal terminal 20 and the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 are arranged in the connector length direction. Next, the receptacle signal terminal 20 and the receptacle reinforcing metal fitting 30 are moved from above by a mold (referred to as an “upper mold”) brought from above and from a lower part (“lower mold”). Press down from below and fix it. At this time, the upper mold and the lower mold hold the base 21 of the receptacle signal terminal 20 and the upper surface and the lower surface of the extending portion 43 of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 so as to sandwich the upper and lower molds.

  By the way, when holding a plurality of terminals with the same terminal width in a housing by integral molding, conventionally, when the terminals are pressed with a mold during integral molding, all the terminals must be held in one place with the same area. There are many. However, when the base of some of the plurality of terminals is wider than the base of the other terminals, one part of the base of the some of the terminals is connected to the base of the other terminal. If the pressing area is the same as the pressing area (the area pressed by the mold), the posture of the part of the terminals at the time of integral molding becomes unstable.

  In the present embodiment, the extending portion 43 of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 is wider than the base portion 21 of the receptacle signal terminal 20, but the extending portion 43 has a plurality of locations in the connector length direction (in this embodiment, The pressing area is approximately the same as the total area of the two bottom hole portions 11A. Therefore, compared to the case where the wide extension portion 43 is pressed at one location with the area of one bottom hole portion 11A, the number of locations to be pressed increases and the pressing area is widened, so that the receptacle is reinforced at the time of integral molding. The posture of the metal fitting 30 can be further stabilized.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the bottom wall 11 is closed in a region other than the plurality of (two in the present embodiment) bottom hole portions 11 </ b> A in a region corresponding to the extending portion 43. 32 is held by the bottom wall 11. Therefore, compared to the case where the bottom hole is formed in the bottom wall in the region covering almost the entire area of the extension part in order to ensure the large holding area and the stability of the terminal at the time of integral molding, the extension part The strength of the housing 10 in the region corresponding to 43 can be increased.

  Next, resin is injected into the two upper and lower molds combined, and the receptacle signal terminal 20 and the receptacle reinforcing metal fitting 30 are integrally molded with the housing 10 to be held in the housing 10. In the present embodiment, since the receptacle signal terminal 20 and the receptacle reinforcing metal fitting 30 are pressed by the mold at a plurality of positions at almost equal intervals when viewed in the whole connector, the resin can be poured evenly over the entire connector. it can.

  After integral molding, the upper mold and the lower mold are moved upward and downward, respectively, and are removed, whereby the receptacle connector 1 is completed. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, when the lower mold is removed downward, the terminals of the protruding wall 12 in the connector width direction are located at the terminal positions in the connector length direction. A bottom hole portion 11A is formed in the bottom wall 11 outside the groove portions 12A and 12B. Further, a bottom groove portion 11 </ b> B is formed at a position between the connection portions 24 of the receptacle signal terminal 20 and between the side fixing portion 42 and the connection portion 24 of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30.

  In the present embodiment, the terminal groove portions 12 </ b> A and 12 </ b> B of the protruding wall 12 are formed over the entire standing range of the protruding wall 12, and are opened upward at the upper surface (top surface) position of the protruding wall 12. Therefore, the protruding wall 12 having the terminal groove portions 12A and 12B can be formed by moving the upper mold from above and arranging it. Therefore, in the terminal position in the connector length direction, in a range corresponding to the terminal groove portions 12A and 12B in the connector width direction, in other words, the receptacle terminals 20 and 45 accommodated in the terminal groove portions 12A and 12B. The bottom wall 11 can be formed in a range corresponding to the contact arm portions 22 and 44.

  When the receptacle connector 1 is mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board, when the connection portion 24 of the receptacle signal terminal 20 or the side fixing portion 42 of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 is solder-connected to the mounting surface, the molten solder is removed from the bottom of the housing 10. The wall 11 and the mounting surface may flow toward the contact arm portions 22 and 44 of the receptacle terminals 20 and 45 in some cases. However, in the present embodiment, since the bottom wall 11 is closed in the range corresponding to the contact arm portions 22 and 44, the molten solder does not creep up the surface of the contact arm portion.

  Further, the bottom wall 11 is formed with a bottom hole portion 11 </ b> A, but all the bottom hole portions 11 </ b> A have their upper end openings closed by the base portion 21 of the receptacle signal terminal 20 or the extension portion 43 of the receptacle power supply terminal 45. Therefore, even if the molten solder flows into the bottom hole portion 11A from the mounting surface side, the solder is prevented from further progressing by the bottom surface of the base portion 21 and the extension portion 43, and the bottom surface Since it stays in the hole portion 11A, it does not creep up toward the contact arm portions 22, 44 side.

  Further, when a coating agent is applied to the solder connection portion after the connector is mounted, the coating agent is prevented from creeping up toward the contact arm portions 22 and 44 as in the case of the solder described above. As a result, it is possible to prevent the solder and the coating agent from adhering to the contact arm portions 22 and 44, and to ensure the elastic displacement state of the contact arm portions 22 and 44 and the contact state with the mating terminal.

[Configuration of plug connector 2]
Next, the configuration of the plug connector 2 will be described based on FIGS. 1, 2A, 3 and 5. FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing the plug connector 2 of FIG. 1 turned upside down, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing the plug connector 2 of FIG. 3A with the housing 50 omitted. It is.

  The plug connector 2 has a frame-shaped fitting portion (see FIG. 3A) that fits the receiving portion 16 of the receptacle connector 1, and when the fitting portion is fitted into the receiving portion 16, Connectors 1 and 2 are fitted and connected. The plug connector 2 is formed by integral molding with a housing 50 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape and a connector length direction (longitudinal direction of the housing 50) parallel to a mounting surface of a circuit board (not shown). A plurality of plug signal terminals 60 and plug reinforcing metal fittings 70 are arranged and held.

  The housing 50 is made of an electrical insulating material such as resin, and as shown in FIG. 1, the connector 50 has a bottom surface parallel to the mounting surface of a circuit board (not shown) that is a mounting target surface. It has a bottom wall 51 extending in the direction, and a peripheral wall 53 as a fitting portion that rises downward (upward in FIG. 3A) from the bottom wall 51. The peripheral wall 53 has two side walls 54 facing each other and extending in the arrangement direction, and the ends of the two side walls 54 are connected to each other in the connector width direction (the short direction of the housing 50) perpendicular to the connector length direction. ) And two end walls 55 extending therethrough. A space surrounded by the peripheral wall 53 and opened downward in FIG. 1 (upward in FIG. 3A) forms a receiving portion 56 (see FIG. 3A) for receiving the protruding wall 12 of the receptacle connector 1. ing.

  As is often seen in FIGS. 1 and 3A, the bottom wall 51 is formed with an overhang 51A that protrudes outward in the connector width direction over the entire side wall 54 in the connector length direction. The overhanging portion 51A is positioned corresponding to the transition portion 23B of the receptacle terminal 20 and the transition portion 40 of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 (see FIG. 5B for the positional relationship with the transition portion 23B of the receptacle terminal 20). reference). 3A, the upper surface of the projecting portion 51A is positioned higher than the upper surfaces of the connecting portion 62 of the plug signal terminal 60 and the side fixing portion 74 of the plug reinforcing metal fitting 70 described later. Yes. By providing the overhanging portion 51A having such a shape, even when the molten solder tends to flow inward in the connector width direction during the solder mounting of the connecting portion 62 and the side fixing portion 74, the side surface ( Further progress is prevented by a plane perpendicular to the connector width direction. That is, the molten solder does not flow into positions corresponding to the transition portions 23B and 40 in the connector width direction.

  Conventionally, a plug connector does not have a housing part in the range corresponding to the receptacle terminal transition part in the connector width direction, and the molten solder flows into the above range when soldering, so that the connector fitting In some cases, the solidified solder in the above range may interfere with the transition portion. In the present embodiment, as described above, the overhanging portion 51A of the housing 50 prevents the molten solder from flowing into the above range. Therefore, when the connector is fitted, the solidified solder is exchanged with the transition portions 23B and 40. Interference can be prevented.

  The plug signal terminals 60 are provided in two rows symmetrical in the connector width direction in a range near the center of the housing 50 in the connector length direction. The plug signal terminal 60 is formed by bending a strip-shaped metal plate strip in the thickness direction, and is held by the side wall 54 as is often seen in FIGS. 2 (A) and 3 (B). 2A of the U-shaped U-shaped portion 61 and one of the two arm portions of the U-shaped portion 61 located on the receiving portion 56 side (an inner arm portion 61C described later) in FIG. Connection portion 62 extending from the upper end (lower end in FIG. 3B) outward in the connector width direction and connected to the corresponding signal circuit portion of the circuit board. The plug signal terminal 60 is a U-shaped portion 61 and is held by integral molding with the housing 50.

  The U-shaped portion 61 is a portion that protrudes between the signal contact arm portion 22 and the inner arm portion 23A of the receptacle signal terminal 20 of the receptacle connector 1 in the connector-fitted state, and extends downward (see FIG. 3). It is embedded in the side wall 54 so as to straddle from (above (A) and (B)). 2A, the U-shaped portion 61 includes an outer arm portion 61A extending downward along the outer surface of the side wall 54, and an inner position in the connector width direction from the lower end of the outer arm portion 61A. It has a transition part 61B that is folded back upward, and an inner arm part 61C that extends upward through the transition part 61B. The dimension of the U-shaped portion 61 in the connector width direction is slightly larger than the distance between the signal contact protrusion 22A of the receptacle signal terminal 20 and the plate surface of the inner arm portion 23A facing the signal contact protrusion 22A. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the outer arm portion 61 </ b> A of the U-shaped portion 61 has a plate surface exposed from the outer surface of the side wall 54. On the exposed plate surface, a stepped portion 61A-1 is formed which has a stepped shape formed by sinking the upper portion of the plate surface and extends in the width direction (connector length direction) of the outer arm portion 61A. The locked stepped portion 61A-1 is engaged with the lock concave portion 23A-1 of the receptacle terminal 20. As shown in FIG. 2A, the transition portion 61B extends in the connector width direction, and the lower surface (upper surface in FIG. 3A) of the transition portion 61B is exposed from the side wall 54. As shown in FIG. 3A, the inner arm portion 61C has a plate surface on the receiving portion 56 side exposed from the inner surface of the side wall 54, and the exposed plate surface is a receptacle signal when the connector is engaged. It is formed as a corresponding signal contact portion that contacts the signal contact protrusion 22A of the terminal 20 with contact pressure.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the connecting portion 62 extends straight from the upper end of the inner arm portion 61 </ b> C along the bottom surface of the bottom wall 51 outward in the connector width direction, and extends out of the housing 50. (See also FIG. 1), and can be soldered to the corresponding signal circuit portion of the circuit board.

  As shown in FIG. 1, one plug reinforcing metal fitting 70 is provided at each end of the housing 10 in the connector length direction corresponding to the receptacle reinforcing metal fitting 30 of the receptacle connector 1. The plug reinforcing metal fitting 70 not only has a function of reinforcing the housing 50 but also a lock function for locking with the receptacle reinforcing metal fitting 30, and further a power supply that is electrically connected to the power supply contact arm 44 of the receptacle reinforcing metal fitting 30. It also has a function as a terminal. However, it is not essential that the plug reinforcing metal fitting 70 has a function as a lock metal fitting and a function as a power supply terminal.

  The plug reinforcing metal fitting 70 is made by bending a metal plate member in the plate thickness direction, and as shown in FIG. 2A, an outer plate portion 71 extending along the outer surface of the side wall 54 of the housing 50, A lateral transition portion 72 extending inwardly in the connector width direction from the lower end of the outer side plate portion 71; an inner side plate portion 73 extending upward along the inner surface of the side wall 54 via the lateral transition portion 72; A lateral fixing portion 74 extending outward in the connector width direction from the upper end of the plate portion 73, a connecting portion 75 extending in the connector width direction and connecting the two inner plate portions 73, and a connector length from the lower edge of the connecting portion 75 An end transition portion 76 folded upward at the outer side in the direction, an end holding portion 77 extending upward along the outer surface of the end wall 55 via the end transition portion 76, and a connector from the upper edge of the connecting portion 75 And an end fixing portion 78 extending outward in the length direction. There.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the outer plate portion 71 has a plate surface exposed from the outer surface of the side wall 54, and the exposed plate surface is formed such that the upper portion of the plate surface is submerged. A locked stepped portion 71A that has a step shape and extends in the width direction (connector length direction) of the outer plate portion 71 is formed. The locked step portion 71A is formed at the same height as the locked step portion 61A-1 of the outer arm portion 61A of the plug signal terminal 60. The locked stepped portion 71 </ b> A is configured to lock with the lock recess 41 </ b> A of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 in a fitted state with the receptacle connector 1.

  The side transition portion 72 extends in the connector width direction along the lower surface (upper surface in FIG. 3A) of the side wall 54, and the lower surface (upper surface in FIG. 3A) of the side transition portion 72 is the side wall. 54 (see FIG. 3A). As shown in FIG. 3A, the inner plate portion 73 has a plate surface exposed from the inner surface of the side wall 54, and contacts the power contact arm portion 44 of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 with a contact pressure. It is formed as.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the side fixing portion 74 extends outward from the upper end of the inner plate portion 73 (lower end in FIGS. 3A and 3B) in the connector width direction. 2 (A), it extends out of the housing 50 and can be soldered to the corresponding circuit portion of the circuit board.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the connecting portion 75 has a plate base perpendicular to the connector length direction and extends in the connector width direction, and is bent at both ends of the connecting base portion 75A. And a connecting end portion 75B extending inward in the longitudinal direction. The connecting portion 75 is embedded and held in the end wall 55.

  The end transition portion 76 extends in the connector width direction along the lower surface of the end wall 55 (upper surface in FIG. 3A), and a part of the lower surface of the end transition portion 76 (upper surface in FIG. 3A). Is exposed from the end wall 55 (see FIG. 3A). The end holder 77 is held by the end wall 55, and the plate surface is exposed from the outer surface of the end wall 55 as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3A. As shown in FIG. 1, the end fixing portion 78 protrudes from the bottom wall 51 of the housing 50 in the connector length direction, and is soldered to the corresponding portion of the circuit board on its upper surface (the lower surface in FIG. 3A). To be fixed.

[Connector mating operation]
Next, the fitting operation of the connectors 1 and 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 of FIG. 1 taken along a plane perpendicular to the connector length direction, showing a cross-section at the position of the signal terminal. The state before joining, (B) shows the connector fitting state. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector and the plug connector of FIG. 1 in a plane perpendicular to the connector width direction, showing a cross section at the center position in the connector width direction, (A) is before connector fitting (B) shows a connector fitting state.

  First, the connection portion 24 of the receptacle signal terminal 20 of the receptacle connector 1 and the side fixing portion 42 of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 are solder-connected to the corresponding circuit portion of the circuit board, respectively, and the end fixing portion 34 of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 is connected to the circuit. The receptacle connector 1 is mounted on the circuit board by soldering to the corresponding part of the board. In addition, the connecting portion 62 of the plug signal terminal 60 of the plug connector 2 and the side fixing portion 74 of the plug reinforcing metal fitting 70 are solder-connected to the corresponding circuit portions of other circuit boards, respectively, and the end fixing portion 78 of the plug reinforcing metal fitting 70 is connected. Are connected to corresponding parts of the other circuit board by soldering, and the plug connector 2 is mounted on the other circuit board. Moreover, you may apply | coat the coating agent for corrosion prevention to each solder connection part in the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 as needed.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 1, 5A and 6A, the receptacle connector 1 is in a posture in which the receiving portion 16 is opened upward, and the plug connector 2 is moved downward in the receiving portion 56. It is positioned above the receptacle connector 1 as an open posture. Then, as shown by the arrows in FIGS. 1, 5A and 6A, the plug connector 2 is moved downward, and the fitting portion of the plug connector 2 is moved to the receiving portion 16 of the receptacle connector 1. Fit in.

  As a result, the U-shaped portion 61 of the plug signal terminal 60 of the plug connector 2 enters the space between the signal contact protrusion 22A of the receptacle signal terminal 20 of the receptacle connector 1 and the lock recess 23A-1. The signal contact arm portion 22 is elastically displaced inward in the connector width direction. Further, when the entry of the U-shaped portion 61 proceeds, as shown in FIG. 5 (B), the signal contact protrusion 22A is connected to the inner arm portion 61C (corresponding signal) of the U-shaped portion 61 in the connector fitting state. Contact portion) with a contact pressure, and the locked stepped portion 61A-1 of the outer arm portion 61A of the U-shaped portion 61 enters the lock recess 23A-1 and reaches the upper edge of the lock recess 23A-1. On the other hand, it is positioned so that it can be locked in the connector pull-out direction. As a result, the terminals 20 and 60 of the connectors 1 and 2 are electrically connected and locked to each other.

  Further, the power contact protrusion 44A of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 contacts with the inner plate portion 73 (corresponding power contact portion) of the plug reinforcing bracket 70 positioned corresponding to the power contact arm 44 with contact pressure. Further, in the connector fitting state, the locked stepped portion 71A of the plug reinforcing bracket 70 enters the lock recess 41A of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 and engages with the upper edge of the lock recess 41A in the connector extraction direction. It can be stopped. As a result, the reinforcing brackets 30 and 70 are electrically connected to each other and locked to each other. In this way, the fitting and connecting operation between the connectors 1 and 2 is completed. Further, when the connector is pulled out, the plug connector 2 can be pulled out by lifting the plug connector 2 upward to release the locked state between the terminals and the reinforcing brackets.

  In the present embodiment, the plate surface of the end wall inner surface reinforcing portion 31 of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 is exposed on the inner surface of the end wall 15 of the housing 10, and the protrusion of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 is exposed on the end surface of the protruding wall 12 of the housing 10. The plate | board surface of the wall end surface reinforcement part 35 is exposed. Therefore, when the fitting portion of the plug connector 2 is displaced from the normal fitting position toward the end wall 15 in the connector length direction in the connector insertion / extraction process, the fitting portion is the end wall inner surface reinforcing portion. Since it abuts on the plate surface 31, it does not abut directly on the inner surface of the end wall 15. Further, when the fitting portion is displaced from the normal fitting position toward the protruding wall 12 in the connector length direction, the fitting portion comes into contact with the plate surface of the protruding wall end surface reinforcing portion 35. There is no direct contact with the end face of the protruding wall 12. As a result, damage to the end wall 15 and the protruding wall 12 can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, the plate surface of the end wall top surface reinforcing portion 32 is exposed at the top surface of the end wall 15 of the housing 10, and the protruding wall top surface reinforcing portion is exposed at the top surface of the protruding wall 12 of the housing 10. 36 plate surfaces are exposed. Therefore, in the connector fitting process, the fitting portion of the plug connector 2 is fitted to the end wall 15 side in the connector length direction while being displaced from the normal fitting position so as to contact the top surface side of the end wall 15. However, since the fitting portion abuts on the end wall top surface reinforcing portion 32, the fitting portion does not directly abut on the top surface of the end wall 15 of the housing 10. Further, in the connector fitting process, the fitting portion of the plug connector 2 is fitted to the protruding wall 12 side in the connector length direction by being shifted from the normal fitting position and contacted to the top surface side of the protruding wall 12. However, since the fitting portion abuts on the protruding wall top surface reinforcing portion 36, the fitting portion does not directly abut on the top surface of the protruding wall 12 of the housing 10. As a result, damage to the end wall 15 and the protruding wall 12 can be prevented more reliably. In addition, it is not essential to provide the end wall top surface reinforcing portion 32 and the protruding wall top surface reinforcing portion 36 in the receptacle reinforcing metal fitting 30, and the end wall top surface reinforcing portion 32 and the protruding wall top surface reinforcing portion 36 are not provided. Only one of them may be provided.

  Furthermore, since the receptacle reinforcing metal fitting 30 of this embodiment is held by the end wall 15 by the end wall side held portion 33 and held by the protruding wall 12 by the protruding wall side held portion 37, the connector insertion / extraction process Thus, it is possible to more reliably prevent the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 from being detached from the housing 10 due to the contact force from the fitting portion of the plug connector 2. Note that it is not essential to provide the end wall side held portion 33 and the protruding wall side held portion 37 on the receptacle reinforcing metal fitting 30, and the end wall side held portion 33 and the protruding wall side held portion 37 are not provided. Only one of them may be provided.

  Further, in this embodiment, the end wall inner surface reinforcing portion 31 and the protruding wall end surface reinforcing portion 35 are integrally formed by being connected by the connecting bottom portion 38, and the end wall inner surface reinforcing portion 31 and the protruding wall end surface reinforcement are formed. Since the portions 35 are in such a relationship as to supplement each other's strength, the strength of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 itself is improved, the careless deformation of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 is prevented, and the housing 10 is made stronger. Can be reinforced.

  In this embodiment, the end wall inner surface reinforcing portion 31 and the projecting wall end surface reinforcing portion 35 of the receptacle reinforcing metal fitting 30 are connected by the connecting bottom portion 38 to prevent the housing 10 from being damaged due to the displacement of the connectors in the connector length direction. In addition, the strength of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 itself is improved, but the configuration of the receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 can be further changed. For example, the receptacle reinforcing bracket is provided with a side wall inner surface reinforcing portion as a peripheral wall inner surface reinforcing portion extending along the inner surface of the side wall of the housing and held by the side wall, and a rising surface of the protruding wall of the housing facing the side wall inner surface reinforcing portion ( A protruding wall side reinforcing part as a protruding wall standing surface reinforcing part that extends along the side surface and is held by the protruding wall, and the lower ends of the side wall inner reinforcing part and the protruding wall side reinforcing part are connected to the bottom wall. You may make it connect by the connection bottom part extended in a connector width direction along. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the housing from being damaged due to the displacement of the connectors in the connector width direction, and to improve the strength of the receptacle reinforcing bracket itself.

  In the present embodiment, the example in which the present invention is applied to the receptacle connector 1 having both types of terminals, that is, the receptacle signal terminal and the receptacle power supply terminal, has been described. It is applicable also to the terminal which has.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the groove portion that accommodates the contact arm portion of the terminal is formed on the protruding wall has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to the case where the groove portion is formed on the side wall. In this case, the bottom wall is formed including the range corresponding to the groove portion of the side wall at the terminal position in the connector length direction.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connector 24 Connection part 2 Plug connector 30 Receptacle reinforcement metal fitting 10 Housing 31 End wall inner surface reinforcement part (Outer wall standing surface reinforcement part)
11 Bottom wall 32 End wall top surface reinforcement (outer wall top surface reinforcement)
11A Bottom hole 33 End wall side held portion (outer wall side held portion)
12 Projection wall 35 Projection wall end face reinforcement part
12A Signal terminal groove part 36 Projection wall top surface reinforcement part 12B Power supply terminal groove part 37 Projection wall side held part 14 Side wall 38 Connection bottom part 15 End wall 42 Side fixing part (connection part)
16 Receiving part 44 Power contact arm part 20 Receptacle signal terminal 43 Extension part (base part)
21 Base 45 Receptacle power supply terminal 22 Signal contact arm

Claims (4)

An electrical connector for a circuit board having a housing and a terminal held by the housing and disposed on a mounting surface of the circuit board,
A receiving portion for receiving the mating connector in a connector insertion / removal direction perpendicular to the mounting surface; and a bottom wall that forms a bottom surface of the receiving portion and is parallel to the mounting surface; An upright wall that erects in the connector insertion / extraction direction and extends in the connector length direction perpendicular to the connector width direction,
The standing wall is formed with a groove extending from the side surface perpendicular to the connector width direction and extending in the connector insertion / extraction direction,
The terminal extends in the connector width direction along the bottom wall and is held by integral molding on the bottom wall, a contact arm portion that extends from one end of the base in the connector insertion / extraction direction and can contact the mating connector, A connecting portion that is formed at a portion extending from the other end of the base portion and can be soldered to the mounting surface, and the contact arm portion is between the inner wall surface of the groove portion in the connector width direction and the connector length direction. In the electrical connector for circuit boards that is accommodated in the groove with a gap and can be elastically displaced in the connector width direction,
The groove portion of the standing wall is formed over the entire standing range of the standing wall,
The circuit board electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the bottom wall is formed to include a range corresponding to the contact arm portion in the connector width direction at least at a terminal position in the connector length direction. The bottom wall of the housing is formed with a bottom hole portion penetrating the bottom wall in the connector insertion / extraction direction in a range different from the contact arm portion in the connector width direction,
The base portion of the terminal is formed to include a range corresponding to the bottom hole portion in the connector width direction, the bottom surface of the base portion is exposed at the bottom hole portion, and both side end surfaces of the base portion are The circuit board electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is held by a bottom wall.   The terminal base has a terminal width in the connector length direction larger than that of the bottom hole, and at least one plate surface at the side edge of the terminal width is held by the bottom wall in addition to both end faces. The electrical connector for circuit boards according to claim 2, wherein A plurality of terminals are arranged in the connector length direction, terminals located at both ends of the terminal arrangement range form power terminals, and other terminals located in the middle area of the terminal arrangement range form signal terminals. ,
The bottom hole portion of the bottom wall of the housing is formed by being arranged in a plurality at intervals in the connector length direction,
The base of the power terminal is formed to cover the plurality of bottom holes in the connector length direction,
4. The circuit board electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein a base portion of the signal terminal is formed so as to cover at least one of the bottom holes in the connector length direction.

Images