JP3473544B2 - Circuit connection structure between junction box and connector - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a circuit connection structure between a junction box and a connector, and more particularly to a so-called side-by-side connector for connecting the connector to the side surface of the junction box.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, with the rapid increase in electrical components mounted on automobiles, the number of circuits contained in automobile electrical junction boxes, especially junction boxes, has increased rapidly to form branch circuits with high density. In addition, the number of parts is extremely large, and the number of assembling steps is also very large.

In addition, the number of wire harnesses connected to the internal circuit of the junction box is large, and the connectors may be connected on the upper and lower surfaces of the junction box as well as on the side surfaces of the junction box. Further, depending on the arrangement position of the junction box and the routing of the wire harness, the connector may be connected only on the side surface of the junction box.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when the connector housing 1a is provided on the side surface of the junction box 1 and the connector 2 connected to the wire harness W / H is fitted and connected to the connector housing 1a, Connector housing 1a
The terminal 3 of the internal circuit to be projected into the terminal hole 1b provided on the bottom surface of the L is connected to the internal circuit body 4 such as a bus bar or a single core wire housed in the junction box 1 so as to be connected to the L.
It is shaped.

[0005]

When the L-shaped terminal 3 is used as described above, the vertical height H of the terminal 3 is required, and the area of this height H becomes a dead space, resulting in a junction box. However, there is a problem that it becomes larger.
Further, since the terminal 3 is required to relay the internal circuit of the junction box and the terminal in the connector, there is a problem that the number of parts and the number of assembling steps increase.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. When connecting a connector to the side surface of a junction box, the L-shaped terminal is not used,
The objective is to eliminate the dead space and reduce the number of parts.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a circuit part housed in a junction box, wherein a substrate part made of an insulating resin has a surface of a conductive part made of a highly conductive resin. A conductive body of the circuit body is provided by using a circuit body that is embedded in an exposed state and integrally molded, and the conductive portion is formed in a desired circuit and extends to the outer peripheral surface of the substrate portion. The outer peripheral surface is located at the connector fitting portion provided on the side surface of the junction box, and the tip tab of the terminal fitting connected to the electric wire end in the connector fitted to the connector fitting portion is connected to the conductive body of the circuit body. Provided is a circuit connection structure between a junction box and a connector which are electrically connected to each other by being fitted in a section.

The circuit body has a flat plate shape. As a fitting connection mode of the conductive portion provided on the outer peripheral surface thereof and the tab of the terminal metal fitting, a hole for fitting is provided in the conductive portion, and the tab of the terminal metal fitting is provided. When inserted, they are electrically connected by surface contact. Alternatively, the tip of the tab of the terminal fitting is formed into an acute angle and is pierced and fitted into a conductive portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the circuit body for electrical connection.

Further, a plurality of branching tabs are provided on the terminal fitting, and these tabs are fitted with conductive portions of a plurality of circuits provided in one circuit body and / or conductive portions of a separate circuit body to be laminated. Combined to form a branch circuit.

In the present invention, as the internal circuit body housed in the junction box, a new circuit body different from the bus bar, the electric wire and the pressure contact terminal, or the FPC used so far is used. As described above, the circuit body is embedded in a circuit board portion made of an insulating resin in a state where the surface of the conductive portion made of a highly conductive resin is exposed, and is integrally formed in a flat plate shape, The conductive portion is formed into a required circuit shape, and the conductive portion is formed so as to extend on the outer peripheral surface so as to be connected to the lateral connector. In this way, when the conductive portion forming the circuit pattern is formed by injection molding a highly conductive resin, the conductive portion can be arranged efficiently,
As described above, the conductive portion can be located also on the outer peripheral surface of the substrate portion in the thickness direction.

Specifically, in the circuit body, circuits are formed on the upper surface and the outer peripheral surface of the substrate portion at required positions, and the lower surface is an insulating surface composed of only an insulating resin layer, without an insulating plate interposed. It is possible to stack.

The conductive resin forming the above circuit pattern is disclosed in JP-A-10-237331 and JP-A-11-342.
As disclosed in No. 522, in a thermoplastic resin,
It is composed of a mixture of metal fibers made of copper, nickel, iron or the like, and a conductive resin composition in which lead-free solder (low melting point solder) and a low melting point alloy such as Cu powder are dispersed.

As the thermoplastic resin to which the conductive metal fiber is blended, propylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resin, modified polyphenylene oxide resin, polybutylene terephthalate resin, polyethylene terephthalate resin, polyamide resin, aromatic Polyamide resin, polyphenylene sulfide resin, liquid crystal polymer, polyetherimide,
Resins such as polybenzimidazole, polyether ether ketone, and polyether sulfone can be used alone or in a blend, and acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene resin and polybutylene terephthalate resin are particularly preferably used.

As the low melting point alloy which is mixed with the above thermoplastic resin and dispersed and bonded in a network state, an alloy having a melting point of 100 ° C. or higher, preferably 200 ° C. or higher, which melts during injection molding is used. Sn-Pb System, Sn-Ag
-Pb system, Sn-Bi system, Sn-Bi-In system, Bi-
Pb type, Bi-Sn type, Sn-Cu type, Sn-Cu-N
i-P system, Sn-Ag system, Sn-Bi-Pb system, Sn-
In-based ones are mentioned.

In the circuit body using the highly conductive resin as a conductive portion, the first injection molding (first color) by a mold is performed with an insulating resin to mold a substrate portion, and the substrate portion is made of another metal. In the mold, the second injection molding (second color) is performed with a highly conductive resin to mold the conductive portion, and in two steps, a circuit body in which the substrate portion and the conductive portion are integrated into a flat plate shape is molded.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a junction box 10 connected to a wire harness for an automobile, and a circuit body 1 is provided inside an upper case 11 and a lower case 12.
3 (13A, 13B ...) Are stacked. In addition, a bus bar in the junction box, a single core wire for pressure welding,
Internal circuits such as ECU and FPC may also be arranged in layers.

The circuit body 13 (13A, 13B) has the structure shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, and has a substrate portion 20 made of an insulating resin and a conductive portion 21 (made of a highly conductive resin). (Indicated by diagonal lines in the figure) is buried with the surface exposed,
It is integrally molded into a flat plate shape.

The surface 21a of the conductive portion 21 is the substrate portion 2
It is exposed flush with the upper surface 20a of 0 and forms the required circuit C1. A circuit C2 that extends to the outer peripheral surface 20c of the substrate 20 is provided for a circuit that needs to be connected to an external circuit. The conductive portion 21 is not exposed on the lower surface 20b of the substrate portion 20 and is an insulating surface formed only of an insulating resin layer.

In the circuit formed of the conductive portion 21, the circuit C1 exposed on the upper surface is provided with the insertion hole 23 of the upper surface opening, and the circuit C2 exposed on the outer peripheral surface is formed on the bottom surface thereof. An insertion hole 24 is provided between the substrate 20 and the board portion 20.

In the manufacture of the circuit body 13, first, an insulating resin is injected into the cavities of the upper and lower molds, and a primary molded product composed only of the substrate portion 20 is injection molded. In this state, the board portion 20 is not provided with the conductive portion 21. Then, the upper mold is changed to another mold, the lower mold is joined and the mold is clamped, a cavity is formed between the substrate part 20 and the upper mold which has been exchanged, and a highly conductive resin is injected into this cavity. The conductive part 21 is injection molded. As a result, the circuit body 13 including the conductive portion 21 having a desired circuit shape is integrally formed on the surface of the substrate portion 20.

As shown in FIG. 1, the circuit body 13 is housed inside a case composed of an upper case 11 and a lower case 12, and is used as an internal circuit of a junction box. A housing portion 30 for the lateral connector is provided between the lower cases 12, and the circuit body 1 is provided on the inner side facing the connector housing portion 30 as shown in FIG.
3 is arranged, and the terminal hole 3 provided on the bottom wall 30a of the accommodation portion 30
0b, the insertion hole 24 provided in the lower portion of the circuit C2 at a position facing the 0b.
Is located.

The connector 32 connected to the terminal of the wire harness W / H fitted in the connector accommodating portion 30 accommodates and locks the male terminal 33 connected to the terminal of each electric wire w constituting the wire harness. The tabs 33a of the male terminals 33 are projected from the tip end surface of the connector 32 by a required dimension. Therefore, the connector 32 is attached to the connector accommodating portion 30.
Tab 33a of the male terminal 33 when fitted in the
circuit b, press-fitted into the insertion hole 24 of the circuit body 13,
2 is in surface contact with and electrically connected.

The circuit C1 of the circuit body 13 and the connector accommodating portion 11 provided in the upper case 11 and the lower case 12, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 4, the tabs 17a, 12a, and the terminals accommodated in the fuse accommodating portions 11b, 12b are tabs 17a,
17b is formed through the conduction pin 17. That is, while the tab 17b at one end of the conductive pin 17 is press-fitted into the insertion hole 23 provided in the conductive portion 20 of the circuit body 13 to make surface contact with the female terminal 25 of the electric wire terminal in the connector inserted in the connector accommodating portion, The tab 17a at the other end of the pin 17 is fitted and connected. When connecting with a fuse or relay terminal, a female terminal portion may be provided at one end of the conductive pin 17.

FIG. 5 shows a modification of the circuit C of the circuit body 13.
Male terminal 3 for electrical connection without the insertion hole at the bottom of 2
The tip of the tab 33a 'of 3'is formed into an acute angle and is pierced into the circuit C2 for electrical connection.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment, in which the tabs 40a and 40b are horizontally branched as the terminal 40 connected to the electric wire w. The branched tabs 40a and 40b are fitted and connected to different circuits C2-1 and C2-2 of the circuit body 13. With this configuration, one electric wire w can be connected to two circuits of the circuit body 13.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the second embodiment, in which tabs 40a and 40b which are vertically branched are used as the terminal 40 connected to the electric wire w. The branched tabs 40a and 40b are fitted and connected to the circuits C2-1 'and C2-2' of the circuit bodies 13A and 13B that are stacked. With this configuration, one electric wire w can be connected to circuits of different circuit bodies 13.

As shown in FIG. 8, the circuit body 13 is
A portion 50 to be connected to the lateral connector is formed to project, and this projecting portion is projected to the upper case, the lower case or the connector opening 51 facing between the upper case and the lower case to connect with the terminal of the connector. May be.

[0028]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, as the internal circuit of the junction box,
Since the circuit body in which the conductive part made of highly conductive resin is integrally molded with the board made of insulating resin is used, the lateral connector that is connected to the wire harness terminal is placed on the same plane as the circuit body, just beside the connector. The tab of the terminal can be fitted or pierced into the circuit provided on the outer peripheral surface of the circuit body in the thickness direction to make electrical connection. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the need for the L-shaped terminal conventionally required for connection with the side-by-side connector, eliminate the dead space that occurs when the L-shaped terminal is used, and reduce the size of the junction box. be able to.

In addition, if a plurality of tabs are branched and provided on the terminals to be accommodated in the side-by-side connector, one electric wire can be connected to a plurality of circuits in the junction box, and various connection modes can be achieved. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a junction box according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2A and 2B show a circuit body, in which FIG. 2A is a perspective view, FIG. 2B is a view taken along arrow X in FIG. 2A, and FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a connection form between the circuit body and a lateral connector.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a connection form between the circuit body and connectors mounted above and below the junction box.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing another modification.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 junction box 11 upper case 12 lower case 13 (13A, 13B) Circuit body 20 board part 21 Conductive part 23, 24 insertion holes 30 Connector housing 30b terminal hole 32 connectors 33 Male terminal 33a tab C1, C2 circuit W / H wire harness w electric wire

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yuki Saito 1-14 Nishisuehiro-cho, Yokkaichi-shi, Mie Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-11-342522 (JP, A) JP-A 5-299143 (JP, A) JP 2-139216 (JP, A) JP 9-92987 (JP, A) JP 11-312849 (JP, A) JP 5-335693 (JP, A) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-128885 (JP, A) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-177951 (JP, A) Actual Kaihei 4-78766 (JP, U) Actual Kaihei 3-94021 (JP, U) Actual Public Sho-50- 11970 (JP, Y1) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H02G 3/16 B60R 16/02 H01R 4/24 H01R 12/20

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A circuit body housed in a junction box is integrally molded by embedding a conductive part made of a highly conductive resin in an exposed state in a substrate part made of an insulative resin. The part uses a circuit body that is formed in the required circuit and extends to the outer peripheral surface of the board part, and the outer peripheral surface provided with the conductive part of the circuit body is connected to the side surface of the junction box by the connector fitting. A junction box and a connector that are electrically connected by fitting the end tab of the terminal fitting connected to the wire end in the connector fitted to the connector fitting portion to the conductive portion of the circuit body. Circuit connection structure with. 2. The circuit body has a flat plate shape, a hole for fitting is provided in a conductive portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the circuit body, and when the tab of the terminal fitting is inserted, the circuit body is electrically connected by surface contact. Circuit connection structure between the junction box and connector described in. 3. The junction box and the connector according to claim 1, wherein the tab of the terminal fitting has a sharp tip and is pierced and fitted into a conductive portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the circuit body for electrical connection. Circuit connection structure with. 4. The terminal fitting is provided with a plurality of branched tabs, and these tabs are fitted with conductive portions of a plurality of circuits provided in one circuit body and / or conductive portions of a separate circuit body to be laminated. The circuit connection structure of a junction box and a connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which are combined to form a branch circuit.