WO2008039464A1 - Substrate to substrate connector - Google Patents

Substrate to substrate connector Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008039464A1
WO2008039464A1 PCT/US2007/020699 US2007020699W WO2008039464A1 WO 2008039464 A1 WO2008039464 A1 WO 2008039464A1 US 2007020699 W US2007020699 W US 2007020699W WO 2008039464 A1 WO2008039464 A1 WO 2008039464A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
substrate
contact
terminals
connector
terminal
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2007/020699
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Hisato Takase
Junichi Miyazawa
Kouji Yamane
Original Assignee
Molex Incorporated
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Molex Incorporated filed Critical Molex Incorporated
Publication of WO2008039464A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008039464A1/en

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/50—Fixed connections
    • H01R12/51—Fixed connections for rigid printed circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/52—Fixed connections for rigid printed circuits or like structures connecting to other rigid printed circuits or like structures
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/91—Coupling devices allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating or self aligning
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/7082—Coupling device supported only by cooperation with PCB
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/71—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/712—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures co-operating with the surface of the printed circuit or with a coupling device exclusively provided on the surface of the printed circuit
    • H01R12/716—Coupling device provided on the PCB
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/71—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/72—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/722—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures coupling devices mounted on the edge of the printed circuits
    • H01R12/724—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures coupling devices mounted on the edge of the printed circuits containing contact members forming a right angle

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a substrate-to-substrate connector.
  • a substrate-to-substrate connector is used to electrically connect a pair of circuit boards together (see Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application (Kokai) Publication No. H7-8986, for example).
  • Such a substrate-to-substrate connector connects a pair of circuit boards placed side by side on the same surface.
  • a first connector 801 is attached to a first circuit board 804, and a second connector 803 is attached to a second circuit board 805.
  • a coupling connector 802 connects the first connector 801 to the second connector 803.
  • the first connector 801 has a housing 806 and solder tail portions 807 protruding therefrom. Each solder tail portion 807 is inserted and soldered into a through hole 808 in the first circuit board 804. Accordingly, the first connector 801 is mounted on the first circuit board 804.
  • the second connector 803 has a housing 813 and solder tail portions 814 protruding therefrom. Each solder tail portion 814 is inserted and soldered into a through hole 815 in the second circuit board 805. Accordingly, the second connector 803 is mounted on the second circuit board 805.
  • the coupling connector 802 has a housing 809, and is rotatably coupled to the first connector 801.
  • rotational shaft pins 811 formed on the housing 809 of the coupling connector 802 on both sides are rotatably fitted in recesses 812 formed in the housing 806 of the first connector 801.
  • Positioning pins 816 are formed on the housing 809 of the coupling connector 802 on both sides close to the second connector 803.
  • the positioning pins 816 can be fitted in positioning recesses 817 formed in the housing 813 of the second connector 803.
  • the coupling connector 802 is turned to fit the positioning pins 816 into the positioning recesses 817.
  • unillustrated terminals provided in the housing 809 of the coupling connector 802 are connected to the solder tail portions 807 of the first connector 801 and the solder tail portions 814 of the second connector 803, thereby connecting the first circuit board 804 and the second circuit board 805 together.
  • the lengths of the terminals should be made long, disadvantageously enlarging the connector.
  • the connecting terminals and the substrate terminals have simple structures to facilitate attachment of the connecting terminals and the substrate terminals to the housing, thereby leading to reduced manufacture costs and reliable interconnections of the substrates.
  • a substrate-to-substrate connector comprising a first substrate connector having first terminals and to be mounted on one substrate; a second substrate connector having second terminals and to be mounted on another substrate.
  • a coupling connector has connecting terminals to connect to the first terminals and the second terminals and to be fitted to the first substrate connector and the second substrate connector together.
  • Each of the connecting terminals has a first contact portion and a second contact portion at respective lengthwise ends thereof.
  • Each of the first terminals is provided with contact parts which are slidably in contact with the first contact portion, and each of the second terminals is provided with contact parts which are slidably in contact with the second contact portion.
  • the first contact portion contacts a contact part of the first terminal in such a way as to be slidable in a lengthwise direction of the connecting terminal and a first direction orthogonal to the lengthwise direction thereof
  • the second contact portion contacts a contact part of the second terminal in such a way as to be slidable in the lengthwise direction of the connecting terminal and a direction orthogonal to both the lengthwise direction thereof and the first direction.
  • the lengthwise direction is the direction along which the first substrate connector and the second substrate connector come close to or away from each other
  • the first direction is the direction, for example, parallel to a substrate
  • the direction orthogonal to the first direction is the direction orthogonal to the substrate.
  • the direction orthogonal to the first direction is the direction parallel to the substrate.
  • the structure can also allow the terminals to slide in the individual directions in contact with each other at the contact portions of the terminals, so that the first substrate connector and the second substrate connector can be relatively displaced in three axial directions.
  • a substrate-to-substrate connector comprises a first substrate connector having first terminals and to be mounted on one substrate; a second substrate connector having second terminals and to be mounted on an other substrate; and a coupling connector having connecting terminals to connect to the first terminals and the second terminals and to be fitted to the first substrate connector and the second substrate connector together, wherein each of the connecting terminals has a first contact portion and a second contact portion at respective lengthwise ends thereof, and contact surfaces of the first contact portion on both sides and contact surfaces of the second contact portion on both sides extending in directions orthogonal to each other, each of the first terminals has contact parts which hold the first contact portion from both sides to be in contact with the contact surfaces thereof, and each of the second terminals has contact parts which hold the second contact portion from both sides to be in contact with the contact surfaces thereof.
  • the substrate-to-substrate connector according to the second aspect may be configured in such a way that the first terminals extend in a direction parallel to a surface of the one substrate on which the first substrate connector is to be mounted, the second terminals extend in a direction parallel to a surface of the other substrate on which the second substrate connector is to be mounted, and when the coupling connector is fitted to the first substrate connector and the second substrate connector, the surfaces of both substrates on which the first substrate connector and the second substrate connector are mounted become substantially in parallel to each other.
  • the substrate-to-substrate connector according to the second aspect may be configured in such a way that the first contact portion and the second contact portion are integrally connected via a bent portion.
  • the substrate-to-substrate connector according to the second aspect may be configured in such a way that the contact parts of the first terminal are connected to elastically deformable contact arm parts and are urged by the arm parts to be pressed against the contact surfaces of the first contact portion on both sides thereof, and the contact parts of the second terminals first terminal are connected to elastically deformable contact arm parts and are urged by the arm parts to be pressed against the contact surfaces of the second contact portion on both sides thereof.
  • the substrate-to-substrate connector according to the second aspect may be configured in such a way that the first terminal is deformable relative to the connecting terminal in a direction in which the contact surfaces of the first contact portion on both sides thereof extend, and the second terminal is deformable relative to the connecting terminal in a direction in which the contact surfaces of the second contact portion on both sides thereof extend.
  • the substrate-to-substrate connector is configured in such a way that contact surfaces of each connecting terminal at both ends thereof extend in directions orthogonal to each other so that the terminals of substrates hold the respective contact surfaces of the connecting terminals.
  • the present invention can compensate for positional deviations of the substrates in three axial directions without making the terminals longer, thus leading to a compact connector.
  • FIG 1 is a perspective view showing the mating orientation of a coupling connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention to a first substrate connector and a second substrate connector;
  • FIG 2 is a perspective view showing the coupling connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention mated to the first substrate connector;
  • FIG 3 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention taken generally along line A-A in FIG 1 ;
  • FIG 4 is a perspective view showing how a connecting terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mated with a first terminal and a second terminal;
  • FIG 5 is a perspective view showing mating of a coupling connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention to a first substrate connector and a second substrate connector;
  • FIG 6 is a side view of a conventional substrate-to-substrate connector.
  • reference numeral “1” denotes a coupling connector of a substrate- to-substrate connector according to the first embodiment.
  • Reference numeral “101” denotes a first substrate connector of the substrate-to-substrate connector according to the first embodiment.
  • the first substrate connector 101 is a surface mount type connector to be mounted on a surface of one substrate.
  • Reference numeral “201” denotes a second substrate connector of the substrate-to-substrate connector according to the first embodiment.
  • the second substrate connector 201 is likewise a surface mount type connector to be mounted on a surface of another substrate.
  • the substrate-to-substrate connector according to the first embodiment includes the coupling connector 1, the first substrate connector 101 and the second substrate connector 201, and electrically connects a pair of substrates.
  • the substrates are, for example, printed circuit boards, but may be any type of substrate including flexible circuitry.
  • representations of directions such as up, down, left, right, front, rear, and the like, used for explaining the structure and movement of each part of the substrate-to-substrate connector, and the like are not absolute, but relative. These representations are appropriate when each part of the substrate-to-substrate connector, and the like is in the position shown in the figures. If the position of the part, and the like, changes, however, it is assumed that these representations are to be changed according to the change of the position of the part, and the like.
  • the coupling connector 1 has a connecting housing 11 integrally formed of an insulating material, such as a synthetic resin.
  • the connecting housing 11 is a flat rectangular parallelepiped member having a top plate part 12U, a bottom plate part 12L, a right sidewall part 17R and a left sidewall part 17L.
  • the coupling connector 1 further has a first insertion hole 13a in which the first substrate connector 101 is to be inserted, and a second insertion hole 13b in which the second substrate connector 201 is to be inserted. Because the second insertion hole 13b is open so as to face the second substrate connector 201, the second insertion hole 13b is not shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
  • the first insertion hole 13a and the second insertion hole 13b are rectangular tubular cavities having a flat cross section and surrounded by the top plate part 12U, the bottom plate part 12L, the right sidewall part 17R and the left sidewall part 17L.
  • a plurality of connecting terminals 61 are disposed at predetermined pitches in the first insertion hole 13a and the second insertion hole 13b.
  • the connecting terminals 61 are disposed in a line in the widthwise direction of the connecting housing 11.
  • Engaging holes 16 for locking the coupling connector 1 to the first substrate connector 101 are formed in the top plate part 12U of the connecting housing 11 which corresponds to the first insertion hole 13a.
  • the first substrate connector 101 has a first housing 111 integrally formed of an insulating material, such as a synthetic resin.
  • the first housing 111 which has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape, has a first body portion 118 and a first insertion portion 116 protruding from the first body portion 118 to be inserted into the first insertion hole
  • Engaging projections 115 which engage with the engaging holes 16 are formed on the top surface of the first insertion portion 116. As shown in FIG 2, with the coupling connector 1 fitted to the first substrate connector 101, the engaging projections 115 engage with the engaging holes 16 to lock the coupling connector 1 to the first substrate connector 101.
  • a plurality of first terminals 161 as substrate terminals are disposed at predetermined pitches at the first housing 111.
  • the first terminals 161 extend in a direction parallel to the surface of one substrate on which the first substrate connector 101 is to be mounted, and are disposed in such a way as to be in a line in the widthwise direction of the first housing 111.
  • Solder tail portions 162 of the individual first terminals 161 protrude from the rear surface of the first body portion 118 or the opposite surface to the first insertion portion 116, and are connected to a connection pad coupled to a conductive trace on the surface of the one substrate (not shown) by solder or the like.
  • the first insertion portion 116 has a first terminal holding hole (not shown) open to the front surface or the surface facing the coupling connector 1.
  • the first terminal 161 is disposed in the first terminal holding hole. With the coupling connector 1 and the first substrate connector 101 fitted together, the connecting terminals 61 enters the first terminal holding hole to be connected to the first terminal 161.
  • the first housing 111 further has fixing auxiliary metallic brackets 181 called nails.
  • the first housing 111 is surely fixed by connecting the solder tail portions 162 of the first terminals 161 to the connection pad coupled to the conductive trace on the surface of the one substrate by solder or the like and attaching the fixing auxiliary metallic brackets 181 to the connection pad on the surface of the one substrate by solder or the like.
  • the second substrate connector 201 has a second housing 211 integrally formed of an insulating material, such as a synthetic resin.
  • the second housing 211 which has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape, has a second body portion 218 and a second insertion portion 216 protruding from the second body portion 218 to be inserted into the second insertion hole 13b of the coupling connector 1.
  • Aplurality of second terminals 261 as substrate terminals are disposed at predetermined pitches at the second housing 211.
  • the second terminals 261 extend in a direction parallel to the surface of one substrate on which the second substrate connector 201 is to be mounted, and are disposed in such a way as to be in a line in the widthwise direction of the second housing 211.
  • Solder tail portions 262 of the individual second terminals 261 protrude from the rear surface of the second body portion 218 or the opposite surface to the second insertion portion 216, and are connected to a connection pad coupled to a conductive trace on the surface of the one substrate (not shown) by solder or the like.
  • the second insertion portion 216 has a second terminal holding hole 213 open to the front surface or the surface facing the coupling connector 1.
  • the second terminal 261 is disposed in the second terminal holding hole 213. With the coupling connector 1 and the second substrate connector 201 fitted together, the connecting terminals 61 enters the second terminal holding hole 213 to be connected to the second terminal 26
  • the second housing 211 further has fixing auxiliary metallic brackets 281 called nails.
  • the second housing 211 is surely fixed by connecting the solder tail portions 262 of the second terminals 261 to the connection pad coupled to the conductive trace on the surface of the one substrate by solder or the like and attaching the fixing auxiliary metallic brackets 281 to the connection pad on the surface of the one substrate by solder or the like.
  • the surfaces of both substrates on which the first substrate connector 101 and the second substrate connector 201 are to be mounted become substantially in parallel to each other.
  • the connecting housing 11 has a partition wall portion 31 formed at the center in the fitting direction (lateral direction in FIG. 3) to partition the first insertion hole 13a and the second insertion hole 13b.
  • the first insertion hole 13a is a flat rectangular parallelepiped cavity defined by the top plate part 12U, the bottom plate part 12L, the right sidewall part 17R, the left sidewall part 17L and the partition wall portion 31, and the opposite side of the first insertion hole 13a to the partition wall portion 31 is open so as to face the first substrate connector 101.
  • the second insertion hole 13b is a flat rectangular parallelepiped cavity defined by the top plate part 12U, the bottom plate part 12L, the right sidewall part 17R, the left sidewall part 17L and the partition wall portion 31, and the opposite side of the second insertion hole 13b to the partition wall portion 31 is open so as to face the second substrate connector 201.
  • a plurality of terminal holding holes 32 are formed in the partition wall portion 31 penetrating the partition wall portion 31 in the fitting direction.
  • the terminal holding holes 32 are disposed in a line in the widthwise direction of the connecting housing 11 (direction perpendicular to the sheet of FIG 3).
  • the connecting terminal 61 is inserted into each terminal holding hole 32, a connecting attachment portion 63 located near the center of the connecting terminal 61 in the lengthwise direction thereof and is fitted in the terminal holding hole 32, and a first contact portion 64a and a second contact portion 64b connected to both sides of the connecting attachment portion 63 extend into the first insertion hole 13a and the second insertion hole 13b, respectively.
  • the connecting terminal 61 is an integral member formed by punching and bending a thin elongated belt-like metal plate, and the first contact portion 64a is connected to the connecting attachment portion 63 via a bent portion 66.
  • the bent portion 66 is formed by bending that portion which is separated from the first contact portion 64a and the connecting attachment portion 63 by a first slit portion 66a and a second slit portion 66b, respectively formed on both sides of the bent portion 66, about a line extending in the lengthwise direction of the connecting terminal 61 at right angles.
  • the direction of extension of the contact surfaces as flat surfaces on both sides of the first contact portion 64a becomes the thickness direction of the connecting attachment portion 63, i.e., the direction orthogonal to the direction of extension of flat surfaces on both sides of the connecting attachment portion 63 (the near side and deep side in FIG 4).
  • the directions of extension of the contact surfaces on both sides of the first contact portion 64a are the fitting direction and the widthwise direction of the connecting housing 11.
  • the second contact portion 64b is directly connected to the connecting attachment portion 63.
  • the direction of extension of the contact surfaces as flat surfaces on both sides of the second contact portion 64b becomes the thickness direction of the connecting attachment portion 63, i.e., the direction of extension of the flat surfaces on both sides of the connecting attachment portion 63.
  • the directions of extension of the contact surfaces on both sides of the second contact portion 64b are the fitting direction and the thickness direction of the connecting housing 11. Therefore, the direction of extension of the contact surfaces of the first contact portion 64a is orthogonal to the direction of extension of the contact surfaces of the second contact portion 64b. That is, the contact surfaces at both ends of the connecting terminal 61 extend in the orthogonal directions.
  • a first tip portion 65a connected to the tip portion of the first contact portion 64a and a second tip portion 65b connected to the tip portion of the second contact portion 64b are tapered to facilitate connection of the first terminal, 161 and the second terminal 261.
  • the first terminal 161 is an integral member formed by punching and bending a thin elongated belt-like metal plate, and has a first attachment portion 163.
  • the solder tail portion 162 is connected to one end of the first attachment portion 163.
  • the first attachment portion 163 is attached into the first body portion 118 of the first housing 111.
  • the solder tail portion 162 protrudes from the rear surface of the first body portion 118.
  • An upper arm beam 167a and a lower arm beam 167b as contact arm portions extend from the opposite side of the first attachment portion 163 to the solder tail portion 162 toward the front surface of the first insertion portion 116.
  • the upper arm beam 167a and the lower arm beam 167b have their rear end portions coupled together by the first attachment portion 163, and thus have an approximately U shape open to the front surface of the first insertion portion 116.
  • the upper arm beam 167 a and the lower arm beam 167b are accommodated in the first terminal holding hole of the first insertion portion 116.
  • the first contact portion 64a of the connecting terminal 61 enters the first terminal holding hole of the first insertion portion 116 to be inserted between the upper arm beam 167a and the lower arm beam 167b from the tip side.
  • the upper arm beam 167a has a tapered upper-arm tip part 165a connected to the tip part thereof, and an upper-arm contact part 164a as a contact part, located near the tip part of the upper arm beam 167a and rearward of the upper-arm tip part 165a, and protruding downward.
  • the lower arm beam 167b has a tapered lower-arm tip part 165b connected to the tip part thereof, and a lower-arm contact part 164b as a contact part, located near the tip part of the lower arm beam 167b and rearward of the lower-arm tip part 165b, and protruding downward.
  • the upper arm beam 167a, the upper-arm tip part 165a and the upper-arm contact part 164a form a mirror image or a vertically symmetrical shape to the lower arm beam 167b, the.lower-arm tip part 165b and the lower-arm contact part 164b.
  • the three upper parts should not necessarily form a vertically symmetrical shape to the three lower parts.
  • the surfaces of the first attachment portion 163, the upper arm beam 167 a and the lower arm beam 167b form common flat surface on both sides.
  • the flat surfaces extend in a direction parallel to the direction of extension of the contact surfaces of the second contact portion 64b of the connecting terminal 61 on both sides, i.e., a direction orthogonal to the direction of extension of the contact surfaces of the first contact portion 64 a of the connecting terminal 61 on both sides.
  • the gap between the upper-arm contact part 164a and the lower-arm contact part 164b is set smaller than the thickness of the first contact portion 64a of the connecting terminal 61.
  • the electric connection between the upper-arm contact part 164a and the lower-arm contact part 164b and the first contact portion 64a is surely maintained.
  • the tip portions of the upper-arm contact part 164a ' and the lower-arm contact part 164b move rubbing the contact surfaces of the first contact portion 64a on both sides while being pressed against the contact surfaces.
  • the first contact portion 64a can be displaced in the direction orthogonal to the holding direction of the upper-arm contact part 164a and the lower-arm contact part 164b with respect to the first terminal 161. That is, the first contact portion 64a can be displaced in the direction orthogonal to the holding direction of the upper-arm contact part 164a and the lower-arm contact part 164b with respect to the first terminal 161 while maintaining the electric connection to the first terminal 161. Therefore, the first contact portion 64a can be displaced in the direction indicated by an arrow B in FIG 4 with respect to the first terminal 161.
  • the first contact portion 64a can also be displaced in the lengthwise direction of the first terminal 161 with respect to the first terminal 161 while maintaining the electric connection to the first terminal 161.
  • the upper-arm contact part 164a and the lower-arm contact part 164b only move relatively while rubbing the contact surfaces of the first contact portion 64a on both sides, so that stress is not applied to the individual parts of the first terminal 161 and the connecting terminal 61.
  • the electric connection between the connecting terminal 61 and the first terminal 161 can be maintained. What is more, no stress originating from the positional deviation will not be applied to the connecting terminal 61 and the first terminal 161. That is, the positional deviations between the first substrate connector 101 and the coupling connector 1 in the direction indicated by the arrow B and the fitting direction can be adequately compensated for.
  • the engagement of the engaging projection 115 with the engaging hole 16 locks the coupling connector 1 to the first substrate connector 101.
  • the engagement of the engaging projection 115 with the engaging hole 16 is loose so as to permit a certain degree of displacement of the coupling connector 1 with respect to the first substrate connector 101. Even with the coupling connector 1 locked to the first substrate connector 101 by the engagement of the engaging projection 115 with the engaging hole 16, therefore, displacement of the coupling connector 1 with respect to the first substrate connector 101 can occur as mentioned above.
  • the second terminal 261 is an integral member formed by punching and bending a thin elongated belt-like metal plate, and has a second attachment portion 263.
  • the solder tail portion 262 is connected to one end of the second attachment portion 263.
  • the second attachment portion 263 is attached into the second body portion 218 of the second housing 211.
  • the solder tail portion 262 protrudes from the rear surface of the second body portion 218.
  • Aright arm beam 267a and a left arm beam 267b as contact arm portions extend from the opposite side of the second attachment portion 263 to the solder tail portion 262 toward the front surface of the second insertion portion 216.
  • the right arm beam 267a and the left arm beam 267b have their rear end portions coupled together by the second attachment portion 263, and thus have an approximately U shape open to the front surface of the second insertion portion 216.
  • the right arm beam 267a and the left arm beam 267b are accommodated in a second terminal holding hole 213 of the second insertion portion 216.
  • the right arm beam 267a has a tapered right-arm tip part 265a connected to the tip part thereof, and a right-arm contact part 264a as a contact part, located near the tip part of the right arm beam 267a and rearward of the right-arm tip part 265a, and protruding leftward.
  • the left arm beam 267b has a tapered left-arm tip part 265b connected to the tip part thereof, and a left-arm contact part 264b as a contact part, located near the tip part of the left arm beam 267b and rearward of the left-arm tip part 265b, and protruding rightward.
  • the right arm beam 267a, the right-arm tip part 265 a and the contact part 264a form a mirror image or a horizontally symmetrical shape to the left arm beam 267b, the left-arm tip part 265b and the left-arm contact part 264b.
  • the three right parts should not necessarily form a horizontally symmetrical shape to the three left parts.
  • the surfaces of the second attachment portion 263, the right arm beam 267a and the left arm beam 267b form common flat surface on both sides.
  • the flat surfaces extend in a direction parallel to the direction of extension of the contact surfaces of the second contact portion 64b of the connecting terminal 61 on both sides, i.e., a direction orthogonal to the direction of extension of the contact surfaces of the second contact portion 64b of the connecting terminal 61 on both sides.
  • the gap between the right-arm contact part 264a and the left-arm contact part 264b is set smaller than the thickness of the second contact portion 64b of the connecting terminal 61.
  • the gap therebetween is widened by the second contact portion 64b.
  • the widening of the gap between the right-arm contact part 264a and the left-arm contact part 264b elastically deform the right-arm contact part 264a and the left-arm contact part 264b, thus generating urging force to urge the right-arm contact part
  • the tip portions of the right-arm contact part 264a and the left-arm contact part 264b move rubbing the contact surfaces of the second contact portion 64b on both sides while being pressed against the contact surfaces.
  • This brings about a wiping effect to wipe off substances which inhibit electric conduction, such as impurities adhered to the tip portions of the right-arm contact part 264a and the left-arm , contact part 264b and the contact surfaces of the second contact portion 64b on both sides.
  • This can make the electric connection between the right-arm contact part 264a and the left-arm contact part 264b and the second contact portion 64b surer.
  • the second contact portion 64b can be displaced in the direction orthogonal to the holding direction of the right-arm contact part 264a and the left-arm contact part 264b with respect to the second terminal 261. That is, the second contact portion 64b can be displaced in the direction orthogonal to the holding direction of the right-arm contact part 264a and the left-arm contact part 264b with respect to the second terminal 261 while maintaining the electric connection to , the second terminal 261. Therefore, the second contact portion 64b can be displaced in the direction indicated by an arrow C in FIG 4 with respect to the second terminal 261.
  • the second contact portion 64b can also be displaced in the lengthwise direction of the second terminal 261 with respect to the second terminal 261 while maintaining the electric connection to the second terminal 261.
  • the right-arm contact part 264a and the left-arm contact part 264b only move relatively while rubbing the contact surfaces of the second contact portion 64b on both sides, so that stress is not applied to the individual parts of the second terminal 261 and the connecting terminal 61.
  • the electric connection between the connecting terminal 61 and the second terminal 261 can be maintained. What is more, no stress originating from the positional deviation will not be applied to the connecting terminal 61 and the second terminal 261. That is, the positional deviations between the second substrate connector 201 and the coupling connector 1 in the direction indicated by the arrow C and the fitting direction can be adequately compensated for.
  • the contact surfaces of the first contact portion 64a and the second contact portion 64b on both sides of the first terminal 161 disposed at the coupling connector 1 in the lengthwise direction of the first terminal 161 extend in the directions orthogonal to each other in the embodiment.
  • the first terminal 161 and the second terminal 261 respectively disposed at the first substrate connector 101 and the second substrate connector 201 hold the contact surfaces of the first contact portion 64a and the second contact portion 64b.
  • This structure can compensate for positional deviations between the first substrate ' connector 101 and the second substrate connector 201 in the three axial directions, i.e., in the directions indicated by the arrows B and C and the fitting direction, surely maintain the electric connection between the first terminal 161 and the second terminal 261, and prevent stress from being applied to the individual parts of the connecting terminal 61, the first terminal 161 and the second terminal 261. It is therefore possible to adequately compensate for positional deviations in the three axial directions between the substrate on which the first substrate connector 101 is mounted and the substrate on which the second substrate connector 201 is mounted.
  • the structures of the connecting terminal 61, the first terminal 161 and the second terminal 261 are simple, so that the connecting terminal 61, the first terminal 161 and the second terminal 261 can easily be attached to the connecting housing 11 , the first housing 111 and the second housing 211.
  • the engagement of the engaging projection 115 with the engaging hole 16 can lock the coupling connector 1 to the first substrate connector 101.
  • the coupling connector 1 can be locked to the first substrate connector 101. This can eliminate the need to separately store or transport coupling connectors 1 alone, thus facilitating the storage and transportation of the coupling connectors 1.
  • the coupling connector 1 has only to be fitted to the second substrate connector 201, thus making the work easier.
  • FIG 5 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention in which the same reference numerals are given to those components of the second embodiment having the same structures as the corresponding components of the first embodiment to omit a redundant description thereof. Further, the description of the same operations and same effects of the second embodiment as those of the first embodiment is omitted.
  • the connecting terminals 61 are arranged in two rows in the widthwise direction of the connecting housing 11.
  • the connecting terminals 61 are generally arranged in a zigzag pattern, with the upper row of connecting terminals 61 being shifted by a half pitch in the widthwise direction from the lower row of connecting terminals 61. This can reduce the electromagnetic influence or crosstalk between the adjoining connecting terminals 61 even when the pitch between the connecting terminals 61 is small.
  • the first terminals 161 and the second terminals 261 are arranged in two rows in the widthwise directions of the first housing 111 and the second housing 211, and are generally arranged in a zigzag pattern in association with the connecting terminals 61, with the upper row of first terminals 161 being shifted by a half pitch in the widthwise direction from the lower row of second terminals 261.
  • the second terminal holding holes 213 where the second terminals 261 are to be held are arranged in two rows in the widthwise directions of the second housing 211, and are generally arranged in a zigzag pattern.
  • the first terminal holding holes (not shown) where the first terminals 161 are to be held are likewise arranged in two rows in the widthwise directions of the first housing 111, and are generally arranged in a zigzag pattern.
  • the connecting terminal 61, the first terminal 161 and the second terminal 261 do not necessarily need to be arranged in a zigzag pattern, but may be arranged in many different patterns.
  • the upper row of the connecting terminals 61, the first terminals 161 or the second terminals 261, and the lower row of the connecting terminals 61, the first terminals 161 or the second terminals . 261 may be arranged at the same pitches.
  • the connecting terminals 61, the first terminals 161 and the second terminals 261 may be arranged in three or more rows.
  • the connecting terminals 61, the first terminals 161 and the second terminals 261 are each arranged in a plurality of rows in the widthwise directions of the first housing 111 and the second housing 211. Even if the numbers of the connecting terminals 61, the first terminals 161 and the second terminals 261 are larger, it is possible to make the connecting housing 11 , the first housing 111 and the second housing 211 smaller. In addition, it is unnecessary to provide large spaces on the substrates on which the first substrate connector 101 and the second substrate connector 201 are to be mounted.
  • the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be changed in various ways based on the gist of the present invention, and these changes are not eliminated from the scope of the present invention.
  • first terminal 161 and the second terminal 261 may be plate-like in shape, and the first contact portion 64a and the second contact portion 64b may have a complementary shape to receive the mating plate-like terminals.
  • Designing the contact portions so as to be plate like makes the shape of the terminals very simple, so that the substrate-to-substrate connector can be made smaller.
  • the connecting terminal 61 is made like the plate, it simplifies the miniaturization of coupling connector 1.
  • the first terminal 161 and the second terminal 261 are respectively provided with the upper-arm contact part 164a and the lower-arm contact part 164b, and the right-arm contact part 264a and the left-arm contact part 264b to hold the first contact portion 64a and the second contact portion 64b.
  • the structure for holding the contact portions makes the contact more stable.

Abstract

A substrate-to-substrate connector includes a first substrate connector (101) with first terminals (161) to be mounted on a first substrate, second substrate connector (201) with second terminals (261) to be mounted on a second substrate, and a coupling connector (1) with connecting terminals (61) to connect to the first terminals and the second terminals. Each of the connecting terminals has a first contact portion (64a) and a second contact portion (64b) at respective lengthwise ends thereof. Each of the first terminals has contact parts (164a, 164b) which slidably contact the first contact portions of the connecting terminals. Each of the second terminals has contact parts (264a, 264b) which slidably contact the second contact portions of the connecting terminals.

Description

SUBSTRATE-TO-SUBSTRATE CONNECTOR
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a substrate-to-substrate connector. Conventionally, a substrate-to-substrate connector is used to electrically connect a pair of circuit boards together (see Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application (Kokai) Publication No. H7-8986, for example). Such a substrate-to-substrate connector connects a pair of circuit boards placed side by side on the same surface.
Referring to FIG 6, a first connector 801 is attached to a first circuit board 804, and a second connector 803 is attached to a second circuit board 805. A coupling connector 802 connects the first connector 801 to the second connector 803. The first connector 801 has a housing 806 and solder tail portions 807 protruding therefrom. Each solder tail portion 807 is inserted and soldered into a through hole 808 in the first circuit board 804. Accordingly, the first connector 801 is mounted on the first circuit board 804. The second connector 803 has a housing 813 and solder tail portions 814 protruding therefrom. Each solder tail portion 814 is inserted and soldered into a through hole 815 in the second circuit board 805. Accordingly, the second connector 803 is mounted on the second circuit board 805.
The coupling connector 802 has a housing 809, and is rotatably coupled to the first connector 801. In this case, rotational shaft pins 811 formed on the housing 809 of the coupling connector 802 on both sides are rotatably fitted in recesses 812 formed in the housing 806 of the first connector 801. Positioning pins 816 are formed on the housing 809 of the coupling connector 802 on both sides close to the second connector 803. The positioning pins 816 can be fitted in positioning recesses 817 formed in the housing 813 of the second connector 803.
Because of the structure of the conventional substrate-to-substrate connector, with the coupling connector 802 being disconnected from the second connector 803, even if the relative positions of the first circuit board 804 and the second circuit board 805 are shifted due to external impacts or so, impact-originating stress will not be applied to the substrate-to-substrate connector. To connect the first circuit board 804 and the second circuit board 805 together, the coupling connector 802 is turned to fit the positioning pins 816 into the positioning recesses 817. As a result, unillustrated terminals provided in the housing 809 of the coupling connector 802 are connected to the solder tail portions 807 of the first connector 801 and the solder tail portions 814 of the second connector 803, thereby connecting the first circuit board 804 and the second circuit board 805 together.
With the use of the conventional substrate-to-substrate connector, however, when the relative positions of the first circuit board 804 and the second circuit board 805 are shifted with the first circuit board 804 connected to the second circuit board 805, the positional deviation cannot be compensated for sufficiently. Of course a floating structure may be employed to compensate for the positional deviation between the circuit boards. According to a typical connector with the floating structure, however, terminals are bent complexly to be deformable to compensate for the positional deviation between the circuit boards. This makes it difficult to mount the terminals to the housing, and thus raising the manufacture cost for the connector.
To make the terminals deformable to compensate for the positional deviation between the circuit boards, the lengths of the terminals should be made long, disadvantageously enlarging the connector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the problems of the conventional substrate-to-substrate connectors and to provide a highly reliable substrate-to-substrate connector configured in such a way that contact surfaces of each connecting terminal at both ends thereof extend in directions orthogonal to each other so that the terminals of substrates hold the respective contact surfaces of the connecting terminals to ensure compensation for positional deviations of the substrates in three axial directions. The connecting terminals and the substrate terminals have simple structures to facilitate attachment of the connecting terminals and the substrate terminals to the housing, thereby leading to reduced manufacture costs and reliable interconnections of the substrates.
To achieve this object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substrate-to-substrate connector comprising a first substrate connector having first terminals and to be mounted on one substrate; a second substrate connector having second terminals and to be mounted on another substrate. A coupling connector has connecting terminals to connect to the first terminals and the second terminals and to be fitted to the first substrate connector and the second substrate connector together. Each of the connecting terminals has a first contact portion and a second contact portion at respective lengthwise ends thereof. Each of the first terminals is provided with contact parts which are slidably in contact with the first contact portion, and each of the second terminals is provided with contact parts which are slidably in contact with the second contact portion. The first contact portion contacts a contact part of the first terminal in such a way as to be slidable in a lengthwise direction of the connecting terminal and a first direction orthogonal to the lengthwise direction thereof, and the second contact portion contacts a contact part of the second terminal in such a way as to be slidable in the lengthwise direction of the connecting terminal and a direction orthogonal to both the lengthwise direction thereof and the first direction.
Herein, the lengthwise direction is the direction along which the first substrate connector and the second substrate connector come close to or away from each other, the first direction is the direction, for example, parallel to a substrate, and the direction orthogonal to the first direction is the direction orthogonal to the substrate. When the first direction is set orthogonal to the substrate, the direction orthogonal to the first direction is the direction parallel to the substrate.
The structure can also allow the terminals to slide in the individual directions in contact with each other at the contact portions of the terminals, so that the first substrate connector and the second substrate connector can be relatively displaced in three axial directions.
A substrate-to-substrate connector according to another aspect of the present invention comprises a first substrate connector having first terminals and to be mounted on one substrate; a second substrate connector having second terminals and to be mounted on an other substrate; and a coupling connector having connecting terminals to connect to the first terminals and the second terminals and to be fitted to the first substrate connector and the second substrate connector together, wherein each of the connecting terminals has a first contact portion and a second contact portion at respective lengthwise ends thereof, and contact surfaces of the first contact portion on both sides and contact surfaces of the second contact portion on both sides extending in directions orthogonal to each other, each of the first terminals has contact parts which hold the first contact portion from both sides to be in contact with the contact surfaces thereof, and each of the second terminals has contact parts which hold the second contact portion from both sides to be in contact with the contact surfaces thereof.
The substrate-to-substrate connector according to the second aspect may be configured in such a way that the first terminals extend in a direction parallel to a surface of the one substrate on which the first substrate connector is to be mounted, the second terminals extend in a direction parallel to a surface of the other substrate on which the second substrate connector is to be mounted, and when the coupling connector is fitted to the first substrate connector and the second substrate connector, the surfaces of both substrates on which the first substrate connector and the second substrate connector are mounted become substantially in parallel to each other. The substrate-to-substrate connector according to the second aspect may be configured in such a way that the first contact portion and the second contact portion are integrally connected via a bent portion.
The substrate-to-substrate connector according to the second aspect may be configured in such a way that the contact parts of the first terminal are connected to elastically deformable contact arm parts and are urged by the arm parts to be pressed against the contact surfaces of the first contact portion on both sides thereof, and the contact parts of the second terminals first terminal are connected to elastically deformable contact arm parts and are urged by the arm parts to be pressed against the contact surfaces of the second contact portion on both sides thereof. The substrate-to-substrate connector according to the second aspect may be configured in such a way that the first terminal is deformable relative to the connecting terminal in a direction in which the contact surfaces of the first contact portion on both sides thereof extend, and the second terminal is deformable relative to the connecting terminal in a direction in which the contact surfaces of the second contact portion on both sides thereof extend.
According to the present invention, the substrate-to-substrate connector is configured in such a way that contact surfaces of each connecting terminal at both ends thereof extend in directions orthogonal to each other so that the terminals of substrates hold the respective contact surfaces of the connecting terminals. This can ensure compensation for positional deviations of the substrates in three axial directions even with the simple and compact structure, and make the structures of the connecting terminals and the substrate terminals simple to facilitate attachment of the connecting terminals and the substrate terminals to the housing, thereby leading to a reduced manufacture cost, surely maintaining the connection of the substrates, and improving the reliability of the substrate-to-substrate connector.
Further, the present invention can compensate for positional deviations of the substrates in three axial directions without making the terminals longer, thus leading to a compact connector.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG 1 is a perspective view showing the mating orientation of a coupling connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention to a first substrate connector and a second substrate connector; FIG 2 is a perspective view showing the coupling connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention mated to the first substrate connector;
FIG 3 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention taken generally along line A-A in FIG 1 ;
FIG 4 is a perspective view showing how a connecting terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mated with a first terminal and a second terminal;
FIG 5 is a perspective view showing mating of a coupling connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention to a first substrate connector and a second substrate connector; and
FIG 6 is a side view of a conventional substrate-to-substrate connector.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the figures, reference numeral "1" denotes a coupling connector of a substrate- to-substrate connector according to the first embodiment. Reference numeral "101" denotes a first substrate connector of the substrate-to-substrate connector according to the first embodiment. The first substrate connector 101 is a surface mount type connector to be mounted on a surface of one substrate. Reference numeral "201" denotes a second substrate connector of the substrate-to-substrate connector according to the first embodiment. The second substrate connector 201 is likewise a surface mount type connector to be mounted on a surface of another substrate. The substrate-to-substrate connector according to the first embodiment includes the coupling connector 1, the first substrate connector 101 and the second substrate connector 201, and electrically connects a pair of substrates. The substrates are, for example, printed circuit boards, but may be any type of substrate including flexible circuitry.
In this embodiment, representations of directions such as up, down, left, right, front, rear, and the like, used for explaining the structure and movement of each part of the substrate-to-substrate connector, and the like, are not absolute, but relative. These representations are appropriate when each part of the substrate-to-substrate connector, and the like is in the position shown in the figures. If the position of the part, and the like, changes, however, it is assumed that these representations are to be changed according to the change of the position of the part, and the like. The coupling connector 1 has a connecting housing 11 integrally formed of an insulating material, such as a synthetic resin. The connecting housing 11 is a flat rectangular parallelepiped member having a top plate part 12U, a bottom plate part 12L, a right sidewall part 17R and a left sidewall part 17L. The coupling connector 1 further has a first insertion hole 13a in which the first substrate connector 101 is to be inserted, and a second insertion hole 13b in which the second substrate connector 201 is to be inserted. Because the second insertion hole 13b is open so as to face the second substrate connector 201, the second insertion hole 13b is not shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The first insertion hole 13a and the second insertion hole 13b are rectangular tubular cavities having a flat cross section and surrounded by the top plate part 12U, the bottom plate part 12L, the right sidewall part 17R and the left sidewall part 17L. A plurality of connecting terminals 61 are disposed at predetermined pitches in the first insertion hole 13a and the second insertion hole 13b. The connecting terminals 61 are disposed in a line in the widthwise direction of the connecting housing 11. Engaging holes 16 for locking the coupling connector 1 to the first substrate connector 101 are formed in the top plate part 12U of the connecting housing 11 which corresponds to the first insertion hole 13a.
The first substrate connector 101 has a first housing 111 integrally formed of an insulating material, such as a synthetic resin. The first housing 111, which has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape, has a first body portion 118 and a first insertion portion 116 protruding from the first body portion 118 to be inserted into the first insertion hole
13a of the coupling connector 1.
Engaging projections 115 which engage with the engaging holes 16 are formed on the top surface of the first insertion portion 116. As shown in FIG 2, with the coupling connector 1 fitted to the first substrate connector 101, the engaging projections 115 engage with the engaging holes 16 to lock the coupling connector 1 to the first substrate connector 101.
A plurality of first terminals 161 as substrate terminals are disposed at predetermined pitches at the first housing 111. The first terminals 161 extend in a direction parallel to the surface of one substrate on which the first substrate connector 101 is to be mounted, and are disposed in such a way as to be in a line in the widthwise direction of the first housing 111. Solder tail portions 162 of the individual first terminals 161 protrude from the rear surface of the first body portion 118 or the opposite surface to the first insertion portion 116, and are connected to a connection pad coupled to a conductive trace on the surface of the one substrate (not shown) by solder or the like. The first insertion portion 116 has a first terminal holding hole (not shown) open to the front surface or the surface facing the coupling connector 1. The first terminal 161 is disposed in the first terminal holding hole. With the coupling connector 1 and the first substrate connector 101 fitted together, the connecting terminals 61 enters the first terminal holding hole to be connected to the first terminal 161.
The first housing 111 further has fixing auxiliary metallic brackets 181 called nails. The first housing 111 is surely fixed by connecting the solder tail portions 162 of the first terminals 161 to the connection pad coupled to the conductive trace on the surface of the one substrate by solder or the like and attaching the fixing auxiliary metallic brackets 181 to the connection pad on the surface of the one substrate by solder or the like.
The second substrate connector 201 has a second housing 211 integrally formed of an insulating material, such as a synthetic resin. The second housing 211, which has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape, has a second body portion 218 and a second insertion portion 216 protruding from the second body portion 218 to be inserted into the second insertion hole 13b of the coupling connector 1.
Aplurality of second terminals 261 as substrate terminals are disposed at predetermined pitches at the second housing 211. The second terminals 261 extend in a direction parallel to the surface of one substrate on which the second substrate connector 201 is to be mounted, and are disposed in such a way as to be in a line in the widthwise direction of the second housing 211. Solder tail portions 262 of the individual second terminals 261 protrude from the rear surface of the second body portion 218 or the opposite surface to the second insertion portion 216, and are connected to a connection pad coupled to a conductive trace on the surface of the one substrate (not shown) by solder or the like. The second insertion portion 216 has a second terminal holding hole 213 open to the front surface or the surface facing the coupling connector 1. The second terminal 261 is disposed in the second terminal holding hole 213. With the coupling connector 1 and the second substrate connector 201 fitted together, the connecting terminals 61 enters the second terminal holding hole 213 to be connected to the second terminal 261.
The second housing 211 further has fixing auxiliary metallic brackets 281 called nails. The second housing 211 is surely fixed by connecting the solder tail portions 262 of the second terminals 261 to the connection pad coupled to the conductive trace on the surface of the one substrate by solder or the like and attaching the fixing auxiliary metallic brackets 281 to the connection pad on the surface of the one substrate by solder or the like.
When the coupling connector 1 is fitted to the first substrate connector 101 and the second substrate connector 201, the surfaces of both substrates on which the first substrate connector 101 and the second substrate connector 201 are to be mounted become substantially in parallel to each other.
The structures of the connecting terminal 61, the first terminal 161 and the second terminal 261 will be described below in detail.
As shown in FIG 3, the connecting housing 11 has a partition wall portion 31 formed at the center in the fitting direction (lateral direction in FIG. 3) to partition the first insertion hole 13a and the second insertion hole 13b. Specifically, the first insertion hole 13a is a flat rectangular parallelepiped cavity defined by the top plate part 12U, the bottom plate part 12L, the right sidewall part 17R, the left sidewall part 17L and the partition wall portion 31, and the opposite side of the first insertion hole 13a to the partition wall portion 31 is open so as to face the first substrate connector 101. Likewise, the second insertion hole 13b is a flat rectangular parallelepiped cavity defined by the top plate part 12U, the bottom plate part 12L, the right sidewall part 17R, the left sidewall part 17L and the partition wall portion 31, and the opposite side of the second insertion hole 13b to the partition wall portion 31 is open so as to face the second substrate connector 201.
A plurality of terminal holding holes 32 are formed in the partition wall portion 31 penetrating the partition wall portion 31 in the fitting direction. The terminal holding holes 32 are disposed in a line in the widthwise direction of the connecting housing 11 (direction perpendicular to the sheet of FIG 3). The connecting terminal 61 is inserted into each terminal holding hole 32, a connecting attachment portion 63 located near the center of the connecting terminal 61 in the lengthwise direction thereof and is fitted in the terminal holding hole 32, and a first contact portion 64a and a second contact portion 64b connected to both sides of the connecting attachment portion 63 extend into the first insertion hole 13a and the second insertion hole 13b, respectively.
As shown in FIG 4, the connecting terminal 61 is an integral member formed by punching and bending a thin elongated belt-like metal plate, and the first contact portion 64a is connected to the connecting attachment portion 63 via a bent portion 66. The bent portion 66 is formed by bending that portion which is separated from the first contact portion 64a and the connecting attachment portion 63 by a first slit portion 66a and a second slit portion 66b, respectively formed on both sides of the bent portion 66, about a line extending in the lengthwise direction of the connecting terminal 61 at right angles. Accordingly, the direction of extension of the contact surfaces as flat surfaces on both sides of the first contact portion 64a (the top side and bottom side in FIG 4) becomes the thickness direction of the connecting attachment portion 63, i.e., the direction orthogonal to the direction of extension of flat surfaces on both sides of the connecting attachment portion 63 (the near side and deep side in FIG 4). In the illustrated embodiment, the directions of extension of the contact surfaces on both sides of the first contact portion 64a are the fitting direction and the widthwise direction of the connecting housing 11. The second contact portion 64b is directly connected to the connecting attachment portion 63. Therefore, the direction of extension of the contact surfaces as flat surfaces on both sides of the second contact portion 64b (the near side and deep side in FIG 4) becomes the thickness direction of the connecting attachment portion 63, i.e., the direction of extension of the flat surfaces on both sides of the connecting attachment portion 63. Ih the illustrated embodiment, the directions of extension of the contact surfaces on both sides of the second contact portion 64b are the fitting direction and the thickness direction of the connecting housing 11. Therefore, the direction of extension of the contact surfaces of the first contact portion 64a is orthogonal to the direction of extension of the contact surfaces of the second contact portion 64b. That is, the contact surfaces at both ends of the connecting terminal 61 extend in the orthogonal directions.
A first tip portion 65a connected to the tip portion of the first contact portion 64a and a second tip portion 65b connected to the tip portion of the second contact portion 64b are tapered to facilitate connection of the first terminal, 161 and the second terminal 261.
As shown in FIG 4, the first terminal 161 is an integral member formed by punching and bending a thin elongated belt-like metal plate, and has a first attachment portion 163. The solder tail portion 162 is connected to one end of the first attachment portion 163. The first attachment portion 163 is attached into the first body portion 118 of the first housing 111. The solder tail portion 162 protrudes from the rear surface of the first body portion 118.
An upper arm beam 167a and a lower arm beam 167b as contact arm portions extend from the opposite side of the first attachment portion 163 to the solder tail portion 162 toward the front surface of the first insertion portion 116. The upper arm beam 167a and the lower arm beam 167b have their rear end portions coupled together by the first attachment portion 163, and thus have an approximately U shape open to the front surface of the first insertion portion 116. The upper arm beam 167 a and the lower arm beam 167b are accommodated in the first terminal holding hole of the first insertion portion 116. When the coupling connector 1 and the first substrate connector 101 are fitted together, the first contact portion 64a of the connecting terminal 61 enters the first terminal holding hole of the first insertion portion 116 to be inserted between the upper arm beam 167a and the lower arm beam 167b from the tip side.
The upper arm beam 167a has a tapered upper-arm tip part 165a connected to the tip part thereof, and an upper-arm contact part 164a as a contact part, located near the tip part of the upper arm beam 167a and rearward of the upper-arm tip part 165a, and protruding downward. The lower arm beam 167b has a tapered lower-arm tip part 165b connected to the tip part thereof, and a lower-arm contact part 164b as a contact part, located near the tip part of the lower arm beam 167b and rearward of the lower-arm tip part 165b, and protruding downward. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper arm beam 167a, the upper-arm tip part 165a and the upper-arm contact part 164a form a mirror image or a vertically symmetrical shape to the lower arm beam 167b, the.lower-arm tip part 165b and the lower-arm contact part 164b. However, the three upper parts should not necessarily form a vertically symmetrical shape to the three lower parts. The surfaces of the first attachment portion 163, the upper arm beam 167 a and the lower arm beam 167b form common flat surface on both sides. The flat surfaces extend in a direction parallel to the direction of extension of the contact surfaces of the second contact portion 64b of the connecting terminal 61 on both sides, i.e., a direction orthogonal to the direction of extension of the contact surfaces of the first contact portion 64 a of the connecting terminal 61 on both sides.
The gap between the upper-arm contact part 164a and the lower-arm contact part 164b is set smaller than the thickness of the first contact portion 64a of the connecting terminal 61. When the first contact portion 64a is inserted between the upper arm beam 167a and the lower arm beam 167b, therefore, the gap therebetween is widened by the first contact portion 64a. Because the upper arm beam 167a and the lower arm beam 167b have elasticity, the widening of the gap between the upper-arm contact part 164a and the lower-arm contact part 164b elastically deform the contact part 164a and the lower-arm contact part 164b, thus generating urging force to urge the upper-arm contact part 164a and the lower-arm contact part 164b to be pressed against the contact surfaces of the first contact portion 64a on both sides. As the upper-arm contact part 164a and the lower-arm contact part 164b hold the contact surfaces of the first contact portion 64a from both side by the urging force of the upper arm beam 167a and the lower arm beam 167b, the electric connection between the upper-arm contact part 164a and the lower-arm contact part 164b and the first contact portion 64a is surely maintained. At the time the first contact portion 64a is inserted between the upper arm beam 167a and the lower arm beam 167b, the tip portions of the upper-arm contact part 164a ' and the lower-arm contact part 164b move rubbing the contact surfaces of the first contact portion 64a on both sides while being pressed against the contact surfaces. This brings about a wiping effect to wipe off substances which inhibit electric conduction, such as impurities adhered to the tip portions of the upper-arm contact part 164a and the lower- arm contact part 164b and the contact surfaces of the first contact portion 64a on both sides. This can make the electric connection between the upper-arm contact part 164a and the lower-arm contact part 164b and the first contact portion 64a surer. Because the upper-arm contact part 164a and the lower-arm contact part 164b hold the contact surfaces of the first contact portion 64a on both sides in the direction orthogonal to the direction of extension of the contact surfaces, the first contact portion 64a can be displaced in the direction orthogonal to the holding direction of the upper-arm contact part 164a and the lower-arm contact part 164b with respect to the first terminal 161. That is, the first contact portion 64a can be displaced in the direction orthogonal to the holding direction of the upper-arm contact part 164a and the lower-arm contact part 164b with respect to the first terminal 161 while maintaining the electric connection to the first terminal 161. Therefore, the first contact portion 64a can be displaced in the direction indicated by an arrow B in FIG 4 with respect to the first terminal 161. The first contact portion 64a can also be displaced in the lengthwise direction of the first terminal 161 with respect to the first terminal 161 while maintaining the electric connection to the first terminal 161. In this case, the upper-arm contact part 164a and the lower-arm contact part 164b only move relatively while rubbing the contact surfaces of the first contact portion 64a on both sides, so that stress is not applied to the individual parts of the first terminal 161 and the connecting terminal 61.
With the structure, even when the position of the coupling connector 1 is deviated in the direction indicated by the arrow B and the fitting direction with respect to the first substrate connector 101, the electric connection between the connecting terminal 61 and the first terminal 161 can be maintained. What is more, no stress originating from the positional deviation will not be applied to the connecting terminal 61 and the first terminal 161. That is, the positional deviations between the first substrate connector 101 and the coupling connector 1 in the direction indicated by the arrow B and the fitting direction can be adequately compensated for. In the illustrated embodiment, the engagement of the engaging projection 115 with the engaging hole 16 locks the coupling connector 1 to the first substrate connector 101. However, the engagement of the engaging projection 115 with the engaging hole 16 is loose so as to permit a certain degree of displacement of the coupling connector 1 with respect to the first substrate connector 101. Even with the coupling connector 1 locked to the first substrate connector 101 by the engagement of the engaging projection 115 with the engaging hole 16, therefore, displacement of the coupling connector 1 with respect to the first substrate connector 101 can occur as mentioned above.
Like the second terminal 161, the second terminal 261 is an integral member formed by punching and bending a thin elongated belt-like metal plate, and has a second attachment portion 263. The solder tail portion 262 is connected to one end of the second attachment portion 263. The second attachment portion 263 is attached into the second body portion 218 of the second housing 211. The solder tail portion 262 protrudes from the rear surface of the second body portion 218.
Aright arm beam 267a and a left arm beam 267b as contact arm portions extend from the opposite side of the second attachment portion 263 to the solder tail portion 262 toward the front surface of the second insertion portion 216. The right arm beam 267a and the left arm beam 267b have their rear end portions coupled together by the second attachment portion 263, and thus have an approximately U shape open to the front surface of the second insertion portion 216. The right arm beam 267a and the left arm beam 267b are accommodated in a second terminal holding hole 213 of the second insertion portion 216. When the coupling connector 1 and the second substrate connector 201 are fitted together, the second contact portion 64b of the connecting terminal 61 enters the second terminal holding hole 213 of the second insertion portion 216 to be inserted between the right arm beam 267a and the left arm beam 267b from the tip side. The right arm beam 267a has a tapered right-arm tip part 265a connected to the tip part thereof, and a right-arm contact part 264a as a contact part, located near the tip part of the right arm beam 267a and rearward of the right-arm tip part 265a, and protruding leftward. The left arm beam 267b has a tapered left-arm tip part 265b connected to the tip part thereof, and a left-arm contact part 264b as a contact part, located near the tip part of the left arm beam 267b and rearward of the left-arm tip part 265b, and protruding rightward. In the illustrated embodiment, the right arm beam 267a, the right-arm tip part 265 a and the contact part 264a form a mirror image or a horizontally symmetrical shape to the left arm beam 267b, the left-arm tip part 265b and the left-arm contact part 264b. However, the three right parts should not necessarily form a horizontally symmetrical shape to the three left parts.
The surfaces of the second attachment portion 263, the right arm beam 267a and the left arm beam 267b form common flat surface on both sides. The flat surfaces extend in a direction parallel to the direction of extension of the contact surfaces of the second contact portion 64b of the connecting terminal 61 on both sides, i.e., a direction orthogonal to the direction of extension of the contact surfaces of the second contact portion 64b of the connecting terminal 61 on both sides.
The gap between the right-arm contact part 264a and the left-arm contact part 264b is set smaller than the thickness of the second contact portion 64b of the connecting terminal 61. When the second contact portion 64b is inserted between the right arm beam 267a and the left arm beam 267b, therefore, the gap therebetween is widened by the second contact portion 64b. Because the right arm beam 267a and the left arm beam 267b have elasticity, the widening of the gap between the right-arm contact part 264a and the left-arm contact part 264b elastically deform the right-arm contact part 264a and the left-arm contact part 264b, thus generating urging force to urge the right-arm contact part
264a and the left-arm contact part 264b to be pressed against the contact surfaces of the second contact portion 64b on both sides. As the right-arm contact part 264a and the left- arm contact part 264b hold the contact surfaces of the second contact portion 64b from both side by the urging force of the right arm beam 267a and the left arm beam 267b, the electric connection between the right-arm contact part 264a and the left-arm contact part 264b and the second contact portion 64b is surely maintained.
At the time the second contact portion 64b is inserted between the right arm beam 267a and the left arm beam 267b, the tip portions of the right-arm contact part 264a and the left-arm contact part 264b move rubbing the contact surfaces of the second contact portion 64b on both sides while being pressed against the contact surfaces. This brings about a wiping effect to wipe off substances which inhibit electric conduction, such as impurities adhered to the tip portions of the right-arm contact part 264a and the left-arm , contact part 264b and the contact surfaces of the second contact portion 64b on both sides. This can make the electric connection between the right-arm contact part 264a and the left-arm contact part 264b and the second contact portion 64b surer.
Because the right contact part 264a and the left-arm contact part 264b hold the contact surfaces of the second contact portion 64b on both sides in the direction orthogonal to the direction of extension of the contact surfaces, the second contact portion 64b can be displaced in the direction orthogonal to the holding direction of the right-arm contact part 264a and the left-arm contact part 264b with respect to the second terminal 261. That is, the second contact portion 64b can be displaced in the direction orthogonal to the holding direction of the right-arm contact part 264a and the left-arm contact part 264b with respect to the second terminal 261 while maintaining the electric connection to , the second terminal 261. Therefore, the second contact portion 64b can be displaced in the direction indicated by an arrow C in FIG 4 with respect to the second terminal 261. The second contact portion 64b can also be displaced in the lengthwise direction of the second terminal 261 with respect to the second terminal 261 while maintaining the electric connection to the second terminal 261. In this case, the right-arm contact part 264a and the left-arm contact part 264b only move relatively while rubbing the contact surfaces of the second contact portion 64b on both sides, so that stress is not applied to the individual parts of the second terminal 261 and the connecting terminal 61.
With the structure, even when the position of the coupling connector 1 is deviated in the direction indicated by the arrow C and the fitting direction with respect to the second substrate connector 201, the electric connection between the connecting terminal 61 and the second terminal 261 can be maintained. What is more, no stress originating from the positional deviation will not be applied to the connecting terminal 61 and the second terminal 261. That is, the positional deviations between the second substrate connector 201 and the coupling connector 1 in the direction indicated by the arrow C and the fitting direction can be adequately compensated for.
As mentioned above, the contact surfaces of the first contact portion 64a and the second contact portion 64b on both sides of the first terminal 161 disposed at the coupling connector 1 in the lengthwise direction of the first terminal 161 extend in the directions orthogonal to each other in the embodiment. The first terminal 161 and the second terminal 261 respectively disposed at the first substrate connector 101 and the second substrate connector 201 hold the contact surfaces of the first contact portion 64a and the second contact portion 64b.
This structure can compensate for positional deviations between the first substrate' connector 101 and the second substrate connector 201 in the three axial directions, i.e., in the directions indicated by the arrows B and C and the fitting direction, surely maintain the electric connection between the first terminal 161 and the second terminal 261, and prevent stress from being applied to the individual parts of the connecting terminal 61, the first terminal 161 and the second terminal 261. It is therefore possible to adequately compensate for positional deviations in the three axial directions between the substrate on which the first substrate connector 101 is mounted and the substrate on which the second substrate connector 201 is mounted. In addition, the structures of the connecting terminal 61, the first terminal 161 and the second terminal 261 are simple, so that the connecting terminal 61, the first terminal 161 and the second terminal 261 can easily be attached to the connecting housing 11 , the first housing 111 and the second housing 211.
According to the embodiment, the engagement of the engaging projection 115 with the engaging hole 16 can lock the coupling connector 1 to the first substrate connector 101. In a case where the substrate on which the first substrate connector 101 is mounted and the substrate on which the second substrate connector 201 is mounted are stored separately or transported without being connected together, therefore, the coupling connector 1 can be locked to the first substrate connector 101. This can eliminate the need to separately store or transport coupling connectors 1 alone, thus facilitating the storage and transportation of the coupling connectors 1. In performing a work of connecting the substrate on which the first substrate connector 101 is mounted to the substrate on which the second substrate connector 201 is mounted, the coupling connector 1 has only to be fitted to the second substrate connector 201, thus making the work easier.
FIG 5 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention in which the same reference numerals are given to those components of the second embodiment having the same structures as the corresponding components of the first embodiment to omit a redundant description thereof. Further, the description of the same operations and same effects of the second embodiment as those of the first embodiment is omitted.
In the second embodiment, the connecting terminals 61 are arranged in two rows in the widthwise direction of the connecting housing 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the connecting terminals 61 are generally arranged in a zigzag pattern, with the upper row of connecting terminals 61 being shifted by a half pitch in the widthwise direction from the lower row of connecting terminals 61. This can reduce the electromagnetic influence or crosstalk between the adjoining connecting terminals 61 even when the pitch between the connecting terminals 61 is small.
The first terminals 161 and the second terminals 261 are arranged in two rows in the widthwise directions of the first housing 111 and the second housing 211, and are generally arranged in a zigzag pattern in association with the connecting terminals 61, with the upper row of first terminals 161 being shifted by a half pitch in the widthwise direction from the lower row of second terminals 261.
Further, the second terminal holding holes 213 where the second terminals 261 are to be held are arranged in two rows in the widthwise directions of the second housing 211, and are generally arranged in a zigzag pattern. The first terminal holding holes (not shown) where the first terminals 161 are to be held are likewise arranged in two rows in the widthwise directions of the first housing 111, and are generally arranged in a zigzag pattern.
Because the other structures and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment, their description is omitted. The connecting terminal 61, the first terminal 161 and the second terminal 261 do not necessarily need to be arranged in a zigzag pattern, but may be arranged in many different patterns. For example, the upper row of the connecting terminals 61, the first terminals 161 or the second terminals 261, and the lower row of the connecting terminals 61, the first terminals 161 or the second terminals . 261 may be arranged at the same pitches. Further, the connecting terminals 61, the first terminals 161 and the second terminals 261 may be arranged in three or more rows.
According to the embodiment, the connecting terminals 61, the first terminals 161 and the second terminals 261 are each arranged in a plurality of rows in the widthwise directions of the first housing 111 and the second housing 211. Even if the numbers of the connecting terminals 61, the first terminals 161 and the second terminals 261 are larger, it is possible to make the connecting housing 11 , the first housing 111 and the second housing 211 smaller. In addition, it is unnecessary to provide large spaces on the substrates on which the first substrate connector 101 and the second substrate connector 201 are to be mounted.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be changed in various ways based on the gist of the present invention, and these changes are not eliminated from the scope of the present invention.
For example, while the first contact portion 64a and the second contact portion 64b of the connecting terminal 61 are designed like plates in the above-described embodiments, the first terminal 161 and the second terminal 261 may be plate-like in shape, and the first contact portion 64a and the second contact portion 64b may have a complementary shape to receive the mating plate-like terminals.
Designing the contact portions so as to be plate like makes the shape of the terminals very simple, so that the substrate-to-substrate connector can be made smaller. For example, when the connecting terminal 61 is made like the plate, it simplifies the miniaturization of coupling connector 1.
The first terminal 161 and the second terminal 261 are respectively provided with the upper-arm contact part 164a and the lower-arm contact part 164b, and the right-arm contact part 264a and the left-arm contact part 264b to hold the first contact portion 64a and the second contact portion 64b. The structure for holding the contact portions makes the contact more stable.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A substrate-to-substrate connector comprising: a first substrate connector having first terminals to be mounted on a first substrate; a second substrate connector having second terminals to be mounted on a second. substrate; and a coupling connector having connecting terminals to connect to the first terminals and the second terminals and to interconnect the first substrate connector and the second substrate connector together, wherein each of the connecting terminals has a first contact portion and a second contact portion at respective lengthwise ends thereof, each of the first terminals is provided with contact parts which are slidably in contact with the first contact portion, each of the second terminals is provided with contact parts which are slidably in contact with the second contact portion, and the first contact portion contacts a contact part of the first terminal in such a way as to be slidable in a lengthwise direction of the connecting terminal and a first direction orthogonal to the lengthwise direction thereof, and the second contact portion contacts a contact part of the second terminal in such a way as to be slidable in the lengthwise direction of the connecting terminal and a direction orthogonal to both the lengthwise direction thereof and the first direction.
2. A substrate-to-substrate connector comprising: a first substrate connector having first terminals to be mounted to a first substrate; a second substrate connector having second terminals to be mounted to a second substrate; and a coupling connector having connecting terminals to connect to the first terminals and the second terminals, wherein each of the connecting terminals has a first contact portion with a pair of oppositely facing first contact surfaces and a second contact portion at respective lengthwise ends thereof, with a pair of oppositely facing second contact surfaces and wherein said first contact surfaces extend in directions orthogonal to said second contact surfaces, each of the first terminals has contact sections to engage the first contact portions on both of said first contact surfaces thereof, and each of the second terminals has contact sections to engage the second contact portions on both of said second contact surfaces thereof.
3. The substrate-to-substrate connector according to claim 2, wherein the first terminals extend in a direction parallel to a surface of the one substrate on which the first substrate connector is to be mounted, the second terminals extend in a direction parallel to a surface of the other substrate on which the second substrate connector is to be mounted, and when the coupling connector is fitted to the first substrate connector and the second substrate connector, the surfaces of both substrates on which the first substrate connector and the second substrate connector are mounted become substantially in parallel to each other.
4. The substrate-to-substrate connector according to claim 2, wherein the first contact portion and the second contact portion are integrally connected via a bent portion.
5. The substrate-to-substrate connector according to claim 2, wherein the contact sections of the first terminal are connected to elastically deformable contact arms and are urged by the arms to be pressed against the contact surfaces of the first contact portion on both sides thereof, and the contact sections of the second terminals first terminal are connected to elastically deformable contact arms and are urged by the arms to be pressed against the contact surfaces of the second contact portion on both sides thereof.
6. The substrate-to-substrate connector according to claim 2, wherein the first terminal is deformable relative to the connecting terminal in a direction in which the contact surfaces of the first contact portion on both sides thereof extend, and the second terminal is deformable relative to the connecting terminal in a direction in which the contact surfaces of the second contact portion on both sides thereof extend.
PCT/US2007/020699 2006-09-25 2007-09-25 Substrate to substrate connector WO2008039464A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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JP2006-259205 2006-09-25
JP2006259205A JP2008078093A (en) 2006-09-25 2006-09-25 Board-to-board connector

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WO2008039464A1 true WO2008039464A1 (en) 2008-04-03

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DE102011103738A1 (en) 2011-05-31 2012-12-06 Wago Verwaltungsgesellschaft Mbh Coupling connector has wraparound insulating housing that is provided at connecting portion of pin contact portions
US8535102B1 (en) 2012-09-07 2013-09-17 Apple Inc. Compliant mount for connector
EP3657606A1 (en) * 2018-11-23 2020-05-27 Shenzzhen Shentai Weixiang Electronics Co., Ltd. Connector
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WO2009146789A1 (en) * 2008-06-03 2009-12-10 Mc Technology Gmbh Connecting element to produce an electrically conducting connection between two terminals
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