JPH0557785U - Low insertion force type connector - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To obtain a low insertion force type connector having a simple structure with a reduced insertion force and excellent electrical characteristics. [Structure] The low insertion force type connector 10 has a plurality of pairs of contacts 30 on both surfaces of a partition wall 22. Warhead 23 at the front end of the bulkhead 22
And the surface is covered with a metal plate 40 such as a thin stainless steel plate. The mating connector 50 has elastic contact arms 62, and the distance between the contacts 63 is expanded by a biasing member 57 by applying a preload. It is also possible to obtain a connector in which a plurality of contact pairs are radially arranged around the central partition 22 as a round bar shape.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial application]

 The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a low insertion force type connector having a large number of contact pairs and capable of being fitted with a relatively low insertion force.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 Generally, an electrical connector is composed of a male (plug) type connector and a female (receptacle) type connector that can be inserted into and removed from each other. These male and female connectors are usually fitted to each other when assembling the equipment using them, and are usually removed when necessary for maintenance service or the like.

Each of these connectors generally consists of an insulating housing and one or more contacts. As the number of contacts used in the connectors increases, a great deal of force is required when mating and unmating both connectors. In particular, the force required for fitting, that is, the inserting force is larger than the pulling force that is the force required for pulling out, and a low insertion force (LIF) type connector is indispensable for improving the assembly workability of the connector. However, it goes without saying that even a LIF connector requires a sufficient contact pressure between the contacts of both connectors when it is used. If the contact pressure is insufficient, a contact failure may occur due to a slight vibration impact or a layer of oxides or other foreign matter deposited on the contact surface, and the original function of the connector may not be exhibited, resulting in malfunction or failure of the device. Cause.

On the other hand, in a connector for interconnecting a large number of conductors such as a board-to-board or a board-to-cable, a plurality of pairs of contacts are arranged on both sides of a central partition of a plug-type connector, and such contacts are provided. It is common to fit and connect a mating connector having a receptacle contact in the form of an elastic arm. In such a connector, a taper is formed at the front end of the partition wall so that the contacts do not collide with each other at the time of fitting and the insertion force is reduced. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,267 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-5097.

[0005]

[Issues to be solved by the device]

 However, in the conventional connector as described above, the frictional force with the receptacle contact engaged at the time of fitting is large and the desired low insertion force cannot be obtained, and the central bulkhead is scraped by the receptacle contact, and the scraping is performed. There was a problem that dust and the like entered the contact area between the contacts to cause poor contact.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a LIF connector in which the frictional resistance with the receptacle contact of the mating connector is significantly reduced at the time of mating and the partition wall is not cut by the contact. To do. Another object of the present invention is to provide a LIF connector suitable for applications in which it is difficult to form a conventional ZIF connector structure by arranging a plurality of contacts radially.

[0007]

[Means for solving the problem]

 According to the LIF type connector of the present invention, the front end portion of the central partition wall is formed into a substantially warhead shape, and a metal layer having a low friction coefficient such as a stainless steel plate is formed on the surface to reduce the insertion force with the mating connector. I am trying.

Further, in the present invention, a contact biasing member is inserted between the receptacle contacts of the mating connector, and a preload is applied so as to increase the distance between the opposing receptacle contacts. This further reduces the insertion force at the initial stage of mating both connectors, and increases the contact pressure of the contacts of both connectors when fully mated.

[0009]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a LIF type connector of the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as a LIF connector) will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the overall shape of a LIF connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, particularly a plug type connector 10. A large number of contacts 30 are fixed to the central portion of the substantially π-shaped insulating housing 20. Each contact 30 has a solder connection part 31 to, for example, a board on the upper side in the drawing and a contact part 32 to the receptacle contact of a mating connector on the lower side. As will be described later, the contacts 30 are laterally separated from each other by an isolation groove, and arranged so as to form a pair of contacts facing each other on both sides in the direction of the paper in the central partition wall.

FIG. 2A is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of the LIF connector 10 shown in FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of the contact 30 and the tip (lower end in the figure) of the central partition wall in FIG. 2A, and FIG. 2C shows a modified example of FIG. 2B.

As can be seen from FIG. 2 (A), the insulating housing 20 of the LIF connector 10 has a central partition 22 formed at the center of a base 21 and openings 25, 26 for inserting contacts 30 formed on both sides thereof. There is. At the front end (lower end in the figure) of the central partition wall 22, a warhead-shaped portion 23 having a substantially warhead shape in cross section or overall shape is formed, and an isolation groove 24 for isolating and holding a large number of contacts 30 from each other on both side surfaces. Are formed. A guide groove 28 deviated from the center line is formed on the inner surface of the guide holding portion 27 for the mating connector of the insulating housing 20 to guide the partner connector in the correct direction.

Each contact 30 is L-shaped, and a barb 33 is formed at the base of the contact portion 32, and is inserted and fixed in the contact insertion openings 25 and 26. The connecting portions 31 selectively project upward from different portions on each side of the central partition wall 22 so that the mutually adjacent contacts 30 can be easily connected to the conductors or through holes of the substrate.

What should be noted here is the shape structure of the front end of the central partition wall 22. That is, the front end is made into a warhead-like portion 23 to prevent both contacts from colliding with each other when they are fitted to the mating connector. Further, a metal layer 40 having a low friction coefficient such as a thin stainless steel plate is capped on the surface of the warhead 23. The metal layer 40 may be separate metal layers 40a and 40b on the left and right sides of the warhead 23 as shown in FIG. 2B, or it may be an integral metal layer 40 as shown in FIG. 2C. Good. The separate metal layer in FIG. 2B is used when it is not desirable to short-circuit the contact facing each other when the connector is fitted, and the integrated metal layer 40 in FIG. 2C is used for fitting the connector. It is adopted when it is desired to short-circuit the contact pair at the same time, or when the short-circuit does not cause any problem in performance.

Next, FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of the LIF connector 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a mating connector 50 that is fitted and used with the LIF connector 10. Fig. 3 shows the initial state of mating of both connectors 10 and 50, and Fig. 4 shows the state of both connectors 10 and 50 when completely mated. Since the LIF connector 10 of FIGS. 3 and 4 is the same as the one described above, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

The receptacle-type connector 50 includes a first insulating housing 51 and a second insulating housing 52 which are engaged with each other and integrated with each other. A plurality of pairs of receptacle contacts 60 integrally molded with the insulating base portion 53 are mounted on the front end of the second insulating housing 52, and the first insulating housing 51 is mounted and fixed on the outer periphery thereof. A metal plate 54 having an opening is used to reinforce the connector 50.

The contact 60 has a receptacle portion 61 that is received in the contact receiving passage 55 of the second insulating housing 52, and a resilient arm-shaped contact portion 62 that contacts the contact portion 32 of the contact 30 of the LIF connector 10. The tips or the vicinity of the free ends of the contact portions 62 are bent inward in a substantially U-shape so as to approach each other to form contacts 63. The first insulating housing 51 is configured to protect the receptacle contact 60 of the connector 50, particularly the contact portion 62 thereof, and the contact portion of the LIF connector 10 is inserted through the opening 56 at the front end thereof. There is. Here, a contact biasing member 57 is inserted between the opposing contacts 60, 60, and a pair of corners 58, 58 'projecting from the front end of the contact biasing member 57 abut the inclined portion of the contact arm 62 to increase the contact 63 interval. Preload to open. The base of the contact arm 62 of the contact 60 before the biasing member 57 is inserted is in a horizontal state in which it substantially matches the side surface of the biasing member 57.

Incidentally, an example of a ZIF (zero insertion force type connector) similar to the connector 50 is disclosed in detail in Japanese Patent Application No. 3-142620 filed by the applicant of the present application. Further, one end of a coaxial cable, for example, is connected to the receptacle portion 61, which is omitted in the drawing.

In the initial mating state of both connectors 10 and 50 shown in FIG. 3, the warhead-like portion 23 of the central partition wall 22 of the LIF connector 10 is located between the contacts 63 of the contacts 60 of the mating connector 50 to which the preload is applied. Contact. When both connectors 10 and 50 are pressed against each other in this state, the contact point 63 is expanded along the metal layer 40 of the warhead-shaped portion 23 toward the contact portion 32 of the contact 30 of the LIF connector 10. Slide. Here, the preload is applied to the contact arm portion 62 of the contact 60, the warhead-like curved surface shape of the warhead-like portion 23, and the metal layer 40 having a low friction coefficient on the surface make it possible to insert the connectors 10 and 50 into each other. It can be seen that is significantly reduced compared to conventional connectors.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which both connectors 10 and 50 are completely fitted together, and the contact 63 of the contact 60 of the mating connector 50 and the contact portion 32 of the contact 30 of the LIF connector 10 are in complete contact. I understand. It will be understood that since the biasing member 57 preloads the contact arm 62 of the contact 60, the contact pressure between both contacts is sufficiently large even with a low insertion force. Further, the contact 63 of the contact 60 does not directly contact the front end of the central partition 22 of the insulating housing 20 of the LIF connector 10 and does not cut it. Therefore, the surface may be shaved, and the scrap may cause poor contact. There is no.

Although the LIF connector of the present invention has been described above in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. It is clear that the insulating housing of each connector and the shape structure of the contacts can be modified in various ways according to the need or application. Although the contacts are arranged in rows in the above-described embodiments, it goes without saying that a connector having radial contacts in which a plurality of contact pairs are radially arranged around the central partition wall or round bar may be used.

[0022]

[Effect of the device]

 According to the low insertion force type connector of the present invention, since the front end of the partition wall between the pair of contacts has a warhead-shaped portion whose surface is covered with a low friction metal layer, the contact arm of the mating connector has a low friction coefficient Can lead to. Therefore, the insertion force with respect to the mating connector can be reduced, and furthermore, the partition wall formed by the receptacle contact can be cut to effectively prevent the generation of chips or the like that cause contact failure of the connector.

Furthermore, according to the low insertion force type connector of the present invention, not only the insertion force of both connectors can be further reduced but also sufficient contact pressure can be obtained by preloading the contacts of the mating connector. It is possible. The present invention is particularly suitable for a connector for a logic IC tester in which a plurality of contacts such as 6 or 8 are radially arranged.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the overall structure of a low insertion force type connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing an enlarged contact tip portion and a partition wall tip portion.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an initial fitting state of the low insertion force type connector of FIG. 1 and a mating connector.

4 is a cross-sectional view showing a completely fitted state of the low insertion force type connector of FIG. 1 and a mating connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 50 Connector 20 Insulation housing 22 Central partition wall 23 Bullet-shaped part 40 Metal plate 30 Contact 60 Receptacle contact 62 Contact part 63 Contact point 57 Bias member

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An electrical connector having at least one pair of contacts in a facing portion of a central partition of an insulating housing and configured to come into contact with a receptacle contact of a mating connector, wherein the front end of the central partition is formed into a substantially warhead shape. At the same time, a low insertion force type connector characterized in that the surface is covered with a metal plate having a low friction coefficient. 2. An electric connector having at least one pair of contacts at opposite portions of a central partition of an insulating housing, and configured to come into contact with a receptacle contact of a mating connector, wherein the front end of the central partition is formed into a substantially warhead shape. At the same time, a metal plate having a low coefficient of friction is capped on the surface, and the receptacle contact of the mating connector is provided with an eccentric member for applying a preload so as to increase a contact distance between opposing contact portions. Force type connector.