JPH0613121A - Modular connector - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a modular connector (jack) that can be directly connected to a conductor of a flat flexible cable while being connected to a mating connector (modular plug). [Structure] A modular connector 1 has a connector housing 2 in which an opening 8 into which a mating connector (plug) is inserted is formed on the front surface. The connector housing 2 has a large number of contacts 10 consisting of an inner contact portion 12 in the opening 8 and a rear outer contact portion 14. The flat flexible cable 6 is pressed together with the insert 4 against the outer contact portion 14 to connect the conductor 36 of the cable 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particularly to modular plug and receptacle (female) modular connectors for engaging conductors of flat cables.

[0002]

U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,633 discloses a modular receptacle commonly referred to as a modular jack. This modular receptacle mates with a modular plug. The modular jack disclosed in this U.S. patent has an insulating housing and a plurality of electrical terminals.
Here, the electric terminal has an elastic contact portion and a conductor connecting portion. It includes an insulating block that moves toward and makes electrical contact with the conductor. The conductors that move into electrical contact with the terminals are discrete (insulated) conductors.

Also, British Patent No. 2,212,007 discloses a connector in which a flat flexible cable is connected to a modular jack. The connector includes a plurality of electrical contacts located on the platform and the flat flexible cable travels through the insulating block to engage the electrical terminals.

[0004]

A disadvantage of the above-described conventional modular connector is that there is no secure engagement between the cable and the electrical terminals.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved modular connector in which a tight mating contact is made between the cable and the conductor.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned objects and technical problems, the electric connector of the present invention is for electrically connecting with a flat flexible cable, and is provided with a plurality of mating contacts with a mating connector. The contact portion has a contact and is in contact with the conductor of the flat flexible cable. A feature of this electrical connector is that it includes an insert having a contact portion disposed on one side thereof and further having alignment means for laterally aligning the flat flexible cable with the contact portion.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the modular connector of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, description will be given with reference to FIG. 1 showing an exploded perspective view of a modular connector of the present invention. A modular connector (which may be simply referred to as a connector hereinafter) 1 includes a connector housing 2 and a cable alignment insert 4 for aligning a cable 6 with the housing 2.
Is included. The connector housing 2 is a standard (conventional) connector housing in that it includes an opening 8 as shown in FIG. 3 and the above-mentioned modular plug (not shown) is inserted therein. The connector housing 2 further includes a plurality of electrical contacts 10. The contact 10 includes a resilient contact portion 12 extending into the opening 8 and is configured to make electrical contact with a mating modular plug.

Further, the connector (or modular jack) housing 2 is provided on the rear surface of the connector housing 2.
Multiple rear contact portions 14 extending (or exposed) from 16
Is included. The terminal straddles the concave surface 18 and is arranged on the mandrel platform 20, and the contact portion 14 has the rear surface 16
And it is hung between the mandrel 20.

Finally, the modular connector 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 which show a top view and a side view of the connector assembly. In this connector 1, the pair of latch arms 22 is essentially elastic and is integrally molded with the connector housing 2. The latch arm 22 includes a forward facing latch surface 24 and a cam surface 26 leading to the latch surface 24.
Have. The latch arm 22 further includes an upper edge 28 and a lower edge 30, the details of the purpose or function of which will be described later.

As is apparent from FIG. 1, the alignment insert 4 includes a longitudinal slot 32 sized to receive the flat flexible cable 6. This slot part
Both edges of the flat flexible cable 6 are inner edges of the slot portion 32.
Abutted or guided by 34, 34 aligns the flat flexible cable 6 correctly and vertically with respect to the connector 1. As a result, each conductor 36 of the flat flexible cable 6 is laterally aligned with each contact portion 14 of the terminal.

Further, notches 40 are formed on both sides of the alignment insert 4. The size of the notch 40 of the alignment insert 4 is selected as the size to be inserted between the latch arms 22. That is, the upper tab portion 42 and the lower tab portion 44 of the alignment insert 4 are respectively latch arms.
The upper edge 28 and the lower edge 30 of 22 are brought into contact with each other.

Also, the inner surface 48 of the alignment insert 4 is
Has a ridge 50 protruding inward,
It supports electrical contact between each conductor 36 of the flat flexible cable 6 and each contact portion 14 of the terminal. When the alignment insert 4 together with the flat flexible cable 6 is completely attached to the connector housing 2 at a predetermined position, the ridge 50 causes the contact portion 14 of the terminal together with the flat flexible cable 6 to form an arc shape on the rear surface of the connector housing 2 ( Or, it is bent toward the concave part. As a result, the conductor 36 of the flat flexible cable 6 can be elastically and stably brought into electrical contact with the contact portion 14 of the terminal.

The preferred embodiment of the modular connector according to the present invention has been described above in detail. However, it will be easily understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit or gist of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the present invention includes not only such embodiments but also modifications and changes thereof.

[0015]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the modular connector of the present invention, not only the elastic contact, that is, the internal contact portion, which comes into contact with the contact of the mating modular plug inserted into the front opening of the connector housing. , A rear or external contact portion exposing these contacts substantially parallel to the rear surface of the connector housing. Since the parallel conductors of the flat flexible cable aligned with the external contact portion are elastically pressed into contact with each other, the modular connector can be directly connected to the conductor of the flat flexible cable, and the flat connector of the flat connector is used. It has a remarkable practical effect that it can be easily and surely connected to a flexible cable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a modular connector of the present invention.

2 is a top view of the modular connector of FIG.

3 is a side view of the modular connector of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Modular connector 2 Connector housing 8 Opening 10 Contact 12 Internal contact part 14 External contact part 4 Insert 6 Flat flexible cable

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A connector housing having an opening on the front surface into which a mating modular plug is inserted, an internal contact portion extending into the opening of the connector housing, and an external contact exposed parallel to the rear surface of the connector housing. A modular connector, comprising: a plurality of contacts including a portion; and an insert that holds the flat flexible cable and presses and connects the flat flexible cable to a rear surface of the connector housing.