Connector set and jointer for use therein

A connector set includes at least one of a header and a socket and a jointer. The jointer extends in a direction and is configured to couple the header and the socket so as to be in parallel with each other. The jointer includes first jointer connecting portions provided at both end portions thereof and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and which are configured to engage first connecting portions provided at both end portions of the header, and second jointer connecting portions provided at both end portions of the jointer body and extending in a third direction opposite to the second direction, and which are configured to engage the second connecting portions provided at both end portions of the socket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a connector set and a jointer for use therein and, more particularly, to a structure of a jointer for joining a plurality of connectors.

2. Description of Related Art

Size reduction and functional upgrade of a portable terminal, such as a portable phone, are recently proceeding, and miniaturization and integration of electronic components to be mounted as well as size reduction of a printed wiring board are also becoming greater. Under such a circumstance, devices requiring ultra-multi-conductor connectors having 200 conductors have come out in relation to connectors. A pitch eventually becomes finer, and a footprint that can be used for mounting a connector becomes further smaller. Even a slight size reduction is increasingly becoming serious.

Various connectors for a variety of applications have hitherto been put forward. As shown inFIG. 16, there is an example of a connector including a socket1010and a header1030, and the connector makes an electrical connection between printed wiring boards (e.g., an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) and a hard substrate) on which the socket1010and the header1030are mounted (see, for instance, JP-A-2002-008753).

The socket1010includes: a socket body1011made from a molded resin article defining a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape; and a plurality of socket contacts1020which are inserted into the socket body1011during resin molding process and which are formed by bending a strip-shaped metal material.

The header1030includes: a header body1031made from a resin molded article; and a plurality of header contacts1040which are inserted into the header body1031during resin molding process and which are formed by bending a strip-shaped metal material.

In order to make a connection with the head body1031, an insertion groove1012is formed in the socket body1011along its longitudinal direction. The head body1031is inserted into the insertion groove1012, whereby the socket contacts and the header contacts are brought into electrical connection with each other.

The header1030is inserted into the insertion groove1012of the socket1010, whereupon a projecting mount of the header1030fits into the insertion groove1012of the socket1010. Further, a contact portion of the socket contact1020comes into an elastic contact with a contact portion of the header contact1040. Accordingly, a printed wiring board on which the socket1010is mounted and a printed wiring board on which the header1030is mounted are electrically connected together.

A coupling member as well as a coupling-type connector in which a plurality of such connectors are coupled and arranged on a circuit board has been proposed. The coupling-type connector includes a plurality of connectors coupled together in a longitudinal direction (JP-A-2005-294036), and the coupling member includes a plurality of connectors arranged in parallel (JP-A-8-250836).

Another proposed connector includes a plurality of surface-mounting connectors that are arranged in parallel and coupled together by means of a metal absorbing plate (JP-A-11-003752). The surface-mounting connectors prevents occurrence of deformation caused by heat generated during a solder reflow process when connection terminals of the connector are mounted on a circuit board, such as a printed wiring board, or prevents the connector from receiving damage generated during removal process after the solder reflow process, thereby maintaining flatness of the contacts and making the absorbing plate recyclable.

In the surface-mounting connector, engagement portions of the absorbing plate and engagement portions of the connector supported by the absorbing plate each are provided with a backlash space (a margin space). When the connector is placed on a horizontal surface of a printed circuit board (a printed wiring board), the connector can slightly move in a three-dimensional direction. Occurrence of warpage and lifting generated during the solder reflow process is prevented by assuring the backlash space, to thus enhance the flatness of the connector achieved after mounting of the connector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, in relation to a device requiring an ultra-multi-conductor connector having 200 conductors or more, a pitch becomes finer, and a footprint for mounting a connector becomes smaller. In the meantime, a demand for enhancement of dimensional accuracy increases, and size reduction and sophistication are becoming a serious problem.

In such a circumstance, when an attempt is made to realize the ultra-multi-conductor connector having 200 conductors or more by means of a single connector, a molded article becomes susceptible to warpage attributable to elongation of the connector. For this reason, a connector set in which a plurality of connectors are mounted in parallel is required. The connector set described in connection with JP-A-11-003752 using a structure for mounting two or more connectors in parallel enables performance of mounting with a high degree of flatness. However, the ultra-multi-conductor connector is not sufficient in terms of a reduction in mounting precision and footprint and meets the following challenges in order to meet a demand for further miniaturization, such as that mentioned previously.

In the connector described in connection with JP-A-11-003752, the connector is held so as to be sandwiched between metal absorbing plates. In particular, the socket wholly becomes greater and requires a footprint. Therefore, other components or other sockets cannot be mounted at adjacent positions, and limitations are encountered in increasing packing density. Since the absorbing plates are made of metal, the absorbing plates are likely to transmit heat to the connector during a solder reflow process for mounting the connector to a mounting board, such as a printed wiring board, thereby raising a problem of the connector itself being vulnerable to warpage, or the like.

As mentioned above, JP-A-11-003752 describes that flatness is enhanced when the margin space called the backlash space is provided. However, a displacement commensurate with the backlash space eventually arises. For this reason, when the printed wiring board (the circuit board) with the socket mounted thereon and a wiring board (the substrate), such as a flexible wiring board, with a head mounted thereon are connected together by means of engagement of the socket with the head, a problem, such as an engagement failure, may arise for reasons of a positional displacement occurring between the circuit boards. Therefore, a positional displacement absorbing mechanism must be provided on the connector, which in turn poses a problem of a further increase in footprint.

JP-A-8-250836 describes a coupling member that has at both longitudinal ends thereof a plurality of engagement portions and that is made of a resin. The coupling member is used for coupling together a plurality of connectors. Therefore, the coupling member is described as being able to maintain flatness of a terminal without inducing warpage or torsions of the connectors. However, even in this case, when the connector is mounted on the circuit boards, a play (a backlash space) is provided between the engagement portions of the coupling member and the connectors, whereby the connectors can freely move to an extent corresponding to the play, as in JP-A-11-003752. It is impossible to effect miniaturization that enables a reduction in footprint of a connector associated with recently-required miniaturization of a printed wiring board.

In order to attach the coupling member, coupling members equipped with retaining portions appropriate for respective types, such as a socket portion and a head portion of the connector, must be prepared, and at least two types of coupling members for use with the socket portion and the head portion are required. Moreover, in the case of use of two types of coupling members, a nominal dimensional error between the coupling members may pose difficulty in insertion and removal of a connector having a narrow pitch, which in turn result in deterioration of connection reliability.

Moreover, a coupling element for a socket portion is attached to one circuit board, and a coupling element for a head portion is attached to another circuit board. The coupling elements are not identical with each other in terms of a shape and a size. Therefore, when the coupling element for the socket portion and the coupling element for the head portion are mounted on the respective circuit boards, deformation attributable to the heat of a solder reflow process is likely to arise. For this reason, when an attempt is made to connect the circuit boards, as completed products, together by engagement of the coupling element for the socket portion and the coupling element for the head portion, difficulty may be encountered in engagement because of warpage or distortion.

The present invention was made in view of the circumstance, and an object thereof is to provide a connector set that enables connection between circuit boards by means of one type of socket and that has a fine pitch.

The present invention also provides a connector set that enables a further reduction in footprint and that obviates a necessity to form a backlash space, a deformation absorbing portion, and the like, and that enables high precision ultra-fine connection between circuit boards, as well as providing a jointer (a coupling member) for use in the connector set.

The present invention also provides a compact, high-dimensional-precision connector set that exhibits high connection reliability even in the case of a fine-pitch connector, as well as providing a jointer for use in the connector set.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a connector set comprising: at least one of a header and a socket; and a jointer, wherein the header comprises: an insulating header main body; and a plurality of pairs of header contacts which are provided on the header main body and which are arranged along a first arranging direction so as to be in parallel with one another, wherein the header main body comprises first connecting portions provided at both end portions of the header main body in the first arranging direction, wherein the socket comprises: an insulating socket main body having an insertion groove having a shape which allows the header to be removably inserted therein; and a plurality of pairs of socket contacts which are provided on the socket main body and are arranged along a second arranging direction so as to be in parallel with one another, wherein the socket main body comprises second connecting portions provided at both end portions of the socket main body in the second arranging direction, and wherein the plurality of pairs of socket contacts are arranged to contact the plurality of pairs of header contacts when the header is inserted in the insertion groove of the socket, wherein the jointer is configured to couple the header and the socket such that the first arranging direction of the header and the second arranging direction of the socket are in parallel with a first direction, and such that the header and the socket are oriented so as to be electrically connected to a circuit board when the header and the socket are coupled by the jointer, and wherein the jointer comprises: a jointer body extending in the first direction, first jointer connecting portions which are provided at both end portions of the jointer body in the first direction, which extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and which are configured to engage the first connecting portions, and second jointer connecting portions which are provided at both end portions of the jointer body in the first direction, which extend in a third direction opposite to the second direction, and which are configured to engage the second connecting portions.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a jointer for use in the connector set.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a connector set comprising: a header which comprises an insulating header main body comprising first connecting portions provided at both end portions of the header main body, and a plurality of pairs of header contacts which are to contact a first circuit board and which are provided on the header main body along a first direction; a socket which comprises an insulating socket main body having an insertion groove having a shape which allows the header to be removably inserted therein, and comprising second connecting portions provided at both end portions of the socket main body, and a plurality of pairs of socket contacts which are to contact the first circuit board and which are provided on the socket main body along the first direction, such that contacts being arranged to contact the plurality of pairs of header contacts when the header is inserted in the insertion groove of the socket; and a jointer configured to couple the header and the socket such that the header and the socket are in parallel, the jointer comprising a jointer body extending in the first direction, first jointer connecting portions which are provided at both end portions of the jointer body, which extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and which are configured to engage the first connecting portions, and second jointer connecting portions which are provided at both end portions of the jointer body, which extend in a third direction opposite to the second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, and which are configured to engage the second connecting portions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of the present invention is now described in detail by reference to the drawings.FIGS. 1 to 8are views showing a connector set of the embodiment of the present invention. The connector set of the embodiment is used for a portable terminal, such as a portable phone, and implements a connection of ultra-fine pitch between terminals having a pitch of 0.35 mm.

A basic configuration of the embodiment is first described. As shown in oblique perspective views ofFIGS. 1 and 2, the connector set of the embodiment is a connector set that connects one circuit board to another circuit board, for example, a flexible printed wiring board to a printed wiring board that is a hard substrate.FIG. 1shows the connector set to which a jointer is attached, andFIG. 2shows the connector set from which the jointer is removed. As shown inFIG. 1, the connector set is formed by fixedly connecting a socket10to a header30by means of a jointer50made of a resin molded article. The socket10includes a socket body11and a plurality of socket contacts20arranged in parallel on the socket body11. The header30includes a header body31and a plurality of header contacts40arranged in parallel on the header body31. The header contacts40contact and are electrically connected to respective socket contacts20of another connector set. The jointer50includes claws56used for removing the jointer50. The length of the connector set is designated by reference symbol L, and the width of the connector set is designated by reference symbol W0. The connector set has no bulge formed by the jointer50in the lengthwise and widthwise directions. That is, the jointer50is arranged so as not to protrude out of outer edges of the socket and the header. When the connector set is formed by use of the jointer50, an upper surface (an absorbing surface) of the jointer50is made substantially horizontal, so that the connector set can easily be mounted on a printed wiring board during mounting operation. Consequently, even when a height of the header is adjusted or a recess of the jointer is extended, since the upper surface of the jointer is made substantially horizontal, the connector set can easily be mounted.

In other words, the jointer50is configured to couple the socket10and the header30such that the direction in which the socket contacts20are arranged and the direction in which the header contacts40are arranged are in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the jointer50(i.e., the first direction A), and such that the socket10and the header30(more specifically, the socket contacts20and the header contacts50) are oriented so as to be electrically connected to a circuit board when the socket10and the header30are coupled by the jointer50.

Specifically, as shown inFIGS. 3 to 8, the jointer50of the connector set of the embodiment includes first jointer connecting portions52(52a,52b) and second jointer connecting portions53(53a,53b). The first jointer connecting portions52(52a,52b) engage first connecting portions2(2a,2b) serving as engagement portions of the header30, respectively. The second jointer connecting portions53(53a,53b) engage second connecting portions3(3a,3b) serving as engagement portions of the socket10. Accordingly, the jointer50securely maintains positional accuracy of the socket10and the header30with high precision.FIG. 3is an oblique perspective view of the jointer when viewed from its front side;FIG. 4Ais an oblique perspective view of the jointer when viewed from its rear side andFIG. 4Bis a cross-sectional view cut along a line IVB-IVB shown inFIG. 4A; andFIG. 5is a descriptive view showing engagement of a socket and a header which form the connector set of the embodiment with the jointer.FIG. 6is an enlarged diagram of a principal portion showing engagement between the second connecting portions3(3a,3b) and the second jointer connecting portions53(53a,53b) engaging the respective second connecting portions3(3a,3b);FIGS. 7A to 7Care a top view, a front view, and a side view of the connector set; andFIGS. 8A to 8Care a top view, a front view, and a side view showing that the connector set is mounted on a circuit board, i.e., that the jointer is removed from the connector set.

As shown inFIG. 3andFIGS. 4A and 4B, the jointer50includes a jointer body51, the first jointer connecting portions52(52a,52b), and the second jointer connecting portions53(53a,53b). The jointer body extends in a first direction A. The first jointer connecting portions52(52a,52b) are formed at both ends of the jointer body51so as to extend in a second direction L1perpendicular to the first direction A in the top view, and configured to engage the first connecting portions2a,2bformed on the header30. The second jointer connecting portions53(53a,53b) are formed at both ends of the jointer body51so as to extend in a third direction L2perpendicular to the first direction A and opposite to the second direction L1in the top view, and configured to engage the second connecting portions3aand3bformed on the socket10.

The jointer50is formed of a resin molded article formed from the same insulating resin as that of the socket body11and the header body31, e.g., an epoxy resin. As shown inFIG. 3andFIGS. 4A and 4B, the jointer body51has a flat surface having a width of 2.0 mm, and recess portions are formed on a side opposite to the flat surface. The jointer body51includes a thick frame portion54having a width D1of about 0.3 mm and thin recess portions55having a thickness D2of about 0.3 mm, as shown inFIG. 4B. According to the structure, the weight of the jointer50can be reduced while desired strength is maintained, without warpage or torsion. The jointer50also includes claws portions56. When the jointer50is removed after the solder reflow process for fixing the connector set, the claw portions56allows the removal of the jointer50with small force.

As mentioned above, the jointer body51has the flat surface having the predetermined width. Consequently, even when the connector set is treated by automatic mounting operation, the jointer50can be held and conveyed without fail by use of a vacuum suction nozzle having a diameter smaller than the width of the flat surface of the jointer body51. Therefore, the jointer50can reliably be inserted into and removed from the socket10and the header30, so that automatic attachment of the jointer50becomes easily possible.

FIG. 6is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the principal portion showing a connection with the jointer connecting portions53of the connector set.FIG. 6is a view showing a connection between the second connecting portion3awith the second jointer connecting portion53a. The second jointer connecting portion53adefines a protruding portion, and an inner side surface of the second jointer connecting portion53is tapered such that the thickness of the second jointer connecting portion53ais reduced towards its distal end. Thus, the jointer50is easily inserted during insertion of the jointer50, and the jointer50does not interfere with the inside of the connector set, such as contacts during removal of the jointer50, thereby being easily removed.

As shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the header30includes the plurality of pairs of header contacts40and the insulating header body31. The header contacts40are provided so as to allow an electrical connection with a first circuit board100(seeFIG. 12) and include a copper alloy plated with nickel and gold layers. On the insulating header body31, the plurality of pairs of header contact40are arranged in parallel, and along the first direction A. The insulating header body31includes protruding first connecting portions2aand2bprovided at both ends of the header body31.

As shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the socket10includes the plurality of pairs of socket contacts20and the insulating socket body11. The socket contacts20are provided so as to allow an electrical connection with the first circuit board100(seeFIG. 12) and include a copper alloy plated with nickel and gold layers. The second connecting portions3aand3bdefine recessed grooves formed at both ends of the socket body11. The first connecting portions2aand2bof the header30are removably inserted into the recessed grooves. The plurality of pairs of socket contacts20are arranged in parallel, and along the first direction A so as to contact and to be electrically connected to the plurality of pairs of header contacts40of the header30of another connector set which is mounted on a second circuit board200(seeFIG. 12), when the protruding first connecting portions2aand2bformed on the header30of another connector set are inserted into the second connecting portions3aand3b.

The first connecting portions2aand2bhave shapes that is the inverse of those of the second connecting portions3aand3bregarding concave-convex relationship, such that they match each other.

A method for assembling the connector set is now described with reference toFIGS. 9A to 9D.FIGS. 9A to 9Dare cross-sectional views (drawings equivalent to a cross-section A-A shown inFIG. 1) showing a process of mounting the connector set.

First, as shown inFIG. 9A, the jointer50is placed on the socket10and the header30, which are arranged in parallel and housed within a tray (not shown), from above by use of a vacuum suction nozzle (not shown). Accordingly, the first jointer connecting portions52(52a,52b) of the jointer50engage the second connecting portions2a,2bof the socket10. Also, the second jointer connecting portions53(53a,53b) engage the first connecting portions3a,3bof the header30.

As shown inFIG. 9B, terminals of the connector set are positioned to lands101of the first circuit board100, and the connector set is subjected to a solder reflow process, whereby the connector set is mounted on the lands101of the first circuit board100.FIG. 10is an oblique perspective view showing the state. Since the first and second connecting portions2and3of the connector set are fixed by the first and second jointer connecting portions52and53at this time in the same manner as in the case of connection with the connectors of another connector set, deformation can be prevented to a minimum so as to facilitate, at least, the connection with the connectors.

As shown inFIG. 9C, after the lands of the first circuit board100and the terminals of the connector set are fixedly connected, the jointer is removed.FIG. 11is an oblique perspective view of the connector set fixed to the lands of the circuit board after the removal of the jointer50.

Meanwhile, another connector set is likewise mounted on lands of the second circuit board200.

Further, after the lands of the second circuit board200and terminals of the connector set are fixedly connected, a jointer is removed.

Thereafter, the first circuit board100and the second circuit board200, to which connector sets are attached, respectively, can be connected together so as to oppose each other via the connector sets interposed therebetween (FIG. 9D). When the first circuit board100and the second circuit board200are connected, the first connecting portion2aof the header30of the connector set attached to the second circuit board200is inserted into the second connecting portion3aof the socket10of the connector set attached to the first circuit board100, and the second connecting portion3aof the socket10of the connector set attached to the second circuit board200is inserted into the first connecting portion2aof the header30of the connector set attached to the first circuit board100.

In the example shown inFIGS. 9A to 9D, the second jointer connecting portion53ais not provided with a tapered surface, which is different from that shown inFIG. 6, and a portion of the second jointer connecting portion53awhich contacts the second connecting portion3aas a whole has the shape matching a portion of the second connecting portion3a. In this case, preferably, at least the second jointer connecting portions53aand53bcontain a more elastic material or a softer material. Accordingly, damage inflicted on a contact, which is caused by oblique removal of the jointer, can be prevented more reliably.

As shown inFIGS. 12 and 13, the socket contact20and the header contact40elastically contact each other in an intermediate area of the connector set, whereby reliable connection is realized.FIGS. 12 and 13are drawings equivalent to a cross section B-B shown inFIG. 1.

As shown inFIG. 13, in relation to a width W1on the circuit board occupied by the mounted 200-conductor connector set, a space W5between the socket10and the header30can be reduced to a minimum space required to solder the terminals to the lands. Further, since the connector set corresponds to a combination of the socket10with the header30, the width of the connector set becomes a total sum of a socket width W3, a header width W4, and the space W5between the socket10and the header30. Reference symbol W6designates a distance between the centers of the socket10and the header30. On the contrary, as shown inFIG. 15, when related-art sockets or headers are combined together, widths of two wide sockets, i.e., 2×W3, are required. Therefore, as shown inFIG. 15, a width W11on the circuit board occupied by the connector set comes to 7.5 mm. Since a space commensurate with an interval between the two sockets1010arranged in parallel is required, the distance W16between the centers of the headers1030must also be increased, and the space becomes equal to a sum of the width W3of the two sockets1010and the space W15between the two sockets1010. Therefore, the width W1on the circuit board occupied by the connector set of the embodiment comes to 7.0 mm. When compared with the width W11on the circuit board occupied by the related-art connector set is 7.5 mm, the width can be reduced by as many as 0.5 mm.

As described above, according to the connector set of the embodiment, the socket10and the header30are arranged in parallel. The first and second connecting portions2,3which are provided at both ends of the socket10and the header30, respectively, and form engagement portions for connecting the circuit boards, engage the first and second jointer connecting portions52,53formed at both ends of the jointer50. As a result, the socket10and the header30are fixed by the jointer50at the portions of the socket10and the header30which are originally used for engagements when the circuit boards are connected by use of the connector set, so that the circuit board and the connector set can be connected together. Therefore, the socket10and the header30can be fixed with considerably superior positional accuracy, and formation of the backlash space and the deformation absorbing portion becomes obviated. Consequently, a higher degree of positional accuracy can be attained, and a finer pitch becomes possible. Further, the space between the socket10and the header30can be reduced. Since the essential requirement is to arrange the socket10and the header30so as to ensure a space required when circuit boards are connected, an increase in footprint can be prevented, and connectivity can further be enhanced. Since the connector set is connected onto the circuit board through a solder reflow process while connected and fixed by the jointer at the position where the connector set is originally engaged, a high degree of positional accuracy can be maintained.

In particular, the conveyance process and a mounting process such as a solder reflow process are performed while the first and second connecting portions2and3, which engage the second and first connecting portions3and2of another connector set when circuit boards are actually connected together, are fixed by the first jointer connecting portion52and the second jointer connecting portion53of the jointer50. Therefore, it is possible to prevent difficulty in insertion and removal during the connection between the circuit boards, which is caused by positional displacement resultant from deformation, such as warpage.

In addition, since the connector set is a combination of the socket10and the header30, an identical combination of a socket10with a header30is provided on a counterpart circuit board that is to be engaged by means of insertion and removal. Since the degree of deformation occurring in a mounting process, such as a solder reflow process, is also identical, displacement attributable to a difference in coefficient of thermal expansion is less likely to arise, and superior engagement operability is exhibited at the time of insertion and removal of the circuit boards.

In the connector set, one of the first jointer connecting portion52and the second jointer connecting portion53, which defines a protruding portion, have a tapered surface such that the thickness thereof is reduced toward their distal end. Hence, the jointer50can be prevented from interfering with and breaking the protruding portions of the header contact40, which is caused by oblique removal of the jointer50when the jointer50is removed after the connector set has been soldered onto the circuit board.

According to the configuration, it is possible to prevent the contacts of the socket10or the header30from breaking caused by interfering with the protruding portions of the first or second jointer connecting portion52,53, which is caused when the jointer50is obliquely removed after the connector set has been soldered onto the circuit board.

The protruding portions may have side surfaces perpendicular to a top surface of the protruding portions, rather than the tapered surface.

In the embodiment, the jointer50is formed through integral molding by use of a metal mold. However, the jointer50is not necessarily made by monolithic molding. In some area of the jointer50, the jointer body51and the first and second jointer connecting portions52,53may also be made of different resins. For example, the jointer body51may be made of an epoxy resin, and the first and second jointer connecting portions52,53may be made of a slightly-soft resin, for example, a polyimide resin. Moreover, the jointer body51may be made of a metal plate, and the first and second jointer connecting portions may be made of a resin.

In the embodiment, the second connecting portions3defining recess portions are formed at both ends of the socket10, and the first connecting portions2defining protruding portions are formed at both ends of the header30. However, the recess portion and the protruding portion may be formed at respective ends of each of the socket10and the header30. In this case, jointer50thereby has a symmetrical geometry, so that occurrence of torsion in the jointer50can be prevented, and deformation, which is generated during the solder reflow process, can well be prohibited.

The socket10and the header30forming the connector set are finally described in detail.

As shown inFIG. 14, the socket body11of the socket10is of a resin molded article formed so as to have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped flat shape. The socket body11defines a rectangular recessed insertion groove12along its longitudinal direction. The plurality of socket contacts20are inserted when the socket body11is formed by the resin molding, and the plurality of socket contacts20are arranged in two rows on side walls13,13provided on both sides of in the width direction of the insertion groove12of the socket body11extending along its longitudinal direction. A C-shaped guide wall15is formed on the surface of the socket body11which opposes the header30of another connector set, so as to protrude toward the header30of another connector set from edges of both longitudinal end portions of the second connecting portions3(3a,3b). The guide wall15has an inclined surface15asuch that an amount of protrusion increases from the second connecting portion3(3a,3b) toward the outside of the second connecting portion3(3a,3b). According to such a configuration, when the first connecting portions2(2a,2b) serving as protruding engagement portions of the header30of another connector set are inserted into the second connecting portions3(3a,3b) of the socket body11, the header30of another connector set is guided by the inclined surface15aof the guide wall15provided along the circumferential edges of the second connecting portions3(3a,3b), to thus be inserted into the insertion groove12of the socket10. Therefore, even when a relative position between the socket body11and the header body31is slightly displaced, the header30can readily be inserted into the insertion groove12of the socket10.

Each of the socket contacts20is made of a strip-shaped metal material. Each of the socket contacts20includes continually, integrally a holding portion21, a resilient portion (a first contact portion)22, and a strip-shaped terminal portion23. The holding portion21is bent into a U-shaped form and is held on the socket body11so as to pinch an edge of the side wall13extending along the insertion groove12of the socket body11extending along its longitudinal direction. The resilient portion22extends from one end of the holding portion21at a position located inside of the insertion groove12, so as to define an S-shaped form along with the holding portion21. The resilient portion22is bendable in a direction in which the distance between the holding portion21and the resilient portion22changes (that is, in a direction crossing the direction of insertion and removal of the header30into and from the insertion groove12). The terminal portion23is bent outwardly from one end of the holding portion21located outside of the insertion groove12, to thus protrude in a direction substantially perpendicular to the side wall13. The terminal portion23is soldered to the land101(seeFIG. 9B) that is a conductor pattern of the circuit board100, for example, a printed wiring board. In the resilient portion22, a contact protrusion24protruding in a direction departing from the holding portion21is bent, and the contact protrusion24elastically protrudes in a direction crossing the direction of insertion and removal.

Socket reinforcing fittings14are simultaneously molded on longitudinal end portions16of the socket body11by means of insert molding. The socket reinforcing fitting14includes: a fixing piece14aprotruding sideways from a bottom of the end portion16; a U-shaped connection piece (not shown) embedded in the end portion16; and an L-shaped extension piece (not shown). The fixing piece14ais connected to an exterior side of the extension piece, and the fixing piece14ais arranged substantially flush with the terminal portion23. When the terminal portions23of the socket contacts20are fixedly soldered to the lands101made of the conductor pattern of the circuit board100, such as a printed wiring board, the fixing pieces14aare fixedly soldered to the lands (not shown), whereby the socket reinforcing fittings14can reinforce the fixing force exerted on the circuit board of the socket body11, and stress exerted on the socket contacts20during fitting of the connectors can be decreased. Further, since the socket reinforcing fitting14is embedded in the socket body11, the mechanical strength of the socket body11can be enhanced. Moreover, the socket reinforcing fitting14is provided on the socket body11by insert molding, the socket body11does not need to ensure a thickness, such as that required in a case where socket reinforcing fitting14is held by means of press-fitting.

The header body31of the header30is made of a resin molded article having an elongated, substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A mount groove32is formed in a longitudinal direction in an area where the header contacts40are to be arranged, at a lateral center of the surface of the header body31opposing the socket body11of another connector set. The header body31further includes flange portions34protruding from side walls33in a substantially perpendicular direction along edges on the back side of the side walls33,33(i.e., a side of the side walls opposite to the socket10of another connector set) on both sides of the mount groove32. The plurality of header contacts40are arranged in parallel in two rows on exterior surfaces of the respective side walls33,33of the header body31along a longitudinal direction of the header body31. Moreover, a plurality of partition walls35that connect the side walls33,33opposing each other across the mount groove32are formed integrally with the header body31so as to extend from the bottom of the mount groove32to the opening of the mount groove32. Each of the partition walls35is interposed between the adjacent header contacts40in the longitudinal direction of the header body31.

Each of the header contacts40is formed by bending a strip metal material and simultaneously molded on the header body31by means of insert molding. The header contact40is formed to follow along outer wall of the side wall33of the header body31, and includes a second contact portion41to be contacted with the contact protrusion24of the socket contact20, a terminal portion42formed to protrude outward in a direction substantially perpendicular to the side wall33from the flange portion34and to be soldered on a conductive pattern of a circuit board, and a curved portion43formed in a substantially reverse U-shape striding across the side wall33from the vicinity of a peak of the side wall33and reaching the vicinity of a bottom of the concave portion32. A curvature radius of outer surface side of the curved portion43is established to be the smallest curvature radius so that the resilient portion (first contact portion)22of the socket contact20is hardly buckled due to scratching with the curved portion43.

Furthermore, a protrusion44and a concavity45are provided at positions of the second contact portion41of the header contact40where the contact protrusion24of the socket contact20slides. Specifically, the protrusion44is formed at a position a little upper (opposite side to the protrusion of the terminal portion42) than the center of the header contact40in height direction. A slanted face44ais formed on an outer face of the protrusion44so that a dimension of protrusion at a portion closer to the terminal portion42becomes larger. The concavity45has a channel shape extending along the height direction of the header contact40, and has two slanted faces depth of which becomes deeper for approaching to the center in the width direction so that the section in the width direction of the header contact40, that is, the direction crossing at right angle with the height direction becomes substantially V-shape.

A width dimension of the concavity45in the width direction of the header contact40is formed to be wider than a width dimension of the protrusion44, and smaller than a width dimension of the contact protrusion24. In addition, the dimensions and position of the concavity45in the height direction of the header contact40are established in a range that the contact protrusion24of the socket contact20slides on the second contact portion41.

According to such configuration, under a state that the header30is fully inserted into the insertion groove12of the socket10as shown inFIG. 13, the contact protrusion24contacts both side portion of the concavity45, and the protrusion44is positioned in the bottom face side of the insertion groove12from the contact protrusion24. Furthermore, in a process for inserting the header30into the insertion groove12of the socket10, the contact protrusion24elastically contacts both sides of the concavity45in the second contact portion41of the header contact40. Still furthermore, an area of the contact protrusion24which contacts the protrusion44is not overlapped to an area contacting the both sides of the concavity45. Thus, even though extraneous substance is adhered on the contact protrusion24of the socket contact20or the second contact portion41of the header contact40before the socket10and the header30are connected, the extraneous substance can be dropped into the concavity45in the process that the contact protrusion24slides on the surface of the second contact portion41. Accordingly, in comparison with the case that no concavity45is provided on the second contact portion41of the header contact40, the possibility that the extraneous substance is wedged between the contact protrusion24and the second contact portion41becomes lower. In other words, by providing the protrusion44and the concavity45on the second contact portion41of the header contact40, poor contacting between the socket contact20and the header contact40due to extraneous substance can be prevented. Furthermore, the contact protrusion24contacts at two points on both sides of the concavity45, so that contact reliability of the socket contact20and the header contact40can be increased. Still furthermore, the concavity45is provided on the second contact portion41of the header contact40in the range of sliding of the contact protrusion24, so that the extraneous substance adhered on the contact protrusion24can be dropped in the concavity45surely, in comparison with the case that the concavity45is provided at a portion outside the range of sliding of the contact protrusion24.

Furthermore, when force is applied to the header30in a direction pulled out from the insertion groove12of the socket10, the contact protrusion24of the socket contact20contacts the protrusion44of the header contact40, so that it receives resistance force from the protrusion44. Therefore, there is an advantageous merit that the header30is hardly pulled out from the insertion groove12of the socket10. By the way, when the header30is inserted into the insertion groove12of the socket10, the contact protrusion24of the socket contact20contacts the protrusion44of the header contact40. However, since the slanted face44ais formed on the protrusion44such that the protruding dimension becomes larger at a position closer to the terminal portion42, the resistance when the header30is inserted into the insertion groove12becomes smaller than the resistance when the header30is pulled out from the insertion groove12. Furthermore, since the position and shape of the concavity45is established such that the range contacting the protrusion44is not overlapped with the range contacting both sides of the concavity45on the contact protrusion24, the extraneous substance pushed by the contact protrusion24is dropped into the concavity45while the contact protrusion24slides on the surface of the protrusion44and rarely wedged between the contact protrusion24and the second contact portion41.

In addition, header reinforcing metal fittings46are integrally embedded with the header body31by insert molding in both end portions of the header body31in the longitudinal direction. The header reinforcing metal fittings46are formed on the same base metal as the header contacts40, and has substantially the same cross-sectional shape as shown inFIG. 14. In other words, the header reinforcing metal fittings46correspond to called loss pins which are not electrically connected among the header contacts40. However, a portion of the header reinforcing metal fitting46corresponding to the second contact portion41is embedded in the both end portions of the header body31so that it is not exposed. As shown inFIG. 14, a fixing piece46aof the header reinforcing metal fitting46corresponding to the terminal portion42may be cut off shorter than the terminal portion42of the header contact40so as to be substantially the same as the largest dimension of the header body31in the width direction. A protrusion44and a concavity45are provided on each header reinforcing metal fitting46, similar to the header contact40. With inserting such a header reinforcing metal fitting46into the header body31, resin which forms the header body31tightly contacts on the surfaces of the protrusion44and the concavity45, so that the fixing strength between the header reinforcing metal fitting46and the header body31is increased, and the mechanical strength of the header body31is increased. Furthermore, since the header reinforcing metal fittings46are inserted into the header body31, both end portions of the header body31in the longitudinal direction can be made smaller in comparison with the case that the header reinforcing metal fittings are press-fitted into the header body.

The fixing piece46aof the header reinforcing metal fittings46are soldered on lands101(seeFIG. 9B) of a circuit board, when the terminal portions42of the header contacts40are soldered on a conductive pattern of the circuit board, simultaneously. Thereby, fixing strength of the header body31to the circuit board can be reinforced. Furthermore, the stress applied to the header contact40when the socket10and the header30are connected can be reduced by the fixing piece46aof the header reinforcing metal fittings46. In other words, the header reinforcing metal fittings46serve as the terminal reinforcing metal fittings of the header contacts40.

In the above-described embodiment, the connector set includes a combination of the socket, the header and the jointer. However, even when the connector set includes the jointer and only one of the socket and the header but the jointer having the structure capable of coupling both the socket and the header as in the embodiment, such connector set can provide at least one of advantages of the embodiments, for example, the precise positional accuracy of one of the socket10and the header30, e.g., at the mounting process, and the high connection reliability. In other words, the connector set may include the jointer and at least one of the socket and the header.

As described above, a connector set of the embodiment of the present invention includes at least one of a socket and a header, and a jointer configured to couple both end portions of the socket and both end portions of the header so as to arrange them in parallel. Regarding the socket and the header, first and second connecting portions, which form engagement portions during the connection between circuit boards, engage first and second jointer connecting portions formed at both ends of the jointer. As a result, portions of the socket and portions of the header, which originally engage the portions of the header and portions of the socket of another connector set when circuit boards are connected, are fixed together by means of the jointer, whereby the circuit board and the connector set are connected together.

Specifically, the connector set of the embodiment includes at least one of a header and a socket and a jointer. The header includes: an insulating header body; and a plurality of pairs of header contacts which are provided on the header body and which are arranged along a first arranging direction so as to be in parallel with one another. The header body comprises first connecting portions provided at both end portions of the header body in the first arranging direction. The socket includes: an insulating socket body defining an insertion groove having a shape which allows the header to be removably inserted therein; and a plurality of pairs of socket contacts which are provided on the socket body and are arranged along a second arranging direction so as to be in parallel with one another. The socket body includes second connecting portions provided at both end portions of the socket body in the second arranging direction. The plurality of pairs of socket contacts are arranged to contact the plurality of pairs of header contacts when the header is inserted in the insertion groove. The jointer is configured to couple the header and the socket such that the first arranging direction of the header and the second arranging direction of the socket are in parallel with a first direction, and such that the header and the socket are oriented so as to be electrically connected to a circuit board when the header and the socket are coupled by the jointer. The jointer includes: a jointer body extending in the first direction, first jointer connecting portions which are provided at both end portions of the jointer body in the first direction, which extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and which are configured to engage the first connecting portions, and second jointer connecting portions which are provided at both end portions of the jointer body in the first direction, which extend in a third direction opposite to the second direction, and which are configured to engage the second connecting portions.

According to the configuration, the jointer can couple the socket and the header so as to be arranged in parallel with each other. The first and second connecting portions are provided at both ends of the socket and both ends of the header, respectively, and also form engagement portions at the time of connection of circuit boards. Such the first and second connecting portions engage first and second jointer connecting portions formed at both ends of the jointer. As a result, the jointer can fix the socket and the header at portions of the socket ant the header which are originally used for engagements at the time of connection of circuit boards using the connector set, and the connector set can be connected to the circuit board. Accordingly, the socket and the header can be fixed with considerably superior positional accuracy, and formation of the backlash space and the deformation absorbing portion becomes obviated. Therefore, a higher degree of positional accuracy can be attained, and a finer pitch becomes possible. Further, the space between the socket and the header can be reduced. Since the essential requirement is to arrange the socket and the header so as to ensure a space required when circuit boards are connected together, an increase in footprint can be prevented, and connectivity can further be enhanced. Since the connector set is connected onto the circuit board through a solder reflow process while connected and fixed by the jointer at the position originally used for the engagement at the time of connecting the circuit boards, a high degree of positional accuracy can be maintained. In particular, the conveyance process and a mounting process such as a solder reflow process are performed while the first and second connecting portions, which engage the second and first connection portions of another connector set when the circuit boards are actually connected together, are fixed by the first jointer connecting portion and the second jointer connecting portion of the jointer. Therefore, it is possible to prevent difficulty in insertion and removal during the connection between the circuit boards, which is caused by positional displacement resultant from deformation, such as warpage.

In addition, when the connector set includes a combination of the socket and the header, an identical combination of a socket with a header is provided on a counterpart circuit board that is to be engaged by means of insertion and removal. Since the degree of deformation occurring in a mounting process, such as a solder reflow process, is also identical between one circuit board and another circuit board, displacement attributable to a difference in coefficient of thermal expansion is less likely to arise, and superior engagement operability is exhibited at the time of insertion and removal of the circuit boards.

In the connector set, the header connecting portions and the second jointer connecting portions may have a substantially same shape at least in a portion which contacts the first jointer connecting portions and at least in a portion which contacts the connecting portions, respectively, and the second connecting portions and the first jointer connecting portions may have a substantially same shape at least in a portion which contacts the second jointer connecting portions and at least in a portion which contacts the first connecting portions, respectively.

According to the configuration, portions of the socket and the header which contact the jointer when the connecting portions of the socket and the header of the connector set engage the connecting portions of the jointer have the same shapes as those of the jointer. Therefore, in a portion of the jointer fitted to the connector set, the jointer connecting portions assume the same shape as those of the connecting portions of the socket and the header of the connector set. Therefore, displacement caused by a difference in coefficient of thermal expansion is prevented more thoroughly, and the socket and the header are maintained in the same manner as in a case where connector connection is performed, whereby the position of the socket contact and the position of the header contact can be maintained with high accuracy.

The second connecting portions may be recess portions, and the first connecting portions may be protruding portions fitting to the recess portions.

According to the configuration, the socket having a larger width can be formed to have recess portions, and the header can be formed to have protruding portions. Therefore, the socket and the header can be fixed while remaining in tight contact without involvement of clearance, so that stable connection is realized.

The jointer may be a resin molded article.

According to the configuration, a plurality of jointers having the same shape can be formed by metal molding, which can realize low cost, few machining errors, and enhancement of high dimensional accuracy. Further, when compared with a metal jointer, a resin jointer is less prone to flaws during removal.

The jointer body may have a flat surface of a given width and an irregular surface opposing the flat surface.

According to the configuration, on the occasion of automatic mounting operation, a jointer can readily be automatically mounted by use of a vacuum suction nozzle having a nozzle whose width is smaller than the flat surface of the jointer body. Further, the jointer has the irregular surface on the back side thereof, and hence a lighter-weight jointer can be implemented while predetermined strength of the jointer is maintained so as to prevent occurrence of warpage and torsion.

The socket body and the header body may be made of the same insulating resin as that of the jointer.

According to the configuration, the coefficient of thermal expansion can be made constant. Hence, a higher degree of positional accuracy can be implemented. If the socket body and the header body are formed from different insulating resins, the jointer may be made from the same material as either of the insulating resins.

One of the first jointer connecting portion or the second jointer connecting portion, which defines the protruding portions, have a tapered surface which becomes thinner toward a distal end thereof.

According to the configuration, contacts of the socket or the header can be prevented from interfering with and breaking the protruding portions of the first or second jointer connecting portions, which is caused by oblique removal of the jointer when the jointer is removed after the connector set has been connected to the circuit board by soldering.

The embodiment of the invention also provides a jointer used in the above described connector set.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the space between the socket and the header can be reduced, and further enhancement of positional accuracy and a reduction in the chance of occurrence of warpage and torsion can be accomplished. Hence, a deformation absorbing portion becomes also unnecessary, and a miniature connector involving a truly fine pitch can be produced.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-126553 filed on May 26, the above application incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.