Connector

The present invention provides a connector able to be made thin so as to satisfy the needs of making an electronic device further light in weight, thin, short and compact. Therefore, the connector has a connector main body having a housing for storing a contactor and having an opening portion, and an actuator rotatably supported with respect to the connector main body. A flexible cable inserted into the opening portion and the contactor come in press contact with each other by the actuator and are electrically connected to each other in the rotation of the actuator. A metallic cover for covering a portion of the housing and having a receiving portion is arranged in the connector main body. When the actuator makes the flexible cable inserted into the opening portion come in press contact with the contactor, the receiving portion receives reaction force of the press contact. Thus, the thin type connector can be provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a connector of a ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) type for a flexible cable as in FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) and FFC (Flexible Flat Cable).

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Connectors of various forms are used in connecting the flexible cable to a circuit substrate. The connector of the zero insertion force type (ZIF type) as one of these connectors is very widely utilized.

For example, as shown inFIG. 7, there is a conventional connector having a housing100and an actuator300(see patent literature 1). The housing100stores a contactor101thereto and has an opening portion102and is constructed by an insulating material. The actuator300is rotatably supported by a rotating support portion101bformed integrally with the contactor101and is constructed by an insulating material.

In such a conventional connector, in a state in which the actuator300is located in the position shown by the two-dotted chain line and the opening portion102is greatly opened, a flexible cable500is inserted into the opening portion102from the direction of the arrow X. Subsequently, the actuator300is rotated until a lock position for making the actuator300fall down. Thus, the cable500comes in press contact with a contact portion101aof the above contactor101by a pressing portion301of the actuator300, and the cable500and the contactor101are electrically connected to each other.

In this example, the rotating support portion101band the contact portion101aare formed so as to fork into two branches from one contactor101. The flexible cable500and the pressing portion301of the actuator300are structurally nipped and supported between the rotating support portion101band the contact portion101a.

The needs of high performance, lightness, thinness, shortness and smallness of various kinds of electronic devices are unceasingly required. The requests with respect to multiple functions, high density, compactness, lightness, thinness and shortness are more and more strengthened. In accordance with these requests, the compactness, thinness and shortness of the connector and its multipolar change are simultaneously required.

However, in the conventional connector as mentioned above, it was difficult to make the connector thin in accordance with the needs of markets. This is because the above conventional connector requires at least six members of different roles constructed by a bottom plate portion103, the contact portion101a, the flexible cable500, the pressing portion301, the rotating support portion101band an upper plate portion104in the thickness direction of the connector so that the connector has a thickness obtained by summing the respective thicknesses of at least these members as a whole.

The respective heights of the above members are tried to be lowered to make the above conventional connector thin (in this case, the thickness of the flexible cable500is determined by standards, and there is no degree of freedom in design in making the connector thin). However, when the respective members are made thin, their rigidities are naturally reduced. Therefore, there was naturally a limit in making the respective members thin.

In particular, when the actuator300is rotated in the connector of such a type, the pressing portion301of the actuator300is forcibly intended to enter between the flexible cable500and the rotating support portion101b.Therefore, a large stress is applied to the rotating support portion101bfor receiving reaction force from the contact portion101acaused at this entering time.

However, the rotating support portion101bof the above conventional connector is formed integrally with the contact portion101aconstructed by an electrically conductive metal such as phosphor bronze, etc. having no high rigidity. Therefore, it was necessary to secure a considerable thickness so as to have a strength resisting the above stress caused by rotating the actuator300.

Further, the above stress caused in the above conventional connector is also transmitted to the housing100constructed by an insulating material such as synthetic resin, etc. having a low strength. Therefore, the bottom plate portion103and the upper plate portion104of the housing100covering the upper and lower portions of the rotating support portion101band the contact portion101ahad to have considerable thicknesses.

Accordingly, for example, when the flexible cable of 0.3 mm in thickness is used, a clearance required to set the flexible cable to the ZIF must be also prepared with respect to the entire thickness of the above conventional connector. Therefore, the entire thickness becomes about 2 mm, which is difficult to satisfy the needs of markets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In consideration of such points, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector able to be made thin so as to satisfy the needs of making an electronic device further light in weight, thin, short and compact.

To achieve the above object, the present invention resides in a connector comprising a connector main body having a housing for storing plural contactors and an opening portion and constructed by an insulating material, and an actuator rotatably supported with respect to the connector main body and constructed by an insulating material, wherein a flexible cable inserted into the opening portion and the contactors come in press contact with each other by the actuator and are electrically connected to each other in the rotation of the actuator; the connector main body has a metallic cover for covering a portion of the housing and having a holding portion for holding the housing, a fixing portion fixed to a circuit substrate and one or more engagement receiving portions; the actuator has one or more engaging portions engaged with the engagement receiving portions in the rotation; and the metallic cover has a receiving portion for receiving reaction force of the press contact when the actuator makes the flexible cable come in press contact with the contactors. Since the rigid metallic cover has the function of the receiving portion, a thin type connector can be provided.

Further, the connector can be made thinner if the engagement receiving portion is an engagement through hole extending through the metallic cover.

Further, if the metallic cover has a lock portion and the actuator has a locked portion corresponding to the lock portion, a click feeling can be provided at the lock time.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiment mode examples of a connector for a flexible cable in the present invention will next be explained with reference toFIGS. 1to6.

Each ofFIGS. 1 and 2is a perspective view of the external appearance of a connector1in the present invention.FIG. 1shows an unlock state in which an actuator30rises.FIG. 2shows a lock state in which the actuator30falls down.

The connector1has a connector main body having a housing10and a metallic cover20. Plural contactors11constructed by an electrically conductive metal are implanted into the housing10. The housing10has an opening portion12and is constructed by an insulating material. The metallic cover20is arranged so as to cover a portion of the housing10and is constructed by a steel plate, etc. The connector1also has the actuator30rotatably supported by the connector main body and constructed by an insulating material.

The opening portion12is opened and closed by rotating the actuator30, and receives a flexible cable2such as FPC and FFC having an electrically conductive portion only on its lower face.

The flexible cable2is inserted into the opening portion12from the direction of the arrow X in the unlock state, and comes in press contact with the above contactor11by the actuator30in the rotation of the actuator30. As its result, the cable2and the contactor11are electrically connected to each other in the lock state.

FIG. 3is a perspective view of the external appearance of the metallic cover20.FIG. 4is a perspective view of the external appearance of the actuator30.

The metallic cover20has an upper face portion27, a reinforcing rib26, a pair of holding portions21of a tongue piece shape, a pair of fixing portions22of a tongue piece shape, an engagement receiving portion24, a receiving portion25, a lock portion23, etc. The upper face portion27covers a portion of the housing10except for a part in which the actuator30is located. The reinforcing rib26is moderately recessed from the upper face portion27and is extended in the longitudinal direction to raise rigidity of the cover20. The holding portions21are arranged so as to hold the vicinity of an end portion of the housing10in its longitudinal direction and unite the cover20and the housing10. The fixing portions22are extended out so as to cover both side end face portions of the housing10, and are fixed to an unillustrated circuit substrate. The engagement receiving portion24receives an engaging portion33of the actuator30in the rotation of the actuator30. The receiving portion25is located at the outer edge of the engagement receiving portion24, and when the actuator30is engaged with this receiving portion24and the flexible cable2is pressed against the contactor11as the actuator30is rotated the receiving portion25receives reaction force from the contactor11. The lock portion23fixes the actuator30in a lock position in cooperation with a locked portion32of the actuator30.

On the other hand, the actuator30has the engaging portion33, the locked portion32, a rotation support portion31, etc. The engaging portion33is formed in a projection shape and is engaged with the engagement receiving portion24in a position corresponding to the engagement receiving portion24of the metallic cover20. The locked portion32is arranged so as to be locked together with the lock portion23in a position corresponding to the lock portion23of the metallic cover20. Further, the rotation support portion31supports the rotation of the actuator30correspondingly to a rotation receiving portion13of the housing10in this rotation.

Each ofFIGS. 5 and 6is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ of FIG.1.FIG. 5shows the unlock state andFIG. 6shows the lock state.

The contactor11is implanted by press-fitting a base portion11einto a contactor groove14formed in the housing10. Further, the contactor11is electrically connected to an unillustrated circuit substrate by soldering a tail portion11dto this circuit substrate.

A lower arm portion11bof the contactor11is extended so as to be long in the inlet direction of the opening portion12from the base portion11e. The lower arm portion11bhas a contact portion11anear its tip to come in contact with an electrically conductive portion on the lower face of the flexible cable2inserted into the opening portion12.

On the other hand, an upper arm portion11cformed continuously to the lower arm portion11bthrough the base portion11eis shorter than the lower arm portion11band is merely slightly extended in the direction of the opening portion12.

The metallic cover20covers the upper arm portion11cof the contactor11and the vicinity of the upper face of a middle plate portion16of the housing10by the upper face portion27of the metallic cover20. The metallic cover20is further extended from the upper face portion27toward the direction of the opening portion12until the vicinity located above the contact portion11a.The engagement receiving portion24having an engagement through hole, and the receiving portion25adjacent to the engagement receiving portion24are formed near the tip of the metallic cover20extended in the direction of the opening portion12.

As shown inFIG. 5, the flexible cable2is inserted into the housing10from the direction of the arrow X through the opening portion12in the unlock state, and is arranged between the contact portion11aand the metallic cover20.

At this time, in comparison with the thickness of the flexible cable2, a sufficient clearance is prepared between the contact portion11aand the metallic cover20, or between the contact portion11aand the actuator30. Accordingly, the insertion resistance of the cable2is basically zero (ZIF).

After the flexible cable2is inserted into the opening portion12, the tip of the actuator30is rotated around the receiving portion25in the rotation until the lock state as shown inFIG. 6, and the cable2is pressed against the contact portion11aside by a pressing portion34of the actuator30.

At this time, the thickness from the engaging portion33to the pressing portion34is adjusted such that the distance from the contact face of the actuator30and the flexible cable2to the rotation center of the receiving portion25is increased in the lock state in comparison with the unlock state. Therefore, as the actuator30is rotated, the pressing portion34presses downward the above flexible cable2and the contact portion11awith the receiving portion25as the fulcrum of a lever, and flexes and deforms the lower arm portion11bof the contactor11. The pressing portion34is then forcibly slipped between the receiving portion25and the cable2by utilizing the downward displacement of the contact portion11a.

In parallel with this slipping, the engaging portion33of the actuator30enters the engagement receiving portion24of the metallic cover20and prevents the actuator30from being separated from the connector main body.

In the lock state, the lock is completed between the lock portion23of the metallic cover20and the locked portion32of the actuator30. The flexible cable2is nipped and supported by the reaction force of the contactor11between the actuator30and the contact portion11aso that the cable2is completely connected to the connector1.

As shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the connector1of this embodiment mode has the metallic cover20having the receiving portion25. Thus, the rotating support portion101bshown inFIG. 7in the above conventional connector is omitted and the number of members in the thickness direction of the connector is reduced to five members constructed by the bottom plate portion15of the housing10, the contact portion11a,the flexible cable2, the pressing portion34and the receiving portion25so that the connector1can be correspondingly made thin.

Further, in the connector of this kind in which a portion of the actuator30is inserted between the flexible cable2and the receiving portion25as the actuator30is rotated, the receiving portion25for receiving the reaction force from the contactor11must resist a very large stress. Further, in the conventional connector, a member corresponding to the receiving portion25was formed by an insulating material such as synthetic resin, etc. having low rigidity, and a metal such as phosphor bronze, etc. Therefore, it was necessary to set the member corresponding to the receiving portion25to a considerable thickness so as to obtain a predetermined desirable rigidity. In contrast to this, the receiving portion25of the connector1in the present invention is constructed by a steel plate having high strength, etc., and a sufficient strength can be shown by a thickness thinner than that of the above conventional member. Therefore, the connector1can be made thin in comparison with the conventional case.

Further, the metallic cover20approximately covers the half of the housing10and is arranged so as to hold the housing10, and is fixed to the circuit substrate by the fixing portion22. Accordingly, the strength conventionally imposed on the housing can be also obtained by this metallic cover20so that the connector can be made thinner.

Further, the rigidity of the metallic cover20can be improved and its thickness can be reduced by arranging the reinforcing rib26in the metallic cover20.

In particular, when the engagement receiving portion24has an engagement through hole extending through the metallic cover20and the receiving portion25is formed correspondingly to the engagement receiving portion24as in this embodiment, the engagement of the engaging portion33and the engagement receiving portion24can be completed in the range of the thickness of one sheet of the metallic cover20so that a much thinner connector can be provided.

Further, since the lock portion23is constructed as part of the metallic cover20, the lock portion23can be simply formed simultaneously at a press forming time of the cover20. Further, when the lock portion23and the locked portion32are locked to prevent the actuator from opening, a click feeling can be obtained.

Further, since the housing10is covered with the metallic cover20, a shield effect can be also obtained.

In accordance with the present invention, a thin type connector of 1.5 mm or less in thickness can be obtained by the characteristics explained above.

As described below in detail, the mode of each portion constituting the connector in the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

Three engagement receiving portions24of the metallic cover20shown inFIG. 3are arranged at an equal interval in positions moderately separated in the longitudinal direction as long rectangular through holes in the longitudinal direction. However, the engagement receiving portion24is not limited to have the through hole, but may be also formed as a hollow having a moderate depth. Further, the number of the engagement receiving portion24may be one or more.

As shown inFIG. 3, the receiving portion25of the metallic cover20is formed like a frame projected forward along the shape of the engagement receiving portion24. However, the receiving portion25may not be formed in the projecting shape if the receiving portion25has a strength resisting the reaction force of the contactor11.

As shown inFIG. 3, the fixing portion22of the metallic cover20is bent toward the unillustrated circuit substrate while forming a smooth curved surface near the side end portion of the housing10. However, this construction is used to fix the connector1to the circuit substrate. Accordingly, the fixing portion22may thrust through the circuit substrate and bent on the rear face of the substrate to be fixed thereto, may be soldered on this rear face, or may be also fixed by using a screw, etc. Otherwise, the fixing portion22may be also formed in a shape in which the fixing portion22draws a curved surface and is not extended out.

Further, in this embodiment mode, the metallic cover20has the engagement through hole of the engagement receiving portion24and the receiving portion25, and the actuator30has the engaging portion33of a projecting shape as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, as the connector shown by JP-A-2000-106238, the following structure may be also used. Namely, a through hole and an engaging portion33having the function of a cam portion are arranged in the actuator30. In the rotation of the actuator30, the engaging portion33presses the flexible cable2against the contact portion11a, and its reaction force is received by the above receiving portion25of the metallic cover20. Further, the tip portion of the receiving portion25can be made so as to be inserted into/pulled out of the through hole. In this embodiment mode, the receiving portion25and the engagement receiving portion24become the same member.

As explained above, the connector1in the present invention can be made thin by arranging the metallic cover20covering a portion of the housing10and having the holding portion21for holding the housing10, the fixing portion22to be fixed to the circuit substrate, and the receiving portion25for receiving the reaction force of the press contact of the flexible cable2and the contactor11in the rotation of the actuator30.