Relay connector having a pin block and a floating guide with guide hole

A relay connector connects a terminal of a connector to be inspected provided on a board for inspection to a measuring instrument. The relay connector includes: a pin block; a floating guide, arranged so as to approach and separate with respect to the pin block and resiliently urged in a separating direction, the floating guide formed with a guide hole; a plurality of probes, each of which is provided in the pin block so as to be opposed to the terminal of the connector to be inspected having been inserted into the guide hole; and a pressure operating member, adapted to be operated between an open state in which the connector to be inspected is allowed to be inserted into the guide hole in the floating guide, and a pressed state in which the connector to be inspected having been inserted into the floating guide is pressed toward the pin block.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a relay connector to be used for electrically connecting a connector to be inspected which is arranged on an inspection board for an electronic component or the like, to a measuring instrument.

In some of compact electronic devices such as a mobile phone and a digital camera, a plurality of boards are superposed on one another for the purpose of mounting many electronic circuits in a small space, and these boards are electrically connected by way of connectors which are respectively provided thereon. In order to inspect the boards and the connectors provided thereon, it has been conducted to electrically connect a measuring instrument or the like to the connectors by appropriate means. In order to inspect a whole unit of the board to be inspected and the connector to be inspected, it is desirable that the connector to be inspected is engaged with a jig-side connector to be mated, and then, they are electrically connected to the measuring instrument. However, in both of the connector to be inspected and the jig-side connector, the number of durable times for engagements and extractions is relatively small, that is, about 50 times. Therefore, the jig-side connector must be exchanged, every time when the number of time of inspections has reached the certain durable number. Provided that the jig-side connector is fixed to a jig-side board by soldering, and a number of wiring cables connected to the measuring instrument are soldered to the jig-side board, it is difficult to exchange only the jig-side connector. Therefore, the whole unit of the jig-side connector, the jig-side board, and the wiring cables must be exchanged inevitably. Consequently, there occurs such inconvenience that cost for measuring and inspection is increased.

In view of the above, the applicant of the invention has already proposed an art as disclosed in JP-A-2004-273192, and reduced the cost for the measuring and inspection, by decreasing parts to be exchanged. In this art which has been already proposed, the jig-side connector to be mated with the connector to be inspected is provided on an insulating relay board, and this insulating relay board is detachably mounted on a probe unit formed of insulating material. Probes are provided in this probe unit. Terminals of the jig-side connector are electrically connected to terminals provided on the insulating relay board, and the probes in the probe unit are brought into contact with the terminals on the insulating relay board for electrical connection. Other ends of the probes provided in the probe unit are electrically connected to a number of wiring cables to be connected to the measuring instrument by appropriate means. As the results, the connector to be inspected is electrically connected to the measuring instrument, by way of the jig-side connector, the insulating relay board, the probes, and the wiring cables. Accordingly, when the number of time of inspections has reached the certain durable number, only the jig-side connector and the insulating relay board may be exchanged, and the cost for the inspection can be reduced in proportion to decrease of the parts to be exchanged.

In the art proposed in the above described JP-A-2004-273192, it would be sufficient that only the jig-side connector and the insulating relay board are exchanged, and the cost for the inspection can be reduced, as compared with the above mentioned related art. However, this is not absolutely satisfactory. Under the circumstances, the inventors considered that the cost for the measuring and inspection can be reduced more with a structure in which the probes are directly brought into contact with the terminals of the connector to be inspected. In this structure, the jig-side connector and the insulating relay board need not be exchanged, and when the probe to be contacted is broken, only the relevant probe may be exchanged.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a relay connector for bringing the probes into contact with the connector to be inspected.

In order to achieve the object, according to the invention, there is provided a relay connector, adapted to electrically connect a terminal of a connector to be inspected provided on a board for inspection to a measuring instrument, the relay connector comprising:

a pin block, comprised of insulating material;

a floating guide, comprised of insulating material, the floating guide arranged so as to approach and separate with respect to the pin block and resiliently urged in a separating direction, the floating guide formed with a guide hole in which the connector to be inspected is inserted so as to position the connector to be inspected toward the pin block;

a plurality of probes, each of which is provided in the pin block so as to be opposed to the terminal of the connector to be inspected having been inserted into the guide hole, an axial direction of each of which is parallel to an approaching and separating direction of the floating guide; and

a pressure operating member, adapted to be operated between an open state in which the connector to be inspected is allowed to be inserted into the guide hole in the floating guide, and a pressed state in which the connector to be inspected having been inserted into the floating guide is pressed toward the pin block.

The pressure operating member may be provided with an engaging projection, the floating guide may be provided with an engage receiving part, and the engaging projection may be engaged with the engage receiving part in the open state of the pressure operating member so as to restrain the floating guide from moving toward the pin block.

The pressure operating member may be arranged so as to swing between the open state and the pressed state by means of a first swing shaft provided on a plane parallel to a face of the connector to be inspected having been inserted into the guide hole opposed to the pin block, and a pressure block may be arranged at a distal end side of the pressure operating member for pressing the connector to be inspected so as to swing by means of a second swing shaft parallel to the first swing shaft.

A floating pin including swelled parts at both ends thereof may be passed through the floating guide and the pin block in the approaching and separating direction of the floating guide, a distance of the floating guide moving from the pin block in the separating direction may be restricted by the swelled parts, and a float spring may be idly fitted to the floating pin in a contracted state between the floating guide and the pin block.

An adjusting screw may be screwed on one end of the floating pin so that the distance in the separating direction can be adjusted, and the pressure operating member may be formed with an adjusting hole so as to be opposed to the adjusting screw, whereby the adjusting screw can be adjusted from the exterior.

The floating guide may include a board mounting face by which the connector to be inspected is inserted into the guide hole toward the pin block, the board mounting face may include a flat face which is larger than the board for inspection, and no positional restriction may be applied to the board for inspection in a state where the connector to be inspected is inserted into the guide hole.

A restraining part for restraining the pressure operating member from swinging into the open state may be provided, and the engaging projection may be adapted to be engaged with the engage receiving part in a state where the pressure operating member is restrained by the restraining part.

In order to achieve the object, according to the invention, there is also provided a relay connector, adapted to electrically connect a terminal of a connector to be inspected provided on a board for inspection to a measuring instrument, the relay connector comprising:

a base member, comprised of insulating material;

a floating guide, comprised of insulating material, the floating guide arranged so as to approach and separate with respect to the base member, the floating guide formed with a guide hole in which the connector to be inspected is inserted so as to position the connector to be inspected in a state where the board for inspection is inserted between the base member and the floating guide;

a pressure operating member, adapted to sandwich the floating guide between the pressure operating member and the base member, and adapted to approach and separate with respect to the base member;

a pin block, comprised of insulating material, and provided with the pressure operating member so as to be opposed to the floating guide; and

a plurality of probes, each of which is provided on the pin block so as to come into contact with the terminal of the connector to be inspected having been inserted into the guide hole in a state where the pin block is in contact with the floating guide, wherein

the floating guide is adapted to separate from the base member in association with operation of the pressure operating member in a direction of separating the pin block from the floating guide, whereby the pressure operating member is operated between an open state where the connector to be inspected is allowed to be inserted between the base member and the floating guide, and a pressed state where the pin block is pressed toward the connector to be inspected having been inserted into the guide hole in the floating guide.

The base member may include a board mounting face opposed to the guide hole of the floating guide, a board positioning recess having a shape corresponding to a distal end portion of the board for inspection at an inserting side may be formed on the board mounting face from an edge part, and an insertion length and sideward displacement of the board for inspection may be restricted by the board positioning recess so as to position the board for inspection.

The floating guide may be guided by a linear guide provided on the base member, and the floating guide may be adapted to be contacted with and separated from the board mounting face of the base member in a vertical direction.

The pressure operating member may be arranged so as to swing in such a manner that a face of the pressure operating member opposed to the floating guide approaches and separates with respect to the base member, and a compression spring may be provided in a contracted state between the pressure operating member and the base member so as to resiliently urge the pressure operating member in a direction in which the face of the pressure operating member opposed to the floating guide approaches the base member.

The pressure operating member may be arranged so as to swing in such a manner that a face of the pressure operating member opposed to the floating guide approaches and separates with respect to the base member, a lever member may be arranged so as to swing by means of a swing shaft which is parallel to a swing shaft of the pressure operating member, one end of the lever member may be engaged with the floating guide, and the other end of the lever member may be pressed by operation of the pressure operating member, and the floating guide may swing in a direction of separating from the base member into the open state, in association with a swing motion of the face of the pressure operating member opposed to the floating guide in the direction of separating from the base member.

A depth of the guide hole formed in the floating guide may be set to be equal to a height of the connector to be inspected.

The floating guide may be provided with a concave part on a face opposed to the pin block, the pin block may be provided with a convex part to be engaged with the concave part, on a face opposed to the floating guide, and the floating guide and the pin block may be relatively positionedby engagement between the concave part and the convex part.

An outside part of the pressure operating member at a distal end opposed to the floating guide may be chamfered to form a slant face.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, a first embodiment of the invention will be described referring toFIGS. 1 to 14.

InFIGS. 1 to 14, a relay connector in the first embodiment of the invention is constructed in the following manner. As a first step, a hinge member12is fixed to a base member10with a screw10a. A pressure operating member14is provided on this hinge member12so as to swing by means of a swing shaft16which is passed through the pressure operating member14. A compression spring18is provided in a contracted state between a rear part of the pressure operating member14and the hinge member12. Moreover, a pressure block22is provided at a distal end side of the pressure operating member14so as to swing by means of a second swing shaft20which is passed through the operating member14in parallel with the swing shaft16. In addition, a floating guide26formed of insulating material is arranged on a pin block24formed of insulating material so as to approach and separate with respect to each other linearly substantially in a swinging direction of the pressure operating member14at its distal end side, while a distance in a separating direction is restricted. Further, a wiring board28is fixed to the pin block24with a screw28aat an opposite side to the floating guide26. The pin block24and the wiring board28are fixed to the base member10with a screw24a, setting the wiring board28at a side of the base member10. An engage receiving part26fis projected from the floating guide26, and an engaging projection14ais projected from the pressure operating member14so that the engage receiving part26fmay be engaged with the engaging projection14ain an open state of the pressure operating member14. Consequently, in the open state of the pressure operating member14, the floating guide26is separated from the pin block24, and the movement of the floating guide26toward the pin block24is restricted. Moreover, a backward end of the pressure operating member14is butted against the hinge member12in its open state thereby to restrain the swing motion, and the butted part of the hinge member12functions as a restraining part.

The floating guide26can move linearly in a vertical direction inFIGS. 1 and 3, in association with the swing motion of the distal end portion of the pressure operating member14between the open state in which the distal end portion is opened and the pressed state in which the distal end portion is closed. For this purpose, the pin block24is uprightly provided with a linear shaft30ain a vertical direction, and the floating guide26is provided with a linear tube member30bin a vertical direction, into which the linear shaft30ais inserted so as to slide in an axial direction. This linear movement is realized by a linear guide30which includes the linear shaft30aand the linear tube member30b. A floating pin32having swelled parts at both ends is passed through the pin block24and the floating guide26in the vertical direction. A distance between the swelled parts at the both ends of the floating pin32can be adjusted by screwing an adjusting screw32awhich is provided at its one end. Further, a float spring34which is idly fitted to the floating pin32is provided between the pin block24and the floating guide26in a contracted state, and resiliently urges the floating guide26so as to separate it from the pin block24. Accordingly, by adjusting the floating pin32, the distance of the floating guide26to be separated from the pin block24is restricted as desired, and that, the floating guide26is urged by contracted resilience of the float spring34, and kept in a state separated from the pin block24in the open state of the pressure operating member14.

The floating guide26is provided with a board mounting face26aon which a board36which is to be inspected is mounted. This board mounting face26ais formed with a guide hole26binto which a connector38to be inspected which is arranged on the board for inspection can be inserted and engaged. An outer peripheral wall of the connector38to be inspected is butted against an inner peripheral wall of this guide hole26b, thereby to position the inserted connector38to be inspected. The board mounting face26aaround this guide hole26bhas no such structure for restricting the position of the board36for inspection which has been mounted thereon, but has a sufficiently large flat face. The floating guide26is further provided with a concave part26c, having its center substantially aligned with the guide hole26b, on its face opposed to the pin block24at a back side of the board mounting face26a. The board mounting face26ais formed by cutting or so, while being adjusted so that a distance between a bottom face of the concave part26cand the board mounting face26a, that is, a depth of the guide hole26bmay be equal to a height of the connector38to be inspected. In addition, reinforcing ribs26dfor increasing mechanical strength are provided on the back face of the board mounting face26aat both ends thereof.

The pin block24includes a lower pin block40and an upper pin block42which are integrally fixed to each other with screws42b. The upper pin block42is provided with a convex part42aprojecting upward, which is so adapted as to be engaged with the concave part26cof the floating guide26so that the pin block24and the floating guide26can be relatively positioned. Moreover, a number of probe holes46passing through the lower pin block40and the upper pin block42in the vertical direction are formed in a row. Further, an insertion hole50into which a position adjusting block48formed of insulating material is inserted is formed passing through the lower pin block40and the upper pin block42in the vertical direction. The position adjusting block48also includes a lower position adjusting block48aand an upper position adjusting block48bwhich are integrally fixed to each other by appropriate means, and a number of probe holes52passing through them in the vertical direction are formed in a row. The position adjusting block48is adjusted inside the insertion hole50so that positions of the probe holes52may be at an appropriate distance from the probe holes46which are formed in the lower pin block40and the upper pin block42, and fixed with positioning pins56. It is to be noted that the position adjusting block48is set in the insertion hole50so as to move only in a direction of adjusting the distance between the probe holes46and52, but cannot move in a direction perpendicular to this direction. Each of the probe holes46,52has a neck portion at its upper end so that a probe54can be appropriately inserted from below, but cannot escape upward. It is apparent that the probe holes46,52are formed at a pitch corresponding to a pitch P of terminals38aof the connector38to be inspected as shown inFIG. 8. Further, it is also apparent that the distance between the probe holes52in the position adjusting block48and the probe holes46in the lower pin block40and the upper pin block42is appropriately adjusted so as to correspond to a distance d between two rows of the terminals38aof the connector38to be inspected. Moreover, appropriate numbers of the probes54are inserted into the probe holes46,52from below, at appropriate positions corresponding to the terminals38aof the connector38to be inspected.

The wiring board28is integrally fixed to the pin block24which has the probes54inserted in the probe holes46,52, by arranging it from below and by screwing the screws28afrom below. By fixing the wiring board28in this manner, the probes54will not escape from the probe holes46,52. Then, the pin block24having the wiring board28fixed thereto is fixed to the base member10with the screws24afrom above. It is also possible to appropriately fix the base member10to an inspecting jig or the like which is not shown, in advance, with fixing screws10b. As shown inFIG. 9, plungers of the probes54which have been inserted into the probe holes46,52can be brought into contact with the terminals38aof the connector38to be inspected which are shown inFIG. 8. A terminal pattern28bprovided on the wiring board28is formed longer in a moving direction of the position adjusting block48so that, the terminal pattern28bcan be brought into contact with the plungers of the probes54, even though the position adjusting block48has been moved.

Further, the pressure operating member14which is provided so as to swing on the hinge member12is restrained by the hinge member12from moving in a swinging direction to be shifted into the open state. The aforesaid engaging projection14ais so adapted as to be engaged with the engage receiving part26f, in a state where the movement in the swinging direction into the open state is restrained. Moreover, the hinge member12is provided with ribs12aas shown inFIGS. 13A and 13B, which act on the wiring board28to push it toward the base member10, and restrain the wiring board28from floating up from the base member10.

The pressure operating member14is provided with a hole14cand an adjusting hole14dso as to be respectively opposed to the linear guide30and the floating pin32. The floating guide26is provided with holes26eso as to be opposed to the screws24afor fixing the pin block24having the wiring board28fixed thereto to the base member10. Further, an upper part of the distal end portion of the pressure operating member14is chamfered to form a slant face14b. The relay connector in the first embodiment according to the invention has a height of 27 mm, a width of 26 mm and a length of 60 mm in its outer shape, and can be held by hand to conduct inspecting work.

In the above described structure, the pressure operating member14is operated to swing against the resilience of the compression spring18, and shifted into the open state. Then, the board36for inspection is mounted on the board mounting face26aof the floating guide26, and the connector38to be inspected is inserted into the guide hole26bto be engaged. By thus inserting and engaging into the guide hole26b, positioning of the connector38to be inspected is performed. On this occasion, a force for positioning the board36for inspection is not applied to the board36itself, and no force for displacing the position of the connector38to be inspected sideward with respect to the board36for inspection will be exerted. While the pressure operating member14is maintained in the open state, the engaging projection14aof the pressure operating member14is engaged with the engage receiving part26fof the floating guide26. Therefore, the floating guide26is separated from the pin block24and will not move toward the pin block24unexpectedly. As the results, there is no such anxiety that during the work for inserting the connector38to be inspected into the guide hole26b, the floating guide26moves downward by mistake, and the probes54are brought into contact with the connector38to be inspected in an improper posture, whereby either of the connector38to be inspected and the probes54may be broken. When the pressure operating member14is shifted into the pressed state by closing the distal end portion by the resilience of the compression spring18, the floating guide26is linearly moved toward the pin block24by the linear guide30, and the plungers of the probes54are brought into contact with the terminals38aof the connector38to be inspected. On this occasion, the concave part26cof the floating guide26is engaged with the convex part42aof the pin block24, whereby the floating guide26and the pin block24are reliably positioned with respect to each other. As the results, the connector38to be inspected is positioned with respect to the pin block24, and the terminals38aare positioned with respect to the probes54. It is apparent that the resilience of the compression spring18for urging the pressure operating member14into the pressed state is set to be larger than the resilience of the float spring34for separating the floating guide26from the pin block24. Besides, because the depth of the guide hole26bin the floating guide26is so set as to be equal to the height of the connector38to be inspected, the face of the connector38to be inspected which has been inserted into the guide hole26bat the side opposed to the pin block24lies on the same plane as the bottom face of the concave part26c. By providing the probes54in such a manner that a projecting height of the plungers may be optimum, making the bottom face of the concave part26cas the base, the plungers of the probes54can be brought into contact with the terminals38aof the connector38to be inspected with appropriate resilience.

The pressure operating member14is so constructed as to swing between the open state and the pressed state by means of the swing shaft16, and has the relatively simple structure. Besides, the pressure block22is provided at the distal end side of the pressure operating member14by means of the second swing shaft20, and so, the floating guide26can be accurately pressed by this pressure block22in a direction of approaching the pin block24.

By the way, for the purpose of arranging the relay connector according to the invention in alignment with the connector38to be inspected having various different sizes, the size and depth of the guide hole26bin the floating guide26is appropriately adjusted and set depending on the connector38to be inspected, as a first step. The depth of the guide hole26bcan be adjusted by adequately cutting the board mounting face26a. In the pin block24too, the distance between the two rows of the probe holes46and52is made equal to the distance d between the two rows of the terminals38aof the connector38to be inspected, by appropriately setting the position of the position adjusting block48to be fixed inside the insertion hole50. This can be done by drilling holes for inserting the positioning pins56at accurate positions. It is apparent that the probes54must be inserted into the probe holes46,52so as to be opposed to the terminals38aof the connector38to be inspected. In this manner, the invention provides relatively easy work in arranging the relay connector in alignment with the connector38to be inspected with various different sizes, by preparing the respective members just before the final process, in advance. Accordingly, the work can be rapidly conducted, as compared with the case where the respective members are newly produced.

The distance of the floating guide26moving in the separating direction from the pin block24can be arbitrarily adjusted by means of the floating pin32. In case where the distance of the floating guide26moving in the separating direction from the pin block24has changed due to long use, a screwed and inserted state of the adjusting screw32aof the floating pin32may be adjusted by appropriately inserting a tool through the adjusting hole14dwhich is formed in the pressure operating member14. In case where the probes54are broken and must be exchanged, the hinge member12in a state when the pressure operating member14is attached therewith is detached from the base member10, and the screws24aare removed from the base member10, by inserting a tool through the holes26ewhich are formed in the floating guide26. Then, the pin block24which has been detached is turned upside down having the wiring board28placed on an upper side, and the wiring board28is detached from the pin block24, by removing the screws28a. Thereafter, only the probes54that must be exchanged may be taken out of the probe holes46,52and exchanged.

There is such anxiety that the wiring board28which is fixed to the pin block24with the screws28amay be distorted with soldering heat or so, and its backward end may float from the base member10. For avoiding such anxiety, the wiring board28is so constructed as to be pushed toward the base member10by means of the ribs12awhich are provided on the hinge member12. Moreover, in case where the board36for inspection is a camera module, a CCD camera element58is disposed on the board36for inspection at the other end thereof, that is, at the opposite side to the side where the connector38to be inspected is provided. In some cases, the CCD camera element58is positioned relatively close to the connector38to be inspected, as shown inFIG. 14. Because the slant face14bis formed by chamfering the outside part of the pressure operating member14at the distal end side opposed to the floating guide26, a field of view above the CCD camera element58is widely opened. As the results, it is possible to direct this CCD camera element58to a lens62which is provided in an inspection unit60for inspecting the CCD camera element58, without any obstacle in the field of view.

Then, a second embodiment of the invention will be described referring toFIGS. 15 to 21. InFIGS. 15 to 21, the members which are the same as or equivalent to those members as shown inFIGS. 1 to 14will be denoted with the same reference numerals, and overlapped descriptions will be omitted.

InFIGS. 15 to 21, the relay connector in the second embodiment of the invention is constructed as follows. A floating guide74formed of insulating material is arranged so as to approach and separate in a vertical direction with respect to a board mounting face70awhich is provided at a distal end side of a base member70formed of insulating material, by means of linear guides72,72which are uprightly provided on the base member70. Moreover, a pin block24is fixed to a distal end side of a pressure operating member76formed of insulating material with screws or the like, interposing a wiring board28, and a hinge block78formed of insulating material is fixed to a back end side of the pressure operating member76with screws or the like. Then, a first swing shaft80provided on the base member70is passed through the hinge block78, whereby the pressure operating member76is arranged so as to swing. In this case, the pin block24is opposed to the floating guide74which is provided on the base member70. In addition, compression springs82,82are provided in a contracted state between the hinge block78and the base member70, thereby to resiliently urge the pin block24in a direction of coming into contact with the floating guide74. Further, a lever member86is provided on the base member70so as to swing by means of a second swing shaft84which is provided in parallel with the first swing shaft80. One end of this lever member86is engaged with an engaging recess74cformed in the floating guide74, and the other end of the lever member86is pressed by the hinge block78with swing motion of the pressure operating member76which allows the pin block24to swing in the separating direction from the floating guide74, whereby the lever member86is allowed to swing. Still further, a lever pressing spring88is provided in a contracted state between the lever member86and the base member70, whereby the floating guide74is resiliently urged in a direction of coming into contact with the base member70. Besides, an outside part of the pressure operating member76at a distal end side where the pin block24is provided is chamfered to form a slant face76a.

A board positioning recess70bwhich has a shape corresponding to a distal end part at an inserting side of the board36for inspection is provided on the board mounting face70aof the base member70starting from an edge of the board mounting face70a. This board positioning recess70bis enlarged in width in a tapered shape toward the edge so that the board36for inspection can be easily inserted. Then, the board36for inspection is positioned with respect to the base member70, while insertion length and sideward displacement are restricted by this board positioning recess70b. At a position opposed to the connector38to be inspected which is provided on the board36for inspection and is directed upward, the floating guide74is formed with a guide hole74ainto which the connector38to be inspected can be inserted. The floating guide74is further provided with a concave part74bat a side opposed to the pin block24, having its center substantially aligned with the guide hole74a. Herein, the guide hole74ais formed in such a manner that its depth is equal to the height of the connector38to be inspected. Although structure of the pin block24is substantially the same as in the first embodiment, the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the probes54,54are disposed on the pressure operating member76so as to protrude toward the floating guide74. Moreover, substantially in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the pin block24is formed with a convex part42ato be engaged with the concave part74bwhich is provided in the floating guide74.

In the second embodiment having the above described structure, when the hinge block78at the back end side of the pressure operating member76is pushed against resilience of the compression springs82,82, the pressure operating member76swings thereby to move the pin block24at the front end side in a direction of separating from the base member70. Accordingly, the other end portion of the lever member86is pressed by the hinge block78to swing against the resilience of the lever pressing spring88, whereby the floating guide74engaged with the one end of the lever member86is moved in a direction of separating from the base member70to be shifted into the open state. Then, the board36for inspection is inserted between the base member70and the floating guide74, as shown inFIG. 20, and positioned by the board positioning recess70b. In this state, the connector38to be inspected is opposed to the floating guide74. By releasing pressure on the pressure operating member76in this state, the pressure operating member76swings due to the resilience of the compression springs82,82, allowing the pin block24at the front end side to be contacted with the floating guide74. At the same time, the lever member86also swings due to the resilience of the lever pressing spring88, and the floating guide74moves to be contacted with the base member70. Then, the connector38to be inspected provided on the board36for inspection is inserted into the guide hole74ain the floating guide74, and the probes54,54on the pin block24are brought into contact with the terminals38a,38a. . . of the connector38to be inspected to be electrically connected.

In this second embodiment, by arranging the base member70at a lower side, it is possible to inspect the connector38to be inspected in a state when the connector28is mounted on an upper side of the board36for inspection. Moreover, the inserting length and sideward displacement of the board36for inspection with respect to the base member70is restricted by the board positioning recess70bformed on the board mounting face70aof the base member70, whereby the board36for inspection can be positioned with respect to the base member70. Further, the floating guide74is arranged so as to be contacted with and separated from the board mounting face70ain the vertical direction by the linear guides72,72. Therefore, the guide hole74ain the floating guide74is relatively positioned with respect to the connector38to be inspected which is provided on the board36for inspection, and thus, the connector38to be inspected can be accurately inserted into the guide hole74aalong with the approach and contact of the floating guide74. In this case, because the floating guide74is moved to approach and separate in the vertical direction with respect to the board mounting face70a, no force for displacing the connector38to be inspected sideward will be exerted, when the connector38to be inspected is inserted into the guide hole74a, and no force for displacing the connector38to be inspected sideward with respect to the board36for inspection will be exerted. Further, the pressure operating member76is so constructed as to swing with respect to the base member70, and has a simple structure. Besides, when the pressure on the pressure operating member76is released after the board36for inspection has been inserted, the pressed state in which the pin block24is pressed to the connector38to be inspected is maintained due to the resilience of the compression springs82,82, and pressure exerting operation is not required during measurement. In this manner, the operation can be easily done. Still further, when the pressure operating member76is pressed to swing, in association with this swing motion, the floating guide74moves in the direction of separating from the base member70, and the board36for inspection can be easily inserted. Moreover, while the pressure operating member76is operated to exert pressure, the floating guide74can be reliably restrained from moving toward the base member70by action of the lever member86.

In the second embodiment, in the open state where the pressure operating member76is operated to exert pressure, the floating guide74is restrained from moving toward the base member70by the lever member86. However, the invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, a spring for resiliently urging the floating guide74in a direction of separating from the base member70may be provided in a contracted state between the floating guide74and the base member70, so that the floating guide74may move in the separating direction from the base member70by resilience of this spring when the pressure operating member76is shifted to the open state, permitting insertion of the board36for inspection between the floating guide74and the base member70.

According to an aspect of the invention, the connector to be inspected is positioned by inserting it toward the pin block into the guide hole in the floating guide which is resiliently urged and separated from the pin block in the open state of the pressure operating member, and in this state, the pressure operating member is operated into the pressed state in which the floating guide and the connector to be inspected are pressed toward the pin block. Therefore, when the connector to be inspected is inserted into the guide hole and positioned, it will not happen that the connector to be inspected is contacted with the probes in improper posture, and that a force for relatively displacing the connector to be inspected sideward in a state contacted with the probes is exerted. As the results, the probes or the connector to be inspected will not be broken.

According to an aspect of the invention, the pressure operating member is provided with the engaging projection, and the floating guide is provided with the engage receiving part, wherein the engaging projection is engaged with the engage receiving part in the open state of the pressure operating member thereby to restrain the floating guide from moving toward the pin block. Therefore, when the connector to be inspected is inserted into the guide hole in the floating guide, even though a force directed to the pin block is applied to the floating guide, the floating guide will not move, and the connector to be inspected which is not correctly positioned will not be contacted with the probes. As the results, the probes or the connector to be inspected will not be broken.

According to an aspect of the invention, because the pressure operating member is arranged so as to swing between the open state and the pressed state by means of the swing shaft, the structure for arranging the pressure operating member is simple. In addition, because the pressure block is arranged at the distal end side where the connector to be inspected is pressed so as to swing by means of the second swing shaft which is parallel to the swing shaft, the floating guide can be accurately pressed in a direction of approaching the pin block.

According to an aspect of the invention, the distance of the floating guide moving from the pin block in the separating direction is restricted by the floating pin which has the swelled parts at the both ends. Besides, the floating guide is resiliently urged in the separating direction by the float spring, and can be separated from the pin block, in the open state of the pressure operating member.

According to an aspect of the invention, because the distance of the floating pin moving in the separating direction is adjusted by the adjusting screw which is screwed over its one end, the distance that the floating guide can be separated from the pin block can be set as desired. In addition, because the adjusting hole is formed in the pressure operating member opposed to the adjusting screws the adjusting screw can be easily readjusted from the exterior, when it is loosened during use.

According to an aspect of the invention, the board mounting face of the floating guide on which the connector to be inspected is inserted into the guide hole toward the pin block has the flat face which is larger than the board for inspection, and no positional restriction is applied to the board for inspection, in a state where the connector to be inspected has been inserted into the guide hole. Therefore, even though the connector to be inspected is mounted on the board for inspection at a displaced position, no force for displacing the connector to be inspected sideward with respect to the board for inspection will be applied from anywhere, and no inconvenience will happen in the inspection.

According to an aspect of the invention, the restraining part for restraining the pressure operating member from swinging into the open state is provided, and the engaging projection is adapted to be engaged with the engage receiving part in a state where the pressure operating member is restrained by the restraining part. Therefore, when the pressure operating member is restrained in the open state, the engaging projection is engaged with the engage receiving part, whereby the floating guide is reliably restrained from moving toward the pin block.

According to an aspect of the invention, in a state where the board for inspection has been inserted between the base member and the floating guide, the connector to be inspected is positioned by inserting it into the guide hole which is formed in the floating guide, and the pin block is contacted with the floating guide so that the probes may be brought into contact with the terminals of the connector to be inspected which has been inserted into the guide hole. Therefore, provided that the base member is arranged at a lower side, the connector to be inspected can be inspected in a state when the connector is arranged on an upper side of the board for inspection.

According to an aspect of the invention, the board positioning recess having a shape corresponding to the distal end portion of the board for inspection at the inserting side is formed on the board mounting face of the base member starting from the edge part thereof, whereby the insertion length and the sideward displacement of the board for inspection are restricted by the board positioning recess thereby to position the board for inspection. As the results, the connector to be inspected which is arranged on the board for inspection can be relatively positioned with respect to the guide hole formed in the floating guide.

According to an aspect of the invention, the floating guide is guided by the linear guide which is provided on the base member, and adapted to be contacted with and separated from the board mounting face of the base member in a vertical direction. Therefore, when the connector to be inspected is inserted in the guide hole formed in the floating guide, no force for displacing the connector to be inspected sideward will be applied, and hence, no force for displacing the board for inspection provided with the connector to be inspected sideward will be applied.

According to an aspect of the invention, the pressure operating member is arranged so as to swing in such a manner that its side opposed to the floating guide may approach and separate with respect to the base member, and the compression spring is provided in a contracted state between the pressure operating member and the base member so as to resiliently urge the pressure operating member in a direction in which the side of the pressure operating member opposed to the floating guide approaches the base member. Therefore, the structure of the relay connector is simple. Besides, while the pressure operating member is operated to exert pressure, the open state is maintained, permitting insertion of the board for inspection, and when the pressure exerting operation is released, measurement can be conducted in the pressed state in which the pin block is pressed to the connector to be inspected. In this manner, the pressure exerting operation is not required during the measurement, and the operation can be easily done.

According to an aspect of the invention, in association with the swing motion of the pressure operating member at the side opposed to the floating guide, the floating guide swings in a direction separating from the base member into the open state. Therefore, the floating guide is separated from the base member during the pressure exerting operation of the pressure operating member, and the insertion of the board for inspection is reliably permitted.

According to an aspect of the invention, because the depth of the guide hole formed in the floating guide is set to be equal to the height of the connector to be inspected, the face of the floating guide opposed to the pin block and the face of the connector to be inspected which has been inserted into the guide hole opposed to the pin block are on the same plane. Therefore, by arranging the probes on the pin block, making this plane as a base, it is possible to resiliently contact the probes with the connector to be inspected with an appropriate force.

According to an aspect of the invention, the floating guide is provided with the concave part on the face opposed to the pin block, and the pin block is provided with the convex part to be engaged with the concave part, on the face opposed to the floating guide, whereby the floating guide and the pin block can be relatively positioned by the engagement between the concave part and the convex part. Therefore, the probes arranged on the pin block can be contacted with the connector to be inspected which has been positioned by means of the guide hole in the floating guide, at proper positions.

According to an aspect of the invention, the outside part of the pressure operating member at the distal end opposed to the floating guide is chamfered to form the slant face. Therefore, on occasion of inspecting a CCD camera element which is arranged adjacent to the connector to be inspected on the board for inspection, the pressure operating member in the relay connector according to the invention will not disturb the inspection.