Connector assembly

A housing has a first positioning hole that penetrates the housing in the vertical direction. A suction cap includes a suction plate part to be sucked by a suction nozzle, and a plurality of positioning protrusion parts, each of which is to be inserted into a first positioning hole of the housing of an input/output board-side connector and a CPU board-side connector in the state where the suction cap holds the input/output board-side connector and the CPU board-side connector. Each positioning protrusion part is inserted into each corresponding first positioning hole in the state where the suction cap holds the input/output board-side connector and the CPU board-side connector, which achieves the positioning of the input/output board-side connector and the CPU board-side connector with respect to the suction cap.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese patent application No. 2020-133128, filed on Aug. 5, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a connector assembly.

Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H11-40243) discloses an electric connector assembly103that includes a first electric connector100, a second electric connector101, and a cap102made of resin as shown inFIG.15of the present application.

The cap102includes a first cap part104to hold the first electric connector100and a second cap part105to hold the second electric connector101.

The first cap part104has a groove107which a mating part106of the first electric connector100is to mate with. Likewise, the second cap part105has a groove109which a mating part108of the second electric connector101is to mate with.

Then, by mating the mating part106of the first electric connector100with the groove107of the first cap part104, and mating the mating part108of the second electric connector101with the groove109of the second cap part105, the cap102aligns the first electric connector100and the second electric connector101and also simultaneously holds the first electric connector100and the second electric connector101.

SUMMARY

In the structure of Patent Literature 1 described above, the two connectors are simultaneously held by the cap, and further highly accurate positioning of each connector with respect to the cap is achieved. However, with the miniaturization of electronic equipment on which connectors are to be mounted, it is demanded to reduce the height of connectors.

Thus, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a technique to achieve both the positioning of a plurality of connectors with respect to a suction cap and the reduction of the height of the plurality of connectors.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a connector assembly including a plurality of connectors, and a suction cap capable of holding the plurality of connectors when surface-mounting the plurality of connectors, apart from each other, onto a connector mounting surface of a board, wherein each of the connectors includes a plurality of contacts and a flat-plate housing that holds the plurality of contacts, the housing of each of the connectors has a positioning hole that penetrates the housing in a thickness direction of the housing, the suction cap includes a suction plate part to be sucked by a suction nozzle, and a plurality of positioning protrusion parts, each to be inserted into the positioning hole of the housing of each of the plurality of connectors in a state where the suction cap holds the plurality of connectors, and positioning of each of the connectors with respect to the suction cap is done by inserting each of the positioning protrusion parts into each corresponding positioning hole in the state where the suction cap holds the plurality of connectors.

According to the present disclosure, the positioning of a plurality of connectors with respect to a suction cap and the reduction of the height of a plurality of connectors are both achieved.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present disclosure is described hereinafter with reference toFIGS.1to14.

FIGS.1and2show an information processing device1. As shown inFIGS.1and2, the information processing device1includes a main board2, an input/output board3, a CPU board4, and a bridge board assembly5.

Each of the main board2, the input/output board3, and the CPU board4is a rigid board such as a paper phenolic board, a glass composite board, or a glass epoxy board, for example.

The input/output board3and the CPU board4are disposed on a parts mounting surface2A of the main board2, and they are disposed adjacent to each other. In other words, the input/output board3and the CPU board4are disposed on the parts mounting surface2A of the main board2in such a way that their end faces are opposed to each other.

The input/output board3includes a connector opposed surface3A and a main board opposed surface3B. The main board opposed surface3B is opposed to the parts mounting surface2A of the main board2. The connector opposed surface3A is on the opposite side of the main board opposed surface3B.

The CPU board4includes a connector opposed surface4A and a main board opposed surface4B. The main board opposed surface4B is opposed to the parts mounting surface2A of the main board2. The connector opposed surface4A is on the opposite side of the main board opposed surface4B.

The thicknesses of the input/output board3and the CPU board4are the same. Thus, the connector opposed surface3A of the input/output board3and the connector opposed surface4A of the CPU board4are in the same plane in the state where the input/output board3and the CPU board4are disposed on the parts mounting surface2A of the main board2.

As shown inFIG.2, a plurality of pads6are formed on the connector opposed surface3A of the input/output board3. Likewise, a plurality of pads7are formed on the connector opposed surface4A of the CPU board4.

The bridge board assembly5is configured to electrically connect the plurality of pads6to the plurality of pads7. Thus, the bridge board assembly5is disposed to cover the plurality of pads6and the plurality of pads7. Then, the bridge board assembly5is drawn toward the main board2by using a plurality of bolts8, which are indicated by chain double-dashed lines inFIG.1, and thereby the bridge board assembly5is pressed against the input/output board3and the CPU board4.

The terms “vertical direction”, “bridge direction” and “width direction” are defined by referring toFIGS.1and2. The vertical direction, the bridge direction and the width direction are directions that are orthogonal to one another.

The vertical direction is the direction in which the main board2, the input/output board3, and the bridge board assembly5overlap. The vertical direction includes an upper direction and a lower direction. The upper direction is the direction of viewing the bridge board assembly5from the main board2. The lower direction is the opposite direction from the upper direction. Thus, the input/output board3and the CPU board4are disposed on the upper side of the main board2, and the bridge board assembly5is disposed on the upper side of the input/output board3and the CPU board4.

The bridge direction is the direction in which the input/output board3and the CPU board4are adjacent to each other. Thus, the bridge board assembly5is formed to extend in the bridge direction.

The width direction is orthogonal to the vertical direction and the bridge direction as described above.

The structure of the bridge board assembly5is described hereinafter in further detail by using the vertical direction, the bridge direction and the width direction defined with reference toFIGS.1and2. It should be noted that, inFIG.3and subsequent figures, the bridge board assembly5is shown upside down for the sake of convenience of description.

FIGS.3and4show the bridge board assembly5. As shown inFIGS.3and4, the bridge board assembly5includes a bridge board10(board), an input/output board-side connector11(connector), and a CPU board-side connector12(connector).

The bridge board10is a rigid board such as a paper phenolic board, a glass composite board, or a glass epoxy board, for example. The bridge board10includes a connector mounting surface10A. As shown inFIG.4, on the connector mounting surface10A, a plurality of pads13corresponding to the input/output board-side connector11and a plurality of pads14corresponding to the CPU board-side connector12are formed. The plurality of pads13and the plurality of pads14are respectively connected to each other by some patterns, which are not shown.

The input/output board-side connector11is surface-mounted on the connector mounting surface10A of the bridge board10so as to cover the plurality of pads13. The CPU board-side connector12is surface-mounted on the connector mounting surface10A of the bridge board10so as to cover the plurality of pads14.

As shown inFIGS.2,3and4, the input/output board-side connector11is a board-to-board connector that is interposed between the bridge board10and the input/output board3and thereby electrically connects the plurality of pads13formed on the connector mounting surface10A of the bridge board10and the plurality of pads6formed on the connector opposed surface3A of the input/output board3, respectively.

Likewise, the CPU board-side connector12is a board-to-board connector that is interposed between the bridge board10and the CPU board4and thereby electrically connects the plurality of pads14formed on the connector mounting surface10A of the bridge board10and the plurality of pads7formed on the connector opposed surface4A of the CPU board4, respectively.

Thus, the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12are formed in a substantially flat shape.

In this embodiment, the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12have the same shape mainly for the purpose of cost reduction. Therefore, the CPU board-side connector12is mainly described hereinafter, and the description of the input/output board-side connector11is omitted as appropriate. The CPU board-side connector12is also referred to simply as the connector12hereinbelow.

FIGS.5to7show the connector12. As shown inFIGS.5and6, the connector12includes a plurality of contacts20, a rectangular flat-plate housing21that holds the plurality of contacts20, and two hold-downs22.

Note that, inFIGS.5and7, only one of the plurality of contacts20is shown. InFIG.6, some of the plurality of contacts20are shown by long dashed short dashed lines.

As shown inFIG.7, the connector12is formed to be symmetric with respect to a center line C1that divides the connector12in half in the width direction. The connector12is formed to be asymmetric with respect to a center line C2that divides the connector12in half in the bridge direction.

As shown inFIG.6, the housing21is made of insulating resin and formed in a rectangular flat-plate shape. Thus, the housing21includes a lower surface21A and an upper surface21B. Further, the housing21includes four end faces23. The four end faces23include a first bridge end face23A, a second bridge end face23B, a first width end face23C, and a second width end face23D. The first bridge end face23A and the second bridge end face23B face opposite directions and orthogonal to the bridge direction. The first width end face23C and the second width end face23D face opposite directions and orthogonal to the width direction.

The housing21has a first positioning hole24(positioning hole), a second positioning hole25, and three bolt holes26. Each of the first positioning hole24, the second positioning hole25, and the three bolt holes26is a penetrating hole that penetrates the housing21in the thickness direction of the housing21, which is the vertical direction.

As shown inFIG.7, the first positioning hole24and the second positioning hole25are formed at the center of the housing21in the bridge direction. The first positioning hole24and the second positioning hole25are formed apart from each other in the width direction.

The first positioning hole24is formed in a true circle shape.

The second positioning hole25is a slotted hole extending in the bridge direction, which has a track shape used for track and field.

The first positioning hole24is formed closer to the first width end face23C than to the second width end face23D. Specifically, when the housing21is viewed from above, a distance D1from a center point24C of the first positioning hole24to the first width end face23C in the width direction is shorter than a distance D2from the center point24C of the first positioning hole24to the second width end face23D in the width direction.

Likewise, the second positioning hole25is formed closer to the second width end face23D than to the first width end face23C. Specifically, when the housing21is viewed from above, a distance D3from a center point25C of the second positioning hole25to the first width end face23C in the width direction is longer than a distance D4from the center point25C of the second positioning hole25to the second width end face23D in the width direction.

The three bolt holes26are bolt holes into which the plurality of bolts8shown inFIG.1are to be inserted. As shown inFIG.7, the three bolt holes26are formed at the center of the housing21in the width direction. The three bolt holes26are formed apart from one another in the bridge direction. One of the three bolt holes26is formed near the first bridge end face23A, one is formed near the second bridge end face23B, and the remaining one is formed at the center in the bridge direction and between the first positioning hole24and the second positioning hole25.

In the housing21, a plurality of contact accommodation parts27are formed. The plurality of contact accommodation parts27are parts to accommodate the plurality of contacts20, respectively. Each of the contact accommodation parts27is formed to penetrate the housing21in the vertical direction.

The plurality of contact accommodation parts27are arranged to form six first accommodation rows30on the first bridge end face23A side and six second accommodation rows31on the second bridge end face23B side. Each of the six first accommodation rows30and the six second accommodation rows31lies in the bridge direction. The six first accommodation rows30are formed apart from one another in the width direction. The six first accommodation rows30are formed apart from one another in the width direction.

Referring back toFIG.6, each of the contacts30is formed by punching and bending a metal plate formed by plating copper or copper alloy, for example. Each contact20is press-fit into each contact accommodation part27and thereby held by the housing21. Each contact20includes a contact part20A that projects downward from the lower surface21A of the housing21and a soldering part20B that projects upward from the upper surface21B of the housing21when held by the housing21. The contact part20A of each contact20elastically comes into contact with a corresponding pad7of CPU board4shown inFIG.2. The soldering part20B of each contact20is soldered to a corresponding pad14of the bridge board10shown inFIG.4.

Referring back toFIG.6, the two hold-downs22include a first hold-down22A to be attached to the first bridge end face23A of the housing21, and a second hold-down22B to be attached to the second bridge end face23B of the housing21. The first hold-down22A and the second hold-down22B are formed by punching and bending a metal plate formed by plating copper or copper alloy, for example. The first hold-down22A and the second hold-down22B are soldered to the corresponding pad13and pad14of the bridge board10shown inFIG.4and thereby fix the connector12to the connector mounting surface10A of the bridge board10.

Referring back toFIG.6, the first hold-down22A and the second hold-down22B extend in the width direction. A locking part35is formed at the center of the first hold-down22A and the second hold-down22B in the width direction.

As shown inFIG.8, when surface-mounting the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12onto the connector mounting surface10A of the bridge board10, a suction cap50is used so as to simultaneously hold the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12by one suction nozzle. Specifically, the suction cap50is used in order to provisionally hold the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12when surface-mounting the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12, apart from each other, onto the connector mounting surface10A of the bridge board10.

In this embodiment, a connector assembly E at least includes the input/output board-side connector11, the CPU board-side connector12, and the suction cap50.

As shown inFIG.3, the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12are surface-mounted on the connector mounting surface10A of the bridge board10in different orientations. The input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12are surface-mounted on the connector mounting surface10A of the bridge board10in opposite orientations. Specifically, in the state where the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12are surface-mounted on the connector mounting surface10A of the bridge board10, the second bridge end face23B of the housing21of the input/output board-side connector11and the second bridge end face23B of the housing21of the CPU board-side connector12are opposed to each other in the bridge direction. Thus, the suction cap50shown inFIG.8holds the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12in such a way that the second bridge end face23B of the housing21of the input/output board-side connector11and the second bridge end face23B of the housing21of the CPU board-side connector12are opposed to each other.

The suction cap50is described hereinafter in detail with reference toFIGS.8to14.

As shown inFIG.8, the suction cap50is formed extending in the bridge direction in order to simultaneously hold the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12that are adjacent to each other in the bridge direction. The suction cap50is formed by punching and bending a metal sheet such as a stainless thin sheet, for example. As shown inFIG.9, the suction cap50includes a suction plate part51and two side walls52.

The suction plate part51is in a flat plate shape and orthogonal to the vertical direction.

The two side walls52are in a flat plate shape, and project upward from both ends of the suction plate part51in the width direction, respectively. Each of the side walls52extends in the bridge direction. Each of the side walls52continuously extends from one end to the other end of the suction plate part51in the bridge direction.

The suction cap50includes two cap parts60that are adjacent to each other with a center line C3, which divides the suction cap50in half in the bridge direction, lying therebetween. The two cap parts60include an input/output board-side cap part61for holding the input/output board-side connector11and a CPU board-side cap part62for holding the CPU board-side connector12. Thus, the input/output board-side cap part61and the CPU board-side cap part62are adjacent to each other with the center line C3lying therebetween in the bridge direction.

The input/output board-side cap part61and the CPU board-side cap part62are substantially line-symmetric with respect to the center line C3, and therefore the CPU board-side cap part62is first described hereinbelow.

As shown inFIG.10, in the CPU board-side cap part62, a first locking elastic piece70(locking elastic piece), a second locking elastic piece71, a positioning protrusion part72, and four spacer parts73are formed by cutting and bending in the suction plate part51.

Each of the first locking elastic piece70and the second locking elastic piece71is a cantilever beam supported by the suction plate part51, and formed to project upward from the suction plate part51.

As shown inFIG.8, the first locking elastic piece70is disposed to correspond to the first bridge end face23A of the housing21of the CPU board-side connector12. The second locking elastic piece71is disposed to correspond to the second bridge end face23B of the housing21of the CPU board-side connector12.

As shown inFIG.11, the first locking elastic piece70includes a horizontal beam part70A that extends from the suction plate part51in the bridge direction, a vertical beam part70B that projects upward from the end of the horizontal beam part70A, and a locking lance part70C that projects from the vertical beam part70B in the bridge direction. The horizontal beam part70A and the vertical beam part70B extend to form an L shape. Thus, the thickness direction of the vertical beam part70B is the same as the bridge direction. The horizontal beam part70A has a sufficient length in the bridge direction so that the vertical beam part70B and the locking lance part70C are slightly displaceable in the bridge direction. The locking lance part70C projects toward the second locking elastic piece71.

Referring back toFIG.10, the second locking elastic piece71includes a horizontal beam part71A that extends from the suction plate part51in the bridge direction, a vertical beam part71B that projects upward from the end of the horizontal beam part71A, and a locking lance part71C that projects from the vertical beam part71B in the bridge direction. The horizontal beam part71A and the vertical beam part71B extend to form an L shape. Thus, the thickness direction of the vertical beam part71B is the same as the bridge direction. The horizontal beam part71A has a sufficient length in the bridge direction so that the vertical beam part71B and the locking lance part71C are slightly displaceable in the bridge direction. The locking lance part71C projects toward the first locking elastic piece70.

The positioning protrusion part72is disposed to correspond to the first positioning hole24of the housing21of the CPU board-side connector12shown inFIG.3. As shown inFIG.10, the positioning protrusion part72projects upward from the suction plate part51in a cylindrical shape. The positioning protrusion part72is formed in a true circle shape, just like the first positioning hole24. The positioning protrusion part72is formed on the suction plate part51typically by drawing. Alternatively, the positioning protrusion part72may be a cylindrical part prepared by another process and weld to the suction plate part51.

As shown inFIG.12, the positioning protrusion part72is inserted into the corresponding first positioning hole24in the state where the suction cap50holds the CPU board-side connector12, which enables the positioning of the CPU board-side connector12with respect to the suction cap50in the bridge direction and the width direction.

A holding state where the suction cap50is holding the CPU board-side connector12is descried hereinafter in detail.

As shown inFIG.10, the four spacer parts73are formed to project upward from the suction plate part51. In the above-described holding state, the four spacer parts73are disposed to be opposed to the lower surface21A of the housing21of the CPU board-side connector12shown inFIG.6in the vertical direction. By providing the suction plate part51with the four spacer parts73in this manner, an appropriate clearance is left between the lower surface21A of the housing21and the suction plate part51in the above-described holding state as shown inFIG.12. This prevents the contact part20A of each contact20from colliding with the suction plate part51and being damaged due to the inertia of the CPU board-side connector12when sucking the suction cap50by a suction nozzle.

FIGS.13and14show end views of the above-described holding state.FIG.13shows the state where the first locking elastic piece70is catching on the locking part35of the first hold-down22A.FIG.14shows the state where the second locking elastic piece71is catching on the locking part35of the second hold-down22B. As shown inFIGS.13and14, the first locking elastic piece70catches on the locking part35of the first hold-down22A, and the second locking elastic piece71catches on the locking part35of the second hold-down22B, so that the suction cap50holds the CPU board-side connector12. In this state, as shown inFIG.13, the vertical beam part70B of the first locking elastic piece70is opposed to the locking part35of the first hold-down22A in the bridge direction. Note that, however, in the above-described holding state, the locking part35and the first locking elastic piece70are not constantly in contact with each other, and the first locking elastic piece70is relatively movable with respect to the locking part35in the vertical direction and the bridge direction. Likewise, as shown inFIG.14, the vertical beam part71B of the second locking elastic piece71is opposed to the locking part35of the second hold-down22B in the bridge direction. Note that, however, in the above-described holding state, the locking part35and the second locking elastic piece71are not constantly in contact with each other, and the second locking elastic piece71is relatively movable with respect to the locking part35in the vertical direction and the bridge direction.

Further, in the above-described holding state, the two side walls52shown inFIG.9are respectively opposed to the first width end face23C and the second width end face23D of the housing21of the CPU board-side connector12shown inFIG.6with a slight gap in the width direction.

Thus, even if the suction plate part51of the suction cap50is warped, it is possible to align the postures of the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12shown inFIG.3. To be more specific, a soldering reference surface of the input/output board-side connector11that can be defined by the bottom surface of the soldering part20B of the plurality of contacts20of the input/output board-side connector11and a soldering reference surface of the CPU board-side connector12that can be defined by the bottom surface of the soldering part20B of the plurality of contacts20of the CPU board-side connector12are in-plane. Therefore, even if the suction plate part51of the suction cap50is warped, the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12are allowed to be surface-mounted on the connector mounting surface10A of the bridge board10with no problem in the above-described holding state.

Note that the cancellation of warpage of the suction plate part51in the bridge direction is achieved in the above-described holding state as long as at least any one of the first locking elastic piece70and the second locking elastic piece71is movable in the vertical direction with respect to the locking part35of the first hold-down22A or the second hold-down22B of the CPU board-side connector12.

Next, the positioning of the CPU board-side connector12with respect to the suction cap50in the bridge direction and the width direction is described hereinafter.

InFIG.10, even when the suction cap50is not provided with the positioning protrusion part72, the positioning of the CPU board-side connector12with respect to the suction cap50in the bridge direction and the width direction is achieved to a certain level by the first locking elastic piece70, the second locking elastic piece71, and the two side walls52. However, since the first locking elastic piece70is required to be detachable from the locking part35, the vertical beam part70B of the first locking elastic piece70needs to be relatively easily displaceable in the bridge direction. Therefore, the first locking elastic piece70cannot be expected to enable the positioning of the CPU board-side connector12with respect to the suction cap50in the bridge direction. The same applies to the second locking elastic piece71.

Thus, in the CPU board-side cap part62, the suction cap50according to this embodiment is provided with the positioning protrusion part72to be inserted into the first positioning hole24of the CPU board-side connector12. This achieves highly accurate positioning of the CPU board-side connector12with respect to the suction cap50in the width direction and the bridge direction.

Likewise, in the input/output board-side cap part61, the suction cap50according to this embodiment is provided with the positioning protrusion part72to be inserted into the first positioning hole24of the input/output board-side connector11as shown inFIG.9. This achieves highly accurate positioning of the input/output board-side connector11with respect to the suction cap50in the width direction and the bridge direction.

Thus, in the above-described holding state, the relative position accuracy of the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12in the bridge direction and the width direction is achieved at a high level through the suction cap50, which enables the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12to be accurately surface-mounted on the connector mounting surface10A of the bridge board10.

Note that, in this embodiment, the positioning protrusion part72and the first positioning hole24both have a true circle shape. Thus, the positioning protrusion part72does not have the function of inhibiting the CPU board-side connector12from rotating relative to the suction cap50around the positioning protrusion part72as an axis. In this embodiment, the two side walls52mainly have the function of inhibiting the rotation of the CPU board-side connector12. Alternatively, the positioning protrusion part72and the first positioning hole24may have a rectangular shape, for example, so that the positioning protrusion part72has the function of inhibiting the rotation of the CPU board-side connector12.

As shown inFIG.9, the input/output board-side cap part61and the CPU board-side cap part62are symmetric with respect to the center line C3that divides the suction cap50in half in the bridge direction, except for the position of the positioning protrusion part72. A line L that connects the positioning protrusion part72of the input/output board-side cap part61and the positioning protrusion part72of the CPU board-side cap part62obliquely cross the center line C3when viewed from above.

Finally, a procedure to attach the bridge board assembly5to the main board2is described hereinbelow.

First, as shown inFIG.2, the input/output board3and the CPU board4are mounted on the parts mounting surface2A of the main board2. At this time, the positioning of the input/output board3with respect to the main board2in the width direction and the bridge direction is done by using a positioning pin2B that is disposed on the main board2in advance. Likewise, the positioning of the CPU board4with respect to the main board2in the width direction and the bridge direction is done by using a positioning pin2C that is disposed on the main board2in advance.

Next, the positioning pin2B is inserted into the second positioning hole25of the input/output board-side connector11, and also the positioning pin2C is inserted into the first positioning hole24of the CPU board-side connector12. The positioning of the bridge board assembly5with respect to the main board2is thereby done in the width direction and the bridge direction.

Then, the bridge board assembly5is fastened by a bolt to the main board2by inserting the plurality of bolts8shown inFIG.1into the three bolt holes26of the input/output board-side connector11and the three bolt holes26of the CPU board-side connector12, for example. The contact parts20A of the plurality of contacts20of the input/output board-side connector11thereby respectively elastically come into contact with the plurality of pads6of the input/output board3shown inFIG.2, and also the contact parts20A of the plurality of contacts20of the CPU board-side connector12respectively elastically come into contact with the plurality of pads7of the CPU board4. As a result, the plurality of pads6of the input/output board3are respectively electrically connected to the plurality of pads7of the CPU board4through the bridge board assembly5.

A preferred embodiment of the present disclosure is described above. The above-described embodiment has the following features.

As shown inFIG.8, the connector assembly E includes the input/output board-side connector11, the CPU board-side connector12, and the suction cap50capable of holding the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12when surface-mounting the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12, apart from each other, onto the connector mounting surface10A of the bridge board10(board). As shown inFIG.6, each of the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12includes the plurality of contacts20and the flat-plate housing21that holds the plurality of contacts20. The housing21has the first positioning hole24(positioning hole) that penetrates the housing21in the vertical direction (the thickness direction of the housing21). As shown inFIG.9, the suction cap50includes the suction plate part51that can be sucked by a suction nozzle, and the plurality of positioning protrusion parts72, each of which is to be inserted into the first positioning hole24of the housing21of the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12in the state where the suction cap50holds the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12. Each positioning protrusion part72is inserted into each corresponding first positioning hole24in the state where the suction cap50holds the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12, which enables the positioning of the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12with respect to the suction cap50. In this structure, the positioning of the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12with respect to the suction cap50and the reduction of the height of the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12are both achieved.

Further, as shown inFIG.3, the input/output board-side connector11(first connector) and the CPU board-side connector12(second connector) have the same shape. This structure contributes to cost reduction compared with the case where the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12have different shapes.

Further, as shown inFIG.6, each housing21of the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12is formed in a rectangular flat-plate shape having the four end faces23. The four end faces23include the second bridge end face23B (first end face). As shown inFIGS.3and8, in the state where the suction cap50holds the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12, the second bridge end face23B of the housing21of the input/output board-side connector11and the second bridge end face23B of the housing21of the CPU board-side connector12are opposed to each other. This structure allows the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12to be surface-mounted on the connector mounting surface10A of the bridge board10in such a way that the second bridge end face23B of the housing21of the input/output board-side connector11and the second bridge end face23B of the housing21of the CPU board-side connector12are opposed to each other as shown inFIG.3.

Further, as shown inFIG.7, the four end faces23include the first width end face23C (second end face) and the second width end face23D (third end face) that are adjacent to the second bridge end face23B. The first positioning hole24is closer to the first width end face23C than to the second width end face23D. In this structure, in the state where the suction cap50holds the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12, a line R that connects the first positioning hole24of the housing21of the input/output board-side connector11and the first positioning hole24of the housing21of the CPU board-side connector12is oblique to the bridge direction.

Further, as shown inFIG.12, the first positioning hole24and the positioning protrusion part72are formed in a true circle shape. In this structure, the positioning protrusion part72is easily inserted into the first positioning hole24, which allows the suction cap50to easily hold the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12.

Further, as shown inFIG.13, the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12include the locking part35. The suction cap50includes the plurality of first locking elastic pieces70(locking elastic pieces). In this embodiment, the plurality of first locking elastic pieces70include the first locking elastic piece70of the input/output board-side cap part61and the first locking elastic piece70of the CPU board-side cap part62. The suction cap50is configured to hold the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12by the plurality of first locking elastic pieces70catching on the locking part35of each of the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12. In the state where the suction cap50holds the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12, the first locking elastic piece70is movable in the vertical direction with respect to the locking part35. In this structure, it is possible to align the postures of the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12in the state where the suction cap50holds the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12, which allows the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12to be surface-mounted on the connector mounting surface10A of the bridge board10without any problem.

Note that the locking part35may be formed on the housing21rather than on the first hold-down22A or the second hold-down22B.

The number of contacts of the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12is126in the above-described embodiment. Alternatively, the number of contacts of the input/output board-side connector11and the CPU board-side connector12may be74.