Connector including male and female connectors

The first connector includes a first inner conductor, a first outer conductor, a first outer conductor cover and a first dielectric. The second connector includes a second inner conductor, a second outer conductor, a second outer conductor cover and a second dielectric. The second outer conductor includes a second outer conductor connecting portion overlapping the first outer conductor in a radial direction. The first outer conductor includes a first outer conductor body portion, a first outer conductor connecting portion for covering the outer periphery of the second outer conductor connecting portion and contacting the second outer conductor connecting portion, and a constricted portion reduced in dimensions from the first outer conductor connecting portion to the first outer conductor body portion. The first outer conductor cover and the second outer conductor cover have the same shape.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-122067, filed on Jul. 27, 2021, with the Japan Patent Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a connector.

BACKGROUND

Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2021-028870 discloses a female connector and a male connector connectable to each other. The female connector includes a female inner conductor, a female dielectric for accommodating the female inner conductor and a female outer conductor for covering the female dielectric. The male connector includes an inner conductor, a dielectric for accommodating the inner conductor and a male outer conductor for covering the dielectric. When the female connector and the male connector are connected, the female inner conductor and the inner conductor are connected to each other and the female outer conductor and the male outer conductor are connected to each other while radially overlapping each other. A technique on connectors is also known from Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2017-126551.

SUMMARY

Since a shield connector generally has a large number of components, cost tends to increase.

Accordingly, the present disclosure aims to provide a connector capable of suppressing a cost increase by commonly using components.

The present disclosure is directed to a connector, comprising a first connector and a second connector connectable to each other, wherein the first connector includes a first inner conductor, a first outer conductor for covering an outer periphery of the first inner conductor, a first outer conductor cover for covering an outer periphery of the first outer conductor and a first dielectric arranged between the first inner conductor and the first outer conductor, the second connector includes a second inner conductor, a second outer conductor for covering an outer periphery of the second inner conductor, a second outer conductor cover for covering an outer periphery of the second outer conductor and a second dielectric arranged between the second inner conductor and the second outer conductor, the second outer conductor includes a second outer conductor body portion arranged between the second dielectric and the second outer conductor cover and a second outer conductor connecting portion overlapping the first outer conductor in a radial direction, the first outer conductor includes a first outer conductor body portion arranged between the first dielectric and the second outer conductor cover, a first outer conductor connecting portion for covering the outer periphery of the second outer conductor connecting portion and contacting the second outer conductor connecting portion, and a constricted portion reduced in dimensions from the first outer conductor connecting portion to the first outer conductor body portion, and the first outer conductor cover and the second outer conductor cover have the same shape.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector capable of suppressing a cost increase by commonly using components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Description of Embodiments of Present Disclosure

(1) The connector of the present disclosure is provided with a first connector and a second connector connectable to each other, wherein the first connector includes a first inner conductor, a first outer conductor for covering an outer periphery of the first inner conductor, a first outer conductor cover for covering an outer periphery of the first outer conductor and a first dielectric arranged between the first inner conductor and the first outer conductor, the second connector includes a second inner conductor, a second outer conductor for covering an outer periphery of the second inner conductor, a second outer conductor cover for covering an outer periphery of the second outer conductor and a second dielectric arranged between the second inner conductor and the second outer conductor, the second outer conductor includes a second outer conductor body portion arranged between the second dielectric and the second outer conductor cover and a second outer conductor connecting portion overlapping the first outer conductor in a radial direction, the first outer conductor includes a first outer conductor body portion arranged between the first dielectric and the second outer conductor cover, a first outer conductor connecting portion for covering the outer periphery of the second outer conductor connecting portion and contacting the second outer conductor connecting portion, and a constricted portion reduced in dimensions from the first outer conductor connecting portion to the first outer conductor body portion, and the first outer conductor cover and the second outer conductor cover have the same shape.

As just described, if the first and second outer conductor covers have the same shape, the first and second outer conductor covers can be commonly used between the first connector and the second connector, and cost can be reduced. Particularly, in the case of the above configuration, the first and second outer conductor body portions can be set to have the same or nearly the same dimensions by arranging the constricted portion between the first outer conductor connecting portion and the first outer conductor body portion. Thus, the first and second outer conductor covers can be easily set to have the same shape.

(2) The first dielectric may include a one-side dielectric and an other-side dielectric unitable with each other, the one-side dielectric may include a base wall, facing surfaces intersecting the base wall and facing each other, and a cavity formed between the facing surfaces facing each other to accommodate the first inner conductor, the other-side dielectric may close an opening side facing the base wall, and press-fit projections to be brought into contact with the first inner conductor may be formed on the facing surfaces of the one-side dielectric.

If the first and second outer conductor covers are commonly used between the first connector and the second connector, it becomes difficult to secure a sufficient length for the first dielectric due to an arrangement relationship of the first and second outer conductor covers at the time of connection. As a result, there is a concern that the first inner conductor is not stably accommodated in the cavity of the one-side dielectric. In that respect, according to the above configuration, the first inner conductor can be stably accommodated in the cavity since the press-fit projections formed on the facing surfaces contact the first inner conductor.

(3) The press-fit projections may be in the form of ribs linearly extending from the opening side toward the base wall on the facing surfaces.

If the press-fit projections are formed in this way, the first inner conductor can be easily inserted into the cavity by being lowered from the opening side toward the base wall.

(4) The first inner conductor may be a male terminal and include a terminal body in the form of a rectangular tube to be accommodated into the cavity and a tab projecting from the terminal body and to be arranged outside the one-side dielectric.

If the first inner conductor is a male terminal, the first inner conductor may be lowered from the opening side toward the base wall and the terminal body may be inserted into the cavity. Thus, a concern for the scaping of resin of the dielectric by the tab can be removed. As a result, the adhesion of the resin to the tab can be avoided and the connection reliability of the tab to the second inner conductor can be ensured.

Details of Embodiment of Present Disclosure

Embodiment

A specific example of an embodiment of the present disclosure is described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these illustrations and is intended to be represented by claims and include all changes in the scope of claims and in the meaning and scope of equivalents.

A connector of this embodiment is illustrated as a shield connector connected to an end of a cable23, in which a communication signal is transmitted. As shown inFIG.1, the connector is provided with a first connector10and a second connector11connectable to each other. The first connector10is a male connector and includes first inner conductors13as male terminals. The second connector11is a female connector and includes second inner conductors14as female terminals.

Besides the first inner conductors13, the first connector10includes a first dielectric15, a first outer conductor16, a first outer conductor cover17and a first housing18. Similarly, the second connector11includes a second dielectric19, a second outer conductor21, a second outer conductor cover17and a second housing22besides the second inner conductors14. Note that since the first outer conductor cover17and the second outer conductor cover17have the same shape and are commonly usable as described later, these covers are denoted by a common reference sign17. Further, in the following description, surface sides facing each other when the connection of the first connector10and the second connector11is started are referred to as front sides concerning a front-rear direction. A vertical direction is based on a vertical direction in each figure exceptFIGS.8and9.

As shown inFIGS.2and3, the cable23includes two coated wires24(twisted pair cable), a shield body25such as a braided wire for collectively covering the outer peripheries of the wires24and an insulating sheath26for covering the outer periphery of the shield body25. The sheath26and the shield body25are removed and the two wires24are arranged in an exposed manner in a front end part of the cable23. The shield body25exposed from an end of the sheath26is folded on a front end part of the sheath26behind the exposed parts of the wires24in the cable23. The two wires24exposed from the end of the sheath26are held by a clip28(seeFIG.9). Note that the cables23having the same diameter are connected to the first connector10and the second connector11.

The second inner conductor14is formed, such as by bending an electrically conductive metal plate. As shown inFIG.3, the second inner conductor14includes a terminal connecting portion29in the form of a rectangular tube and a second wire connecting portion31connected behind the terminal connecting portion29. As shown inFIG.1, the terminal connecting portion29contacts and is electrically connected to a later-described tab52of the first inner conductor13when the first connector10and the second connector11are connected. The second wire connecting portion31is crimped and electrically connected to a core wire in a front end part of the wire24and crimped and mechanically connected to a coating of the wire24. Two second inner conductors14are provided to correspond to the two coated wires in the second connector11.

The second dielectric19is formed of an insulating synthetic resin material into a rectangular parallelepiped shape long in the front-rear direction. Although not shown in detail, the second dielectric19is formed by assembling two members with each other in the vertical direction. The two second inner conductors14connected to the wires24are accommodated side by side in a width direction inside the second dielectric19.

The second outer conductor21is formed, such as by bending an electrically conductive metal plate. As shown inFIG.4, the second outer conductor21includes a fitting tube portion32in the form of a rectangular tube long in the front-rear direction and a second shield connecting portion33to be connected to the shield body25of the cable23.

The second dielectric19is inserted and accommodated into the fitting tube portion32from behind. If the second dielectric19is accommodated into the fitting tube portion32, the second inner conductors14are electrically insulated from the fitting tube portion32by the second dielectric19. A second outer conductor connecting portion34to be overlapped with the mating first outer conductor16in a radial direction is formed in a front end part of the fitting tube portion32(seeFIG.1). The second outer conductor connecting portion34is formed with resiliently deformable resilient contact portions35to be brought into contact with the first outer conductor16. The resilient contact portions35are formed in four walls of the fitting tube portion32by cutting and raising.

The fitting tube portion32includes a second outer conductor body portion36covered by the second outer conductor cover17behind the second outer conductor connecting portion34. The second outer conductor body portion36is connected behind the second outer conductor connecting portion34without any step while having the same dimensions. Further, the second outer conductor body portion36includes a second dielectric locking portion37for locking the second dielectric19and second cover locking portions38for locking the second outer conductor cover17.

The second shield connecting portion33is in the form of a plate extending rearward from the lower edge of the rear end of the fitting tube portion32. As shown inFIG.1, the second shield connecting portion33is arranged below the shield body25and connected to the shield body25by receiving a crimping force of the second outer conductor cover17.

The second outer conductor cover17is formed, such as by bending an electrically conductive metal plate. As shown inFIG.5, the second outer conductor cover17includes a ceiling plate portion39in the form of a flat plate, a pair of side plate portions41projecting downward from both widthwise ends of the ceiling plate portion39and a shield barrel portion42arranged behind the ceiling plate portion39and each side plate portion41. Note that the shield barrel portion42shown inFIGS.2,3and5is in a deformed form by being crimped to the shield body25of the cable23for the sake of convenience. To be precise, the shield barrel portion42is in the form of an open barrel before deformation. Each side plate portion41is formed with a locking groove43, into which the second cover locking portion38is fit. Further, the second outer conductor cover17includes a pair of facing plate portions44(only one is shown inFIG.5) projecting inward in the width direction from the lower ends of rear parts of the respective side plate portions41.

The second outer conductor body portion36is positioned and held by the second outer conductor cover17by being arranged inside the ceiling plate portion39, the respective side plate portions41and the respective facing plate portions44and locking the second cover locking portions38into the locking grooves43(seeFIG.11). The ceiling plate portion39is formed with a rectangular opening hole45and a housing locking projection46bent and raised on the front edge of the opening hole45.

Although not shown, the shield barrel portion42is crimped and fixed to the shield body25and the cable23by engaging projections and recesses on end edges with the shield body25arranged inside. The second shield connecting portion33is arranged to be sandwiched between the shield barrel portion42and the shield body25(seeFIG.1).

The second housing22is made of synthetic resin and includes, as shown inFIG.1, a second module accommodating portion47penetrating in the front-rear direction. A second locking lance48is formed to project forward on the upper surface of the inner wall of a rear part of the second module accommodating portion47. The second locking lance48is resiliently deformable in the vertical direction.

A second module49formed by assembling the second inner conductors14, the second dielectric19, the second outer conductor21and the second outer conductor cover17is accommodated into the second module accommodating portion47. If the second module49is accommodated into the second module accommodating portion47, the second locking lance48is locked to the locking projection46while being fit into the opening hole45. The upper wall of the second housing22is formed with a lock arm51capable of locking the first housing18.

The first inner conductor13is formed, such as by bending an electrically conductive metal plate. As shown inFIG.2, the first inner conductor13includes the pin-like tab52, a terminal body53in the form of a rectangular tube connected behind the tab52and a first wire connecting portion54connected behind the terminal body53. The tab52is inserted in and connected to the terminal connecting portion29of the second inner conductor14in the connected state. The first wire connecting portion54is crimped and electrically connected to a core wire in a front end part of the wire24and crimped and mechanically connected to a coating of the wire24. Two first inner conductors13are provided to correspond to the two coated wires in the first connector11.

The first dielectric15is formed of an insulating synthetic resin material into a rectangular parallelepiped shape long in the front-rear direction. Radial dimensions (height, width) of the first dielectric15are set equal to those of the second dielectric19.

As shown inFIG.2, the first dielectric15includes a one-side dielectric55and an other-side dielectric56which can be united in the vertical direction. The one-side dielectric55is arranged above the other-side dielectric56. As shown inFIG.7, the one-side dielectric55includes a base wall57in the form of a flat plate, a pair of side walls58projecting downward from both widthwise ends of the base wall57and an interpolar wall59projecting downward from the base wall57between the pair of side walls58.

The one-side dielectric55includes a pair of cavities61in the width direction partitioned by the interpolar wall59between the pair of side walls58. The base wall57closes the upper surface of each cavity61. A lower surface side of each cavity61is open, and closed by the other-side dielectric56assembled with the one-side dielectric55. The first inner conductor13is inserted into the cavity61from below inFIG.7(actually from above). A tapered guiding surface62for guiding the first inner conductor13is formed on the lower end of each side wall58. Guiding surfaces62are also formed on the interpolar wall59.

As shown inFIG.8, a front part of the interpolar wall59is formed thicker in the width direction than a rear part. The one-side dielectric55includes a plurality of press-fit projections64on facing surfaces63of the front part of the interpolar wall59and the side walls58. The respective press-fit projections64project into the cavities61at the same positions in the front-rear direction on the respective facing surface63, and a pair of the press-fit projections64are arranged at an interval in the front-rear direction on each facing surface63. Specifically, each press-fit projection64is in the form of a rib extending in the vertical direction and formed to have an arcuate cross-section. A distance between tops of the respective press-fit projections64facing each other in the width direction is set slightly shorter than a width of the terminal body53of the first inner conductor13. The upper end of each press-fit projection64is coupled to the base wall57. The lower end of each press-fit projection64is continuous with the guiding surface62and tapered on each side wall58. Note that the second dielectric19is not provided with parts equivalent to the press-fit projections64.

As shown inFIGS.2and9, the other-side dielectric56includes a covering wall65for closing an opening in the lower surface of the one-side dielectric55and a pair of lock walls66projecting upward from both widthwise ends of the covering wall65. Each lock wall66is resiliently deformable, locked to the one-side dielectric55and holds the one-side dielectric55and the other-side dielectric56in the united state.

The first outer conductor16is formed, such as by bending an electrically conductive metal plate. As shown inFIG.6, the first outer conductor16includes a body tube portion67in the form of a rectangular tube long in the front-rear direction and a first shield connecting portion68to be connected to the shield body25of the cable23.

A front part of the body tube portion67serves as a first outer conductor connecting portion69having large dimensions, and the second outer conductor connecting portion34is arranged inside the first outer conductor connecting portion69. The resilient contact portions35of the second outer conductor connecting portion34conductively contact the inner surface of the first outer conductor connecting portion69.

A rear part of the body tube portion67serves as a first outer conductor body portion71having dimensions one size smaller than the first outer conductor connecting portion69. Radial dimensions (height, width) of the first outer conductor body portion71are set equal to those of the second outer conductor body portion36. The first dielectric15is inserted and accommodated into the first outer conductor body portion71from behind. The first inner conductors13are electrically insulated from the body tube portion67by the first dielectric15. Further, the first outer conductor body portion71includes a first dielectric locking portion72for locking the first dielectric15and first cover locking portions73for locking the first outer conductor cover17.

The body tube portion67includes a constricted portion74having dimensions gradually reduced from the rear end of the first outer conductor connecting portion69to the front end of the first outer conductor body portion71between the first outer conductor connecting portion69and the first outer conductor body portion71. That is, the constricted portion74is formed into a tapered shape toward the rear. Radial dimensions of the first outer conductor body portion71are set based on an angle of inclination and a length of the constricted portion74.

The first shield connecting portion68is in the form of a plate extending rearward from the lower edge of the rear end of the body tube portion67. As shown inFIG.1, the first shield connecting portion68is arranged below the shield body25and connected to the shield body25by receiving a crimping force of the first outer conductor cover17.

As shown inFIG.5, the first outer conductor cover17has the same shape and same size as the second outer conductor cover17and includes a ceiling plate portion39, side plate portions41and a shield barrel portion42. In the case of the first outer conductor cover17, locking grooves43are locked to the first cover locking portions73of the first outer conductor16(seeFIG.10), and the housing locking projection46is locked to a later-described first locking lance76of the first housing18. Then, as shown inFIG.1, the shield barrel portion42is crimped and connected to the shield body25of the cable23while sandwiching the first shield connecting portion68therebetween.

In the case of this embodiment, the first outer conductor cover17and the second outer conductor cover17are used without being distinguished from each other and commonly used as one type of outer conductor covers between the first connector10and the second connector11.

The first housing18is made of synthetic resin and includes, as shown inFIG.1, a first module accommodating portion75penetrating in the front-rear direction. The resiliently deformable first locking lance76is formed to project forward on the upper surface of the inner wall of a rear part of the first module accommodating portion75. A first module77formed by assembling the first inner conductors13, the first dielectric15, the first outer conductor16and the first outer conductor cover17is accommodated into the first module accommodating portion75. The first module77is locked by the first locking lance76. As shown inFIGS.1and2, a front part of the first housing18serves as a receptacle78having dimensions one size larger than a rear part. The second housing22is fit into the receptacle78.

<Assembling Procedure and Connection Structure of Connector>

In assembling the first module77, the first inner conductor13is accommodated into the cavity61of the one-side dielectric55as shown inFIG.8. The first inner conductor13is lowered toward the base wall57along the respective press-fit projections64from an opening side (side forward of the plane ofFIG.8) of the cavity61while being guided by the guiding surfaces62. In this way, the terminal body53of the first inner conductor13is inserted into the cavity61. The tab52of the first inner conductor13is arranged to project forward of the one-side dielectric55without contacting the one-side dielectric55. Thus, the scraping of the resin of the one-side dielectric55by the tab52can be avoided and the adhesion of resin pieces of the one-side dielectric55to the surface of the tab52can be hindered. The respective press-fit projections64contact both side surfaces of the terminal body53. Top sides of the respective press-fit projections64are squeezed by the terminal body53of the first inner conductor13. In this way, the terminal body53is held from both sides in the width direction by the respective press-fit projections64and the rattling of the first inner conductor13in the cavity61is suppressed.

In the case of this embodiment, since the first outer conductor cover17and the second outer conductor cavity17are commonly used, the first outer conductor cover17comes closer to the second outer conductor cover17than in conventional connectors in the connected state, and a sufficient front-rear length cannot be secured for the first dielectric15. Thus, there is a concern that the first inner conductors13are not stably accommodated in the cavities61, such as by being inclined. However, since the rattling of the first inner conductors13in the cavities61is suppressed by the respective press-fit projections64, a state where the first inner conductors13are stably accommodated in the cavities61can be realized.

Thereafter, as shown inFIG.9, the other-side dielectric56is put on and assembled with the one-side dielectric55. In this way, the first inner conductors13are more stably held in the first dielectric15. Subsequently, the first dielectric15is inserted into the first outer conductor16from behind. The first dielectric15is retained in the first outer conductor16by being locked by the first dielectric locking portion72. At this time, the first dielectric15is arranged in the first outer conductor body portion71and the tabs52of the first inner conductors13are arranged to project into the first outer conductor connecting portion69.

Subsequently, the first outer conductor cover17is assembled with the first outer conductor body portion71, and the shield barrel portion42is crimped and connected to the shield body25of the cable23together with the first shield connecting portion68. In this way, the assembling of the first module77shown inFIG.10is completed. The first module77is inserted into the first module accommodating portion75of the first housing18from behind. The first module77is retained in the first module accommodating portion75of the first housing18by locking the first locking lance76to the housing locking projection46(seeFIG.1). The first outer conductor connecting portion69is arranged to project into the receptacle78. In the above way, the assembling of the first connector10is completed. The second connector11is assembled in a procedure similar to that of the first connector10.

The first connector10and the second connector11are connected from a state squarely facing each other. By locking the first housing18by the lock arm51of the second housing22, the first connector10and the second connector11are held in the connected state. As shown inFIG.1, in the connected state, the second outer conductor connecting portion34is fit inside the first outer conductor connecting portion69and the first and second outer conductor connecting portions69,34are arranged to radially overlap each other. By the contact of the respective resilient contact portions35of the second outer conductor connecting portion34with the inner surface of the first outer conductor connecting portion69, the first and second outer conductors16,21are connected. In the case of this embodiment, since the first and second inner conductors13,14are covered around without any gap by the first outer conductor16, the first outer conductor cover17, the second outer conductor21and the second outer conductor cover17, the intrusion of noise from outside can be prevented and the leakage of noise to outside can be prevented. Therefore, shielding performance can be improved.

Further, in the case of this embodiment, the first and second outer conductor body portions71,36have the same dimensions and, in the connected state, the outer surface of the first outer conductor body portion71and the outer surface of the second outer conductor body portion36are arranged to constitute a virtual tube continuous in the front-rear direction while having the same dimensions. Thus, an impedance disturbance can be suppressed and impedance matching can be achieved between the first connector10and the second connector11.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the first and second outer conductor body portions71,36can be set to have the same dimensions by arranging the constricted portion74between the first outer conductor connecting portion69and the first outer conductor body portion71. Thus, the first outer conductor cover17and the second outer conductor cover17can be easily set to have the same shape.

Further, even if a sufficient front-rear length cannot be secured for the first dielectric15, the first inner conductors13can be stably accommodated in the cavities61since the one-side dielectric55is formed with the plurality of press-fit projections64for contacting the terminal bodies53of the first inner conductors13.

The respective press-fit projections64can be satisfactorily brought into contact with the terminal body53of the first inner conductor13by lowering the first inner conductor13toward the base wall57from the opening side and inserting the terminal body53into the cavity61. Further, the tab52of the first inner conductor13is arranged outside the first dielectric15and cannot contact the first dielectric15in the process of insertion into the cavity61. Therefore, the adhesion of the resin of the first dielectric15to the tab52can be avoided and the connection reliability of the tab52to the second inner conductor14can be ensured.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered illustrative in all aspects, rather than restrictive.

As another embodiment, the first and second outer conductor body portions need not be set to precisely have the same dimensions and the radial dimensions thereof may be different from each other within a range in which the first and second outer conductor covers can be commonly used.

As another embodiment, the press-fit projections may be provided in the second dielectric in addition to the first dielectric.

As another embodiment, the first connector may be a female connector including female terminal(s) as first inner conductor(s).