Abstract:
A connector includes a connector housing having a mating connector receiving portion adapted to receive a mating connector, a plurality of signal contacts each having a connector contact portion formed at one end thereof and disposed in the mating connector receiving portion of the connector housing, a metal shell disposed to cover at least the connector contact portion of each of the plurality of signal contacts, a switch contact having a switch contact portion formed thereon, and a switch member connected to the metal shell and disposed facing the switch contact portion of the switch contact, the switch member being deformed, when pressed, to come into contact with the switch contact portion of the switch contact and thereby connect the switch contact with the metal shell.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly, to a connector which is mounted on a substrate and fitted to a mating connector. 
         [0002]    Conventionally, electronic devices such as mobile devices and information devices have been widely used. However, such an electronic device is often provided with a connector through which the electronic device is connected to an external apparatus for sending and receiving signals to and from the external apparatus, and with a so-called tactile switch which is actuated with an operator&#39;s finger to input electric signals to the electronic device so as to cause the device to execute various operations. 
         [0003]    In general, a connector is fitted to a mating connector which is connected to an external apparatus, to transmit signals. In order to prevent the electric signals transmitted through the connector from being affected by electromagnetic waves from outside, a connector with an electromagnetic shielding effect is desirable. 
         [0004]    In addition, due to a recent trend in which thinner electronic devices and larger display screens are more desirable, such connectors and tactile switches are often installed in the periphery of the display screen. In this regard, the mounting space needs to be reduced. 
         [0005]    Under these circumstances, JP 2011-142078 A, for example, discloses a connector with a built-in switch. In this connector, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , a connector body  2  is disposed on a surface of a substrate  1 , and ends of a shell  3  covering the connector body  2  are fixed by soldering to pads  4  of the substrate  1 , and the connector is configured so that a jack  5  as a mating connector may be fitted. Inside the connector body  2 , contacts  6  which come into contact with a contact portion of the jack  5  are disposed. The shell  3  is partially cut by punching to obtain a cut piece as a switch contact  7 . Adjacently to a free end  7   a  of the switch contact  7 , another contact  8  is disposed. 
         [0006]    As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the contact  8  is disconnected from the shell  3 , and has a tip section  8   a  overhanging into a jack receiving portion  9  of the connector body  2 . When the jack  5  is inserted into the jack receiving portion  9 , the tip section  8   a  of the contact  8  is lifted by the jack  5  and comes into contact with the free end  7   a  of the switch contact  7 . In this way, the switch for detecting a fitting status of the jack  5  is formed. 
         [0007]    According to the connector described in JP 2011-142078 A, shielding can be provided by the shell  3 , and because the switch for detecting the fitting status of the jack  5  is built in the connector, the mounting space becomes smaller than in a case where the connector and the switch are separately disposed. 
         [0008]    It, however, is not possible with the connector described in JP 2011-142078 A that various operations are carried out by the actuation with an operator&#39;s finger irrespective of the fitting of the jack  5 . Supposing that a tactile switch, such as a press button switch which is actuated with an operator&#39;s finger irrespective of the fitting of a mating connector, is to be installed on an electronic device, the tactile switch needs to be provided as a separate component, independently of the connector, which requires a larger mounting space. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems with the prior art and an object thereof is to provide a connector which has an electromagnetic shielding effect, is capable of also serving as a tactile switch to be actuated with an operator&#39;s finger, and can minimize the mounting space. 
         [0010]    A connector according to the present invention comprises: 
         [0011]    a connector housing having a mating connector receiving portion adapted to receive a mating connector; 
         [0012]    a plurality of signal contacts each having a connector contact portion formed at one end thereof and disposed in the mating connector receiving portion of the connector housing; 
         [0013]    a metal shell disposed to cover at least the connector contact portion of each of the plurality of signal contacts; 
         [0014]    a switch contact having a switch contact portion formed thereon; and 
         [0015]    a switch member formed of a conductive material, connected to the metal shell, and disposed facing the switch contact portion of the switch contact, the switch member being deformed, when pressed, to come into contact with the switch contact portion of the switch contact and thereby bring the switch contact into conduction with the metal shell, 
         [0016]    wherein the metal shell, the switch contact, and the switch member constitute a press button switch. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0017]      FIGS. 1A-1D  are a perspective view, a plan view, a front view and a side view illustrating a connector according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, respectively. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the connector of Embodiment 1 from which an insulator seal and a switch member have been removed. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a partially broken perspective view illustrating the connector of Embodiment 1. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are a plan view and a side view illustrating a switch member used in the connector of Embodiment 1, respectively. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the connector of Embodiment 1. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view illustrating the connector of Embodiment 1. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7A  is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the connector of Embodiment 1, in which a press button switch is in the OFF state, and  FIG. 7B  is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the connector of Embodiment 1, in which the press button switch is in the ON state. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a connector according to Embodiment 2. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a prior art connector. 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a prior art connector. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       Embodiment 1 
       [0028]      FIGS. 1A-1D  illustrate a configuration of a connector according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. This connector constitutes a receptacle to be disposed on a substrate  11 , and when fitted to a not shown plug, as a mating connector, along a fitting axis C, provides connection to an external apparatus through the plug. For convenience&#39; sake, the plane in which the surface of the substrate  11  extends is called the XY plane, the direction in which a mating connector is inserted along the fitting axis C is called the +Y direction, and the direction which is perpendicular to the XY plane is called the Z direction. 
         [0029]    The connector has a connector housing  12  formed of an insulating material such as a resin. The connector housing  12  has a plate section  12   a  which is disposed on the substrate  11  and extends along the XY plane, and a mating connector receiving portion  12   b  of a tubular shape, which protrudes in the −Y direction from the plate section  12   a  along the fitting axis C. An outer shell  13  is so disposed as to cover the major part of the surface of the plate section  12   a  that is opposite from the substrate  11 , and an inner shell  14  of a tubular shape is disposed along an inner periphery of the tubular mating connector receiving portion  12   b.    
         [0030]    The outer shell  13  has a pair of protrusions  13   a,  each extending in the −Z direction through the plate section  12   a  of the connector housing  12  toward the substrate  11 . Also, at both X direction ends of a terminal part of the inner shell  14  in the +Y direction, a pair of protrusions  14   a,  each extending in the −Z direction, are formed. These protrusions  13   a  and  14   a  are fixed by soldering to the substrate  11  to allow the connector housing  12 , the outer shell  13 , and the inner shell  14  to be integrally fixed to the substrate  11 . 
         [0031]    A plurality of signal contacts  15 , each extending in the Y direction, are held by the connector housing  12 . Substrate-mounting portions  15   a  formed at the +Y direction ends of the signal contacts  15  protrude in the +Y direction from the connector housing  12 . At the −Y direction ends of the signal contacts  15 , connector contact portions  15   b  are formed. The connector contact portions  15   b  are arranged in the X direction inside the mating connector receiving portion  12   b  of the connector housing  12 , and are surrounded by the inner shell  14 . 
         [0032]    Between the outer shell  13  and the connector housing  12 , a single switch contact  16 , which is independent of the plural signal contacts  15 , is disposed. A pair of substrate-mounting portions  16   a  formed at the +Y direction end of the switch contact  16  by branching the contact  16  into two parts protrude from the connector housing  12  in the +Y direction. 
         [0033]    An insulator seal  17  of a rectangular shape is attached to a surface of a central part of the outer shell  13 . A switch area  17   a  of a circular shape indicating the section of a press button switch that is to be depressed is located in the center of the insulator seal  17 . Directly under this switch area  17   a,  a switch member  19  and a switch contact portion  16   b  formed at the −Y direction end of the switch contact  16 , both to be described later, are located. 
         [0034]      FIG. 2  illustrates a configuration in which the insulator seal  17  and the switch member have been removed. 
         [0035]    On an inner surface of the outer shell  13 , that is, on its surface facing in the −Z direction, a switch contact support member  18  formed of an insulating resin is fixed, and the switch contact  16  is supported by the switch contact support member  18 . In the central part of the outer shell  13 , a circular opening  13   b  is formed. Inside the opening  13   b,  the switch contact portion  16   b,  which is formed at the −Y direction end of the switch contact  16  and is circular in shape, is disposed. 
         [0036]    The switch contact portion  16   b  of the switch contact  16  is concentric with the opening  13   b  of the outer shell  13 , and has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the opening  13   b.  A part of the switch contact support member  18  is exposed in the periphery of the switch contact portion  16   b,  allowing the outer shell  13  and the switch contact portion  16   b  to be insulated from each other. In addition, the periphery of the opening  13   b  of the outer shell  13 , the exposed part of the switch contact support member  18 , and the switch contact portion  16   b  of the switch contact  16  are located on the same plane. 
         [0037]    Such configuration of the outer shell  13 , the switch contact  16 , and the switch contact support member  18  is achieved by using an insulating resin to mold the switch contact support member  18  by insert molding along with the outer shell  13  and the switch contact  16 . 
         [0038]    It should be noted that, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a plurality of small holes  13   c  are formed through the outer shell  13  in the vicinity of the opening  13   b  and the inside of each of these holes  13   c  is also filled with an insulating resin to form the switch contact support member  18 , so that the switch contact support member  18  is firmly fixed to the outer shell  13 . 
         [0039]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a switch member  19  formed of a conductive material is so disposed as to cover the opening  13   b  of the outer shell  13 , and the insulator seal  17  is attached onto the switch member  19  as well as the outer shell  13  in the vicinity of the opening  13   b.  The switch member  19  has a dome shape as illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the opening  13   b  of the outer shell  13 , is elastically deformable, and is connected to the outer shell  13  in the periphery of the opening  13   b.    
         [0040]    Because the periphery of the opening  13   b  of the outer shell  13  and the switch contact portion  16   b  of the switch contact  16  are located on the same plane, as described above, and the switch member  19  has a dome shape, if no external force is applied, the switch member  19  is separated from the switch contact portion  16   b,  though the switch member  19  faces the switch contact portion  16   b.  Thereby the switch member  19  and the switch contact portion  16   b  are electrically disconnected from each other. 
         [0041]    As such, the outer shell  13 , the switch contact  16 , and the switch member  19  constitute a press button switch, that is, a tactile switch electrically connectable/disconnectable by an operator actuating the switch with his/her finger while obtaining a click feeling. 
         [0042]    The signal contacts  15  are supported by a signal contact support member  20  formed of an insulating material such as a resin, and the signal contact support member  20  is fixed in the mating connector receiving portion  12   b  of the connector housing  12 , so that the connector contact portions  15   b  of the signal contacts  15  are disposed inside the mating connector receiving portion  12   b  of the connector housing  12  with the connector contact portions  15   b  being covered by the inner shell  14 . 
         [0043]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , on the surface of the substrate  11 , a plurality of signal pads  21  corresponding the plural signal contacts  15  are formed in an arranged manner. The substrate-mounting portion  15   a  of each signal contact  15  is connected by soldering to the corresponding signal pad  21 . Similarly, on the surface of the substrate  11 , a switch pad  22  corresponding to the switch contact  16  is formed, and the pair of substrate-mounting portions  16   a  of the switch contact  16  are connected by soldering to the switch pad  22 . 
         [0044]    It should be noted that a ring-shaped waterproofing member  23  formed of rubber or the like is disposed in an outer periphery of the tubular mating connector receiving portion  12   b  of the connector housing  12 . 
         [0045]    The connector of such configuration is assembled, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , by: placing the plate section  12   a  of the connector housing  12 , in which the inner shell  14  and the signal contacts  15  are incorporated, on the surface of the substrate  11 ; disposing the outer shell  13  including the switch contact support member  18  as molded with the switch contact  16  on the connector housing  12 ; covering the opening  13   b  of the outer shell  13  with the switch member  19 ; connecting the switch member  19  to the periphery of the opening  13   b;  and attaching the insulator seal  17  onto the switch member  19  as well as the outer shell  13  in the vicinity of the opening  13   b.    
         [0046]    During the assembly, the switch contact support member  18  which is located on the lower side (side facing in the −Z direction) of the outer shell  13  is fitted into a recess  12   c  formed in the upper surface of the plate section  12   a  of the connector housing  12 , and the pair of protrusions  13   a  of the outer shell  13 , as passing, in the Z direction, through a pair of holes  12   d  formed in the plate section  12   a  of the connector housing  12 , are inserted into corresponding through-holes  24  of the substrate  11  and the pair of protrusions  14   a  of the inner shell  14  are inserted into corresponding through-holes  25  of the substrate  11 . The through-holes  24  and  25  which are adjacent to each other are connected together through a grounding pattern  26  formed on the surface of the substrate  11 . 
         [0047]    The protrusions  13   a  and  14   a  are soldered to the corresponding through-holes  24  and  25 , respectively, so that the connector housing  12 , the outer shell  13 , and the inner shell  14  are integrally fixed to the substrate  11 , and the outer shell  13  and the inner shell  14  are electrically grounded through the grounding patterns  26 . 
         [0048]    In addition, the substrate-mounting portions  15   a  of the signal contacts  15  are soldered to the corresponding signal pads  21  of the substrate  11 , and the pair of substrate-mounting portions  16   a  of the switch contact  16  are soldered to the switch pad  22  of the substrate  11 . 
         [0049]    The periphery of the opening  13   b  of the outer shell  13  and the switch member  19  may be connected together by bonding with a conductive adhesive. 
         [0050]    Alternatively, the insulator seal  17  may be attached from the top of the switch member  19 , which is located covering the opening  13   b  of the outer shell  13 , to the vicinity of the opening  13   b  so that the switch member  19  may be brought into contact with the periphery of the opening  13   b  of the outer shell  13 . In that case, the switch member  19  and the outer shell  13  are not bonded indeed to each other. Upon switch operation, however, the switch member  19  is depressed in the −Z direction, that is, depressed against the outer shell  13  through the insulator seal  17 , which causes a large contact pressure between the switch member  19  and the outer shell  13 , allowing the switch member  19  to be connected to the outer shell  13 . 
         [0051]    When a not shown mating connector is inserted into the mating connector receiving portion  12   b  of the connector housing  12  from the −Y direction along the fitting axis C, connector contact portions of a plurality of contacts of the mating connector come into contact with the connector contact portions  15   b  of the signal contacts  15 , allowing signal and power source transfer between the connector according to Embodiment 1 and the mating connector. 
         [0052]    At this time, the connector contact portions  15   b  of the signal contacts  15  are covered by the inner shell  14  inside the mating connector receiving portion  12   b  of the connector housing  12 , while the outer shell  13  is disposed above (i.e., apart in the +Z direction from) the middle parts of the signal contacts  15 , which are supported by the signal contact support member  20 , and the substrate-mounting portions  15   a  of the signal contacts  15 , which are fixed by soldering to the signal pads  21  of the substrate  11 , such that it hangs over the middle parts and substrate-mounting portions, with the outer shell  13  and the inner shell  14  being electrically grounded through the grounding patterns  26 . Consequently, an excellent shielding effect is achieved against electromagnetic waves. 
         [0053]    The operation of the press button switch as constituted of the outer shell  13 , the switch contact  16  and the switch member  19  is explained referring to  FIGS. 7A and 7B  showing the main part of the connector in an enlarged manner. In  FIGS. 7A and 7B , for the purpose of simplicity, the insulator seal  17  covering the switch member  19  is omitted. 
         [0054]    Firstly, as illustrated in  FIG. 7A , under a situation where no force is applied to the dome shaped switch member  19 , the switch member  19  is separated from the switch contact portion  16   b  of the switch contact  16 , and the switch member  19  and the switch contact  16  are electrically disconnected from each other. That is, the press button switch is in the OFF state. 
         [0055]    Secondly, as illustrated in  FIG. 7B , when force F is applied to the switch member  19  to press down the upper part of the switch member  19  in the −Z direction, that is, toward the outer shell  13  to cause the switch member  19  to be deformed until the lower surface of the central part of the switch member  19  comes into contact with the switch contact portion  16   b  of the switch contact  16 , the switch contact  16  is connected to the outer shell  13  through the switch member  19 , and the switch pad  22  of the substrate  11 , to which the substrate-mounting portions  16   a  of the switch contact  16  are fixed, has the same ground potential as the outer shell  13 . That is, the press button switch reaches the ON state. Therefore, a not shown detecting circuit, if connected to the switch pad  22 , can detect pressing down of the switch member  19  based on the fact that the switch pad  22  has the ground potential. 
         [0056]    It should be noted that, when the force F depressing the upper part of the switch member  19  toward the outer shell  13  is removed, the switch member  19  is restored to the state illustrated in  FIG. 7A  automatically by its own elasticity, and the press button switch returns to the OFF state. 
         [0057]    In the connector according to Embodiment 1, a press button switch is formed by: disposing the switch contact portion  16   b  of the switch contact  16  in the opening  13   b  formed in the outer shell  13  which covers the upper part the connector housing  12 ; covering the opening  13   b  with the elastically deformable dome shaped switch member  19  formed of a conductive material; and connecting the switch member  19  to the outer shell  13  in the periphery of the opening  13   b,  so that it is possible to integrate a tactile switch consisting of a press button switch into the connector while minimizing the size of the connector, especially the height thereof. As a result, incorporation of the connector and the tactile switch into electronic devices becomes simple and easy. 
         [0058]    In addition, since the switch contact support member  18  is molded by insert molding along with the outer shell  13  and the switch contact  16  and, in consequence, the periphery of the opening  13   b  of the outer shell  13  and the switch contact portion  16   b  of the switch contact  16  are located on the same plane, the distance from the top of the dome shaped switch member  19 , which is so disposed as to cover the opening  13   b,  to the switch contact portion  16   b  is made stable, allowing a press button switch of high reliability. 
       Embodiment 2  
       [0059]    A connector according to Embodiment 2 is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . Instead of using the switch contact  16  which is independent of the signal contacts  15  and is dedicated to the press button switch, as in the connector according to Embodiment 1, this connector uses one signal contact out of the plural signal contacts  15  and makes the signal contact serve as a switch contact  31  also. 
         [0060]    Specifically, the switch contact  31  has a substrate-mounting portion  31   a  which is formed at the +Y direction end, a connector contact portion  31   b  which is formed at the −Y direction end, and a switch contact portion  31   c  which is formed in a middle section between the substrate-mounting portion  31   a  and the connector contact portion  31   b.  The substrate-mounting portion  31   a  is connected by soldering to the corresponding signal pad  21  of the substrate  11 , similarly to the substrate-mounting portions  15   a  of other signal contacts  15 . The connector contact portion  31   b,  together with the connector contact portions  15   b  of other signal contacts  15 , is arranged in the X direction inside the mating connector receiving portion  12   b  of the connector housing  12 . Similar to the switch contact portion  16   b  of the switch contact  16  in Embodiment 1, the switch contact portion  31   c  is formed in the shape of a circle smaller in diameter than the opening  13   b  of the outer shell  13 , is located on the same plane as the periphery of the opening  13   b  of the outer shell  13  and the exposed part of the switch contact support member  18 , and is disposed directly under the switch member  19 . 
         [0061]    If a not shown detecting circuit is connected to the signal pad  21  to which the substrate-mounting portion  31   a  of the switch contact  31  is connected by soldering, depressing of the switch member  19  can be detected based on the fact that the signal pad  21  has the ground potential. 
         [0062]    In addition, since the connector contact portion  31   b  is connected to the switch contact portion  31   c,  when a not shown mating connector is inserted in the mating connector receiving portion  12   b  of the connector housing  12  and the connector is in a state of being fitted to the mating connector, depressing of the switch member  19  can be detected even on an external apparatus connected to the mating connector, based on the fact that the connector contact portion  31   b  has the ground potential. 
         [0063]    When the connector according to Embodiment 1 or 2 is incorporated into an electronic device, the switch area  17   a  of the insulator seal  17  as attached onto the switch member  19  may be exposed to outside directly from the electronic device. Alternatively, a press button may be mounted on a housing of the electronic device in a position directly above the switch area  17   a  of the insulator seal  17  so that the operator can press the press button to depress the switch member  19 . 
         [0064]    While Embodiments 1 and 2 as above, in which the waterproofing member  23  is disposed in the outer periphery of the tubular mating connector receiving portion  12   b  of the connector housing  12 , are suitable for waterproofed electronic devices, the waterproofing member  23  may be omitted if waterproofing is not necessary.