Abstract:
This invention relates to a connector, and more specifically, to a shield type connector which reinforces the strength of a housing and an actuator. The shield type connector of this invention includes a housing metal shell made of a metallic material, furnished in the housing in order to reinforce the strength of the housing, and an actuator metal shell made of a metallic material, furnished in the actuator in order to reinforce the strength of the actuator.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to PCT Application No. PCT/KR2015/000717, filed Jan. 23, 2015, which claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0008511, filed Jan. 23, 2014, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to a flexible circuit board connector, and more specifically to a shield-type connector that reinforces the strength of the housing and actuator and also, by means of a grounded electrical current-carrying structure, establishes a protective film to prevent electromagnetic interference. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Electronic devices such as smartphones or notebook computers, etc., are gradually becoming slimmer, and consequently the various parts assembled therewithin are also becoming smaller. In particular, connectors that connect parts and printed circuit boards (PCBs) are also becoming smaller and slimmer. 
     Connectors include flexible printed circuit (FPC) connectors that connect a FPC board and PCB. Typically, a FPC connector consists of a housing into which the FPC is inserted, and an actuator that locks/unlocks the FPC to/from the housing. 
     In an FPC connector of the prior art having such a configuration, in particular in the case of a low-profile connector, the upper surface of the housing which was fabricated from plastic would often be damaged when the FPC was inserted into the housing so as to press the actuator. 
     To address this problem, connectors reinforced by mounting a housing metal shell in the housing have been developed, and such a connector is disclosed in Republic of Korea Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-0109482 (hereinafter “Reference 1”) under the name of an “electrical connector for use in a circuit board.” 
     Accordingly, because the FPC connectors of the prior art were grounded only to the PCB and not to the FPC, the problem arose that electromagnetic interference (EMI, NOISE) made high-speed signal transmission impossible. 
     To solve this problem, in Korean Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-0132821 (hereinafter “Reference 2”), a connector having both a plurality of surface mount technology (SMT) ground terminals grounded to the PCB and a plurality of ground terminals grounded to the FPC is disclosed, under the name of a “flexible connector for high-speed signal transmission.” 
     Although said References 1 and 2 advantageously reinforce connector strength and block electromagnetic interference, neither is able to effectively block external physical shocks and electromagnetic interference. 
     Specifically, the References have the problem that although they reinforce the strength of the housing by furnishing a housing metal shell, they leave the problem completely unaddressed of the strength of the actuator that opens/closes to lock/unlock. 
     In addition, it must be borne in mind that there is no ability to block electromagnetic interference in Reference 1; and in Reference 2, although there is the capacity partially to block electromagnetic interference due to the conductive structure connecting the FPC, shell, and PCB, it is not possible to form a protective film that blocks electromagnetic interference across the entire connector. 
     PRIOR ART REFERENCES 
     Republic of Korea Unexamined Patent Publication 2010-0109482 (2010.10.08.) 
     Republic of Korea Unexamined Patent Publication 2011-0132821 (2011.12.09.) 
     Republic of Korea Unexamined Patent Publication 2010-0109427 (2010.10.08.) 
     SUMMARY 
     The purpose of this invention, which has been devised in order to address the above-described problems of the prior art, is to provide a shield-type connector that can improve physical strength throughout. 
     Another objective of this invention is to provide a shield type connector that can form a protective film to prevent electromagnetic interference throughout. 
     The shield type connector of this invention comprises: a housing metal shell made of a metallic material and furnished on a housing in order to reinforce the strength of the housing; and an actuator metal shell made of a metallic material and furnished on an actuator in order to reinforce the strength of the actuator. 
     An electrical connection is made among: a 1st fitting nail that is mounted on the housing so as to lock/unlock the FPC and is in physical contact with the FPC; an FPC inserted into the housing; the housing metal shell; and the actuator metal shell; so as to establish a ground path. 
     The 1st fitting nail is physically contacted to the FPC so as to make an electrical connection, and the 1st fitting nail is electrically connected to the housing metal shell via a PCB; the housing metal shell and actuator metal shell are electrically connected by physical contact. 
     The actuator metal shell is in physical contact with the housing metal shell when in the closed state; they are separated when in the open state. 
     The actuator metal shell is formed as a single unit on the actuator, by overmolding. 
     The actuator metal shell and housing metal shell are in electrical contact with one another via a dual-contact structure having 2 contact points. 
     The 1st shell contact part within said housing metal shell that physically contacts the actuator metal shell comprises: a side part extending backward from the side part of the housing metal shell; a surface contact part in the form of a surface that extends inward from the back end of the side part and physically contacts the actuator metal shell; and a point contact part in the form of a bump that protrudes inward from the side of the side part and physically contacts the actuator metal shell. 
     The rotation axle of the actuator metal shell has a cross section in the shape of a cam; the 2nd shell contact part of the actuator metal shell, which is in physical contact with the housing metal shell, is in physical contact with the 1st shell contact part only when the actuator is closed. 
     The 2nd shell contact part is formed in a plate shape, and on the end that points backward when the actuator is open, a sloped surface is formed that slopes from either side toward the center, so that when the actuator is being closed, the point contact part contacts the side of said 2nd shell contact part after sliding along the sloped surface, and when the closure of the actuator is complete, the sloped surface is in physical contact with the surface contact part of the housing metal shell. 
     The 1st fitting nail has a pair of FPC contact parts spaced vertically, and each FPC contact part has a contact bump respectively formed that contacts the FPC. 
     When the actuator is open, the contact between the FPC contact part and the FPC is loosened, so that the FPC can be inserted and removed; and when the actuator is closed, the two FPC contact parts are pulled together by the rotation axle of the actuator as the FPC is locked into place. 
     The shield type connector of this invention further comprises a 2nd fitting nail that is formed separately from the 1st fitting nail and is mounted on the housing so as to prevent the detachment of the actuator. 
     An uplift prevention lip is formed on the 2nd fitting nail so as to prevent the actuator from lifting up and keep the actuator in the open state unless external force is applied. 
     Effects of the Invention 
     The shield type connector of this invention has the following effects. 
     First, the housing is covered with a metal shell, and the strength of the connector is reinforced by furnishing a metal shell on the actuator, so that the lifespan of the connector can be increased. 
     Second, by means of a total ground path consisting of the FPC, 1st fitting nail, housing metal shell and actuator metal shell, a protective film (electric field) is formed across the entire connector to prevent electromagnetic interference, so that the signal transmission capability can be greatly improved. 
     Third, because of the dual-contact structure having 2 contact points between the housing metal shell and actuator metal shell, electrical connectivity is smoothly established between the housing metal shell and actuator metal shell, and the electrical connection can be maintained well even when vibrations are transmitted from the exterior. 
     Fourth, by forming the 1st fitting nail and 2nd fitting nail separately, plating can be done efficiently when applying different coatings to the 1st fitting nail and 2nd fitting nail. 
     Fifth, because of the actuator closure prevention structure that can keep the actuator in its open state, the actuator can be packaged and supplied, and SMT processes can be carried out, with the actuator in its open state. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an oblique view of the actuator of the connector according to a preferred embodiment of this invention, in its opened state. 
         FIG. 2  is an oblique view of the actuator of the connector according to a preferred embodiment of this invention, in its closed state. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded oblique view of the connector according to a preferred embodiment of this invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged partially-dissected oblique view of the housing and housing metal shell shown in part A of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  are cross-sections showing the relationships between the 1st fitting nail, FPC, and actuator. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram of the 1st fitting nail. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-section showing the relationship between the 2nd fitting nail and actuator. 
         FIG. 9  is an oblique view of the 2nd fitting nail. 
         FIG. 10  is an oblique view of the edge of either side of the housing metal shell. 
         FIG. 11  is an oblique view of the either-end part of the actuator. 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the actuator in an opened state. 
         FIG. 13  is a top view showing the relationship between the housing metal shell and the actuator metal shell when the actuator is open. 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of the process of closing the actuator. 
         FIG. 15  is a top view showing the relationship between the housing metal shell and the actuator metal shell when the actuator is being closed. 
         FIG. 16  is a side view of the actuator in closed state. 
         FIG. 17  is a bottom view showing the relationship between the housing metal shell and the actuator metal shell when the actuator is closed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinbelow, a preferred embodiment of the shield type connector of this invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is an oblique view of an actuator  30  of a connector  1  according to a preferred embodiment of this invention, in its opened state;  FIG. 2  is an oblique view of the actuator  30  of the connector  1  according to a preferred embodiment of this invention, in its closed state;  FIG. 3  is an exploded oblique view of the connector  1  according to a preferred embodiment of this invention. 
     The connector  1  according to a preferred embodiment of this invention includes a housing  10 , a plurality of terminals  20 , the actuator  30 , fitting nails  40 ,  50  and a housing metal shell  60 . 
     The housing  10  is furnished with an insertion part opened to the front so that a FPC  2  can be removably inserted; terminal recesses are formed spaced apart to left and right, so that a plurality of terminals  20  can be disposed spaced apart. The housing  10  is fabricated from a plastic material. 
     The terminals  20  are disposed at intervals on the housing  10  and soldered to a PCB  3 . The terminals  20  contact the FPC  2  that is inserted into the housing  10  so that the terminals  20  electrically connect, and serves as a route for transmitting signals between, the FPC  2  and the PCB  3 . 
     The actuator  30  is connected rotatably to a rear part of the housing  10  so as to lock/unlock the FPC  2  in the housing  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , when the actuator  30  is in an open state in which it has been turned perpendicularly, the FPC  2  can be inserted into the housing  10  or separated from the housing  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the actuator  30  is in a closed state in which it has been turned backward, the inserted FPC  2  is firmly locked into the housing  10  and contact is established between the FPC  2  and the terminals  20 . 
     The 1st fitting nail  40  is mounted to either side of the housing  10  to lock/unlock the FPC  2 ; when the actuator  30  is closed, a conductive path is formed to enable electrical contact between the FPC  2  and the PCB  3 . 
     The 2nd fitting nail  50  is mounted on either side of the housing  10  so as to prevent detachment of the actuator  30  installed rotatably on the housing  10 , and enables smooth rotation of the actuator  30 . 
     The housing metal shell  60  surrounds the top surface of the housing  10  and either end is soldered to the PCB  3 , thereby extending the lifespan of the housing  10  by reinforcing the strength of the housing  10 . 
     An actuator metal shell  70  for reinforcing strength is formed as a single unit on the actuator  30  by overmolding. The actuator metal shell  70  extends the lifespan of the actuator  30  by reinforcing the strength of the actuator  30 , just as the housing metal shell  60  reinforces the strength of the housing  10 . 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged partially-dissected oblique view of the housing  10  and the housing metal shell  60  shown in part A of  FIG. 2 . 
     The 1st and 2nd fitting nails  40 ,  50  are respectively furnished on either end of the housing  10  and the bottom parts thereof are soldered to the PCB  3 . When the actuator  30  is closed, the 1st fitting nail  40  locks the FPC  2  into place while also electrically connecting to the FPC  2 . The 2nd fitting nail  50  provides support to enable the actuator  30  to remain in an open or closed state. 
     Either end part of the housing metal shell  60  is soldered to the PCB  3 , and a rear end of either end part is optionally in physical contact with the actuator metal shell  70 . In other words, the housing metal shell  60  and actuator metal shell  70  are spaced apart when the actuator  30  is open, and are not electrically connected; but when the actuator  30  is closed, they come into physical and electrical contact. 
     When the actuator  30  is in a closed state, the FPC  2  and the 1st fitting nail  40  are mutually electrically contacted by physical contact, and the 1st fitting nail  40  and the housing metal shell  60  are in mutual electrical contact via the PCB  3 ; the housing metal shell  60  and the actuator metal shell  70  are in mutual electrical contact due to physical contact. 
     By means of this total ground path, full shield structure is established that forms a protective film (electric field) across the entire connector  1  to block electromagnetic interference, so that the signal transmission capability can be greatly improved, and as a result, a great improvement in signal transmission capability can be effectuated. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  are cross-sections showing the relationships between the 1st fitting nail  40 , the FPC  2 , and the actuator  30 ;  FIG. 7  is a diagram of the 1st fitting nail  40 . 
     The 1st fitting nail  40  is formed in an H shape and is installed to the front and back of the edge part of the housing  10 . An upper nail part  41  and a lower nail part  42 , positioned in line with one another, are connected by means of a connecting part  43 . With respect to the connecting part  43 , toward the front, an FPC insertion space is formed whereinto the FPC  2  is inserted; the FPC insertion space is surrounded by a pair of FPC contact parts  411 ,  421 , with FPC contact part  411  being an upper FPC contact part and FPC contact part  421  being a lower FPC contact part. With respect to the connecting part  43 , toward the back, a rotation axle insertion space is formed whereinto a rotation axle  31  of the actuator  30  is inserted; the rotation axle insertion space is surrounded by a pair of rotation axle insertion parts  412 ,  422 . 
     On a lower surface of the upper FPC contact part  411 , a joining bump  411   a  projects downward that joins and contacts with an upper surface of the FPC  2 ; on an upper surface of the lower FPC contact part  421 , a joining bump  421   a  projects upward that joins and contacts with a lower surface of the FPC  2 . The two joining bumps  411   a ,  421   a  are formed in mutually corresponding locations. On the upper surface of the lower FPC contact part  421 , in front of the joining bump  421   a , a locking bump  421   b  projects upward to lock the FPC  2  in place. The locking bump  421   b  is fastened to a locking recess  2   a  formed on either edge of the FPC  2  so as to lock the FPC  2  into place. 
     In a front part of the lower FPC contact part  421 , a soldering part  44  is formed that is soldered to the PCB  3 . 
     An actuator rotation axle  31  in the form of a cam is inserted between the rotation axle insertion parts  412 ,  422 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , when the actuator  30  is in an open state, a long part of the rotation axle  31  is in a horizontal state, so that the two rotation axle insertion parts  412 ,  422  are not pressed, and therefore the two rotation axle insertion parts  412 ,  422  and the two FPC contact parts  411 ,  421  remain in their original state. Accordingly, the FPC  2  can be inserted between the two FPC contact parts  411 ,  421 , and the FPC  2  can be removed from the two FPC contact parts  411 ,  421 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , when the actuator  30  is in a closed state, the long part of the rotation axle  31  is in a perpendicular state, and the two rotation axle insertion parts  412 ,  422  are pushed apart. When the two rotation axle insertion parts  412 ,  422  are pushed apart, the two FPC contact parts  411 ,  421 , which extend in line with the two rotation axle insertion parts  412 ,  422 , are pulled together, and firmly join with and lock into place the FPC  2  that has been inserted therebetween. Because joining bumps  411   a ,  421   a  are formed on both of the two FPC contact parts  411 ,  421 , the junction is established without any difficulty even if the FPC  2  is inserted upside-down. 
     The upper nail part  41  and the lower nail part  42  are formed in a structure wherein they are separated by the connecting part  43 , so that because of their own elasticity, when the actuator  30  is rotated from a closed to an open state, they are again restored to their original condition. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-section showing the relationship between the 2nd fitting nail  50  and the actuator  30 ;  FIG. 9  is an oblique view of the 2nd fitting nail  50 . 
     The 2nd fitting nail  50  prevents uplift of the actuator  30  so that the actuator  30  cannot be separated from the housing  10 . On a rear end of the 2nd fitting nail  50 , an uplift prevention lip  51  is formed that prevents uplift by pressing on the rotation axle  31  of the actuator  30 . In a front part of the 2nd fitting nail  50 , a soldering part  52  is formed that is soldered to the PCB  3 . 
     When the actuator  30  is in its open state as shown in  FIG. 8 , the actuator  30  is kept in the open state unless the actuator  30  is rotated by external force, due to the surface contact of the rotation axle  31  with the uplift prevention lip  51 . Due to this structure, the connector  1  can be packaged and supplied, and SMT processes can be completed, all while the actuator  30  is in an open state. 
     By forming the 1st and 2nd fitting nails  40 ,  50  separately, plating is facilitated when applying different platings to the two fitting nails  40 ,  50 . For example, when gold-plating only the contact point of the 1st fitting nail  40 , plating is not straightforward due to the 2nd fitting nail  50  if the 1st and 2nd fitting nails  40 ,  50  are connected; but gold-plating of the 1st fitting nail  40  can be easily performed in this invention because the two fitting nails  40 ,  50  are separate from one another. 
       FIG. 10  is an oblique view of an edge of either side of the housing metal shell  60 ;  FIG. 11  is an oblique view of the either-end part of the actuator  30 ;  FIG. 12  is a side view of the actuator  30  in an opened state;  FIG. 13  is a top view showing the relationship between the housing metal shell  60  and the actuator metal shell  70  when the actuator  30  is open;  FIG. 14  is a side view of the process of closing the actuator  30 ;  FIG. 15  is a top view showing the relationship between the housing metal shell  60  and the actuator metal shell  70  when the actuator  30  is being closed;  FIG. 16  is a side view of the actuator  30  in closed state;  FIG. 17  is a bottom view showing the relationship between the housing metal shell  60  and the actuator metal shell  70  when the actuator  30  is closed. 
     On a back of either side part of the housing metal shell  60 , a 1st shell contact part  61  is formed that optionally contacts the actuator metal shell  70 , and on either side of the actuator metal shell  70 , a 2nd contact part  71  is formed that optionally contacts the 1st shell contact part  61  of the housing metal shell  60 . 
     The 1st shell contact part  61  includes a side part  611  extending backward from the side of the housing metal shell  60 , a surface contact part  612  in the form of a surface that extends inward from the back end of the side part  611  and physically contacts the 2nd shell contact part  71 , and a point contact part  613  in the form of a bump that protrudes inward from the side part  611  and physically contacts the side of the 2nd shell contact part  71 . 
     The 2nd shell contact part  71  is formed in the shape of a plate, and when the actuator  30  is in the open position, a sloped surface  711  is formed on the rear-facing end, tapering toward the center from either side. 
     Because the rotation axle  31  of the actuator  30  is formed in the shape of a cam, when the actuator  30  is rotated, the 2nd shell contact part  71  does not rotate in place but changes position as it rotates. 
     Specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , when the actuator  30  is in its open state, the 2nd shell contact part  71  is positioned above the surface contact part  612  in a state separated laterally from the side part  611 , and is positioned in front of the point contact part  613  so as to be spaced apart from the 1st shell contact part  61 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , in order to close the actuator  30 , when rotated, the 2nd shell contact part  71  moves backward as it rotates, and when the actuator  30  is fully closed, as shown in  FIG. 17 , the 2nd shell contact part  71  additionally moves backward. 
     As the 2nd shell contact part  71  moves backward while rotating, the sloped surface  711  initially contacts the point contact part  613  of the 1st shell contact part  61 . In other words, it has the effect of the bump-shaped point contact part  613  sliding relatively along the sloped surface  711 . After the point contact part  613  has slid relatively along the sloped surface  711 , when it contacts the side of the 2nd shell contact part  71 , the point contact part  613  is firmly contacted to the side of the 2nd shell contact part  71  by the elastic force of the side part  611  of the housing metal shell  60  itself. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , when the actuator  30  is fully closed, the sloped surface  711  of the 2nd shell contact part  71  is firmly contacted to the top surface of the surface contact part  612  of the 1st shell contact part  61 . A sloped surface is also formed between the side part  611  and surface contact part  612  of the 1st shell contact part  61 , and the sloped surface of the 2nd shell contact part  71  is in surface contact with the surface contact part  612  and the sloped surface of the 1st shell contact part  61 . 
     As above, when the actuator  30  is in its fully closed state, the 1st shell contact part  61  and 2nd shell contact part  71  have a dual-contact structure having two contact points. Accordingly, destabilization of the electrical connection by vibration can be prevented even when vibrations are transmitted to the connector from the outside. 
     Hereinabove, the shield type connector of this invention has been described based on a preferred embodiment, but this invention is not limited to any specific embodiment, and a person of ordinary skill in the art of the relevant field will be able to make diverse modifications without departing from the claimed scope of this invention.