Patent Publication Number: US-2023155332-A1

Title: Electrical connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of PCT Application No. PCT/JP2021/022554, filed on Jun. 14, 2021, which claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-119103, filed on Jul. 10, 2020. The entire contents of the above listed PCT and priority applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to an electrical connector. 
     A connector device which electrically connects a signal transmission member and an electric circuit of a substrate to each other by fitting a plug connector connected to the signal transmission member into a receptacle connector mounted in the substrate is known (for example, refer to Japanese Patent No. 5024449). The receptacle connector in Japanese Patent No. 5024449 includes an external conductor which engages with a tubular conductor of a plug connector, an internal conductor which comes into contact with a conductor of the plug connector inside the external conductor, and an insulator. 
     Here, in the receptacle connector disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5024449, for example, when a load is applied to an insulator (housing) from the outside, there is concern that the insulator may peel off from an external conductor together with an internal conductor. It is also conceivable to provide a configuration for preventing the insulator from peeling off from the external conductor. However, in order to employ such a configuration, there is a need to form an opening (an opening for holding the insulator) in the external conductor. By forming such an opening, a signal inside the connector is likely to leak to the outside (noise is likely to be generated) so that EMI characteristics of the connector deteriorate. 
     The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the foregoing circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an electrical connector in which a housing may be favorably held while EMI characteristics are improved. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electrical connector according to an aspect of the present disclosure is an electrical connector mounted on a substrate. The electrical connector includes a first contact having a cylindrical fitting portion fitted into a ground contact of a counterpart connector, and a grounding connection portion connected to the substrate; a second contact surrounded by the fitting portion and electrically connected to a signal contact of the counterpart connector and includes a central conductor coming into contact with the signal contact of the counterpart connector; a signal connection portion extending in a first direction along the substrate from the central conductor and connected to a terminal portion of the substrate; a housing holding the first contact and the second contact in an insulated state; and a fixing portion fixing the housing to the first contact. The fixing portion extends from the housing in a second direction intersecting the first direction and fixes the housing to the first contact by being interlocked with the grounding connection portion outside the fitting portion. 
     According to the present disclosure, a housing in an electrical connector may be favorably held while EMI characteristics are improved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a connector device according to an example of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of a receptacle connector mounted on a printed wiring board. 
         FIGS.  3 A to  3 D  are views illustrating the receptacle connector.  FIG.  3 A  is a plan view,  FIG.  3 B  is a bottom view,  FIG.  3 C  is a perspective view, and  FIG.  3 D  is a cross-sectional view along line A-A in  FIG.  3 A . 
         FIGS.  4 A to  4 C  are views illustrating a ground contact of the receptacle connector.  FIG.  4 A  is a plan view,  FIG.  4 B  is a bottom view, and  FIG.  4 C  is a perspective view. 
         FIGS.  5 A to  5 C  are views illustrating a signal contact of the receptacle connector.  FIG.  5 A  is a plan view,  FIG.  5 B  is a bottom view, and  FIG.  5 C  is a perspective view. 
         FIGS.  6 A to  6 C  are views illustrating an insulator (a housing and a fixing portion) of the receptacle connector.  FIG.  6 A  is a plan view,  FIG.  6 B  is a bottom view, and  FIG.  6 C  is a perspective view. 
         FIGS.  7 A and  7 B  are views illustrating a fitted state between a plug connector and the receptacle connector.  FIG.  7 A  is a plan view, and  FIG.  7 B  is a cross-sectional view along line A-A in  FIG.  7 A . 
         FIGS.  8 A and  8 B  are views illustrating a connector device according to a comparative example.  FIG.  8 A  is a perspective view of the connector device according to the comparative example, and  FIG.  8 B  is a perspective view of a receptacle connector included in the connector device according to the comparative example. 
         FIG.  9    is a graph showing EMI characteristics of the connector device. 
         FIGS.  10 A to  10 C  are views illustrating a receptacle connector according to a modification example.  FIG.  10 A  is a plan view,  FIG.  10 B  is a bottom view, and  FIG.  10 C  is a perspective view. 
         FIGS.  11 A to  11 C  are views illustrating a receptacle connector according to another modification example.  FIG.  11 A  is a plan view,  FIG.  11 B  is a bottom view, and  FIG.  11 C  is a perspective view. 
         FIGS.  12 A to  12 C  are views illustrating a receptacle connector according to another modification example.  FIG.  12 A  is a plan view,  FIG.  12 B  is a bottom view, and  FIG.  12 C  is a perspective view. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Since an example according to the present disclosure described below is merely an example for describing the present disclosure, the present disclosure should not be limited to the following details. In the following description, the same reference signs are used for the same elements or elements having the same function, and duplicate description will be omitted. 
     Overview of Connector Device 
     With reference to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , an overview of a connector device  1  will be described. As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the connector device  1  includes a receptacle connector  10  (electrical connector) and a plug connector  100  (counterpart connector). The receptacle connector  10  is mounted on a substrate  200  (refer to  FIG.  2   ), for example, by soldering or the like. The plug connector  100  is connected to a coaxial cable SC (signal transmission member) and fitted into the receptacle connector  10 . In the connector device  1 , when the plug connector  100  attached to a terminal part of the coaxial cable SC is fitted into the receptacle connector  10  mounted on the substrate  200 , the coaxial cable SC and an electric circuit of the substrate  200  are electrically connected to each other. For example, the substrate  200  is a printed wiring board, but it is not limited thereto. In addition, in place of the coaxial cable SC, other signal transmission members transmitting a signal of various electronic instruments may be used. 
     In the following description, a fitting direction of the receptacle connector  10  and the plug connector  100  in the connector device  1  may be described as “a Z direction”, an axial direction of the coaxial cable SC in a fitted state may be described as “an X direction”, and a direction orthogonal to the Z direction and the X direction may be described as “a Y direction”. In addition, regarding the Z direction, for example, the plug connector  100  side in the state illustrated in  FIG.  1    may be described as “an upward side”, and the receptacle connector  10  side may be described as “a downward side”. In addition, regarding the X direction, an end portion side in the coaxial cable SC where the plug connector  100  is attached may be described as “front”, and the opposite end portion side may be described as “rear”. 
     Receptacle Connector 
     Next, with reference to  FIGS.  3 A to  6 C , details of the receptacle connector  10  will be described. The receptacle connector  10  is mounted on the substrate  200  (refer to  FIG.  2   ) and fitted into the plug connector  100  attached to the coaxial cable SC (refer to  FIG.  1   ). As illustrated in  FIGS.  3 A to  3 C , the receptacle connector  10  includes a ground contact  11  (first contact), a signal contact  12  (second contact), and an insulator  13  (a housing  13   a  and fixing portions  13   b ). 
     Ground Cotact 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  4 A to  4 C , the ground contact  11  has a cylindrical fitting portion  11   a  which is fitted into a ground contact  101  of the plug connector  100  (refer to  FIG.  7 B ), and grounding connection portions  11   b  which are connected to the substrate  200 . The ground contact  11  is electrically connected to the ground contact  101  (refer to  FIG.  7 B ), thereby forming a ground circuit. For example, the ground contact  11  is formed of a metal member having a thin plate shape. 
     The fitting portion  11   a  is formed to have a cylindrical shape (tubular shape) having the Z direction as the axial direction thereof and accommodates the housing  13   a  inside a tube hole thereof. An inner circumferential surface of the fitting portion  11   a  comes into contact with an outer circumferential surface of the housing  13   a  (refer to  FIG.  3 A ) excluding a region in which the housing  13   a  is not formed. On an outer circumferential surface of the fitting portion  11   a , a recessed portion  11   x  recessed to an inward side in a radial direction (the central side of the fitting portion  11   a ) is formed throughout the whole circumference (refer to  FIG.  3 D ). When the recessed portion  11   x  engages with a projecting portion  101   x  (refer to  FIG.  7 B ) formed in an outer circumference of the ground contact  101  of the plug connector  100 , the fitting portion  11   a  is fitted into the ground contact  101  of the plug connector  100  (details will be described below). The fitting portion  11   a  is provided such that it stands upright from the grounding connection portions  11   b . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the grounding connection portions  11   b  are disposed on the substrate  200  such that they are connected to ground terminal portions  202  of the substrate  200 . As illustrated in  FIGS.  4 A to  4 C , openings  11   c  and  11   c  and an opening  11   e  penetrated in the Z direction are formed in the grounding connection portions  11   b  along the outer circumference of the fitting portion  11   a . The openings  11   c  and  11   c  are formed at positions symmetrical with respect to a centerline connecting a central conductor  12   a  and a signal connection portion  12   b  to each other when viewed in the Z direction. Specifically, they are formed at positions facing each other in the Y direction. The openings  11   c  and  11   c  are formed in an extending direction of the fixing portions  13   b , which will be described below (refer to  FIG.  3 B ). The openings  11   c  and  11   c  are filled with the fixing portions  13   b  (refer to  FIG.  3 B ). The opening  11   e  is formed at a position intersecting (specifically, orthogonal to) a line segment connecting the openings  11   c  and  11   c  to each other. The opening  11   e  is formed in the extending direction of the signal connection portion  12   b  of the signal contact  12 , which will be described below (refer to  FIG.  3 B ). In the present example, an exposed portion  12   x  (which will be described below) is accommodated within a region surrounded by the fitting portion 11a of the ground contact  11 . In a manufacturing process, a carrier (not illustrated) for putting a plurality of ground contacts  11  in a row extends from the signal connection portion  12   b  through the opening  11   e , and the exposed portion  12   x  is formed by cutting the carrier at a predetermined position. The opening  11   e  is formed with a narrow gap for inserting the carrier therethrough. 
     In addition, the grounding connection portions  11   b  have narrow width portions  11   d  and  11   d  which are provided outside the fitting portion  11   a  such that the width of the opening  11   c  is narrowed (refer to  FIG.  3 B ). The narrow width portions  11   d  and  11   d  are provided in a manner of leading to the grounding connection portions  11   b  at both ends of the opening  11   c  in the X direction. The narrow width portions  11   d  and  11   d  are formed to have projection shapes protruding in a direction in which they face each other. In addition, the narrow width portions  11   d  and  11   d  are provided such that they are positioned between the housing  13   a  and the fixing portions  13   b . The positions of the narrow width portions  11   d  and  11   d  are not limited to that described above. For example, they may be provided in the vicinity of the center in the Y direction in the opening  11   c . In addition, the grounding connection portions  11   b  may have only one narrow width portion  11   d  corresponding to each opening  11   c  or may have three or more narrow width portions  11   d  corresponding to each opening  11   c . 
     Signal Contact 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  3 A to  3 C , the signal contact  12  is disposed in a manner of being surrounded by the fitting portion  11   a  and electrically connected to a signal contact  102  of the plug connector  100  (refer to  FIG.  7 B ). The signal contact  12  is attached to the housing  13   a . For example, the signal contact  12  is a signal transmission conductor which is formed of a metal member having a thin plate shape. As illustrated in  FIGS.  5 A to  5 C , the signal contact  12  has the central conductor  12   a  and the signal connection portion  12   b . 
     The central conductor  12   a  is a conductor which comes into contact with the signal contact  102  of the plug connector  100  (refer to  FIG.  7 B ). The central conductor  12   a  is formed to have a cylindrical shape (tubular shape) having the Z direction as the axial direction thereof and comes into contact with the signal contact  102  on the outer circumferential surface (refer to  FIG.  7 B ). The central conductor  12   a  is attached to a support portion  13   y  of the housing  13   a  (refer to  FIG.  3 A ). The signal connection portion  12   b  extends along the substrate  200  in a manner of being drawn out from the central conductor  12   a  and is connected to a signal terminal portion  201  of the substrate  200  (refer to  FIG.  2   ). That is, the signal connection portion  12   b  leads to a lower end of the central conductor  12   a , extends forward in the X direction (in a direction in which it approaches the fitting portion  11   a  and a direction in which it becomes distant from an internal conductor SC1 of the coaxial cable SC (refer to  FIG.  7 B )), and comes into contact with the signal terminal portion  201  of the substrate  200  (refer to  FIG.  2   ). Although the shape of the signal connection portion  12   b  is not limited, for example, as illustrated in  FIGS.  5 A and  5 C , it is a plate-shaped member and exhibits substantially a rectangular shape in which the length in the Y direction is shorter than the length in the X direction when viewed in the Z direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  3 A , the signal connection portion  12   b  is accommodated within a region surrounded by the fitting portion  11   a  of the ground contact  11 , and the exposed portion  12   x , which is a tip (front end) part thereof, is exposed to the outside. For example, being exposed to the outside denotes that it may be visually recognized from the outside. More specifically, the signal connection portion  12   b  is disposed such that the exposed portion  12   x  (a part thereof) may be visually recognized when viewed in the Z direction that is a direction from the plug connector  100  toward the substrate  200 . The exposed portion  12   x  is a region which comes into contact with the signal terminal portion  201  in the signal connection portion  12   b  (refer to  FIG.  2   ). 
     Housing and Fixing Portion 
     The insulator  13  is a member for insulating the ground contact 11 and the signal contact  12  from each other and is formed by a resin. As illustrated in  FIGS.  6 A to  6 C , the insulator  13  has the housing  13   a  and the fixing portions  13   b . 
     The housing  13   a  holds the ground contact  11  and the signal contact  12  in an insulated state. The housing  13   a  is a member which is formed to have substantially a disk shape and accommodated on the inward side of the fitting portion  11   a . The outer circumferential surface of the housing  13   a  comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the fitting portion  11   a  excluding a region in which the housing  13   a  is not formed (refer to  FIG.  3 A ). In addition, a part of the outer circumferential surface of the housing  13   a  comes into contact with the narrow width portions  11   d  and  11   d  (refer to  FIG.  3 B ). As illustrated in  FIGS.  6 A and  6 C , in a central part thereof, the housing  13   a  has the support portion  13   y  for attaching the central conductor  12   a . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  3 A , the housing  13   a  is provided in only a region inside the fitting portion  11   a  in the extending direction of the signal connection portion  12   b . That is, the housing  13   a  has a shape which does not reach (a shape which does not arrive at) the opening  11   e  formed in the extending direction (X direction) of the signal connection portion  12   b . Particularly, the housing  13   a  is provided in only a region closer to the central conductor  12   a  than the tip of the signal connection portion  12   b  in the extending direction of the signal connection portion  12   b  when viewed in the fitting direction of the plug connector  100 . The housing  13   a  is formed such that the exposed portion  12   x  that is a region which comes into contact with the signal terminal portion  201  in the signal connection portion  12   b  is exposed to the outside. For example, the housing  13   a  may be formed such that the exposed portion  12   x  is exposed to the outside by cutting out a part of the housing  13   a . 
     The fixing portions  13   b  fix the housing  13   a  to the ground contact  11 . The fixing portions  13   b  extend from the housing  13   a  in a direction intersecting (specifically, orthogonal to) the extending direction of the signal connection portion  12   b  and fix the housing  13   a  to the ground contact  11  by being interlocked with the grounding connection portions  11   b  outside the fitting portion  11   a . As illustrated in  FIG.  3 A , the insulator  13  has a plurality of (specifically, a pair of) fixing portions  13   b  and  13   b . The pair of fixing portions  13   b  and  13   b  are provided at positions symmetrical with respect to the centerline connecting the central conductor  12   a  and the signal connection portion  12   b  to each other when viewed in the Z direction. Specifically, they are provided at positions facing each other in the Y direction. As illustrated in  FIGS.  6 A to  6 C , the fixing portions  13   b  and  13   b  lead to the housing  13   a  and extend in a direction in which they are separated from each other in the Y direction (the outward side in the Y direction). 
     The pair of fixing portions  13   b  and  13   b  are provided at positions corresponding to the pair of openings  11   c  and  11   c . That is, in one fixing portion  13   b , one opening  11   c  is filled with a resin therethrough, and in the other fixing portion  13   b , the other opening  11   c  is filled with a resin therethrough (refer to  FIG.  3 B ). The fixing portions  13   b  and  13   b  pass through the openings  11   c  and  11   c  of the grounding connection portions  11   b  (refer to  FIGS.  4 A to  4 C ) formed in the extending direction (X direction) of the signal connection portion  12   b  and extend to the outside of the fitting portion  11   a  (refer to  FIGS.  3 A and  3 C ). Further, the fixing portions  13   b  and  13   b  are provided outside the fitting portion  11   a  such that a part of the grounding connection portions  11   b  is divided, and they are interlocked with the grounding connection portions  11   b  (refer to  FIG.  3 C ). Moreover, the fixing portions  13   b  and  13   b  are also interlocked with the narrow width portions  11   d  and  11   d  provided in the grounding connection portions  11   b  (refer to  FIG.  3 B ). In this manner, since the fixing portions  13   b  and  13   b  are interlocked with the grounding connection portions  11   b  and the narrow width portions  11   d  and  11   d , peeling of the housing  13   a  to which the fixing portions  13   b  and  13   b  are connected from the ground contact  11  may be effectively curbed. In this manner, the fixing portions  13   b  and  13   b  fix the housing  13   a  to the ground contact  11 . 
     Connector Device (Fitted State Between Receptacle Connector and Plug Connector) 
     Next, with reference to  FIGS.  7 A and  7 B , the connector device  1  in a state in which the receptacle connector  10  and the plug connector  100  are fitted to each other will be described in detail. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  7 B , the plug connector  100  has the ground contact  101 , the signal contact  102 , and a housing  103 . The ground contact  101  is a cylindrical contact member which is fitted into the ground contact  11 . The ground contact  101  is connected to an external conductor of the coaxial cable SC. The projecting portion  101   x  protruding to the inward side in the radial direction (the central side of the cylindrical ground contact  101 ) are formed on the lower end side of the ground contact  101  throughout the whole circumference. The signal contact  102  is electrically connected to the signal contact  12 . The signal contact  102  is attached to the inside of the housing  103 , connected to the internal conductor SC1 of the coaxial cable SC, and connected to the central conductor  12   a  of the signal contact  12  of the receptacle connector  10 . The housing  103  is formed to have a cylindrical shape and holds the ground contact  101  and the signal contact  102  in an insulated state. The outer circumferential surface of the housing  103  comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the ground contact  101 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  7 B , due to the recessed portion  11   x  of the fitting portion  11   a  of the receptacle connector  10 , the receptacle connector  10  and the plug connector  100  are in a state of being fitted to each other. In the fitted state, the signal contact  102  of the plug connector  100  comes into contact with the central conductor  12   a  of the receptacle connector  10 . In this manner, the signal contact  102  connected to the internal conductor SC1 of the coaxial cable SC and the central conductor  12   a  connected to the signal terminal portion  201  of the substrate  200  (refer to  FIG.  2   ) via the signal connection portion  12   b  come into contact with each other, thereby forming a signal transmission circuit of the connector device  1 . In addition, in the fitted state, the ground contact  101  of the plug connector  100  comes into contact with the fitting portion  11   a  of the receptacle connector  10 . In this manner, the ground contact  101  connected to the external conductor of the coaxial cable SC and the fitting portion  11   a  connected to the ground terminal portions  202  of the substrate  200  (refer to  FIG.  2   ) via the grounding connection portions  11   b  come into contact with each other, thereby forming the ground circuit of the connector device  1 . 
     Further, in the connector device  1 , in the fitted state, as illustrated in  FIG.  7 B , the signal connection portion  12   b  is accommodated within a region surrounded by the ground contact  101  of the plug connector  100 . In addition, in a non-fitted state, as illustrated in  FIG.  3 A , the exposed portion  12   x  of the signal connection portion  12   b  is exposed to the outside (that is, it is disposed such that it may be visually recognized). 
     Next, with reference to  FIGS.  8 A to  9   , electromagnetic interference (EMI) characteristics of the connector device  1  will be described. 
     First, with reference to  FIGS.  8 A and  8 B , a connector device  501  according to a comparative example will be described. Similar to the connector device  1  of the present example, the connector device  501  is a connector device which electrically connects the signal transmission member and the electric circuit of the substrate.  FIG.  8 A  illustrates a receptacle connector  510  and a plug connector  600  in the fitted state. As illustrated in  FIG.  8 B , the receptacle connector  510  of the connector device  501  has a ground contact  511 , a signal contact  512 , and an insulator  513 . Further, the ground contact  511  has a fitting portion  511   a  and a grounding connection portion  511   b . The signal contact  512  has a central conductor  512   a  and a signal connection portion  512   b  which is drawn out to the outside from the central conductor  512   a . The insulator  513  has a housing  513   a  and a fixing portion  513   b . 
     In the receptacle connector  510  of the connector device  501  according to the comparative example, openings  511   c  and  511   e  penetrated in the Z direction are formed in the grounding connection portion  511   b  along the outer circumference of the fitting portion  511   a . The openings  511   c  and  511   e  are formed at positions facing each other in the X direction. Specifically, the opening  511   c  is formed in a direction opposite to the extending direction of the signal connection portion  512   b  based on the central conductor  512   a , and the opening  511   e  is formed in the extending direction of the signal connection portion  512   b  based on the central conductor  512   a . Each of the openings  511   c  and  511   e  is filled with the fixing portion  513   b . A pair of fixing portions  513   b  and  513   b  are formed at positions facing each other in the X direction. The fixing portions  513   b  and  513   b  extend in the extending direction of the signal connection portion  512   b  and in a direction opposite to the extending direction from the housing  513   a  and fix the housing  513   a  to the ground contact  511  by being interlocked with the grounding connection portion  511   b  outside the fitting portion  511   a . In the connector device  501  according to the comparative example, in order to employ a configuration in which the fixing portions  513   b  and  513   b  for holding the housing  513   a  are interlocked with the grounding connection portion  511   b , there is a need to provide the openings  511   c  and  511   e  for disposing the fixing portions  513   b  and  513   b  (for filling with a resin or the like forming the fixing portions  513   b  and  513   b ) in the grounding connection portion  511   b  of the ground contact  511 . Here, the opening  511   e  needs to have a width for filling the fixing portion  513   b  equal to or larger than the width which is required to realize contact between the signal terminal portion  201  (refer to  FIG.  2   ) and the signal connection portion  512   b . Therefore, in the connector device  501  according to the comparative example, the opening  511   e  in the extending direction of the signal connection portion  512   b  formed in the grounding connection portion  511   b  becomes larger than the opening  11   e  in the extending direction of the signal connection portion  12   b  formed in the grounding connection portions  11   b  of the receptacle connector  10  (an opening of the connector device  1  according to the present example, that is, an opening formed for inserting the carrier therethrough for putting a plurality of ground contacts  11  in a row) (refer to  FIGS.  3 A to  3 C ). 
       FIG.  9    is a graph showing EMI characteristics in results of intensities of signals leaking to the outside of connector devices measured using the connector device  1  and the connector device  501  according to the comparative example. In  FIG.  9   , the vertical axis indicates far-field realized gain (dBi), and the horizontal axis indicates frequency (GHz). For example, the graph shows that EMI characteristics further deteriorate as they go higher in the vertical axis. In addition,  FIG.  9    expresses values of the connector device  501  according to the comparative example with triangles and expresses values of the connector device  1  according to the present example with circles. As illustrated in  FIG.  9   , EMI characteristics of the connector device  1  are further improved than EMI characteristics of the connector device  501  according to the comparative example by approximately  10  dBi in all frequency bands. 
     Operational Effects 
     Next, operational effects of the foregoing receptacle connector  10  will be described. 
     The receptacle connector  10  of the present example is an electrical connector mounted on the substrate  200 . The receptacle connector  10  includes the ground contact  11  having the cylindrical fitting portion  11   a  fitted into the ground contact  101  of the plug connector  100 , and the grounding connection portion  11   b  connected to the substrate  200 ; the signal contact  12  disposed in a manner of being surrounded by the fitting portion  11   a  and electrically connected to the signal contact  102  of the plug connector  100 ; the housing  13   a  holding the ground contact  11  and the signal contact  12  in an insulated state; and the fixing portion  13   b  fixing the housing  13   a  to the ground contact  11 . The signal contact  12  has the central conductor  12   a  coming into contact with the signal contact  102  of the plug connector  100 , and the signal connection portion  12   b  extend along the substrate  200  in a manner of being drawn out from the central conductor  12   a  and connected to the signal terminal portion  201  of the substrate  200 . The fixing portion  13   b  extends from the housing  13   a  in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the signal connection portion  12   b  and fixes the housing  13   a  to the ground contact  11  by being interlocked with the grounding connection portion  11   b  outside the fitting portion  11   a . 
     In the electrical connector according to the aspect of the present disclosure, the fixing portion  13   b  extending in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the signal connection portion  12   b  connected to the signal terminal portion  201  of the substrate  200  from the housing  13   a  holding the ground contact  11  and the signal contact  12  is interlocked with the grounding connection portion  11   b  of the ground contact  11  outside the fitting portion  11   a . Accordingly, for example, even when a load is applied to the housing  13   a  from the outside, the fixing portion  13   b  coupled to the housing  13   a  is interlocked with the grounding connection portion  11   b  outside the fitting portion  11   a , and thus peeling of the housing  13   a  may be appropriately curbed. That is, in the electrical connector according to the aspect of the present disclosure, the housing  13   a  may be favorably held. Here, in order to employ a configuration in which the fixing portion  13   b  for holding the housing  13   a  described above is interlocked with the grounding connection portion  11   b , there is a need to provide an opening for disposing the housing  13   a  (to be filled with a resin or the like forming the housing  13   a ) in the grounding connection portion  11   b  of the ground contact  11 . In the electrical connector of the present disclosure, since the fixing portion  13   b  for holding the housing  13   a  is provided in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the signal connection portion  12   b , it may employ a configuration in which the opening of the grounding connection portion  11   b  of the ground contact  11  for disposing the housing  13   a  is not formed in the extending direction of the signal connection portion  12   b . Accordingly, in the grounding connection portion  11   b  of the ground contact  11 , the opening in the extending direction of the signal connection portion  12   b  may be miniaturized or blocked. Consequently, a configuration in which a signal from the signal connection portion  12   b  is unlikely to leak to the outside (a configuration in which noise is unlikely to be generated) may be achieved, and thus EMI characteristics of the electrical connector may be improved. 
     In the foregoing receptacle connector  10 , regarding the fixing portion  13   b , a plurality of fixing portions are provided. According to such a configuration, the fixing portions  13   b  are interlocked in a plurality of locations of the grounding connection portions  11   b , and thus the housing  13   a  may be more favorably held. 
     In the foregoing receptacle connector  10 , regarding the fixing portion  13   b , a pair of fixing portions are provided at positions symmetrical with respect to the centerline connecting the central conductor  12   a  and the signal connection portion  12   b  to each other when viewed in the Z direction that is the fitting direction to the plug connector  100 . Accordingly, the housing  13   a  is held from both sides in a well-balanced manner, and thus the housing  13   a  may be favorably held. 
     In the foregoing receptacle connector  10 , the fixing portion  13   b  is provided in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the signal connection portion  12   b . Accordingly, the opening  11   c  for holding the housing  13   a  is formed at a position sufficiently separated in the extending direction of the signal connection portion  12   b . Consequently, a configuration in which a signal from the signal connection portion  12   b  is unlikely to leak to the outside through the opening  11   c  for holding the housing  13   a  may be achieved, and thus EMI characteristics of the receptacle connector  10  may be further improved. 
     In the foregoing receptacle connector  10 , in the grounding connection portion  11   b , the opening  11   c  is formed in the extending direction of the fixing portion  13   b . The fixing portion  13   b  is provided such that the opening  11   c  is filled. Accordingly, a configuration in which the fixing portion  13   b  is caused to appropriately pass through toward the outside of the fitting portion  11   a  and the opening  11   c  for holding the housing  13   a  is blocked may be achieved, and thus the housing  13   a  may be more favorably held. 
     In the foregoing receptacle connector  10 , the grounding connection portion  11   b  has the narrow width portion  11   d  provided outside the fitting portion  11   a  such that the width of the opening  11   c  is narrowed. Accordingly, a configuration in which a signal from the signal connection portion  12   b  is less likely to leak to the outside through the opening  11   c  for holding the housing  13   a  may be achieved, and thus EMI characteristics of the receptacle connector  10  may be further improved. In addition, the fixing portion  13   b  is also interlocked in the narrow width portion  11   d  of the first contact, and thus the housing  13   a  may be more favorably held. 
     In the foregoing receptacle connector  10 , the housing  13   a  is provided in only a region inside the fitting portion  11   a  in the extending direction of the signal connection portion  12   b . Accordingly, since the end portion of the housing  13   a  excluding the fixing portion  13   b  stays inside the fitting portion  11   a , that is, a resin does not flow in to the outside of the fitting portion  11   a , a configuration in which the opening in the extending direction of the signal connection portion  12   b  may be further miniaturized or blocked and a signal from the signal connection portion  12   b  is unlikely to leak to the outside may be achieved, and thus EMI characteristics of the receptacle connector  10  may be further improved. 
     Modification Example 
     It is to be understood that not all aspects, advantages and features described herein may necessarily be achieved by, or included in, any one particular example. Indeed, having described and illustrated various examples herein, it should be apparent that other examples may be modified in arrangement and detail. For example, an example in which a plurality of fixing portions  13   b  are provided has been described, but only one may be provided. In addition, the grounding connection portion  11   b  may not have the narrow width portion  11   d . 
       FIGS.  10 A to  10 C  are views illustrating a receptacle connector  210  according to a modification example. As illustrated in  FIGS.  10 A to  10 C , in the grounding connection portions  11   b  of the receptacle connector  210 , as illustrated in  FIG.  3 A , the opening  11   e  in the extending direction of the signal connection portion  12   b  may not be formed. In this case, the grounding connection portions  11   b  are formed to be blocked in the X direction of the signal connection portion  12   b . Accordingly, a signal from the signal connection portion  12   b  is less likely to leak to the outside, and thus EMI characteristics of the receptacle connector  210  may be further improved. 
       FIGS.  11 A to  11 C  are views illustrating a receptacle connector  310  according to another modification example. As illustrated in  FIGS.  11 A to  11 C , in a configuration in which the pair of fixing portions  13   b  and  13   b  are provided at positions symmetrical with respect to the centerline connecting the central conductor  12   a  and the signal connection portion  12   b  to each other when viewed in the Z direction, the pair of fixing portions  13   b  and  13   b  may be provided in a direction which is not orthogonal to the extending direction (X direction) of the signal connection portion  12   b . In this case as well, the housing  13   a  is held from both sides in a well-balanced manner, and thus the housing  13   a  may be favorably held. The fixing portions  13   b  and  13   b  of the receptacle connector  310  may be formed in a direction opposite to the extending direction of the signal connection portion  12   b  based on the central conductor  12   a  rather than in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the signal connection portion  12   b . Accordingly, the openings  11   c  and  11   c  for holding the housing 13a are formed at positions sufficiently separated in the extending direction of the signal connection portion  12   b . Consequently, a configuration in which a signal from the signal connection portion  12   b  is unlikely to leak to the outside through the opening for holding the housing may be achieved, and thus EMI characteristics of the receptacle connector  310  may be further improved. 
       FIGS.  12 A to  12 C  are views illustrating a receptacle connector  410  according to another modification example. As illustrated in  FIGS.  12 A to  12 C , the housing  13   a  may be provided in a region closer to the central conductor  12   a  than the tip of the signal connection portion  12   b  in the extending direction of the signal connection portion  12   b  when viewed from a surface orthogonal to the extending direction of the signal connection portion  12   b . In addition, regarding the signal connection portion  12   b , the housing  13   a  may cover a surface of the signal connection portion  12   b  when viewed from a side fitted into the plug connector  100 , and the signal connection portion  12   b  may be exposed to the outside when viewed from a side opposite to the side fitted into the plug connector  100 .