Patent Publication Number: US-7901220-B2

Title: Connector having a plurality of contacts formed by blanking and bending an elastic metal plate

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a connector which includes a plurality of contacts formed by blanking and bending one elastic metal plate. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally, there has been proposed a connector comprised of a housing, a plurality of pairs of signal contacts (differential signal contacts), and a plurality of ground contacts (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2007-179960). 
     The plurality of pairs of signal contacts and the plurality of ground contacts are disposed in the housing along a predetermined arranging direction. 
     Each of the signal contacts and the ground contacts includes a terminal portion, a contact portion, and a connecting portion. The terminal portion is inserted through an associated one of through holes in a substrate. The contact portion is brought into contact with an associated one of contacts of a mating connector. The connecting portion connects between the terminal portion and the contact portion. The connecting portion is bent at right angles. 
     The connecting portion of each signal contact performs pitch changing in which the position of the terminal portion and the position of the contact portion are displaced in the arranging direction. This pitch changing widens spacing (spacing in the arranging direction) between the terminal portions of each pair of signal contacts, so that the adjacent through holes are not overlapped, which prevents short-circuit. 
     The contact portions of the signal contacts and the ground contacts are arranged in a row, and the terminal portions of the same are arranged in three rows. 
     According to the above-described conventional connector, it is possible to realize a narrower pitch of the contact portions, and at the same time, it is possible to increase the spacing between the terminal portions without increasing the size of the housing. 
     If it is intended to produce the above-described plurality of contacts by blanking and bending one elastic metal plate, the terminal portions of the adjacent contacts interfere with each other, so that it has been impossible to produce the contacts by such a method. 
     To make it possible to do this, it is only required to increase the pitch of the contacts in the arranging direction, blank the elastic metal plate, and then, reduce the pitch of the contacts in the arranging direction by bending a carrier (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H08-8034). However, this method necessitates an elastic metal plate having a large width (width in the contact arranging direction), which increases the amount of material which is disposed of after blanking, causing waste of resources. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a connector which is capable of realizing a narrower pitch of contact portions of contacts, and making the arranging pitch of the terminal portions of the contacts larger without increasing waste of material of the contacts. 
     To attain the above object, the present invention provides a connector comprising a housing, and a plurality of contacts that are formed by at least blanking an elastic metal plate, and are held by the housing in a predetermined arranging direction, the contacts each including a contact portion which is brought into contact with a first object to be connected, a terminal portion which is connected to a second object to be connected, and a connecting portion which connects the contact portion and the terminal portion, wherein portions of the connecting portions and the terminal portions of at least part of the plurality of contacts are inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to an imaginary surface orthogonal to the arranging direction so as not to interfere with other adjacent ones of the contacts during blanking. 
     With this arrangement of the connector according to the present invention, since the connecting portions and the terminal portions of at least part of the contacts out of the plurality of contacts are inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the imaginary surface orthogonal to the arranging direction so as not to interfere with the connecting portions of the other adjacent contacts during blanking, it is possible to prevent adjacent ones of the contacts from being interfered with each other, without preparing an elastic metal plate having a large width in the contact arranging direction, as the elastic metal plate for making contacts. 
     Preferably, the plurality of contacts are formed by bending after being blanked, and the plurality of contacts each have a substantially square cross-section, the terminal portion of each of the plurality of contacts having a pin shape which is capable of being inserted through an associated one of through holes formed in the second object to be connected, and one surface of the terminal portions of at least part of the plurality of contacts being inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the arranging direction, when in a state having been bent. 
     Preferably, the plurality of contacts include a plurality of pairs of signal contacts and a plurality of ground contacts, and the terminal portions of the signal contacts and the terminal portions of the ground contacts are arranged in two rows parallel to each other along the arranging direction, wherein imaginary straight lines connecting between the terminal portions of each pair of signal contacts in the row of the terminal portions of the signal contacts, and the terminal portions of each adjacent two of the ground contacts in the row of the terminal portions of the ground contacts, which are located in the vicinity of the terminal portions of the pair of the signal contacts, form a trapezoid. 
     Preferably, the plurality of contacts include a plurality of pairs of signal contacts and a plurality of ground contacts, the terminal portions of the signal contacts being arranged in two rows parallel to each other along the arranging direction, the terminal portions of the ground contacts being arranged in a row in the arranging direction between one row and the other row of the terminal portions of the signal contacts, wherein imaginary straight lines connecting between the terminal portions of each pair of signal contacts in the one row of the terminal portions of the signal contacts, and the terminal portions of each two of the ground contacts, which are located in the vicinity of the terminal portions of the signal contacts, form a trapezoid, and wherein imaginary straight lines connecting between the terminal portions of each pair of signal contacts in the other row of the terminal portions of the signal contacts, and the terminal portions of each two of the ground contacts, which are located in the vicinity of the terminal portions of the signal contacts, form an inverted trapezoid. 
     More preferably, the contact portions of the ground contacts are each disposed between the contact portions of adjacent ones of the pairs of the signal contacts in the arranging direction. 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a narrower pitch of the contact portions of the contacts and making the arranging pitch of the terminal portions of the contacts larger without increasing waste of material of the contacts. 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the  FIG. 1  connector in a state inverted upside down; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the  FIG. 1  connector; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken on line IV-IV in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view showing shapes of connecting portions of a plurality of contacts of the  FIG. 1  connector; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a portion A in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial plan view of the plurality of contacts of the  FIG. 1  connector in a state connected by a carrier; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a plurality of contacts appearing in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a conceptual view useful in explaining orientations of outer peripheral surfaces of terminal portions of the plurality of contacts of the  FIG. 1  connector; 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom view of a plurality of contacts of a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a state before being removed from a carrier; 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of each contact appearing in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a bottom view of the plurality of contacts in a state removed from the carrier; 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of each contact appearing in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom view of the plurality of contacts in a state in which terminal portions of the contacts are in a bent state; and 
         FIG. 15  is a side view of each contact appearing in  FIG. 14 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will now be described in detail, with reference to the drawings showing preferred embodiments thereof. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , a connector  10  is comprised of a housing  11 , a plurality of contacts C, and a locator  19 . The connector  10  is mounted on a printed wiring board (including printed circuit board), not shown (second object to be connected). The connector  10  electrically connects a card-type electronic device (first object to be connected), not shown, such as a memory card, a graphic card or the like, which is inserted into a receiving portion  111   a  (see  FIG. 4 ) of the housing  11 , and the printed wiring board, not shown, to each other. 
     The housing  11  includes a housing main body  111  and front wall portions  112 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the receiving portion  111   a  which receives a front end of the card-type electronic device is formed in a front portion of the housing main body  111  (a left portion, as viewed in  FIG. 4 ). Grooves  111   b  are formed in a bottom surface of the front portion of the housing main body  111 . The grooves  111   b  hold potions of the contacts C (connecting portions  134 ,  144 , and  154  of signal contacts  13 ,  13 ′,  14 , and  14 ′, and ground contacts  15 , referred to hereinafter). An accommodating recess  111   c  which accommodates the locator  19  is formed in a bottom surface of a rear portion (a right potion, as viewed in  FIG. 4 ) of the housing main body  111 . Positioning pins  113  which are inserted in positioning holes, not shown, in the printed wiring board are formed at the opposite ends of the bottom surface of the housing main body  111 . 
     The front wall portions  112  are continuous to the front portion of the housing main body  111 . Each front wall portion  112  has an inner surface formed with a supporting surface  112   a  which supports the card-type electronic device inserted in the receiving portion  111   a , in a state parallel to the printed wiring board. 
     The contacts C are arranged in the housing  11  along a predetermined arranging direction D. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the contacts C include the signal contacts  13 ,  13 ′,  14 , and  14 ′ of a through hole mount type, the ground contacts  15  of a through hole mount type, signal contacts  16  of a surface mount type, and ground contacts  17  of a surface mount type. The signal contacts  13 ,  13 ′,  14 , and  14 ′, and the ground contacts  15  are disposed in a lower portion (lower portion, as viewed in  FIG. 4 ) of the housing main body  111 . The signal contacts  16  and the ground contacts  17  are disposed in an upper portion (upper portion, as viewed in  FIG. 4 ) of the housing  11 . 
     Each signal contact  13  and each signal contact  13 ′ associated therewith form a pair of contacts for differential transmission. Since the signal contacts  13  and  13 ′ each have the same shape, only the signal contact  13  will be described. 
     Each signal contact  13  includes a contact portion, not shown, a spring portion, not shown, a terminal portion  133 , and the connecting portion  134 . The contact portion of each signal contact  13  has the same shape as that of a contact portion  141 , referred to hereinafter, of each signal contact  14 . The contact portion of each signal contact  13  is brought into contact with an electrode, not shown, of the card-type electronic device which is inserted in the receiving portion  111   a . The spring portion of each signal contact  13  has the same shape as that of a spring portion  142  of each signal contact  14 . The spring portion of each signal contact  13  is continuous to the contact portion. The spring portion presses the contact portion against the electrode of the card-type electronic device. The terminal portion  133  is inserted through an associated one of through holes in the printed wiring board. 
     The spring portion extends from the contact portion, and the connecting portion  134  connects the contact portion and the terminal portion  133  via the spring portion. The connecting portion  134  includes a pitch-changing portion  134   a . The pitch-changing portion  134   a  is substantially crank-shaped, and is used for making the arranging pitch of the terminal portions  133  larger than that of the contact portions. 
     Each signal contact  14  and each signal contact  14 ′ associated therewith form a pair of contacts for differential transmission. Since the signal contacts  14  and  14 ′ each have the same shape, only the signal contact  14  will be described. 
     Each signal contact  14  includes the contact portion  141 , the spring portion  142 , a terminal portion  143 , and the connecting portion  144 . The contact portion  141  is brought into contact with an electrode of the card-type electronic device which is inserted in the receiving portion  111   a . The spring portion  142  is bent into a substantially S-shape, and is continuous to the contact portion  141 . The spring portion  142  presses the contact portion  141  against the electrode of the card-type electronic device. The terminal portion  143  is inserted through the through hole of the printed wiring board. 
     The spring portion  142  extends from the contact portion  141 , and the connecting portion  144  connects the contact portion  141  and the terminal portion  143  via the spring portion  142 . The connecting portion  144  includes a pitch-changing portion  144   a . The pitch-changing portion  144   a  is substantially crank-shaped, and is used for making the arranging pitch of the terminal portions  143  larger than that of the contact portions  141 . 
     Each ground contact  15  (see  FIG. 5 ) includes a contact portion, not shown, a spring portion, not shown, a terminal portion  153 , and the connecting portion  154 . The contact portion of each ground contact  15  has the same shape as that of the contact portion  141  of each signal contact  14 . The contact portion of each ground contact  15  is brought into contact with an electrode of the card-type electronic device which is inserted in the receiving portion  111   a . The spring portion of each ground contact  15  has the same shape as that of the spring portion  142  of each signal contact  14 . The spring portion of each ground contact  15  is continuous to the contact portion. The spring portion presses the contact portion against the electrode of the card-type electronic device. The terminal portion  153  is inserted through an associated one of the through holes in the printed wiring board. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the terminal portions  133 ,  143 , and  153  of the signal contacts  13 ,  13 ′,  14 , and  14 ′, and the ground contacts  15  out of the contacts C are arranged in three rows parallel to one another along the arranging direction D. The row of the terminal portions  133  of the signal contacts  13  and  13 ′ is located forward of the row of the terminal portions  143  of the signal contacts  14  and  14 ′ in a longitudinal direction (in an upper area, as viewed in  FIGS. 3 and 6 ) of the housing  11 . The row of the terminal portions  153  of the ground contacts  15  is located between the row of the terminal portions  133  and the row of the terminal portions  143 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , spacing  133   a  between the terminal portions  133  and  133  of each pair of signal contacts  13  and  13 ′ is narrower than spacing  153   a  between the terminal portions  153  and  153  of the ground contacts  15  and  15  adjacent to each other. Further, the spacing  153   a  between the terminal portions  153  and  153  of the ground contacts  15  and  15  adjacent to each other is larger than spacing  143   a  between the terminal portions  143  and  143  of each pair of signal contacts  14  and  14 ′. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , imaginary straight lines (two-dot chain lines in  FIG. 6 ) connecting between the terminal portions  133  and  133  of each pair of signal contacts  13  and  13 ′ and the terminal portions  153  and  153  of the two ground contacts  15  and  15  adjacent to each other which are located in the vicinity of the terminal portions  133  and  133  form a trapezoid T 1 . Further, imaginary straight lines (two-dot chain lines in  FIG. 6 ) connecting between the terminal portions  143  and  143  of each pair of signal contacts  14  and  14 ′ and the terminal portions  153  and  153  of the two ground contacts  15  and  15  adjacent to each other which are located in the vicinity of the terminal portions  143  and  143  form an inverted trapezoid T 2 . 
     The terminal portion  153  of each ground contact  15  is located on an imaginary straight line, not shown, which connects between the terminal portion  133  of one signal contact  13  (or  13 ′) out of each pair of signal contacts  13  and  13 ′, and the terminal portion  143  of one signal contact  14  (or  14 ′) out of each pair of signal contacts  14  and  14 ′, which is the nearest to the above-mentioned terminal portion  133 . 
     Each signal contact  16  (see  FIG. 4 ) is a contact for differential transmission, and two signal contacts  16  and  16  adjacent to each other form one pair. 
     Each signal contact  16  includes a contact portion  161 , a spring portion, not shown, a terminal portion  163 , and a connecting portion  164 . The contact portion  161  is brought into contact with an electrode of the card-type electronic device which is inserted in the receiving portion  111   a . The spring portion is continuous to the contact portion  161 . The spring portion presses the contact portion  161  against the electrode of the card-type electronic device. The terminal portion  163  is surface-mounted on a pad on the printed wiring board. The spring portion extends from the contact portion  161 , and the connecting portion  164  connects the contact portion  161  and the terminal portion  163  via the spring portion. 
     Each ground contact  17  (see  FIG. 4 ) includes a contact portion  171 , a spring portion, not shown, a terminal portion  173 , and a connecting portion  174 . Each ground contact  17  has the same shape as that of each signal contact  16 , so that the reference numerals  17 ,  171 ,  173 , and  174  of each ground contact  17  are indicated in parentheses beside the reference numerals  16 ,  161 ,  163 , and  164  of each signal contact  16  in  FIG. 4  for convenience sake, and a description thereof is omitted. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the locator  19  includes a locator main body  191  and a front wall portion  192 . The locator main body  191  is plate-shaped. The locator main body  191  is formed with a plurality of holding holes  191   a  arranged in three rows along the arranging direction D. The plurality of holding holes  191   a  are arranged in the same manner as the terminal portions  133 ,  143 , and  153 . The terminal portions  133  of the signal contacts  13  and  13 ′ are inserted through the holding holes  191   a  in a front row (upper row in  FIG. 6 ). The terminal portions  153  of the ground contacts  15  are inserted through the holding holes  191   a  in a central row. The terminal portions  143  of the signal contacts  14  and  14 ′ are inserted through the holding holes  191   a  in a rear row (lower row in  FIG. 6 ). The locator main body  191  is formed with positioning holes  191   b  (see  FIG. 3 ) at the opposite ends thereof. The positioning pins  113  of the housing  11  are inserted in the positioning holes  191   b  associated therewith. The positioning pins  113  are inserted in the positioning holes  191   b  associated therewith, whereby the locator  19  is positioned on the housing  11 . 
     The front wall portion  192  is connected to a front portion of the locator main body  191 . The front wall portion  192  is formed with a plurality of grooves  192   a . The grooves  192   a  extend in a direction H of the height of the housing  11 . Portions of the connection portions  134 ,  144 , and  154  of the respective signal contacts  13 ,  13 ′,  14 , and  14 ′, and the ground contacts  15  are held in the grooves  192   a , respectively. 
     A description will be given of a method for manufacturing the signal contacts  13 ,  13 ′,  14 , and  14 ′, and the ground contacts  15  of the connector  10  shown in  FIG. 1  with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
     The signal contacts  13 ,  13 ′,  14 , and  14 ′, and the ground contacts  15  are blanked from one elastic metal plate M. At this time, the signal contacts  13 ,  13 ′,  14 , and  14 ′, the ground contacts  15 , and a carrier CR (portion in which a hole HL located at an end of the elastic metal plate M is bored) remain continuous. The cross-section of each of the signal contacts  13 ,  13 ′,  14 , and  14 ′, and the ground contact  15  blanked from the elastic metal plate M is substantially square-shaped (see  FIG. 6 ). 
     Although  FIG. 8  shows the signal contacts  13 ,  13 ′,  14 , and  14 ′, and the ground contacts  15  in a state the terminal portions  133 ,  143 , and  153  are bent at the right angle after blanking, as is clear from shapes  133 ′ and  153 ′ of empty portions left after blanking the respective terminal portions  133  and  153 , the terminal portions  133  and  153  before bending are inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to an imaginary plane P (see  FIG. 1 ) orthogonal to the arranging direction D. Portions of the connecting portions  134  and  154  which are continuous to the respective terminal portions  133  and  153  are also inclined by the predetermined angle with respect to the imaginary plane P, similarly to the terminal portions  133  and  153 . It should be noted that in  FIG. 7 , the imaginary plane P is indicated by an imaginary straight line. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the signal contacts  13 ,  13 ′,  14 , and  14 ′, and the ground contacts  15  are bent into respective predetermined shapes. At this time, the terminal portions  133 ,  143 , and  153  are bent at the right angles with respect to the carrier CR. Further, since the terminal portions  133  and  153 , and portions of the connecting portions  134  and  154  of the respective signal contacts  13 , and  13 ′, and the ground contacts  15  before bending are inclined with respect to the imaginary plane P as mentioned above, when the terminal portions  133  and  153  are bent at right angles, as shown in  FIG. 9 , surfaces  133   b  and  153   b  of the terminal portions  133  and  153  facing toward the front wall portion  192  of the locator  19  are inclined with respect to the arranging direction D. That is, although the surface  143   b  of each of the signal contacts  14  and  14 ′ is parallel to the arranging direction D, the surfaces  133   b  of each of the signal contacts  13  and  13 ′, and the surface  153   b  of each ground contact  15  are not parallel to the arranging direction D. 
     By the above-described processes, the signal contacts  13 ,  13 ′,  14 , and  14 ′, and the ground contacts  15  are completed in a state connected to the carrier CR. 
     To assemble the connector  10 , first, the plurality of the signal contacts  13 ,  13 ′,  14 , and  14 ′, and the ground contacts  15  in a state connected to the carrier CR are collectively mounted at a time on the housing  11  in which the signal contacts  16  and the ground contacts  17  are held by the so-called mold-in molding method in advance. 
     Next, the terminal portions  133 ,  143 , and  153  of the respective signal contacts  13 ,  13 ′,  14 , and  14 ′, and the ground contacts  15  are inserted through the respective associated holding holes  191   a  of the locator  19 , and at the same time the locator  19  is accommodated in the accommodating recess  111   c  of the housing  11 . 
     By the above-mentioned operations, the connector  10  is assembled. 
     According to the first embodiment, since portions of the connecting portions  134  and  154  and the terminal portions  133  and  153  of the signal contacts  13  and  13 ′ and the ground contacts  15  are each inclined with respect to the imaginary plan P so as not to interfere with adjacent others of the contacts before bending, it is possible to reduce a non-blanked area of the elastic metal plate M, which makes it possible to eliminate the waste of the material of the elastic metal plate M. 
     Further, even if the signal contacts  13  and  13 ′, the signal contacts  14  and  14 ′, and the ground contacts  15  are formed from one elastic metal plate M, the spacings between the contact portions remain the same. Therefore, it is possible to mount the signal contacts  13  and  13 ′, the signal contacts  14  and  14 ′, and the ground contacts  15  on the housing  11  in a state connected to the carrier CR. 
     The signal contacts  13  and  13 ′ forming each pair has the same length, and at the same time, the signal contacts  14  and  14 ′ forming each pair also has the same length. This makes it possible to prevent occurrence of delayed phases, and makes transmission characteristics excellent. 
     Further, since the terminal portions  133 ,  143 , and  153  are arranged in three rows, it is possible to secure sufficient spacings between each pair of the terminal portions  133 ,  143 , and  153 , which makes it possible to secure sufficient spacings between the adjacent ones of the through holes in the printed wiring board. 
     Although the terminal portions  133 ,  143 , and  153  of the signal contacts  13  and  13 ′, the signal contacts  14  and  14 ′, and the ground contacts  15  of the connector  10  of the present embodiment have pin shapes of a through hole mount type, they may have a flat shape of a surface mount type, instead. Further, if an object to be connected to the terminal portions is a connector, each terminal portion may be formed into a shape which can be connected to the mating connector. 
     Further, although the terminal portions  133 ,  143 , and  153  of the signal contacts  13  and  13 ′, the signal contacts  14  and  14 ′, and the ground contacts  15  are arranged in three rows (see  FIG. 6 ), it is not necessarily required to arrange them in this manner, but the terminal portions of the signal contacts and the terminal portions of the ground contacts may be arranged in two rows (this variation is not shown). 
     It should be noted that although in this embodiment, the present invention is applied to the connector for differential transmission, the object to be applied is not limited to this. 
     Further, although in this embodiment, each ground contact  15  is disposed between the pair of signal contacts  13  and  13 ′ and the pair of signal contacts  14  and  14 ′, associated therewith, it is not necessarily required to arrange the contacts in this manner. 
     It should be noted that although in this embodiment, the first object to be connected is the card-type electronic device, and the second object to be connected is the printed wiring board, the first and second objects to be connected are not limited to these. 
     Further, although in this embodiment, portions of the connecting portions  134  and  154  and the terminal portions  133  and  153  of the signal contacts  13  and  13 ′ and the ground contacts  15 , out of the signal contacts  13 ,  13 ′,  14 , and  14 ′, and the ground contacts  15  are inclined with respect to the imaginary plane P, portions of the connecting portions  134 ,  144 , and  154  and the terminal portions  133 ,  143 , and  153  of the signal contacts  13 ,  13 ′,  14 , and  14 ′, and the ground contacts  15  may be inclined with respect to the imaginary plane P. 
     Next, a description will be given of a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention with reference to  FIGS. 10 to 15 . It should be noted that in  FIGS. 11 ,  13 , and  15 , signal contacts  213  and  213 ′, signal contacts  214 ′, and ground contact  215  and  215  cannot be seen behind signal contacts  214 , so that the reference numerals of the signal contacts  213  and  213 ′, the signal contacts  214 ′, and the ground contacts  215  and  215  are indicated in parenthesis. 
     Further, component parts identical to those of the connector according to the first embodiment are designated by identical reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted, while only main component parts different in construction from those of the first embodiment will be described hereinafter. 
     Similarly to the connector of the first embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the connector of the second embodiment includes the signal contacts  213  and  213 ′, the signal contacts  214  and  214 ′, and the ground contacts  215  and  215 . 
     Further, although in the first embodiment, the terminal portions  133 ,  143 , and  153  of the respective signal contacts  13  and  13 ′, the signal contacts  14  and  14 ′, and the ground contacts  15  and  15  are connected to the carrier CR, in the second embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the terminal portions  133 ,  143 , and  153  of the signal contacts  213  and  213 ′, the signal contacts  214  and  214 ′, and the ground contacts  215  and  215  are connected to a carrier CR′. 
     Next, a description will be given of a method for manufacturing the contacts of the connector of the second embodiment. 
     First, contact portions  131 ,  141 , and  151 , spring portions  132 ,  142 , and  152 , terminal portions  133 ,  143 , and  153 , and connecting portions  134 ,  144 , and  154  of the respective signal contacts  213  and  213 ′, the signal contacts  214  and  214 ′, and the ground contacts  215  and  215  are blanked from one elastic metal plate (see  FIG. 10 ). The blanked terminal portions  133 ,  143 , and  153  remain connected to the carrier CR′. 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the contact portions  131 ,  141 , and  151 , the spring portions  132 ,  142 , and  152 , and the connecting portions  134 ,  144 , and  154  are bent into respective predetermined shapes. 
     Thereafter, as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the carrier CR′ is removed from the terminal portions  133 ,  143 , and  153  by blanking. 
     Finally, as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the terminal portions  133 ,  143 , and  153  are bent at right angles. 
     It should be noted that the signal contacts  213  and  213 ′, the signal contacts  214  and  214 ′, and the ground contacts  215  and  215  obtained as above may be separately mounted on a housing, not shown, or these contacts may be collectively mounted on the housing at a time by using a jig. 
     According to the second embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same advantageous effects as provided by the first embodiment. 
     In addition to the above-described manufacturing method, there is the following method: First, the signal contacts  213  and  213 ′, the signal contacts  214  and  214 ′, and the ground contacts  215  and  215  are mounted on the housing in a state in which the terminal portions  133 ,  143 , and  153  are connected to the carrier CR′, and then, the carrier CR′ is removed from the terminal portions  133 ,  143 , and  153 , and finally, the terminal portions  133 ,  143 , and  153  are bent at right angles. 
     It is further understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing are the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and that various changes and modification may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.