Patent Publication Number: US-2010130045-A1

Title: Connector for Flexible Circuit

Description:
The present invention relates to a connector which makes an electrical connection, in particular, a connector which makes an electrical connection with a flexible circuit board and the like. 
     There is a need to decrease the size of connectors which make electrical connections and increase the density of terminals in the connectors. In particular, there is a strong need due to the decrease in size and increase in density of modern electronic devices. Moreover, there is a need to facilitate connector mating for the purpose of simplifying the assembly steps. 
     Connectors such as those disclosed in Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2005-294054 are known as conventional connectors used for electrical connections of flexible circuit boards and the like.  FIG. 9  is a diagram showing such a constitution. 
     The connector is constituted by a first connector part  81  attached to an end portion of a flexible circuit board or the like, and a second connector part  82  which is the counterpart of the first connector part and which is attached to a substrate or the like. 
     When the first connector part  81  is attached to the second connector part  82 , a first front projection  85  of the first connector part  81  is inserted into a first front receiving portion  87  of the second connector part  82 . At this time, a second front projection  95  of the first connector part  81  is also inserted into a second front receiving portion  96  of the second connector part  82 . 
     After the first and second front projections  85 ,  95  are inserted into their corresponding portions, the first connector part  81  is pushed downward roughly perpendicular with respect to the substrate (not shown). In other words, since the second connector part  82  in  FIG. 9  is provided on the substrate, the first connector part  81  is pushed downward roughly perpendicular with respect to the second connector part  82 . At this time, there is a latch mechanism which maintains the mating of the first and second connector parts  81 ,  82 , and hook portions  91 ,  93  respectively make contact with a shoulder portion  92  and an engaging portion (not shown). Accordingly, if further pressed, these hook portions  91 ,  93  respectively engage with the shoulder portion  92  and the engaging portion, and the first connector part  81  and the second connector part  82  mate. Due to this action, simplification of the mating of the connector parts is realized. 
     An aim of the invention is to provide for a different solution than the prior art one. 
     According to the present invention, it is provided a connector according to claim  1 . 
     Other advantageous features of the invention correspond to the dependant claims considered either separately or in combination. 
    
    
     
         FIG. 1  This is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  This is a diagram showing a cross section along direction A-A of  FIG. 1  when the actuator is open. 
         FIG. 3  This is a diagram showing a cross section along direction A-A of  FIG. 1  when the actuator is closed. 
         FIG. 4  This is a diagram showing the state in which the flexible circuit board is partially pushed in. 
         FIG. 5  This is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6   FIG. 6   a  is a diagram showing the state in which the actuator of a third embodiment of the present invention is open.  FIG. 6   b  is a diagram showing the state in which the actuator of the third embodiment of the present invention is partially stopped.  FIG. 6   c  is a diagram showing the state in which the actuator of the third embodiment of the present invention is locked. 
         FIG. 7   FIG. 7   a  is a diagram showing a cross section along direction B-B of  FIG. 6   b .  FIG. 7   b  is a diagram showing a cross section along direction C-C of  FIG. 6   c.    
         FIG. 8  This is a diagram showing the state in which the flexible circuit board of the third embodiment of the present invention is partially pushed in. 
         FIG. 9  This is a diagram showing an embodiment of the prior art. 
     
    
    
     A first embodiment of the present invention will be explained using the drawings. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a connector attached to an end portion of a planar flexible circuit board  30  (not shown on  FIG. 1 ) is constituted by a main body  1  made of a formed resin, a metal actuator  2  which can be attached to and removed from the main body  1 , and lock pieces  14  which are mounted at both sides of the main body  1  and which lock the actuator  2  on the main body  1 . 
     The main body  1  is provided with a support surface  18  on which is placed a portion of the flexible circuit board  30  of a predetermined length from the distal end thereof. On the support surface  18 , terminal grooves  19  are formed into which a plurality  8  of terminals  9  will be inserted. The terminals  9  protrude from the terminal grooves  19  so as to contact a conductor on one surface of the flexible circuit board  30 . 
     As shown on  FIG. 4 , the main body  1  is provided with side walls  17  which surround the support surface  18 . At the corner portions of the side walls  17 , a slit  12   a , into which the corner portions of the distal end of the flexible circuit board  30  are to be inserted, is formed parallel to the support surface  18 . A hook  10  which projects upward is provided on the support surface  18  and positions the flexible circuit board  30  on the main body by being inserted into a notch  32  provided on the flexible circuit board  30 . 
     The lock pieces  14  are mounted at both sides of the main body  1  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Each lock piece  14  is provided with a projection  15  which projects along the insertion direction of the flexible circuit board  30 . A notch  16  is also formed on the lock piece  14 . The notch  16  and a notch  11 , which is formed on the main body  1 , together form an opening  13 . 
     The actuator  2  forms a plate shape which has a surface shape that overlaps with the portion of the flexible circuit board  30  of a predetermined length. The portion which overlaps with the flexible circuit board  30  is provided with a protrusion  3  which projects in the thickness direction of the actuator  2 . A coating layer made of an insulating resin is provided on the surface of the actuator  2  that includes the protrusion  3  and that touches the flexible circuit board  30 . 
     Furthermore, both sides of the actuator  2  are provided with a lock arm  4  which extends in the thickness direction of the actuator  2 . At the distal end portion of the lock arm  4 , a projection  5 , which engages with the projection  15 , projects orthogonally, when the actuator is locked on the main body in a direction parallel to the insertion direction of the flexible circuit board  30 . 
     Moreover, the base end portion of the actuator  2  is provided with a pivot  6  which is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the flexible circuit board  30  and parallel to the surface of the flexible circuit board. The actuator  2  is joined to the main body  1  so as to be pivotable about the pivot  6  by insertion of the pivot  6  into the opening  13 . Furthermore, the pivot  6  is formed into a polygonal lateral cross-sectional shape with the entirety being chamfered. 
     Next, the operation of the connector of the present invention as constituted above as well as the effects thereof will be explained. Since the pivot  6  which joins the main body  1  and the actuator  2  is provided with a chamfered polygonal cross-sectional shape, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the actuator  2  is held in an open state. While the actuator  2  is in an open state, the end of the flexible circuit board  30  is set in the connector from roughly perpendicularly above the connector. 
     Next, the distal end of the flexible circuit board  30  is inserted into the slit  12   a  which is formed in the side wall  17  of the connector as shown in  FIG. 4 . As a result, the flexible circuit board  30  is partially pushed in until the actuator  2  closes so that the flexible circuit board  30  cannot be removed upwards. 
     The hook  10  provided on the support surface  18  is inserted into the notch  32  formed in the flexible circuit board  30 . As a result, the flexible circuit board  30  is positioned with respect to the support surface  18  and prevented from being pulled out in the longitudinal direction. 
     Thereafter, the actuator  2  is closed by pivoting about the pivot  6 . As a result, an electrical connection is completed by holding the flexible circuit board  30  between the actuator  2  and the support surface  18 . At the same time, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the projection  5  provided on the lock arm  4  of the actuator  2  is stopped by the projection  15  provided on the lock piece  14  which is mounted on the main body  1 . 
     Moreover, the hook  10  has a function of detecting a poor insertion state of the flexible circuit board  30 . If the flexible circuit board  30  is not properly inserted into the connector, the notch  32  cannot be positioned with the hook  10 , the flexible circuit board  30  will ride on the hook  10 , and the actuator  2  will therefore not be able to close. By this means, a poor insertion state of the flexible circuit board  30  can be detected. 
     Moreover, the metal actuator  2  is capable of being electrically connected to the flexible circuit board  30  by removing a portion of the insulation coating  7  over a predetermined region of the actuator  2 . By electrically connecting a shield wire of the flexible circuit board  30  to the actuator  2 , a shield circuit can be formed. 
       FIG. 5  shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the same reference symbols are appended to constitutions common to the first embodiment, and an explanation thereof is omitted. 
     In the second embodiment, more terminals  9  are provided than in the first embodiment. Moreover, an intermediate lock portion  20  is provided at the center portion of the main body  1 , and an intermediate lock arm  23  is provided at a position of the actuator  2  corresponding to the intermediate lock portion  20 . 
     At the position where the intermediate lock portion  20  of the main body  1  is mounted, a notch (not shown) which is similar to the notch  11  is provided. Furthermore, a notch  16  which is similar to that of the lock piece  14  is formed in the intermediate lock portion  20 , and an opening (not shown) is formed along with the notch of the main body  1 . 
     At a position of the base end portion of the actuator  2  corresponding to the intermediate lock portion  20 , a pivot (not shown) is provided which is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the flexible circuit board and parallel to the surface thereof. The pivot is inserted into the opening whereby the actuator  2  is pivotably joined to the main body  1 . 
     Moreover, at a position of the distal end portion of the actuator  2  corresponding to the intermediate lock portion  20 , the intermediate lock arm  23 , which is approximately U-shaped, is provided and extends in the thickness direction of the actuator  2 . 
     When the actuator  2  is pivoted and closed, the distal end portion of the intermediate lock arm  23  is locked by the intermediate lock portion  20 . Accompanying the increase in the number of terminals  9 , the actuator  2  is pushed upward so as to bend by the reaction force of the terminals  9 . However, due to the action of the intermediate lock, the connector of this embodiment is prevented from bending the actuator  2  even if the number of terminals is increased, and it is possible to guarantee the contact force between the conductor of the flexible circuit board and the electrode  8 . In this embodiment, although the intermediate lock portion is only provided at one location in the center portion, it may be provided at several locations in accordance with need. 
       FIGS. 6A to 6C  show a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the same reference symbols are appended to constitutions common to the first embodiment, and an explanation thereof is omitted. 
     Lock arms  4  are provided on both lateral sides of the actuator  2 . Each lock arm  4  further extends in the thickness direction of the actuator  2 , and the distal end portion thereof further extends toward the hinged side of the actuator  2  for forming a projection  5 . 
     The lock piece  14  is mounted at both sides of the main body  1 . The distal end of the projection  15  projects downward (vertical direction in  FIGS. 7A and 7B ) in the height direction of the main body  1 . Furthermore, the notch  16  is formed in the lock piece  14 , and the notch  16  and the notch  11 , which is formed in the main body  1 , together form the opening  13 . 
     In the third embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b , the opening  13  into which the pivot  6  is inserted forms a roughly rectangular shape. For that reason, it is possible for the pivot  6  to slide within the opening  13  in the longitudinal direction of the flexible circuit board  30 . Furthermore, a recess  26  is formed in a portion of the notch  16  of the lock piece  14 . In other words, the width dimension (dimension in the vertical direction of  FIG. 7 ) of the opening  13  is widened in the region where the recess  26  is formed. Accordingly, as shown in  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b , the actuator  2  is pivotable by being in a lightly fitted state only when the pivot  6  is at the position where the recess  26  is formed. In contrast, when the pivot  6  is not at the position where the recess  26  is formed, the pivot  6  pivots about the notches  11  and  16 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the slit  12   a  is formed parallel to the support surface  18  at both corner portions of the side walls  17  which surround the support surface  18  of the main body  1 . At the side of the support surface  18  where the flexible circuit board  30  extends, a slit  12   b  is formed parallel to the support surface  18  so as to face the slit  12   a . A pair of either only the slit  12   a  or  12   b  may be formed. 
     Next, the operation of attaching the flexible circuit board to the connector in the third embodiment will be explained. When the actuator  2  is made to slide toward the base end side of the flexible circuit board  30 , the pivot  6  is made to match the position where the recess  26  is formed, and the pivot  6  becomes capable of pivoting. Since it is possible for the pivot  6  to pivot freely at this position, the actuator  2  can be opened by pivoting. While the actuator  2  is in the open state, the end portion of the flexible circuit board  30  is set in the connector from roughly perpendicularly above the connector. At this time, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the end portion of the side close to the distal end of the flexible circuit board  30  and to the distal end of the notch  32  is inserted into the slits  12   a  and  12   b  thereby making it possible to temporarily position the flexible circuit board  30 . 
     Next, the actuator  2  is closed by pivoting about the pivot  6 . At this time, the flexible circuit board  30  is held between the actuator  2  and the support surface  18 , and placed in a temporarily stopped state. The actuator  2  is then made to slide toward the distal end side of the flexible circuit board  30 . By this means, as shown in  FIG. 7   b , the projection  5  provided on the lock arm  4  is stopped by the projection  15  provided on the lock piece  14 . 
     As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector which is flatter and has fewer parts than conventional connectors. 
     Furthermore, it is possible to provide a connector in which a flexible circuit board can be directly inserted roughly perpendicular to the connector without increasing the number of parts. 
     Furthermore, in the connector as described above, it is possible to raise the reliability of the contact with a conductor, thanks to the locking means  4 ,  14 ,  20 ,  23  which allow a sufficient latching strength between the parts.