Patent Publication Number: US-11641073-B2

Title: Connector

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. JP2020-171682 filed Oct. 12, 2020 and No. JP2020-171688 filed Oct. 12, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a connector to be mounted on a substrate, in particular, to a connector provided with a guide member for guiding a mating connector. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 10,601,181 (Patent Document 1) discloses an example of a connector to be mounted on a substrate, wherein the connector has a guide member. As understood from  FIG.  19   , a connector  90  of Patent Document 1 is mounted on an upper surface of a substrate (not shown) in an up-down direction and mateable with and detachable from a mating connector  95 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  19   , the mating connector  95  has a terminal board  951  and an adjacent wall  953 . Each of the terminal board  951  and the adjacent wall  953  protrudes downward in the up-down direction. The terminal board  951  is provided with a plurality of mating contacts (not shown). The adjacent wall  953  is located near the terminal board  951  to be apart therefrom in a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. 
     As shown in  FIG.  19   , the connector  90  has an insulator body (housing)  92  and a metal housing (guide member)  94 . The insulation body  92  defines a receiving space  921  which receives the terminal board  951  of the mating connector  95 . The receiving space  921  opens upward. The insulation body  92  holds a plurality of contacts  923 . Each of the contacts  923  is exposed in the receiving space  921  in part. The metal housing  94  surrounds the insulation body  92  in a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. The metal housing  94  defines an adjacent groove  941  which receives the adjacent wall  953  of the mating connector  95  together with a side surface of the insulation body  92 . The metal housing  94  is provided with a plurality of leg portions  943  which is fixed to the substrate when the connector  90  is mounted on the substrate (not shown). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The connector  90  of Patent Document 1 is mounted on a mounting surface of the substrate. Here, in order to improve mounting density of the substrate, there is a need to improve area utilization efficiency of the mounting surface. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector which can improve area utilization efficiency of a mounting surface of a substrate. 
     One aspect of the present invention provides a connector which is mateable with a mating connector along an up-down direction. The connector is to be mounted on a substrate in the up-down direction. The mating connector comprises a mating contact portion and a protruding block. The protruding block protrudes along the up-down direction. The protruding block is provided with a mating locking portion. The connector comprises at least one terminal, a housing, at least one guide member and a locking portion. The terminal has a contact portion. The contact portion is brought into contact with the mating contact portion in a mated state that the connector and the mating connector are mated with each other. The housing holds the terminal. The housing has an end face in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. The locking portion locks the mated state together with the mating locking portion. The guide member has a side portion and two supporting portions supporting the side portion. The side portion is located apart from the end face of the housing in the perpendicular direction. The end face of the housing, the side portion of the housing and the supporting portions of the housing form a receiving portion which guides and receives the protruding block when the connector and the mating connector are mated with each other. The side portion and the supporting portions are located apart from the substrate when the connector is mounted on the substrate. Outside the end face of the housing in the perpendicular direction and under the side portion and the supporting portions in the up-down direction, a lower space is formed to communicate with the receiving portion. The guide member is not located in the lower space. 
     The connector of the present invention is provided with the housing and the guide member. The guide member corresponds to the end face of the housing. The guide portion has the side portion and the two supporting portions. The side portion and the two supporting portions form the receiving portion together with the end face corresponding thereto. The receiving portion guides and receives the protruding block of the mating connector. When the connector is mounted on the substrate, the side portion and the supporting portions are apart from the substrate to form the lower space under the side portion and the supporting portions. In the connector  90  of Patent Document 1, the leg portions  943  cause dead spaces. In contrast, in the present invention, no guide member is located in the lower space. With this structure, a mounting surface of the substrate facing the lower space can be used efficiently, and thereby area utilization efficiency of the mounting surface of the substrate can be improved. 
     An appreciation of the objectives of the present invention and a more complete understanding of its structure may be had by studying the following description of the preferred embodiment and by referring to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view showing a connector assembly including a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The connector and a mating connector are separated from each other. 
         FIG.  2    is another perspective view showing the connector assembly of  FIG.  1   . The connector and the mating connector are mated with each other. 
         FIG.  3    is a front view showing the connector assembly of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is a front view showing the connector assembly of  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  5    is a bottom perspective view showing the mating connector included in the connector assembly of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  6    is a bottom view showing the mating connector of  FIG.  5   . 
         FIG.  7    is a top view showing the connector included in the connector assembly of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  8    is a side view showing the connector of  FIG.  7   . 
         FIG.  9    is an exploded, perspective view showing the connector of  FIG.  7   . 
         FIG.  10    is a front view showing one of guide members included in the connector of  FIG.  9   . 
         FIG.  11    is a top view showing the guide member of  FIG.  10   . 
         FIG.  12    is a side view showing the guide member of  FIG.  10   . 
         FIG.  13    is a perspective view showing a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  14    is a top view showing the connector of  FIG.  13   . 
         FIG.  15    is a rear view showing the connector of  FIG.  13   . 
         FIG.  16    is a side view showing the connector of  FIG.  13   . 
         FIG.  17    is an exploded, perspective view showing the connector of  FIG.  13   . 
         FIG.  18    is a rear view showing the connector of  FIG.  17   . 
         FIG.  19    is a perspective view showing a connector assembly described in Patent Document 1. 
     
    
    
     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     First Embodiment 
     As understood from  FIGS.  1  to  4   , a connector  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention is a connector which is mateable with and removable from a mating connector  50  along an up-down direction. In the present embodiment, the connector  10  is a receptacle connector while the mating connector  50  is a plug connector. The connector  10  is mounted on one surface of a substrate  80  in the up-down direction when used. In the present embodiment, the up-down direction is a Z-direction. A positive Z-direction is directed upward while a negative Z-direction is directed downward. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1   .  5  and  6 , in the present embodiment, the mating connector  50  is an angle-type connector connected to an end of a flexible flat cable  70 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The mating connector  50  may be a straight-type connector. Moreover, the mating connector  50  may be connected to a multi-core cable or may be mounted on a mating substrate. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3  and  5   , the mating connector  50  is provided with a housing body  52 , a tongue-shaped portion  54 , at least one protruding block  56  and at least one locking spring  58 . In the present embodiment, the mating connector  50  is provided with two protruding blocks  56  and two locking springs  58 . 
     As understood from  FIGS.  1 ,  3  and  6   , the housing body  52  is made of insulation resin and has an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape long in a pitch direction. The housing body  52  has locking-spring-holding portions  521  at both ends thereof in the pitch direction. In the present embodiment, the pitch direction is an X-direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3  and  5   , the tongue-shaped portion  54  extends in the pitch direction and protrudes downward from a lower surface  523  of the housing body  52 . As shown in  FIG.  6   , each of a front surface  541  of the tongue-shaped portion  54  and a rear surface  543  of the tongue-shaped portion  54  is formed with a plurality of mating contact portions  545  arranged along the pitch direction. In detail, the mating contact portions  545  are conductor pads formed on an insulation substrate. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The mating connector  50  may be provided with a plurality of metal terminals as a substitute for the tongue-shaped portion  54 . At any rate, the mating connector  50  is provided with at least one mating contact portion  545 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3 ,  5  and  6   , the protruding blocks  56  are located apart from each other in the pitch direction. The protruding blocks  56  correspond to the locking-spring-holding portions  521  of the housing body  52 , respectively. Each of the protruding blocks  56  protrudes from the locking-spring-holding portion  521  corresponding thereto along the up-down direction. In the present embodiment, the protruding block  56  protrudes downward from the locking-spring-holding portion  521  corresponding thereto. Each of the protruding blocks  56  and the locking-spring-holding portion  521  corresponding thereto define a locking-spring-accommodation portion  561  which opens outward in the pitch direction and upward. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  5   , the locking springs  58  are accommodated in the locking-spring-accommodation portions  561 , respectively, in part. In the present embodiment, each of the locking springs  58  is made from a metal sheet and has a pair of stops  581 , a supporting portion  583  and an operation portion  585 . The supporting portion  583  supports the stops  581  and is resiliently deformable at least in part. Each of the stops  581  protrudes outward in the pitch direction. The operation portion  585  is provided to an end of the supporting portion  583 . By operating the operation portion  585 , the supporting portion  583  can be resiliently deformed. Resilient deformation of the supporting portion  583  allows the stops  581  to be moved at least in the pitch direction. In an initial state, tip ends of the stops  581  are located outside the locking-spring-accommodation portion  561 . The stops  581  of each of the locking springs  58  function as a mating locking portion  60 . Thus, each of the protruding blocks  56  is provided with the mating locking portion  60 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 ,  7  and  8   , the connector  10  is provided with at least one terminal  12 , a housing  14 , at least one guide member  16  and at least one locking portion  18 . In the present embodiment, the connector  10  is provided with a plurality of terminals  12 . Moreover, in the present invention, the connector  10  has two guide members  16  and two locking portions  18 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  7   , the terminals  12  are arranged in the pitch direction. In the present embodiment, the terminals  12  are arranged in two rows along the pitch direction. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The terminals  12  correspond to the mating contact portions  545 , respectively, and an arrangement of the terminals  12  depends on an arrangement of the mating contact portions  545 . For example, the terminals  12  may be arranged in a single row in the pitch direction according to the arrangement of the mating contact portions  545 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  7   , each of the terminals  12  has a contact portion  121 , which is brought into contact with the mating contact portion  545  (see  FIG.  3  or  5   ) in a mated state that the connector  10  and the mating connector  50  are mated with each other. In the present embodiment, each of the terminals  12  is a spring contact made of metal. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In a case where the mating contact portion  545  is a spring contact made of metal, the terminal  12  may be a conductor pad formed on an insulation substrate. 
     As understood from  FIG.  7   , the housing  14  holds the terminals  12 . The housing  14  has an approximately rectangular parallel piped shape long in the pitch direction and defines an accommodation space  141  which opens upward. Each of the terminals  12  is exposed in the accommodation space  141  in part. In detail, at least the contact portion  121  is exposed in the accommodation space  141 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  7  and  9   , the housing  14  has end faces  143  in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. In the present embodiment, the perpendicular direction is identical with the pitch direction. In the present embodiment, the housing  14  has the end faces  143  at both ends thereof in the pitch direction. The end faces  143  of the housing  14  correspond to the protruding blocks  56  (see  FIG.  3   ) of the mating connector  50 , respectively. In the present embodiment, each of the end faces  143  is a surface directed outward in the pitch direction. 
     As shown in  FIG.  9   , the housing  14  is formed with a plurality of slits  145  to be attached with the guide members  16  and with a plurality of holes (not shown) contiguous to the slits  145 . In the present embodiment, each of the slits  145  opens upward and outward in the pitch direction. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The slit  145  may open only upward according to a shape of the guide member  16  or only outward in the pitch direction. 
     As understood from  FIG.  9   , the two guide members  16  are separate and distinct from each other. In the present embodiment, the guide members  16  has shapes which are mirror images of each other. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The guide members  16  may have the same shapes or different shapes, provided that the guide members  16  correspond to the protruding blocks  56  of the mating connector  50 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  9  to  12   , in the present embodiment, each of the guide members  16  is made from a metal sheet and has a side portion  161  and two supporting portions  163  and  165  supporting the side portions  161 . The side portion  161  is a flat plate perpendicular to the pitch direction. Each of the supporting portions  163  and  165  is a flat plate extending inward in the pitch direction from an edge of the side portion  161  in a front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the front-rear direction is a Y-direction. A negative Y-direction is directed forward while a positive Y-direction is directed rearward. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  10  to  12   , the supporting portions  163  and  165  have lengths different from each other in the pitch direction. Moreover, each of the supporting portions  163  and  165  is provided with leg portions  167  extending downward. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The supporting portions  163  and  165  may have the same length as each other in the pitch direction. Moreover, each of the supporting portions  163  and  165  may not be provided with the leg portions  167 . However, providing at least one leg portion  167  to one or each of the supporting portions  163  and  165  allows the guide member  16  to be directly fixed to the substrate  80  using the leg portion  167 . 
     As understood from  FIGS.  7  to  9   , the guide members  16  correspond to the end faces  143  of the housing  14 , respectively, and thereby the side portion  161  of each of the guide members  16  and the supporting portions  163  and  165  of each of the guide members  16  correspond to one of the end faces  143  of the housing  14 . The guide members  16  are attached to both end portions of the housing  14  in the pitch direction. In detail, the supporting portions  163  and  165  are press-fit into the slits  145  of the housing  14 , respectively, in part. As understood from  FIGS.  3  and  8   , at that time, the leg portion  167  provided to the supporting portion  163  is inserted into the hole (not shown) formed in the housing  14  and protrudes downward from a lower surface  147  of the housing  14  in part. 
     As shown in  FIG.  7   , in a state that the guide members  16  are attached to the housing  14 , the guide members  16  protrude outward from both ends of the housing  14  in the pitch direction. In other words, the side portion  161  of each of the guide members  16  is located apart from the end face  143  corresponding thereto in the pitch direction. The side portion  161 , the supporting portions  163  and  165  and the end face  143  corresponding to the side portion  161  form a receiving portion  169 . The receiving portion  169  guides and receives the protruding block  56  corresponding to the end face  143  forming the receiving portion  169  when the connector  10  and the mating connector  50  are mated with each other. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , in the present embodiment, the locking portions  18  correspond to the guide members  16 , respectively. In other words, the locking portions  18  are provided to the guide members  16 , respectively. As shown in  FIG.  12   , each of the locking portions  18  is realized as two long holes  181  provided in the side portion  161  of the guide member  16  corresponding thereto. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The locking portion  18  may be realized as one hole provided in the guide member  16 . Alternatively, the locking portion  18  may be realized as one or more holes or recessed portions provided to the housing  14 . Furthermore, the locking portion  18  may be realized as at least one protrusion or stop while the mating locking portion  60  may be realized as at least one hole or recessed portion which is engaged with the protrusion or the stop. 
     As understood from  FIG.  12   , each of the long holes  181  which serve as the locking portion  18  has an upper end  183  and a lower end  185  in the up-down direction. In other words, the locking portion  18  has a predetermined range defined by the upper ends  183  and the lower ends  185 . In the present embodiment, the contact portions  121  of the terminals  12  (see  FIG.  1   ) are located within the predetermined range in the up-down direction. By locating, in the up-down direction, the contact portions  121  of the terminals  12  within the predetermined range defined by the locking portions  18  in this way, a height of the connector  10  can be reduced. In detail, by getting the position of the locking portions  18  down as lower as possible in the up-down direction to locate the contact portions  121  within the predetermined range, the height of the connector  10  can be reduced. 
     As understood from  FIGS.  2  and  4   , in the mated state that the connector  10  and the mating connector  50  are mated with each other, the locking portions  18  lock the mated state together with the mating locking portions  60 . In the present embodiment, when the connector  10  and the mating connector  50  are mated with each other, the mating locking portions  60  are received by the locking portions  18  at least in part. Then, the mating locking portions  60  and the locking portions  18  are engaged with one another and lock the mated state. If the operation portions  585  of the locking springs  58  are operated to deform the supporting portions  583  resiliently, the locking of the mated state can be released. 
     As understood from  FIGS.  3  and  4   , when the connector  10  is mounted on the substrate  80 , the side portion  161  of each of the guide members  16  and the supporting portions  163  and  165  of each of the guide members  16  are located apart from the substrate  80 . In detail, the side portion  161  and the supporting portions  163  and  165  are located apart from and upward of the substrate  80  in the up-down direction. Thus, outside each of the end faces  143  of the housing  14  in the pitch direction and under the side portion  161  and the supporting portions  163  and  165  in the up-down direction, a lower space  20  is formed to communicate with the receiving portion  169  (see  FIG.  7   ). Here, the leg portions  167  are located inward of the end faces  143  of the housing  14  in the pitch direction. Accordingly, the guide members  16  are not in the lower spaces  20  at all. 
     According to the present embodiment, the guide members  16  are not in the lower spaces  20  located downward of the guide members  16 . Therefore, conductor patterns can be formed on an area of a mounting surface of the substrate  80  on which the connector  10  is mounted, wherein the area faces each of the lower spaces  20 . Thus, a dead space of the mounding surface of the substrate  80  is reduced, and the mounting surface of the substrate  80  can be used effectively. Particularly, in a case where a plurality of connectors  10  is mounted on the substrate  80 , continuous areas can be formed on the mounting surface of the substrate  80  by arranging the connectors  10  along the front-rear direction to arrange lower spaces  20  in the front-rear direction. And thereby the mounting surface of the substrate  80  can be used more effectively. 
     Moreover, since the two guide members  16  are distinct and separated from each other according to the present embodiment, the guide members  16  can be used for housings  14  with various shapes and sizes. In other words, the guide members  16  can be used as common parts for plurality types of connectors. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIGS.  13  to  18   , the description will be made about a connector  10 A according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The same or similar components as those of the connector  10  according to the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. Incidentally, a mating connector (not shown) which is mateable with and removable from the connector  10 A has a shape different from that of the mating connector  50  (see  FIG.  1   ). 
     Referring to  FIG.  13   , the connector  10 A is provided with a plurality of terminals  12 , a housing  14 A, a guide member  16 A and a locking portion  18 A. 
     As understood from  FIG.  13   , the guide member  16 A is attached to the housing  14 A. The locking portion  18 A corresponds to the guide member  16 A. In the present embodiment, the locking portion  18 A is realized as a pair of long holes  181  formed in the guide member  16 A. 
     As shown in  FIG.  14   , the housing  14 A has an end face  143  in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. In the present embodiment, the perpendicular direction coincides with the front-rear direction. The end face  143 A is a surface directed outward in the perpendicular direction. In other words, the end face  143 A is directed rearward in the front-rear direction. 
     As shown in  FIG.  14   , the guide member  16 A is made from a metal sheet and has a side portion  161  and two supporting portions  163 A and  165 A supporting the side portion  161 . The side portion  161  is a flat plate perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The supporting portions  163 A and  165 A have shapes which are mirror images of each other. Each of the supporting portions  163 A and  165 A extends forward in the front-rear direction from an edge of the side portion  161  in the pitch direction, and then extends outward in the pitch direction. 
     As understood from  FIG.  14   , the guide member  16 A corresponds to the end face  143 A of the housing  14 A, and thereby the side portion  161 A and the supporting portions  163 A and  165 A correspond to the end face  143 A of the housing  14 A. In a state that the guide member  16 A is attached to the housing  14 A, the guide member  16 A protrudes rearward in the front-rear direction from the housing  14 A. In other words, the side portion  161  of the guide member  16 A is located apart from the end face  143 A in the front-rear direction. The side portion  161 , the supporting portions  163 A and  165 A and the end face  143 A form a receiving portion  169 . The receiving portion  169  receives a protruding block (not shown) when the connector  10  and the mating connector (not shown) are mated with each other. 
     As shown in  FIG.  15   , in the present embodiment, the locking portion  18 A is realized as the two long holes  181  provided in the side portion  161  of the guide member  16 A. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The locking portion  18 A may be realized as one hole provided in the guide member  16 A. Alternatively, the locking portion  18 A may be realized as one or more holes or recessed portions provided to the housing  14 A. Furthermore, the locking portions  18 A may be realized as at least one protrusion or stop while the mating locking portions (not shown) may be realized as at least one hole or recessed portion which is engaged with the protrusion of the stop. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  17  and  18   , the housing  14 A is formed with two slits  145 A to be attached with the guide member  16 A. Each of the slits  145 A opens upward and rearward. The supporting portions  163 A and  165 A are inserted into the slits  145 A of the housing  14 A, respectively, so that the guide member  16 A is attached to the housing  14 A. 
     As understood from  FIGS.  15  and  16   , when the connector  10 A is mounted on the substrate  80 , the side portion  161  of the guide member  16 A and the supporting portions  163 A and  165 A of the guide member  16 A are located apart from the substrate  80 . In detail, the side portion  161  and the supporting portions  163 A and  165 A are located upward of and apart from the substrate  80  in the up-down direction. Thus, behind the end face  143 A of the housing  14 A in the front-rear direction and under the side portion  161  and the supporting portions  163 A and  165 A in the up-down direction, a lower space  20  is formed to communicate with the receiving portion  169  (see  FIG.  19   ). And the guide member  16 A is not in the lower space  20  at all. 
     As mentioned above, also in the connector  10 A of the present invention, the guide member  16 A is not in the lower space  20 . Accordingly, similarly to the connector  10  of the first embodiment, a dead space of a mounting surface of the substrate  80  is reduced, and the mounting surface of the substrate  80  can be used effectively. 
     Although the specific explanation about the present invention is made above referring to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto but susceptible of various modifications and alternative forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the housing  14  or  14 A may be formed by a housing body and a metal shell or reinforcing metal portion which cover an outside of the housing body in part. In that case, the locking portion  18  may be provided to the metal shell or reinforcing metal portion. Moreover, the guide member  16  may be formed to be attached to the metal shell or reinforcing metal portion. Furthermore, the housing body and the metal shell or reinforcing metal portion may be integrally formed. 
     While there has been described what is believed to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such embodiments that fall within the true scope of the invention.