Patent Publication Number: US-2022224041-A1

Title: Connector

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a connector. 
     BACKGROUND 
     For example, a connector for high-speed communication provided with a dielectric, in which a plurality of inner conductors are mounted, is known from Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2018-147817 (Patent Document 1 below). 
     The dielectric in this connector includes a first component having a pair of side wall portions on both lateral end parts and a second component having a pair of side plate portions on both lateral end parts. The first and second components are united with each other to configure the dielectric by locking lock protrusions constituting lock grooves formed by recessing the pair of side wall portions and lock ribs formed to project on the pair of side plate portions in a vertical direction. 
     The second component is slidable in a front-rear direction between a protection position where a male terminal is protected by being concealed and an exposed position where the male terminal is exposed by the lock protrusions and the lock ribs sliding on each other in the front-rear direction while being held in contact with each other. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     
         
         Patent Document 1: JP 2018-147817 A 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved 
     According to the above connector, a slide mechanism for sliding the second component with respect to the first component needs to secure dimensions of locking margins for locking the lock ribs and the lock protrusions in the vertical direction between the side wall portions and the side plate portions in addition to thicknesses of the side wall portions and the side plate portions. Thus, the connector is enlarged in thickness directions of the side wall portions and the side plate portions. 
     However, if the second component is disable to slide with respect to the first component because the slide mechanism is enlarged, the male terminal cannot be protected. 
     In this specification, a technique for reducing a size of a slide mechanism is disclosed. 
     Means to Solve the Problem 
     The present disclosure is directed to a connector with at least one inner conductor, and an inner housing, wherein the inner housing is formed by assembling a first housing and at least one second housing with each other, the first housing includes a placing portion and at least one first side wall, the inner conductor includes a terminal connecting portion, the terminal connecting portion is formed to extend forward, the inner conductor is so arranged on the placing portion that the terminal connecting portion projects forward, the first side wall extends from the placing portion toward the second housing, the second housing includes a protection wall and at least one second side wall, the protection wall is formed to be larger than the terminal connecting portion projecting from the placing portion, the second side wall is arranged from the protection wall to overlap the first side wall, the first and second side walls include a slide mechanism, the slide mechanism includes a fitting portion on either one of the first and second side walls to project toward the other side wall and a fitting hole in the other side wall, the fitting portion being fit into the fitting hole, and the fitting hole is formed to be longer in a front-rear direction than the fitting portion. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     According to the present disclosure, a slide mechanism can be reduced in size. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a connector of a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the connector. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a state before a pair of slide members are assembled with a first housing. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a state where the pair of slide members are assembled at a protection position with respect to the first housing. 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view showing the state where the pair of slide members are assembled at the protection position with respect to the first housing. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view showing the state where the pair of slide members are assembled at the protection position with respect to the first housing. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a state where the pair of slide members are assembled at an exposed position with respect to the first housing. 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view showing the state where the pair of slide members are assembled at the exposed position with respect to the first housing. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view showing the state where the pair of slide members are assembled at the exposed position with respect to the first housing. 
         FIG. 10  is a section along X-X of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a section, corresponding to a cross-section of  FIG. 10 , of a connector of a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a section, corresponding to the cross-section of  FIG. 10 , of a conventional connector. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO EXECUTE THE INVENTION 
     Description of Embodiments of Present Disclosure 
     First, embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and described. 
     (1) The connector of the present disclosure includes at least one inner conductor, and an inner housing, wherein the inner housing is formed by assembling a first housing and at least one second housing with each other, the first housing includes a placing portion and at least one first side wall, the inner conductor includes a terminal connecting portion, the terminal connecting portion is formed to extend forward, the inner conductor is so arranged on the placing portion that the terminal connecting portion projects forward, the first side wall extends from the placing portion toward the second housing, the second housing includes a protection wall and at least one second side wall, the protection wall is formed to be larger than the terminal connecting portion projecting from the placing portion, the second side wall is arranged from the protection wall to overlap the first side wall, the first and second side walls include a slide mechanism, the slide mechanism includes a fitting portion on either one of the first and second side walls to project toward the other side wall and a fitting hole in the other side wall, the fitting portion being fit into the fitting hole, and the fitting hole is formed to be longer in a front-rear direction than the fitting portion. 
     The slide mechanism for moving the second housing with respect to the first housing is configured by fitting the fitting portion on either one of the first and second side walls into the fitting hole in the other side wall. 
     That is, the slide mechanism is formed in a dimensional range equivalent to the sum of a thickness of the first side wall and a thickness of the second side wall. In this way, the slide mechanism can be reduced in size as compared to a conventional connector required to secure the sum of thicknesses of first and second side walls and a width of mutually locking parts. 
     (2) Two inner conductors are arranged side by side in an overlapping direction of the first and second side walls on the placing portion, and a separation wall having a thickness larger than that of the slide mechanism is arranged between the adjacent inner conductors. 
     Generally, if a ratio of a metal conductor increases around an inner conductor in which a signal flows, impedance is reduced. 
     However, in this connector, an interval between the adjacent inner conductors can be set to be larger than a thickness of the slide mechanism. 
     That is, an impedance reduction in each inner conductor can be suppressed by increasing the interval between the inner conductors. 
     Details of Embodiment of Present Disclosure 
     A specific example of a connector of the present disclosure is described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to these illustrations and is intended to be represented by claims and include all changes in the scope of claims and in the meaning and scope of equivalents. 
     First Embodiment 
     A first embodiment in the present disclosure is described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 10 . 
     A connector  10  of the first embodiment is a connector for high-speed communication installed in a vehicle. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the connector  10  includes a plurality of inner conductors  20 , an inner housing  30 , an outer conductor  60  and an outer housing  70 . 
     [Inner Conductors  20 ] 
     Each of the plurality of inner conductors  20  is formed by processing a conductive metal plate material. In the first embodiment, four inner conductors  20  are provided. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the inner conductor  20  is a male terminal and includes a terminal body  21 , a terminal connecting portion  22  and a wire connecting portion  24 . 
     The terminal body  21  is in the form of a rectangular tube long in a front-rear direction. The terminal connecting portion  22  is formed in front of and continuous with the terminal body  21  in a front end part of the inner conductor  20 . The terminal connecting portion  22  is in the form of an elongated rectangular column extending forward from the terminal body  21 . The wire connecting portion  24  is formed behind and continuous with the terminal body  21 . The wire connecting portion  24  is crimped to a front end part of a shielded cable  80 . 
     [Shielded Cable  80 ] 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the shielded cable  80  includes a plurality of wires (four in the first embodiment)  81 , a braided wire  82  for covering the outer peripheries of the plurality of wires  81  and an outer sheath  84  for covering the outer periphery of the braided wire  82 . 
     In the front end part of the shielded cable  80 , the braided wire  82  and the outer sheath  84  are stripped to expose the four wires  81 . 
     Out of the exposed four wires  81 , two arranged on a lower side are the wires  81  for power supply. Two arranged on an upper side are the wires  81  for signal having a larger wire diameter than the two on the lower side. 
     In the front end parts of the exposed four wires  81 , the wire connecting portions  24  of the inner conductors  20  are respectively crimped to cores exposed by stripping coatings. In this way, the respective wires  81  and the inner conductors  20  are electrically connected. 
     Behind the exposed parts of the four wires  81 , the braided wire  82  exposed by stripping only the outer sheath  84  is folded on the outer periphery of the outer sheath  84 . 
     [Inner Housing  30 ] 
     The inner housing  30  is made of insulating synthetic resin. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 , the inner housing  30  is formed by assembling a first housing  31  and two second housings  42  with each other in a vertical direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the first housing  31  includes a placing portion  32 , a separation wall  33  and a pair of first side walls  34 . 
     The placing portion  32  is in the form of a rectangular plate having a longer dimension in the front-rear direction than a width in a lateral direction. 
     The separation wall  33  is formed in a laterally central part of the placing portion  32  while penetrating through the placing portion  32  in the vertical direction. The separation wall  33  is in the form of a rectangular plate longer in the front-rear direction than the terminal bodies  21  of the inner conductors  20 . The separation wall  33  is formed to extend in the vertical direction from the placing portion  32  more than heights of the terminal bodies  21 . 
     Positioning protrusions  35  projecting in a direction away from the placing portion  32  are formed on tip parts of the separation wall  33 . 
     The pair of first side walls  34  are respectively formed at positions somewhat inward of both lateral side edge parts of the placing portion  32 . Each first side wall  34  is in the form of a rectangular plate longer in the front-rear direction than the terminal bodies  21  of the inner conductors  20  while penetrating through the placing portion  32  in the vertical direction. The first side wall  34  is larger in the vertical direction than the heights of the terminal bodies  21  to extend toward the second housings  42 . Fitting portions  36  are formed on tip parts of each first side wall  34 . 
     The respective fitting portions  36  are formed to extend in the front-rear direction along the tip parts of the first side walls  34  and project in the lateral direction to be away from each other. 
     A region surrounded by the placing portion  32 , the separation wall  33  and the first side wall  34  serves as a terminal accommodating portion  37  for accommodating the terminal body  21  and the wire connecting portion  24  of the inner conductor  20  together with a protection wall  43  of the second housing  42 . That is, the inner housing  30  is formed with two terminal accommodating portions  37  arranged in the lateral direction in each of two upper and lower stages. 
     When the inner conductor  20  is accommodated into the terminal accommodating portion  37 , the terminal connecting portion  22  projects forward from the terminal accommodating portion  37  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Thus, four inner conductors  20  are so arranged on the placing portion  32  that the terminal connecting portions  22  project forward and two inner conductors  20  are arranged in each of the vertical direction and lateral direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 9 , the two second housings  42  are assembled with the first housing  31  in the vertical direction. Each second housing  42  includes the protection wall  43 , a pair of second side walls  46  and a front wall  48 . 
     The protection wall  43  is in the form of a rectangular plate longer in the front-rear direction and lateral direction than the placing portion  32  of the first housing  31 . In this way, if the second housing  42  is assembled with the first housing  31 , the protection wall  43  surrounds the outer peripheries of a pair of inner conductors  20  together with the placing portion  32 , the separation wall  33  and the first side walls  34  as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , a positioning hole  44  into which the positioning protrusion  35  of the first housing  31  is fit is formed to penetrate through the protection wall  43  in the vertical direction in a laterally central part of the protection wall  43 . 
     The positioning hole  44  is formed to extend in the front-rear direction more than the positioning protrusion  35 . Front and rear end parts of the positioning hole  44  serve as protrusion holding holes  44 A formed to be slightly larger than a lateral width of the positioning protrusion  35 , and a region of the positioning hole  44  between the protrusion holding holes  44 A serves as a narrow hole  44 B somewhat narrower than the width of the positioning protrusion  35 . 
     Deformation holes  45  are formed to penetrate through the protection wall  43  in the vertical direction on both lateral sides of the positioning hole  44 . 
     The deformation holes  45  are formed to be somewhat shorter in the front-rear direction than the positioning hole  44 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 10 , the pair of second side walls  46  are formed to extend toward the first housing  31  to overlap outside the first side walls  34  on both lateral side edge parts of the protection walls  43 . The second side walls  46  are in the form of rectangular plates longer in the front-rear direction than the terminal bodies  21  of the inner conductors  20 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 , the second side wall  46  includes fitting holes  47  into which the fitting portions  36  of the first side wall  34  are fit when the second housing  42  is assembled with the first housing  31 . The fitting holes  47  penetrate through the second side walls  46  in the lateral direction and are formed to be rectangular in a side view. The fitting holes  47  are formed to be longer in the front-rear direction than the fitting portions  36 . 
     Further, the second side walls  46  are arranged along the placing portion  32  of the first housing  31  as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 9  when the second housing  42  is assembled with the first housing  31 . 
     The front wall  48  is formed to be connected to a front end part of the protection wall  43  and those of the pair of second side walls  46 . The front wall  48  stops the inner conductors  20  in front together with a front end part of the first housing  31  when the second housing  42  is assembled with the first housing  31 . 
     Further, each second housing  42  is independently slidable in the front-rear direction between the protection position and the exposed position with respect to the first housing  31  by moving the fitting portions  36  in the front-rear direction in the fitting holes  47 . When each second housing  42  moves in the front-rear direction, the pair of second side walls  46  smoothly move along the placing portion  32 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 to 6 , at the protection position, the fitting portions  36  are arranged in rear end parts of the fitting holes  47  and the protection wall  43  covers the terminal connecting portions  22  projecting forward from the terminal accommodating portions  37  from above or below. As shown in  FIGS. 7 to 9 , at the exposed position, the fitting portions  36  are arranged in front end parts of the fitting holes  47  and the protection wall  43  exposes the terminal connecting portions  22  projecting forward from the terminal accommodating portions  37 . 
     Accordingly, in the first embodiment, the first side walls  34  of the first housing  31  and the second side walls  46  of the second housings  42  constitute a slide mechanism  50  by fitting the fitting portions  36  of the pair of first side walls  34  into the fitting holes  47  of the pairs of second side walls  46  as shown in  FIGS. 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10 . The fitting portions  36  on the first side walls  34  move in the fitting holes  47  in the second side walls  46 , whereby the second housings  42  move in the front-rear direction between the protection position and the exposed position with respect to the first housing  31 . 
     That is, the slide mechanism  50  of the first embodiment is formed in a dimensional range obtained by adding a tiny clearance dimension between the first side wall  34  and the second side walls  46  to the sum of a thickness L 1  of the first side wall  34  and a thickness L 2  of the second side walls  46 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the second housing  42  is held at the protection position by holding the positioning protrusion  35  in a semi-locked state in the rear protrusion holding hole  44 A of the positioning hole  44 . On the other hand, as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the second housing  42  is held at the exposed position by holding the positioning protrusion  35  in a semi-locked state in the front protrusion holding hole  44 A of the positioning hole  44 . In the case of moving the second housing  42  between the protection position and the exposed position, a movement of the positioning protrusion  35  in the front-rear direction is allowed by the positioning protrusion  35  entering the narrow hole  44 B to resiliently deform the inner wall of the narrow hole  44 B toward the deformation holes  45 . 
     [Outer Conductor  60 ] 
     The outer conductor  60  is formed into a rectangular tube shape by processing a conductive metal plate material. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the outer conductor  60  is formed by assembling an upper shell  61  and a lower shell  66  with each other in the vertical direction. 
     The upper shell  61  includes a ceiling plate  62 , a pair of upper side plates  63  and a connection piece  65 . 
     The ceiling plate  62  is in the form of a rectangular plate extending in the front-rear direction. The pair of upper side plates  63  are formed to extend downward from both lateral side edges of the ceiling plate  62 . Each upper side plate  63  is in the form of a rectangular plate connected to the side edge of the ceiling plate  62  over an entire length. A linking plate  64  linking the upper side plates  63  in the lateral direction is formed on the lower edges of the front ends of the upper side plates  63 . 
     The connection piece  65  is formed to be connected to the rear end edge of the ceiling plate  62 . The connection piece  65  is arranged on the outer surface of the braided wire  82  of the shielded cable  80 . 
     The lower shell  66  includes a bottom plate  67 , a pair of lower side plates  68  and a crimping portion  69 . 
     The bottom plate  67  is in the form of a rectangular plate extending in the front-rear direction. The pair of lower side plates  68  are formed to extend upward from both lateral side edges of the bottom plate  67 . Each lower side plate  68  is formed to be connected to the side edge of the bottom plate  67  over an entire length. 
     The crimping portion  69  is formed into a hollow cylindrical shape on the rear end edges of the bottom plate  67  and the pair of lower side plates  68 . The crimping portion  69  is crimped to the connection piece  65  of the upper shell  61  and the outer periphery of the braided wire  82 . In this way, the outer conductor  60  is electrically connected to the braided wire  82  of the shielded cable  80 . 
     Further, when the upper shell  61  and the lower shell  66  are assembled with each other, a tube portion  60 A in the form of a rectangular tube is formed. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 10 , the inner housing  30  is accommodated into the tube portion  60 A. 
     When the inner housing  30  is accommodated into the tube portion  60 A, the ceiling plate  62  of the upper shell  61  and the bottom plate  67  of the lower shell  66  are arranged along the upper and lower surfaces of the inner housing  30  and the upper side plates  63  of the upper shell  61  and the lower side plates  68  of the lower shell  66  are arranged along both lateral outer side surfaces of the inner housing  30  as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     [Outer Housing  70 ] 
     The outer housing  70  is made of insulating synthetic resin. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the outer conductor  60  connected to the front end part of the shielded cable  80  can be accommodated into the outer housing  70 . 
     An unillustrated mating connector can enter a front end part of the outer housing  70 . If the mating connector enters the outer housing  70 , the mating connector presses the two second housings  42 , whereby the second housings  42  move from the protection position to the exposed position. In this way, the terminal connecting portions  22  are exposed from the second housings  42  and electrically connected to unillustrated mating terminals provided in the mating connector. 
     The first embodiment is configured as described above. Next, functions and effects of the connector  10  are described. 
     For example, a conventional connector  201  is shown in  FIG. 12 . The conventional connector  201  is configured by assembling a conventional first housing  202  and a conventional second housing  205  by locking first lock ribs  204  formed on a pair of first side walls  203  of the conventional first housing  202  and second lock ribs  207  formed on a pair of second side walls  206  of the conventional second housing  205  in the vertical direction. 
     In this conventional connector  201 , the conventional second housing  205  slides with respect to the conventional first housing  202  by the conventional second lock ribs  207  sliding in the front-rear direction with respect to the conventional first lock ribs  204  with the conventional first lock ribs  204  and the conventional second lock ribs  207  held in contact with each other. 
     However, a conventional slide mechanism  208  for sliding the conventional second housing  205  with respect to the conventional first housing  202  needs to secure a locking margin L 13  for locking the conventional first lock rib  204  and the conventional second lock rib  207  in the vertical direction between the conventional first side wall  203  and the conventional second side wall  206  in addition to a thickness L 11  of the conventional first side wall  203  and a thickness L 2  of the conventional second side wall  206 . Thus, the slide mechanism  208  in the conventional connector  201  is enlarged in the lateral direction. 
     However, if the conventional second housing  205  is disabled to move with respect to the conventional first housing  202  because the conventional slide mechanism  208  is enlarged in the lateral direction, terminal connecting portions of conventional inner conductors  209  cannot be protected by the conventional second housing  205 . 
     Accordingly, the present inventor and other researchers found out the configuration of the first embodiment as a result of diligent study to solve the above problem. That is, the first embodiment relates to the connector  10  provided with at least one inner conductor  20  and the inner housing  30 , and the inner housing  30  is formed by assembling the first housing  31  and at least one second housing  42  with each other. 
     The first housing  31  includes the placing portion  32  and at least one first side wall  34 , the inner conductor  20  includes the terminal connecting portion  22 , the terminal connecting portion  22  is formed to extend forward, the inner conductor  20  is so arranged on the placing portion  32  that the terminal connecting portion  22  projects forward, and the first side wall  34  extends from the placing portion  32  toward the second housing  42 . 
     The second housing  42  includes the protection wall  43  and at least one second side wall  46 . The protection wall  43  is formed to be larger than the terminal connecting portion  22  projecting forward from the placing portion  32 , and the second side wall  46  is arranged from the protection wall  43  to overlap the first side wall  34 . The first and second side walls  34 ,  46  include the slide mechanism  50 . 
     The slide mechanism  50  includes the fitting portion  36  on the first side wall  34  (either one of the first side wall  34  and the second side wall  46 ) to project toward the second side wall (other side wall)  46  and the fitting hole  47  in the second side wall  46 , the fitting portion  36  being fit into the fitting hole  47 , and the fitting hole  47  is formed to be longer in the front-rear direction than the fitting portion  36 . 
     The second housing  42  is movable between the protection position where the terminal connecting portion  22  is covered by the protection wall  43  and the exposed position where the terminal connecting portion  22  is exposed from the protection wall  43  by the fitting portion  36  moving in the front-rear direction in the fitting hole  47 . 
     That is, in the connector  10  of the first embodiment, the slide mechanism  50  is configured by fitting the fitting portion  36  on the first side wall  34  into the fitting hole  47  in the second side wall  46 . The second housing  42  can be moved between the protection position and the exposed position with respect to the first housing  31  by moving the fitting portion  36  in the front-rear direction in the fitting hole  47 . 
     That is, the slide mechanism  50  of the first embodiment is configured in the dimensional range obtained by adding the tiny clearance dimension between the first and second side walls  34 ,  46  to the sum of the thickness L 2  of the first side wall  34  and the thickness L 2  of the second side walls  46 . In this way, the slide mechanism  50  can be reduced in size as compared to the conventional slide mechanism  208  of the conventional connector  1  shown in  FIG. 12  (which further ensures the dimension L 13  of the locking margin of the conventional first lock rib  204  and the conventional second lock rib  207  between the conventional first side wall  203  and the conventional second side wall  206  in addition to the sum of the thickness L 11  of the conventional first side wall  203  and the thickness L 12  of the conventional second side wall  206 ). Further, the connector  10  can be reduced in size by reducing the size of the slide mechanism  50 . 
     The first embodiment further includes the outer conductor  60  for accommodating the inner housing  30 , and the outer housing  60  includes the upper side plate  63  and the lower side plate  68  disposed outside and along the first and second side walls  34 ,  46 . 
     Generally, if a ratio of a metal conductor increases around an inner conductor in which a signal flows, impedance is reduced. Here, a ratio of a metal conductor around the terminal connecting portion  22  of the inner conductor  20  of the first embodiment increases by being connected to the mating terminal. Therefore, there is a concern for an impedance reduction. 
     However, in the first embodiment, the outer conductor  60  is reduced in size according to the size reduction of the slide mechanism  50 . That is, since the ratio of the metal conductor around the terminal connecting portion  22  is reduced, an impedance reduction at the position of the terminal connecting portion  22  can be suppressed as compared to the conventional connector  1 . 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next, a second embodiment is described with reference to  FIG. 11 . 
     An inner housing  130  of the second embodiment is obtained by changing the lateral thickness of the separation wall  33  in the first embodiment and components, functions and effects common to the first embodiment are not described to avoid repetition. Further, the same reference signs are used for the same components as in the first embodiment. 
     A separation wall  133  of the second embodiment has a lateral thickness, which is equal to or more than twice that in the first embodiment as shown in  FIG. 11 . Further, the lateral thickness of the separation wall  133  is larger than that of a slide mechanism  50  formed over a first side wall  34  and a second side wall  46 . 
     Further, a lateral width of the inner housing  130  in the second embodiment is equal to that of the conventional connector  1  shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     That is, in the second embodiment, a lateral length of a connector  110  is equal to that of the conventional connector  1 , but an interval between inner conductors  20  arranged in the lateral direction is larger. 
     As described in the first embodiment, if a ratio of a metal conductor increases around an inner conductor in which a signal flows, impedance is reduced. However, in the second embodiment, the lateral size of the connector is equal to that of the conventional connector  1 , but the interval between the inner conductors  20  adjacent in the lateral direction is larger. 
     That is, even if terminal connecting portions  22  are connected to mating terminals to increase the ratio of the metal conductor around the terminal connecting portions  22 , an impedance reduction can be suppressed as compared to the conventional connector  1  since the inner conductors  20  adjacent in the lateral direction are more spaced apart. 
     Other Embodiments 
     (1) In the first and second embodiments, four inner conductors  20  are provided. However, without limitation to this, a connector may include three or less or five or more inner conductors. 
     (2) In the first and second embodiments, the outer conductor  60  and the outer housing  70  are provided. However, without limitation to this, a connector may not include any outer conductor or any outer housing. 
     (3) In the first and second embodiments, the fitting portion  36  is formed on the first side wall  34  and the fitting hole  47  is formed in the second side wall  46 . However, without limitation to this, a fitting hole may be formed in a first side wall and a fitting portion may be formed on a second side wall. 
     (4) In the first and second embodiments, the outer conductor  60  is formed by assembling the upper shell  61  and the lower shell  66  with each other. However, without limitation to this, an outer conductor may be constituted by one member. 
     (5) In the first and second embodiments, the two second housings  42  are respectively independently slid with respect to the first housing  31 . However, without limitation to this, the two second housings may be coupled and configured as one second housing. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               10 ,  110 : connector 
               20 : inner conductor 
               21 : terminal body 
               22 : terminal connecting portion 
               24 : wire connecting portion 
               30 ,  130 : inner housing 
               31 : first housing 
               32 : placing portion 
               33 ,  133 : separation wall 
               34 : first side wall 
               35 : positioning protrusion 
               36 : fitting portion 
               37 : terminal accommodating portion 
               42 : second housing 
               43 : protection wall 
               44 : positioning hole 
               44 A: protrusion holding hole 
               44 B: narrow hole 
               45 : deformation hole 
               46 : second side wall 
               47 : fitting hole 
               48 : front wall 
               50 : slide mechanism 
               60 : outer conductor 
               60 A: tube portion 
               61 : upper shell 
               62 : ceiling plate 
               63 : upper side plate 
               64 : linking plate 
               65 : connection piece 
               66 : lower shell 
               67 : bottom plate 
               68 : lower side plate 
               69 : crimping portion 
               70 : outer housing 
               80 : shielded cable 
               81 : wire 
               82 : braided wire 
               84 : outer sheath 
               201 : connector 
               202 : first housing 
               203 : first side wall 
               204 : first lock rib 
               205 : second housing 
               206 : second side wall 
               207 : second lock rib 
               208 : slide mechanism 
               209 : inner conductor 
             L 1 , L 11 : thickness of first side wall 
             L 2 , L 12 : thickness of second side wall 
             L 13 : dimension of locking margin