Patent Publication Number: US-2013252469-A1

Title: Connection structure and connection unit of eletronic component

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of PCT application No. PCT/JP2011/079128, which was filed on Dec. 9, 2011 based on Japanese Patent Application (No. 2010-286244) filed on Dec. 22, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a connection structure and a connection unit which electrically connect an electronic component by a pair of terminals. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A related art shows a connection structure of an electronic component (or an electronic-component connection structure) which electrically connects electronic components by a pair of terminals, and a connection unit in which the connection structure is assembled. Each terminal of the pair of terminals used in the electronic-component connection structure is accommodated in a housing so that a press-contact terminal portion having a notch formed on the plate-like material to which an electric wire is press-fitted is formed at one end of the terminal, and different electric wires are respectively connected to the press-contact terminals. The pair of terminals are arranged side by side to be accommodated in the housing to reduce waste of the space. In this case, one ends to which electronic components are connected are attached in the housing so that the end faces of the one ends are aligned (see JP-2007-149762A). 
     The electronic-component connection structure disclosed in JP-2007-149762A is an electronic-component connection structure which is used for an electronic device and includes a housing, and terminals provided in the housing and having press-contact blades disposed to face each other for being electrically connected with electronic components for circuit protection by pressing, and in which a positioning rib is formed for positioning lead portions of the electronic components, disposed adjacent to the press-contact blades, toward the press-contact blades. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     However, in the electronic-component connection structure disclosed in JP-2007-149762A, the pair of terminals is different in shape such that the press-contact terminal portions of the pair of terminals are misaligned to prevent that one of the terminals interferes with an electric wire of the other of the terminals. Thus, two types of terminals must be used, and manufacturing cost must be high. 
     The present invention has been made considering the problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic-component connection structure capable of reducing a manufacturing cost. 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connection structure, including a box-shaped housing having a bottom wall and side walls which extend from the bottom wall; an electronic component which is accommodated inside the housing; and a pair of terminals, being the same in shape, which are inserted into the housing vertically along planes of two side walls which face each other among the side walls and placed on a placement surface of the bottom wall to be fixed inside the housing, each terminal of the pair of terminals including: a component-connection portion which is formed at a first end of the terminal to be electrically connected to the electronic component; and a press-contact terminal portion which is formed at a second end opposite to the first end of the terminal and which has a notch to which an electric wire is to be press-fitted and electrically connected, wherein a surface in which the notch is formed extends in parallel to the placement surface of the bottom wall of the housing. 
     A second aspect of the present invention provides the connection structure, wherein the pair of terminals is arranged within the housing so that the first ends of the pair of terminals are aligned in parallel to each other and the second ends of the pair of terminals are aligned in parallel to each other. 
     A third aspect of the present invention provides a connection unit in which the connection structure as mentioned above is assembled, the connection unit including: a unit housing having a box shape which is open on one surface from which the connection structure is accommodated inside the unit housing, wherein an opening portion is formed on an upper surface of the housing, the press-contact terminal portion of each terminal of the pair of terminals is exposed and extended outside the housing through the opening portion of the housing and provided perpendicularly from an outer surface of one of the side walls of the housing, and the press-contact terminal portion of each terminal of the pair of terminals is arranged at a side of the one surface on which the unit housing is open when the connection structure is accommodated in the unit housing. 
     A fourth aspect of the present invention provides the connection unit, further including; an electric-wire holding part in which two electric wires to be electrically connected to the pair of terminals are laterally bent and held; an engagement portion which engages the unit housing with the electric-wire holding part, wherein bent portions of the two electric wires which are held by the electric-wire holding part are electrically connected to the respective press-contact terminal portions of the pair of terminals when the unit housing and the electric-wire holding part are engaged by the engagement portion. 
     According to the electronic-component connection structure in the first aspect of the present invention, since the pair of terminals corresponds to the same shaped two terminals in which a surface in which the notch is formed extends in parallel to the placement surface of the bottom wall of the housing, even if the press-contact terminals portions are arranged side by side and the respective electric wires are press-fitted in the pair of terminals, one of the press-contact terminals does not interfere with the electric wire connected to the other of the press-contact terminals. Therefore, it is possible to unify the shape of the pair of terminals, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost. 
     Further, according to the electronic-component connection structure in the second aspect of the present invention, the pair of terminals is arranged within the housing so that the first ends of the pair of terminals are aligned in parallel to each other and the second ends of the pair of terminals are aligned in parallel to each other, that is, the pair of terminals are arranged so that their opposite ends are aligned. Therefore, it is possible to arrange the pair of terminals compactly. 
     Further, according to the electronic-component connection unit in the third aspect of the present invention, the connection unit includes a unit housing having a box shape which is open on one surface from which the connection structure is accommodated inside the unit housing. Further, an opening portion is formed on an upper surface of the housing, the press-contact terminal portion of each terminal of the pair of terminals is exposed and extended outside the housing through the opening portion of the housing and provided perpendicularly from an outer surface of one of the side walls of the housing, and the press-contact terminal portion of each terminal of the pair of terminals is arranged at a side of the one surface on which the unit housing is open when the connection structure is accommodated in the unit housing. Therefore, it is possible to accommodate the pair of terminals within the housing and the unit housing easily while the press-contact terminal portion is exposed. 
     Further, according to the electronic-component connection unit in the fourth aspect of the present invention, the connection unit further includes an electric-wire holding part in which two electric wires to be electrically connected to the pair of terminals are laterally bent and held, and an engagement portion which engages the unit housing with the electric-wire holding part. Bent portions of the two electric wires which are held by the electric-wire holding part are electrically connected to the respective press-contact terminal portions of the pair of terminals when the unit housing and the electric-wire holding part are engaged by the engagement portion. Therefore, since the electric wires are connected to the respective press-contact terminal portions while the electric wires are laterally bent, it is possible to save the space of the connection unit in the vertical direction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of an LED lighting unit in which an electronic-component connection structure is assembled according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the LED lighting unit with an electric-wire holding part in  FIG. 1  removed. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the LED lighting unit shown in  FIG. 2  as taken along line A-A. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the LED lighting unit shown in  FIG. 2  as taken along line B-B. 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the electronic-component connection structure shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of a housing shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of the housing shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged perspective view of a terminal shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram for explaining details of the electric-wire holding part shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is a circuit diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the LED lighting unit shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram for illustrating an assembly procedure of the LED lighting unit in which the electronic-component connection structure is assembled according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram for illustrating the assembly procedure of the LED lighting unit in which the electronic-component connection structure is assembled according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram for illustrating the assembly procedure of the LED lighting unit in which the electronic-component connection structure is assembled according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram for illustrating the assembly procedure of the LED lighting unit in which the electronic-component connection structure is assembled according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram for illustrating the assembly procedure of the LED lighting unit in which the electronic-component connection structure is assembled according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, a connection structure of an electronic component (or an electronic-component connection structure) and a connection unit of an electronic component (or an electronic-component connection structure) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a structure of an LED lighting unit  100  in which an electronic-component connection structure  1  is assembled according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a top view of the LED lighting unit  100  with an electric-wire holding part  120  in  FIG. 1  removed.  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the LED lighting unit  100  shown in  FIG. 2  as taken along line A-A.  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the LED lighting unit  100  shown in  FIG. 2  as taken along line B-B.  FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the electronic-component connection structure  1  shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of a housing  10  shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of the housing  10  shown in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 8  is an enlarged perspective view of a terminal  20  shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 9  is a diagram for explaining details of the electric-wire holding part  120  shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 10  is a circuit diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the LED lighting unit  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In  FIGS. 1 to 10 , for convenience, arrow directions are defined as a front side, a rear side, an upper side, and a lower (down) side. 
     The LED lighting unit  100  having the electronic-component connection structure  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention performs light irradiation of an LED element L by electrically connecting different electric wires with a pair of terminals  20 , respectively. The LED lighting unit  100 , as an electronic-component connection unit, includes a unit housing  110 , the electronic-component connection structure  1 , and the electric-wire holding part  120 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     First, the unit housing  110  will be described. The unit housing  110  accommodates the electronic-component connection structure  1  and the electric-wire holding part  120 . The unit housing  110  is a box-shaped casing having an opening  110   a  serving as an insertion opening for accommodating the electronic-component connection structure  1  and the electric-wire holding part  120  within the unit housing  110 . Inside the unit housing  110 , the electronic-component connection structure  1  and the electric-wire holding part  120  are disposed in the order of the electronic-component connection structure  1  and the electric-wire holding part  120  from the front side. Further, the unit housing  110  includes an opening  111  for illumination and an opening  112  for engagement. 
     The opening  111  for illumination is an opening formed at a wall forming an upper face of the unit housing  110 , and is for emitting light emitted from the LED element L accommodated within the unit housing  110  toward the outside. The opening  111  for illumination may have a structure for enabling a light transmissive member such as a lens to be used as a lid. 
     The opening  112  for engagement is an opening formed at a side wall of the unit housing  110  in the vicinity of the opening  110   a.  The opening  112  for engagement, which corresponds to an engagement portion, is engaged with a lance portion  122  (to be described below) of the electric-wire holding part  120 . In other words, the opening  112  for engagement can be engaged with the lance portion  122  so as to fix the electronic-component connection structure  1  and the electric-wire holding part  120  within the unit housing  110 . 
     Next, the electronic-component connection structure  1  will be described. The electronic-component connection structure  1  includes the housing  10 , and a pair of terminals  20  that is accommodated within the housing  10 . The electronic-component connection structure  1  is for electrically connecting electronic components accommodated inside the housing  10  by the pair of terminals  20  fixed within the housing  10 . In other words, the electronic-component connection structure  1  electrically connects the LED element L, a Zener diode D, and a resistor R as electronic components, and accommodates the LED element L, the Zener diode D, and the resistive plate R within the housing  10 . In a case where the electronic-component connection structure  1  is accommodated within the unit housing  110 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , the LED element L is disposed at a position corresponding to the opening  111  for illumination, and press-contact terminal portions  23   b  (to be described below) to be connected with individual electric wires W are directed toward the opening  110   a  of the unit housing  110 . 
     The housing  10  is a box-shaped casing which is made of an insulating material to have an opening  10   a  at the upper face thereof. The housing  10  includes a rectangular bottom wall  11  and side walls including a front wall  12 , a rear wall  13 , and a pair of right and left walls  14  provided to stand from four sides of the bottom wall  11 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 to 7 . The rear wall  13  faces the front wall  12 , and the pair of right and left walls  14  faces each other. Further, the housing  10  includes an LED-element insertion opening  12   a,  a Zener-diode insertion opening  12   b,  a resistive-plate insertion opening  11   a,  a separation wall  15 , and a terminal-fixing part  16 . 
     The LED-element insertion opening  12   a  is an opening formed at the front wall  12  for inserting the LED element L into the housing  10 . 
     The Zener-diode insertion opening  12   b  is an opening formed at the front wall  12  for inserting the Zener diode D into the housing  10 . 
     The resistive-plate insertion opening  11   a  is an opening formed at the bottom wall  11  for inserting the resistive plate R into the housing  10 . 
     The separation wall  15  is a wall which is provided at a position between the right and left walls  14  facing each other to stand from the bottom wall  11  in parallel with the right and left walls  14  and divides the accommodation space in the housing  10  into two accommodation spaces almost equal to each other. The two accommodation spaces in the housing  10  accommodate corresponding terminals  20 . Therefore, the terminals  20  are accommodated within the housing  10  while maintaining an insulation state without being in contact with each other. 
     In a wall surface of the separation wall  15  and a side surface of the right and left walls  14  facing the corresponding wall surface of the separation wall  15 , a pair of straight grooves  15   a  is formed in a vertical direction, and functions as a guide for disposing the resistive plate R at a connection position of a corresponding terminal  20  in the housing  10 . 
     Further, at positions of a front end portion of the separation wall  15  corresponding to the LED-element insertion opening  12   a  and the Zener-diode insertion opening  12   b,  notch portions  15   b  are formed to allow the LED element L and the Zener diode D to be accommodated within the housing  10 . 
     The terminal-fixing part  16  is formed to protrude from a wall surface  15   c  of the separation wall  15  as shown in  FIG. 3 , and clamps the terminals  20  in cooperation with the bottom wall  11  of the housing  10  so as to fix each terminal  20  in the housing  10 . 
     Next, the pair of terminals  20  will be described. 
     The pair of terminals  20  includes two terminals being the same in shape. The pair of terminals  20  is arranged within the housing  10  so that end parts (second ends)  20   d  in which the press-contact terminal portions  23   b  described later are aligned in parallel (side by side), and end parts (first ends)  20   c  opposite to the end parts  20   d  are aligned in parallel (side by side). Further, the pair of terminals  20  is accommodated in the housing  10  so that the press-contact terminal portions  23   b  are exposed and extended outside the housing  10  through an opening part  10   a,  and provided perpendicularly from an outer surface  13   e  of the rear wall  13  of the housing  10 . 
     Each terminal  20  of the pair of terminals  20  is formed integrally by a pressing work on a conductive plate-shaped member. As shown in  FIG. 8 , each terminal  20  includes a first component-connection portion  21  and a second component-connection portion  22  formed by bending both longitudinal sides of a rectangular top board portion  20   a  downward, and an electric-wire connection portion  23  formed by bending a rear end portion of the top board portion  20   a  downward and then bending the rear end portion toward the rear side. The top board portion  20   a  includes a pair of bent edge portions  20   b  formed by bending both edges, forming the both longitudinal edges of the top board portion  20   a,  downward. 
     The first component-connection portion  21  includes a pair of base portions  21   a  provided to stand from both edge of the top board portion  20   a,  a pair of protrusion pieces  21   b  extending from lower edges of the base portions  21   a  toward the front side (in a lateral direction), and a pair of first contact pieces  21   c  and a pair of second contact pieces  21   d  protruding from the base portions  21   a  between the top board portion  20   a  and the pair of protrusion pieces  21   b  toward the front side (in the lateral direction). 
     The pair of first contact pieces  21   c  extends toward end portions  21   cc  to shorten distances from the top board portion  20   a.  The pair of first contact pieces  21   c  has elasticity. 
     The pair of second contact pieces  21   d  is formed below the pair of first contact pieces  21   c  to extend toward end portions  21   dd  such that distances from the protrusion pieces  21   b  are shortened. The pair of second contact pieces also has elasticity. 
     Each first contact piece  21   c  having this structure includes an LED-element connection portion  24  to be electrically connected with the LED element L, and a Zener-diode connection portion  25  to be electrically connected with the Zener diode D. 
     The LED-element connection portion  24  clamps the LED element L by the pair of bent edge portions  20   b  of the top board portion  20   a  and the pair of first contact pieces  21   c.  In other words, the LED element L is inserted between the pair of bent edge portions  20   b  and the pair of first contact pieces  21   c,  such that the LED element L is clamped by the elasticity of the pair of first contact pieces  21   c,  and the pair of terminals  20  and the LED element L are electrically connected. 
     The Zener-diode connection portion  25  clamps the Zener diode D by the pair of protrusion pieces  21   b  and the pair of second contact pieces  21   d.  In other words, the Zener diode D is inserted between the pair of protrusion pieces  21   b  and the pair of second contact pieces  21   d,  such that the Zener diode D is clamped by the elasticity of the pair of second contact pieces  21   d  and the pair of terminals  20  and the Zener diode D are electrically connected. 
     The second component-connection portion  22  includes a pair of base portions  21   a,  and a pair of engagement portions  22   a  and a pair of third contact pieces  22   d  provided to stand from both edges of the top board portion  20   a.    
     The pair of engagement portions  22   a  includes main end surface portions  22   b  and hook-like portions  22   c.    
     The main end surface portions  22   b  have end surfaces formed to extend vertically. In a case where the terminals  20  are accommodated within the housing  10 , the main end surface portions  22   b  are brought into surface-contact with an inner surface of the rear wall  13  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The hook-like portions  22   c  are portions formed in a hook shape at lower portions of the engagement portions  22   a.  In the case where the terminals  20  are accommodated within the housing  10 , the hook-like portions  22   c  are engaged with an inner-surface-side step  13   a  formed on the inner surface side of the rear wall  13 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The pair of third contact pieces  22   d  is a pair of elastic pieces extending from the top board portion  20   a  between the pair of base portions  21   a  and the pair of engagement portions  22   a  downward, as shown in  FIG. 8 . The pair of third contact pieces  22   d  extends toward the end portions to shorten distances from the pair of base portions  21   a.    
     The second component-connection portion  22  having the above-mentioned structure includes a resistive-plate connection portion  26  to be electrically connected with the resistive plate R. 
     The resistive-plate connection portion  26  clamps the resistive plate R by the pair of base portions  21   a  and the pair of third contact pieces  22   d.  In other words, the resistive plate R is inserted between the pair of base portions  21   a  and the pair of third contact pieces  22   d,  such that the resistive plate R is clamped by the elasticity of the pair of third contact pieces  22   d  and the terminals  20  and the resistive plate R are electrically connected. 
     The electric-wire connection portion  23  includes a wall-surface contact portion  23   a  and a press-contact terminal portion  23   b.  The wall-surface contact portion  23   a  is a portion formed by bending the top board portion  20   a  downward. The wall-surface contact portion  23   a  is formed in a bent shape along an outer surface including an upper end surface of the rear wall  13  when the terminals  20  are accommodated within the housing  10 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The press-contact terminal portion  23   b  is a plate-shaped portion formed by bending from the downwardly-bent wall-surface contact portion  23   a  toward the rear side, as shown in  FIG. 8 . The press-contact terminal portion  23   b  has a notch  23   c  formed in a U shape. When the electric wire W is pressed into the notch  23   c,  the electric wire W and the terminals  20  are electrically connected. 
     The pair of terminals  20  is formed so that a surface  23   d  on which the notch  23   c  of the press-contact terminal portion  23   b  is formed is placed in parallel to a surface (a placement surface)  11   b  of the bottom wall  11  of the housing on which the pair of terminals  20  is placed. In this way, since the surface  23   d  on which the notch  23   c  is formed is in parallel to the surface lib of the bottom wall  11 , even when respective electric wires W are press-fitted to the pair of terminals  20 , one press-contact terminal portion  23   b  does not interfere with the electric wire W connected to the other press-contact terminal portion  23   b.    
     A bent portion serving as a boundary between the wall-surface contact portion  23   a  and the press-contact terminal portion  23   b  is formed to be engaged with an outer-surface-side step  13   b  formed at the rear wall  13 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Therefore, the terminals  20  clamp the rear wall  13  by the wall-surface contact portion  23   a  and the pair of engagement portions  22   a.    
     Next, the electric-wire holding part  120  will be described. 
     The electric-wire holding part  120  holds a bent portion of each electric wire W formed by turning each electric wire W back, and is accommodated within the unit housing  110  in that state, as shown by (a) to (b) in  FIG. 9 , so as to electrically connect each electric wire W to each terminal  20  in the unit housing  110 . 
     The electric-wire holding part  120  holds two electric wires W to be electrically connected to each terminal  20  of the pair of terminals  20 . Further, the electric-wire holding part  120  includes a bend-holding portion  121  and the lance portion  122 . 
     The bend-holding portion  121  is for holding the bent portion of each electric wire W formed by turning each electric wire W back. The bend-holding portion  121  is formed to be inserted into the unit housing  110  up to a position at which the bent portion of each electric wire W is brought into contact with each press-contact terminal portion  23   b  by pressurizing. Further, the bend-holding portion  121  includes notches  121   a  formed at the front end portion such that the press-contact terminal portions  23   b  are connected to the electric wires W. 
     The lance portion  122  is engaged, as the engagement portion, with engagement openings  112  formed at the unit housing  110  so as to fix the electric-wire holding part  120  within the unit housing  110 . 
     When the electric-wire holding part  120  bends and holds each electric wire W, and then is accommodated within the unit housing  110 , that is, when the electric-wire holding part  120  and the unit housing  110  are engaged with each other by the engagement portions  112 ,  122 , the bent portions of the electric wires W held by the electric-wire holding part  120  are electrically connected to the pair of press-contact terminal portions  23   b,  respectively. 
     The LED lighting unit  100  having the above-mentioned configuration is configured by connecting the LED element L and the Zener diode D in parallel as shown in  FIG. 10 , such that the LED element L is protected from an over-voltage. 
     Next, an assembly procedure of the LED lighting unit  100  in which the electronic-component connection structure  1  is assembled according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 11 to 15 .  FIGS. 11 to 15  are diagrams for illustrating an assembly procedure of the LED lighting unit  100  in which the electronic-component connection structure  1  is to be assembled according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     First, a worker accommodates the pair of terminals  20  within the housing  10 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . At this time, each terminal  20  is inserted from the opening  10   a  of the housing  10 . In this case, each terminal  20  is fixed in the housing  10  such that the protrusion pieces  21   b  are positioned between the lower end surface  16   b  of the terminal-fixing part  16  and the upper surface of the bottom wall  11 . The pair of terminals  20  is arranged so that the surfaces  23   d  on which the notches  23   c  are formed are placed in parallel to the surface lib of the bottom wall  11 . 
     Then, the worker connects the LED element L and the Zener diode D to the pair of terminals  20  as shown in  FIG. 12 . More specifically, the LED element L is inserted from the LED-element insertion opening  12   a  into the housing  10 , and is disposed between the pair of bent edge portions  20   b  and the pair of the first contact pieces  21   c.  At this time, the LED element L is inserted while widening gaps between the pair of bent edge portions  20   b  and the pair of first contact pieces  21   c  by using the elasticity of the pair of first contact pieces  21   c.  Therefore, a biasing force is applied toward the pair of bent edge portions  20   b  by the pair of first contact pieces  21   c,  such that the LED element L is held between the pair of bent edge portions  20   b  and the pair of first contact pieces  21   c,  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The Zener diode D is inserted from the Zener-diode insertion opening  12   b,  and is disposed between the pair of protrusion pieces  21   b  and the pair of second contact pieces  21   d.  At this time, the Zener diode D is inserted while widening gaps between the pair of protrusion pieces  21   b  and the pair of second contact pieces  21   d  by using the elasticity of the pair of second contact pieces  21   d.  Therefore, a biasing force is applied toward the pair of protrusion pieces  21   b  by the pair of second contact pieces  21   d,  such that the Zener diode D is held between the pair of protrusion pieces  21   b  and the pair of second contact pieces  21   d,  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     Next, the worker connects the resistive plate R to the pair of terminals  20  as shown in  FIG. 13 . At this time, the resistive plate R is inserted from the resistive-plate insertion opening  11   a  into the housing  10  while being guided by the pair of grooves  15   a,  and is disposed between the pair of base portions  21   a  and the pair of third contact pieces  22   d.  Further, the resistive plate R is inserted while widening gaps between the base portions  21   a  and the pair of third contact pieces  22   d  by using the elasticity of the pair of third contact pieces  22   d.  Therefore, a biasing force is applied toward the pair of base portions  21   a  by the pair of third contact pieces  22   d,  such that the resistive plate R is held between the pair of base portions  21   a  and the pair of third contact pieces  22   d,  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     By the above-mentioned assembly work, the electronic-component connection structure  1  is completed. 
     Next, the worker accommodates the electronic-component connection structure  1  within the unit housing  110  as shown in  FIG. 14 . Therefore, the LED element L is disposed at a position corresponding to the opening  111  for illumination of the unit housing  110 . Further, the press-contact terminal portions  23   b  of the pair of terminals  20  are disposed toward the opening  110   a  side of the unit housing  110 . 
     Next, the worker accommodates the electric-wire holding part  120  within the unit housing  110  as shown in  FIG. 15 . In this way, the LED lighting unit  100  is completed. When the electric-wire holding part  120  is pressed from the opening  110   a  of the unit housing  110  up to a predetermined position in the unit housing  110 , each electric wire W is pressed into the notch  23   c  of each press-contact terminal portion  23   b,  such that each electric wire W and a corresponding terminal  20  are electrically connected. As described above, since the lance portions  122  are engaged with the engagement openings  112  of the unit housing  110  with each electric wire W and a corresponding terminal  20  electrically connected, the electric-wire holding parts  120  are fixed in the unit housing  110  in a state in which the connection of each electric wire W and a corresponding terminal  20  is maintained. 
     According to the electronic-component connection structure  1  in the embodiment of the present invention, since the pair of terminals  20  corresponds to the same shaped two terminals  20  in which the surface  23   d  in which the notch  23   c  is formed extends in parallel to the surface lib of the bottom wall  11  of the housing  10 , even if the press-contact terminals portions  23   b  are arranged side by side and the respective electric wires W are press-fitted in the pair of terminals  20 , one of the press-contact terminals  20  does not interfere with the electric wire W connected to the other of the press-contact terminals  20 . Therefore, it is possible to unify the shape of the pair of terminals  20 , thereby reducing the manufacturing cost. 
     Further, according to the electronic-component connection structure  1  in the embodiment of the present invention, the pair of terminals  20  is arranged within the housing  10  so that the ends  20   d  of the pair of terminals  20  in which the press-contact terminal portions  23   b  are formed are aligned in parallel to each other and the ends  20   c  of the pair of terminals  20  opposite to the ends  20   d  in which the press-contact terminal portions  23   b  are formed are aligned in parallel to each other, that is, the pair of terminals  20  are arranged so that their opposite ends are aligned. Therefore, it is possible to arrange the pair of terminals  20  compactly. 
     Further, according to the LED lighting unit  100  in the embodiment of the present invention, the LED lighting unit  100  includes a unit housing  110  having a box shape which is open on one surface  110   a  from which the connection structure  1  is accommodated inside the unit housing  110 . Further, an opening portion  10   a  is formed on an upper surface of the housing  10 , the press-contact terminal portion  23   b  of each terminal  20  of the pair of terminals  20  is exposed and extended outside the housing  10  through the opening portion  10   a  of the housing  10  and provided perpendicularly from an outer surface  13   e  of the rear wall  13  of the housing  10 , and the press-contact terminal portion  23   b  of each terminal  20  of the pair of terminals  20  is arranged at a side of the one surface on which the unit housing  110  is open (at the opening  110   a  side) when the connection structure  1  is accommodated in the unit housing  110 . Therefore, it is possible to accommodate the pair of terminals  20  within the housing  10  and the unit housing  110  easily while the press-contact terminal portion  23   b  is exposed. 
     Further, according to the LED lighting unit  100  in the embodiment of the present invention, the LED lighting unit  100  further includes an electric-wire holding part  120  in which two electric wires W to be electrically connected to the pair of terminals  20  are laterally bent and held, and an engagement portion having the opening  112  for engagement and the lance portion  122  which engages the unit housing  110  with the electric-wire holding part  120 . Bent portions of the two electric wires W which are held by the electric-wire holding part  120  are electrically connected to the respective press-contact terminal portions  23   b  of the pair of terminals  20  when the unit housing  110  and the electric-wire holding part  120  are engaged by the opening  112  for engagement and the lance portion  122 . Therefore, since the electric wires W are connected to the respective press-contact terminal portions  23   b  while the electric wires W are laterally bent, it is possible to save the space of the LED lighting unit  100  in the vertical direction. 
     In the electronic-component connection structure  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention, one pair of terminals  20  is used. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other words, two or more terminals to be electrically connected to electronic components may be provided. 
     In the electronic-component connection structure  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention, each terminal  20  is formed by pressing on the plate-shaped member. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other words, each terminal may include a base portion  21   a,  a protrusion piece  21   b  or a top board portion  20   a  extending from the base portion  21   a  in a lateral direction, and a contact piece which extends in the lateral direction such that a distance from the protrusion piece  21   b  or the top board portion  20   a  decreases from the base portion  21   a  toward an end portion, and has elasticity. 
     In the electronic-component connection structure  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention, as the electronic components, the LED element L, the Zener diode D, and the resistive plate R are electrically connected to the pair of terminals  20 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other words, other electronic components may be connected to the pair of terminals  20 . 
     The present invention is not limited by the embodiment and the modification as mentioned above.