Patent Publication Number: US-8979552-B2

Title: Connector and method for connecting the connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-117974 filed on May 23, 2012, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a connector and a method for connecting the connector. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Typically, a connection member such as a connector is used for electrically connecting substrates together. Among various connection members, a connector electrically connects one substrate to another substrate, for example, by engaging a plug connector to a jack connector in a state where the plug connector is provided to the one substrate whereas the jack connector is provided to the other substrate (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 09-213432 and 10-41025). 
     From the aspect of space-reduction or the like, a connector connecting substrates together is desired to have low height. However, in a case where the height of the connector is reduced, a clicking feel generated when connecting the connector is reduced. Furthermore, the connecting strength between connectors is also reduced in the case where the height of the connector is reduced. In the case where the connecting strength between connectors is small, the connectors are easily disengaged even by a small amount of force. This makes it difficult for the connector to maintain a desired connected state. Thus, the function of the connector is degraded. 
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of the present invention provides a connector including a plug connector including a projecting part and a plurality of plug electrodes, each plug electrode includes a first surface and a second plug surface that are substantially parallel to each other, and a jack connector including a plurality of jack electrodes, each jack electrode contacts to one of the plug electrodes when the plug connector is engaged with the jack connector, that includes a first jack contact part that contacts with the first plug surface, a second jack contact part that contacts with the second plug surface, and a third jack contact part that contacts with the projecting part, wherein the projecting part is configured to exert a force to the third jack contact part to move the first jack contact part toward the first plug surface when engaging the plug connector and the jack connector. 
     Other objects and further features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a plug connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of a plug connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a plug connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of a plug connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a jack connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of a jack connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a jack connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of a jack connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram illustrating a state before connecting a plug connector and a jack connector of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram illustrating a connected state of a plug connector and a jack connector of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged view illustrating a portion of a connector illustrated in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIGS. 12-16  are schematic diagrams illustrating a portion of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention for describing the connection of the connector in separate stages; and 
         FIG. 17  is a graph illustrating the results of analyzing the contact pressure of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following, embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted that like components are denoted with like reference numerals throughout the following description and drawings. 
     [Structure of Connector] 
     A structure of a connector  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 11 . The connector  10  according to the embodiment includes a plug connector  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  and a jack connector  200  illustrated in  FIGS. 5-8 . 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the plug connector  100  according to the embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a top view of the plug connector  100  according to the embodiment.  FIG. 3  is a side view of the plug connector  100  according to the embodiment.  FIG. 4  is a front view of the plug connector  100  according to the embodiment. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the jack connector  200  according to the embodiment.  FIG. 6  is a top view of the jack connector  200  according to the embodiment.  FIG. 7  is a side view of the jack connector  200  according to the embodiment.  FIG. 8  is a front view of the jack connector  200  according to the embodiment. 
     The plug connector  100  includes plural plug electrodes  110  and a casing  150  having the plug electrodes  110  fixed thereto. The plug electrodes  110  are arranged in a single direction with a pitch of, for example, 0.35 mm. The casing  150  is formed of, for example, a resin material having an insulating property. 
     The jack connector  200  includes plural jack electrodes  210  corresponding to the plug electrodes  110  and a casing  250  having the jack electrodes  210  fixed thereto. The jack electrodes  210  are arranged in a single direction. The casing  250  is formed of, for example, a resin material having an insulating property. 
     In order to ensure the strength of the plug connector  100  in a longitudinal direction of the plug connector  100 , the plug connector  100  has a reinforcement member  160  provided inside the casing  150 . The reinforcement member  160  may be formed with, for example, a metal component that is referred to as a peg. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , a projecting part  130  having a convex shape is provided at a center portion of the plug connector  100 . The projecting part  130  is formed of a resin material. The plug electrode  110  is provided on both sides of the projecting part  130 . The plug electrode  110  is formed by bending a thin elongated metal plate. The electrode  110  includes a plug bend part  111 , a first plug surface  112 , and a second plug surface  113  that are formed by bending the plug bend part  111 . The first plug surface  112  and the second plug surface  113  are positioned opposite to each other by way of the plug bend part  111 . The plug electrode  110  according to the embodiment is arranged in a manner that the plug bend part  111  is positioned on a side of the plug connector  100  to which the jack connector  220  is connected. The first surface  112  and the second plug surface  113  of the plug electrode  110  are formed to be substantially parallel to a direction in which the plug connector  100  is inserted to the jack connector  200  (illustrated with arrow A in  FIG. 9 ). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the jack connector  200  according to the embodiment has the jack electrode  210  provided in correspondence with the plug electrode  110  of the plug connector  100 . Similar to the plug electrode  110 , the jack electrode  210  is also formed by bending a thin elongated metal plate. The jack electrode  210  includes a first jack bend part  211 , a second jack bend part  212 , a third jack bend part  213 , a fourth jack bend part  214 , and a fifth jack bend part  215  that are arranged in this order from one end of the jack electrode  210 . In this embodiment, a first jack contact part is formed by the first jack bend part  211 , a second jack contact part is formed by the fifth jack bend part  215 , and a third jack contact part is formed by the second jack bend part  212 . The jack electrode  210  is formed with a spring-like (resilient) property. The jack electrode  210  is supported by a jack electrode support part  230  that is provided more toward the other end of the jack electrode  210  than the fifth jack bend part  215 . The jack electrode support part  230  is formed of, for example, a resin material. 
     An example of the plug connector  100  and the jack connector  200  in an engaged (connected) state is described with reference to  FIGS. 10 and 11 .  FIG. 11  is an enlarged view illustrating a portion of the connector  10  of  FIG. 10  having the plug connector  100  and the jack connector  200  in the connected state. In the state where the plug connector  100  and the jack connector  200  are engaged as illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the plug electrode  110  and the jack electrode  210  contact each other at two contact points. More specifically, the first plug surface  112  of the plug electrode  110  and the first jack bend part  211  of the jack electrode  211  contact each other, and the second plug surface  113  of the plug electrode  110  and the fifth jack bend part  215  of the jack electrode  210  contact each other. The plug connector  100  and the jack connector  200  are formed so that the connector  10  has a predetermined height H (e.g., approximately 0.8 mm or approximately 1.5 mm) in the engaged state. 
     The jack electrode  210  has a spring-like (resilient) property. The jack electrode  210  is formed so that a recovering force generated by the spring-like property of the jack electrode  210  causes the first jack bend part  211  and the fifth jack bend part  215  to move toward each other (move in a direction in which a space between the first jack bend part  211  and the fifth jack bend part  215  becomes narrower) in the engaged state. Accordingly, in the engaged state, the recovering force exerted toward the space between the first jack bend part  211  and the fifth jack bend part  215  of the jack electrode  210  forces the first and the fifth jack bend parts  211 ,  215  to secure the plug electrode  110  therebetween. Thereby, the connector  10  attains a structure that prevents disengagement of the engaged state of the plug connector  100  and the jack connector  200 . 
     (Connection of Connector) 
     Next, connection of the connector  10  according to the embodiment is described.  FIGS. 12-16  are schematic diagrams illustrating a portion of the connector  10  according to the embodiment for describing the connection of the connector  10  in separate stages. For the sake of convenience, a portion of the connector  10  is omitted from  FIGS. 12-16 . 
       FIG. 17  is a graph illustrating the results of analyzing the contact pressure of the connector  10  according to the embodiment. In  FIG. 17 , the horizontal axis represents a position of the plug connector  100  relative to the jack connector  200 , and the vertical axis represents contact pressure between the plug connector  100  and the jack connector  200 . The valid engagement length of  FIG. 17  starts from a state where the plug connector  100  contacts the jack connector  200  and ends in a state where the plug connector  100  and the jack connector  200  are engaged. 
     The connection between the jack connector  200  and the plug connector  100  may be performed by, for example, moving the plug connector  100  in a direction indicated with arrow A of  FIGS. 12-16  (hereinafter referred to as “arrow direction A”) and engaging the plug connector  100  to the jack connector  200  in a state where the position of the jack connector  200  is fixed. Alternatively, in a case of connecting the plug connector  100  and the jack connector  200 , the jack connector  200  may be moved in a direction toward the plug connector  100  instead of moving the plug connector  100  in a direction toward the jack connector  200 . 
     First, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the plug electrode  110  and the jack electrode  210  contact each other at the vicinity of the plug bend part  111  and the vicinity of the first jack bend part  211  by moving the plug connector  100  in the arrow direction A from the state where the plug connector  100  and the jack connector  200  are separated. Then, by moving the plug connector  100  further in the arrow direction A, the first jack bend part  211  of the jack electrode  210  is pressed by the plug bend part  111  of the plug electrode  110 , and the space between the first jack bend part  211  and the fifth jack bend part  215  of the jack electrode  210  becomes wider. In the state illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the spring-like property of the jack electrode  210  generates a recovering force that causes the first jack bend part  211  to move toward the fifth jack bend part  215 . 
     Then, as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , by moving the plug connector  100  further in the arrow direction A, the first jack bend part  211  of the jack electrode  210  is further pressed by the plug bend part  111 , and the space between the first jack bend part  211  and the fifth jack bend part  215  of the jack electrode  210  becomes further wider compared to the state illustrated in  FIG. 12 . In addition, a convex-shaped tip part  131  of the projecting part  130  of the plug connector  100  contacts the second jack bend part  212  of the jack electrode  210 . It is to be noted that the contacting state illustrated in  FIG. 13  corresponds to a state indicated as “P 1 ” in  FIG. 17 . 
     Then, as illustrated in  FIG. 14 , by moving the plug connector  100  further in the arrow direction A, the plug bend part  111  of the plug electrode  110  enters the space between the first jack bend part  211  and the fifth jack bend part  215  of the jack electrode  210 , and the space between the first jack bend part  211  and the fifth jack bend part  215  of the jack electrode  210  becomes further wider compared to the state illustrated in  FIG. 13 . In the state illustrated in  FIG. 14 , contact between the plug electrode  110  and the jack electrode  210  is achieved by the contact between the first plug surface  112  of the plug electrode  110  and the first jack bend part  211  of the jack electrode  210  and the contact between the second plug surface  113  of the plug electrode  110  and the fifth jack bend part  215  of the jack electrode  210 . That is, the first plug surface  112  and the first jack bend part  211  contact each other, and the second plug surface  113  and the fifth jack bend part  215  contact each other. 
     In the state illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the third jack bend part  213  of the jack electrode  210  contacts a jack bottom part  231  of the jack connector  200  due to the second jack bend part  212  of the jack electrode  210  being pressed by the convex-shaped tip part  131 . The jack bottom part  231  is formed of, for example, a resin material. After the convex-shaped tip part  131  of the projecting part  130  and the second jack bend part  212  contact each other, the first jack bend part  211  exerts a greater force to the first plug surface  112  compared to the state illustrated in  FIG. 13  by moving the plug connector  100  further in the arrow direction A such that the second jack bend part  212  is further pressed by the convex-shaped tip part  131  of the projecting part  130 . In the state where the second jack bend part  212  is further pressed by the convex-shaped tip part  131  of the projecting part  130 , the spring-like property of the jack electrode  210  generates a recovering force that causes the third jack bend part  213  to move in a direction separating from the jack bottom part  231 . 
     Then, as illustrated in  FIG. 15 , by moving the plug connector  100  further in the arrow direction A, the plug bend part  111  of the plug electrode  110  further enters the space between the first jack bend part  211  and the fifth jack bend part  215  of the jack electrode  210  compared to the state illustrated in  FIG. 14  in a state where the first plug surface  112  of the plug electrode  110  and the first jack bend part  211  of the jack electrode  210  contact each other, and the second plug surface  113  of the plug electrode  110  and the fifth jack bend part  215  of the jack electrode  210  contact each other. 
     In the state illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the convex-shaped tip part  131  of the projecting part  130  presses against the second jack bend part  212 , displaces the second jack bend part  212 , and further advances in the arrow direction A. Thereby, the convex-shaped tip part  131  is separated from the second jack bend part  212  and no longer contacts the second jack bend part  212  as illustrated in  FIG. 16 . Because the force exerted to the convex-shaped tip part  131  by way of the second jack bend part  212  significantly changes when the convex-shaped tip part  131  and the second jack bend part  212  become separated, a strong clicking feel can be generated and transmitted to the user of the connector  10 . It is to be noted that the contacting state illustrated in  FIG. 15  corresponds to a state indicated as “P 2 ” in  FIG. 17 . 
     Then, as illustrated in  FIG. 16 , by moving the plug connector  100  further in the arrow direction A, the plug bend part  111  further enters the space between the space between the first jack bend part  211  and the fifth jack bend part  215  of the jack electrode  210  compared to the state illustrated in  FIG. 15 , in a state where the first plug surface  112  and the first jack bend part  211  contact each other, and the second plug surface  113  and the fifth jack bend part  215  contact each other. 
     In the state illustrated in  FIG. 16 , the plug electrode  110  is retained in a manner that the first plug surface  112  and the second plug surface  113  are sandwiched between the first and the fifth jack bend parts  211 ,  215 . In the state where the first plug surface  112  and the second plug surface  113  are sandwiched between the first and the fifth jack bend parts  211 ,  215 , a recovering force, forcing the space between the first and the fifth jack bend parts  211 ,  215  to become narrower, is exerted to the jack electrode  210 . 
     Owing to the recovering force, the plug electrode  110  can be firmly secured between the first and the fifth jack bend parts  211 ,  215  of the jack electrode  210 . Accordingly, the plug electrode  110  and the jack electrode  210  cannot be easily separated. That is, the engaged state of the plug connector  100  and the jack connector  200  cannot be easily disengaged. 
     With the above-described embodiment, the connector can generate a strong clicking feel when connecting the connector and attain a large connecting strength when the jack connector and the plug connector of the connector are in an engaged state. 
     All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.