Patent Description:
The present invention also relates to a connector having the sheet type conductive member, a garment having the connector mounted thereon, and a connector mounting method for mounting the connector on a garment.

In recent years, attention has been drawn to so-called smart garments that can obtain user's biological data such as the heart rate and the body temperature only by being worn by the user. Such a smart garment has an electrode disposed at a measurement site, and when a wearable device serving as a measurement device is electrically connected to the electrode, biological data can be transmitted to the wearable device.

The electrode and the wearable device can be interconnected by, for instance, use of a connector connected to a wiring portion drawn from the electrode.

As a connector of this type, for example, <CIT> discloses a connector <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. The connector <NUM> has the structure in which plural contacts <NUM> are retained on a first insulator <NUM>, and a tab sheet <NUM>, a sheet type conductive member <NUM>, and a support sheet <NUM> are sandwiched and retained between the first insulator <NUM> and a second insulator <NUM>.

The connector <NUM> is attached to a garment <NUM> by fixing the tab sheet <NUM> to the garment <NUM>.

The sheet type conductive member <NUM> is provided at its central portion with a cut 6A used to attach the sheet type conductive member <NUM> to the connector <NUM>, and one end portions of plural flexible conductors 6B are disposed near the cut 6A on a surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>.

When the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is attached to the connector <NUM>, the one end portion of each flexible conductor 6B makes contact with and is thereby connected to the corresponding contact <NUM>, and the other end portion thereof is connected to a conductive wiring portion (not shown) disposed on the garment <NUM> by sewing or other means.

Consequently, electrodes of the garment <NUM> disposed at measurement sites are electrically connected to the contacts <NUM> of the connector <NUM> via the wiring portions and the flexible conductors 6B.

However, in the case where the flexible conductors 6B are formed of conductive threads embroidered on or woven into a sheet body, the contact area would be small between the conductive threads constituting the flexible conductors 6B and the contacts <NUM> when the one end portions of the flexible conductors 6B are brought into contact with the contacts <NUM>, and this may impair the reliability of electrical connection. Likewise, when the other end portions of the flexible conductors 6B are sewed to the wiring portions of the garment <NUM>, the contact area would be small between the conductive threads constituting the flexible conductors 6B and the wiring portions of the garment <NUM>, and this also may impair the reliability of electrical connection.

<CIT> and <CIT> disclose further connectors and a connecting method.

The present invention has been made to overcome the conventional problem as above and aims at providing a sheet type conductive member capable of improving the reliability of electrical connection with a contact of a connector and with a wiring portion of a mounting object such as a garment, despite having a flexible conductor formed of a conductive thread.

The present invention also aims at providing a connector having the sheet type conductive member, a garment having the connector mounted thereon, and a connector mounting method for mounting the connector on a garment.

A sheet type conductive member according to the present invention is defined in claim <NUM>.

A connector according to the present invention is defined in claim <NUM>.

A garment according to the present invention is defined in claim <NUM>.

A connector mounting method according to the present invention is defined in claim <NUM>.

An embodiment of the present invention is described below based on the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> and <FIG> show a connector <NUM> according to the embodiment. The connector <NUM> is mounted on a garment (mounting object) having a conductive wiring portion and is used as a connector for fitting a wearable device, for instance. The connector <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> made of an insulating material. A plurality of contacts <NUM> are retained in the housing <NUM>, and a tab sheet <NUM> and a sheet type conductive member <NUM> being superposed on each other are retained by the housing <NUM>.

The contacts <NUM> are arranged in two rows parallel to each other and disposed to project perpendicularly to the sheet type conductive member <NUM>.

For convenience, the tab sheet <NUM> and the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are defined as extending in an XY plane, the arrangement direction of the contacts <NUM> is referred to as "Y direction," and the direction in which the contacts <NUM> project is referred to as "+Z direction. " The Z direction is a fitting direction in which the connector <NUM> is fitted to a counter connector.

<FIG> and <FIG> are exploded perspective views of the connector <NUM>. The connector <NUM> includes a first insulator <NUM> and a second insulator <NUM>, and these first and second insulators <NUM> and <NUM> constitute the housing <NUM>.

The contacts <NUM> are separately and temporarily retained in the first insulator <NUM>, and the second insulator <NUM> is assembled to the first insulator <NUM> in the Z direction which is a predetermined assembling direction D1, with the second insulator <NUM> and the first insulator <NUM> sandwiching the sheet type conductive member <NUM> and the tab sheet <NUM> therebetween. The predetermined assembling direction D1 is the same as the fitting direction in which the connector <NUM> is fitted to a counter connector.

The sheet type conductive member <NUM> has a sheet body <NUM>, and an embroidery pattern <NUM> embroidered on the sheet body <NUM> with embroidery threads. The embroidery pattern <NUM> is seen on both the front and back sides, facing the +Z and -Z directions, of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the first insulator <NUM> includes a base portion 16A of flat rectangular shape extending in an XY plane, a peripheral wall portion 16B projecting in the +Z direction from the circumferential edge portion of the base portion 16A, and a plurality of projection portions 16C projecting in the +Z direction from a surface of the base portion 16A and arranged in two rows parallel to each other within the region surrounded by the peripheral wall portion 16B. A gap 16D is formed between each adjacent pair of projection portions 16C.

A recess portion 16E of rectangular shape that opens in the -Z direction is formed at the -Z direction-side surface of the base portion 16A, and the bottom of the recess portion 16E is provided with a plurality of through-holes 16F penetrating from the corresponding gaps 16D on the +Z direction side of the base portion 16A to the recess portion 16E. The through-holes 16F correspond to the contacts <NUM> and are arranged in two rows parallel to each other.

The bottom of the recess portion 16E is provided with a plurality of retaining surfaces <NUM> adjacent to the through-holes 16F in the X direction. Each retaining surface <NUM> flatly extends in an XY plane between the corresponding through-hole 16F and an inner wall surface <NUM>, facing the X direction, of the recess portion 16E.

The inner wall surfaces <NUM>, facing the X direction, of the recess portion 16E each constitute a first opposed surface extending in the Z direction that is the fitting direction.

Further, the -Z direction-side surface of the base portion 16A is provided with a plurality of fixing posts 16J projecting in the -Z direction.

As shown in <FIG>, the second insulator <NUM> includes a base portion 17A of flat plate shape extending in an XY plane, a jut portion 17B of cuboid shape situated in the center of the base portion 17A and projecting in the +Z direction from the base portion 17A, and a plurality of columnar members 17C projecting in the +Z direction from the jut portion 17B.

The jut portion 17B is inserted into the recess portion 16E of the first insulator <NUM> in assembling with the first insulator <NUM>, and has a size slightly smaller than that of the recess portion 16E.

The columnar members 17C correspond to the contacts <NUM> and are arranged in two rows parallel to each other.

The base portion 17A is provided with a plurality of through-holes 17D situated around the jut portion 17B and penetrating through the base portion 17A in the Z direction. Those through-holes 17D correspond to the fixing posts 16J of the first insulator <NUM>.

Outer surfaces 17E, facing the X direction, of the jut portion 17B each constitute a second opposed surface extending in the Z direction that is the fitting direction.

<FIG> show the structure of each of the contacts <NUM> arranged on the +X direction side, of the plurality of contacts <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

The contact <NUM> is constituted of a plug type contact formed of a band-shaped member made of a conductive material such as metal and includes a U-shaped portion 13A extending in the Z direction and bent in a U shape. The U-shaped portion 13A is composed of a pair of extension portions 13B and 13C extending along a YZ plane and facing each other in the X direction and a top portion 13D joining the +Z directional ends of the extension portions 13B and 13C to each other. The -Z directional end of the extension portion 13B is connected to a flat plate portion 13F extending in a YZ plane via a retained portion 13E extending in an XY plane.

An outer surface of the U-shaped portion 13A forms a contacting portion S <NUM> that is to make contact with a contact of a counter connector, and a surface, on the -X direction side, of the flat plate portion 13F forms a connection portion S2 that is to make contact with a surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>.

When the contact <NUM> is retained in the housing <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the contacting portion S1 of the contact <NUM> projects in the +Z direction from the housing <NUM>, while the connection portion S2 of the contact <NUM> is situated inside the housing <NUM>.

Note that, of the plurality of contacts <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the contacts <NUM> arranged on the -X direction side have the same structure as that of the contact <NUM> shown in <FIG> but are disposed in the opposite orientation in the X direction.

As shown in <FIG>, the tab sheet <NUM> is used for attaching the connector <NUM> to a garment by fixing the tab sheet <NUM> to the garment by sewing or other means. The tab sheet <NUM> is made of an insulating material such as resin or cloth, and has a size larger than that of the base portion 16A of the first insulator <NUM> and that of the base portion 17A of the second insulator <NUM> in an XY plane.

A substantially square opening portion 14A is formed in a central portion of the tab sheet <NUM>. When the first insulator <NUM> and the second insulator <NUM> are assembled together, a portion of the tab sheet <NUM> around the opening portion 14A is, along with the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, sandwiched between the base portion 16A of the first insulator <NUM> and the base portion 17A of the second insulator <NUM>, and at this time, the jut portion 17B and the columnar members 17C of the second insulator <NUM> are inserted into the opening portion 14A.

A plurality of through-holes 14B are formed around the opening portion 14A of the tab sheet <NUM>. Those through-holes 14B correspond to the fixing posts 16J of the first insulator <NUM>.

The sheet type conductive member <NUM> is used for electrically connecting a plurality of wiring portions of a garment on which the connector <NUM> is mounted, to the contacts <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the sheet type conductive member <NUM> includes: the sheet body <NUM> formed of insulating cloth or knitted fabric; and the embroidery pattern <NUM> embroidered on the sheet body <NUM> with embroidery threads.

The sheet body <NUM> has a substantially square shape, extends in an XY plane, and has an H-shaped opening portion 18A in its central portion. The opening portion 18A is used when the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is attached to the connector <NUM>, and the opening portion 18A is provided with a pair of protrusion pieces 18B that are formed of part of the sheet body <NUM> and protrude to face each other in the X direction inside the opening portion 18A.

A plurality of through-holes 18C are formed around the opening portion 18A of the sheet body <NUM>. Those through-holes 18C correspond to the fixing posts 16J of the first insulator <NUM>.

Of the embroidery threads forming the embroidery pattern <NUM>, a conductive thread is used only for a part exposed on the surface of the sheet body <NUM> on the +Z direction side, while an insulating thread is used for a part exposed on the surface of the sheet body <NUM> on the -Z direction side. A flexible conductor <NUM> exposed on the surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> on the +Z direction side is thus formed. In other words, the flexible conductor <NUM> is formed by embroidery using a conductive thread.

A so-called silver thread can be used for the conductive thread.

The sheet type conductive member <NUM> includes a plurality of flexible conductors <NUM> disposed on the +X direction side of the opening portion 18A of the sheet body <NUM> and a plurality of flexible conductors <NUM> disposed on the -X direction side of the opening portion 18A.

Each flexible conductor <NUM> includes a first end portion 20A disposed near a side, extending in the Y direction, of the square sheet body <NUM>, a second end portion 20B disposed on the protrusion piece 18B of the sheet body <NUM>, and a joint portion 20C joining the first end portion 20A and the second end portion 20B together. When the connector <NUM> is mounted on a garment, the first end portion 20A is connected to the corresponding wiring portion of the garment, and the second end portion 20B is connected to the corresponding contact <NUM> of the connector <NUM>.

The second end portions 20B of the flexible conductors <NUM> disposed on the +X direction side of the opening portion 18A of the sheet body <NUM> and those disposed on the -X direction side of the opening portion 18A of the sheet body <NUM> are arranged in two rows on the opposite sides of the opening portion 18A to face each other across the opening portion 18A.

As shown in <FIG>, in the flexible conductors <NUM> disposed on the +X direction side of the opening portion 18A of the sheet body <NUM>, the first end portions 20A are linearly arranged in the Y direction with first arrangement pitch P1, and the second end portions 20B are linearly arranged in the Y direction with second arrangement pitch P2 in parallel to the first end portions 20A. The second arrangement pitch P2 of the second end portions 20B corresponds to arrangement pitch of the contacts <NUM> in the Y direction.

The first arrangement pitch P1 of the first end portions 20A is set larger than the second arrangement pitch P2 of the second end portions 20B.

In addition, a width W1, in the Y direction, of the first end portion 20A of each flexible conductor <NUM> is set larger than a width W2, in the Y direction, of the second end portion 20B, and the joint portion 20C has the same width as that of the second end portion 20B.

In other words, the first end portions 20A are arranged in the Y direction with the first arrangement pitch P <NUM> larger than the arrangement pitch of the contacts <NUM>, and thus, the first end portions 20A are configured such that a larger distance can be ensured between every two first end portions 20A adjacent in the Y direction even though the first end portions 20A have the width W1 larger than the width W2 of the second end portions 20B.

In addition, the first end portion 20A of each flexible conductor <NUM> has a length L1 in the X direction larger than the width W1 in the Y direction.

The first end portion 20A, the second end portion 20B, and the joint portion 20C constituting the flexible conductor <NUM> are formed of conductive threads embroidered on the sheet body <NUM>, while the density of embroidery of conductive threads, i.e., the degree of packing of exposed portions of conductive threads is not uniform but varies. More specifically, the density of embroidery of conductive threads in the first end portion 20A and the second end portion 20B is set higher than that in the joint portion 20C.

In other words, the embroidery is formed in the first end portion 20A and the second end portion 20B to have exposed portions of conductive threads being more tightly packed than in the joint portion 20C.

The density of embroidery of conductive threads or the degree of packing of exposed portions of conductive threads has a relation to not only the number of the conductive threads but also the thickness of the conductive threads used in regions of equal area. To deal with it, an exposure area of conductive threads per unit area is used as an index representing the density of embroidery of conductive threads or the degree of packing of exposed portions of conductive threads.

For instance, a region U having a unit area in the first end portion 20A and the second end portion 20B is focused as shown in <FIG>, and the total occupied area of conductive threads <NUM> exposed toward the +Z direction within the region U is defined as an exposure area A1.

Similarly, a region U having the unit area in the joint portion 20C is focused as shown in <FIG>, and the total occupied area of conductive threads <NUM> exposed toward the +Z direction within the region U is defined as an exposure area A2.

The exposure area A1 of the conductive threads <NUM> per unit area in the first end portion 20A and the second end portion 20B is set larger than the exposure area A2 of the conductive threads <NUM> per unit area in the joint portion 20C.

When the conductive thread <NUM> used in the first end portion 20A and the second end portion 20B and the conductive thread <NUM> used in the joint portion 20C have the same thickness, the number of the conductive threads <NUM> used in the first end portion 20A and the second end portion 20B per unit area is set larger than the number of the conductive threads <NUM> used in the joint portion 20C per unit area.

When the conductive thread <NUM> used in the first end portion 20A and the second end portion 20B is set thicker than the conductive thread <NUM> used in the joint portion 20C, even if the number of the conductive threads <NUM> used in the first end portion 20A and the second end portion 20B per unit area is the same as the number of the conductive threads <NUM> used in the joint portion 20C per unit area, the exposure area A1 of the conductive threads <NUM> per unit area in the first end portion 20A and the second end portion 20B can be larger than the exposure area A2 of the conductive threads <NUM> per unit area in the joint portion 20C.

Likewise, in the flexible conductors <NUM> disposed on the -X direction side of the opening portion 18A of the sheet body <NUM>, the first end portions 20A are linearly arranged in the Y direction with the first arrangement pitch P1, and the second end portions 20B are linearly arranged in the Y direction with the second arrangement pitch P2 in parallel to the first end portions 20A.

Furthermore, also in the flexible conductors <NUM> disposed on the -X direction side of the opening portion 18A of the sheet body <NUM>, the first end portion 20A of each flexible conductor <NUM> has the width W1 in the Y direction larger than the width W2 of the second end portion 20B in the Y direction, the joint portion 20C has the same width as that of the second end portion 20B, and the first end portion 20A has the length L1 in the X direction larger than the width W1 in the Y direction.

In addition, in the flexible conductors <NUM> disposed on the -X direction side of the opening portion 18A of the sheet body <NUM>, the density of embroidery of conductive threads in the first end portion 20A and the second end portion 20B is set higher than that in the joint portion 20C, and the exposure area A1 of the conductive threads <NUM> per unit area in the first end portion 20A and the second end portion 20B is set larger than the exposure area A2 of the conductive threads <NUM> per unit area in the joint portion 20C.

A silver thread used as the conductive thread is formed by wrapping a silver foil around a thread or by cutting a silver foil into thin strips and twisting the strips into a weaving yarn, for instance. Although a silver thread is expensive, an increase in manufacturing cost of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> can be suppressed because the silver thread is not embroidered with high density over the entire flexible conductor <NUM> but the exposure area A1 of the conductive threads <NUM> per unit area in the first end portion 20A and the second end portion 20B is set larger than the exposure area A2 of the conductive threads <NUM> per unit area in the joint portion 20C.

When the connector <NUM> is assembled, first, the respective contacts <NUM> are pushed into the first insulator <NUM> from the -Z direction toward the +Z direction, whereby the contacts <NUM> are temporarily retained in the first insulator <NUM>. In this process, the U-shaped portion 13A of each contact <NUM> is passed through the corresponding through-hole 16F from the recess portion 16E on the -Z direction side of the first insulator <NUM> and inserted into the corresponding gap 16D formed between adjacent projection portions 16C, so that the contacting portion S1 formed of the outer surface of the U-shaped portion 13A is exposed on the +Z direction side of the first insulator <NUM>.

The retained portion 13E and the flat plate portion 13F, which forms the connection portion S2, of each contact <NUM> are situated inside the recess portion 16E of the first insulator <NUM>, and the flat plate portion 13F makes contact with the inner wall surface <NUM> of the recess portion 16E of the first insulator <NUM>.

Now, the fixing posts 16J of the first insulator <NUM> are sequentially passed through the through-holes 14B of the tab sheet <NUM> and the through-holes 18C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> such that the tab sheet <NUM> and the sheet type conductive member <NUM> lie on the -Z direction side of the first insulator <NUM>. The fixing posts 16J of the first insulator <NUM> are further passed through the through-holes 17D of the second insulator <NUM>, and the second insulator <NUM> is moved in the +Z direction toward the first insulator <NUM> to start the assembly into the first insulator <NUM>.

In this process, the columnar members 17C of the second insulator <NUM> are each inserted into the inside of the U-shaped portion 13A of the corresponding contact <NUM> from the -Z direction.

Further, the jut portion 17B of the second insulator <NUM> is sequentially passed through the opening portion 18A of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> and the opening portion 14A of the tab sheet <NUM> from the -Z direction and then inserted into the recess portion 16E of the first insulator <NUM>. In this process, the pair of protrusion pieces 18B situated inside the opening portion 18A of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are pushed while being bent toward the +Z direction by the jut portion 17B of the second insulator <NUM> and each enter between the flat plate portion 13F of the contact <NUM> in contact with the inner wall surface <NUM> of the recess portion 16E of the first insulator <NUM> and the outer surface 17E of the jut portion 17B of the second insulator <NUM>.

When the second insulator <NUM> is moved in the +Z direction toward the first insulator <NUM> with this state being kept, as shown in <FIG>, the retained portion 13E of each contact <NUM> is sandwiched between the +Z direction-side surface of the jut portion 17B of the second insulator <NUM> and the retaining surface <NUM> inside the recess portion 16E of the first insulator <NUM>. The contacts <NUM> are retained by the first insulator <NUM> and the second insulator <NUM> in this manner.

Further, the protrusion pieces 18B of the sheet body <NUM> of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are pushed and bent toward the +Z direction by the jut portion 17B of the second insulator <NUM>, and in this state, each protrusion piece 18B is sandwiched between the inner wall surface <NUM>, which constitutes the first opposed surface, of the recess portion 16E of the first insulator <NUM> and the outer surface 17E, which constitutes the second opposed surface, of the jut portion 17B of the second insulator <NUM>, so that the second end portion 20B of each flexible conductor <NUM> exposed on the surface of the protrusion piece 18B makes contact at a predetermined contact pressure with the connection portion S2 of the flat plate portion 13F of the corresponding contact <NUM> being in contact with the inner wall surface <NUM> of the recess portion 16E of the first insulator <NUM>. Thus, the contacts <NUM> are electrically connected to the second end portions 20B of the corresponding flexible conductors <NUM> of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>.

As described above, the density of embroidery of conductive threads in the second end portion 20B of the flexible conductor <NUM> is higher than that in the joint portion 20C, and the exposure area A1 of the conductive threads <NUM> per unit area in the second end portion 20B is larger than the exposure area A2 of the conductive threads <NUM> per unit area in the joint portion 20C. Accordingly, the connection portion S2 of the flat plate portion 13F of the contact <NUM> and the second end portion 20B of the flexible conductor <NUM> can have a large substantial contact area therebetween, thus making it possible to electrically connect the second end portion 20B to the contact <NUM> with high reliability.

The fixing posts 16J of the first insulator <NUM> are passed through the corresponding through-holes 17D of the second insulator <NUM> and project on the -Z direction side of the second insulator <NUM>.

The -Z directional ends of the fixing posts 16J of the first insulator <NUM> that project on the -Z direction side of the second insulator <NUM> are heated and deformed whereby the second insulator <NUM> is fixed with respect to the first insulator <NUM>.

The connector <NUM> shown in <FIG> is thus assembled.

Next, the method of mounting the connector <NUM> onto a garment <NUM> is described.

Two slits <NUM> are formed in the garment <NUM> at a position where the connector <NUM> is to be attached, as shown in <FIG>. The two slits <NUM> extend in the Y direction in parallel to each other with a distance therebetween in the X direction and penetrate the garment <NUM> from the front side to the back side. The two slits <NUM> have a length in the Y direction slightly larger than the Y directional length of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> of the connector <NUM> and are spaced apart from each other in the X direction with a distance slightly larger than the X directional length of the housing <NUM> of the connector <NUM>.

After the connector <NUM> is positioned on the +Z direction side of the two slits <NUM> of the garment <NUM> thus configured, a portion of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> situated on the +X direction side of the housing <NUM> and a portion thereof situated on the -X direction side of the housing <NUM> are separately passed through the corresponding slits <NUM> and thereby drawn from the front side toward the back side of the garment <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the back side, facing the -Z direction, of the garment <NUM> is provided with a plurality of conductive wiring portions <NUM> separately extending in the +X and -X directions perpendicular to the two slits <NUM>. One ends of those wiring portions <NUM> are arranged in the Y direction with the same arrangement pitch as that of the first end portions 20A of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> in the vicinity of the corresponding slit <NUM>, and have the substantially same width in the Y direction as that of the first end portions 20A.

The wiring portions <NUM> are made of, for example, a conductive thread sewn into the garment <NUM>, and at least their surfaces facing the -Z direction have conductivity. The other ends of the wiring portions <NUM> each extend along the back side of the garment <NUM> up to an electrode (not shown) attached to the garment <NUM>.

The +X directional portion and the -X directional portion of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> drawn to the back side, facing the -Z direction, of the garment <NUM> through the two slits <NUM> of the garment <NUM> are disposed to be superposed on the one ends of the wiring portions <NUM>.

Since the one ends of the wiring portions <NUM> are arranged in the Y direction with the same arrangement pitch as that of the first end portions 20A of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, at this time, each first end portion 20A of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is superposed on the -Z direction side of the corresponding wiring portion <NUM> of the garment <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

Then, the garment <NUM> and the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are sewed together with a sewing thread <NUM>, whereby the first end portions 20A of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> can be electrically connected to the wiring portions <NUM> of the garment <NUM> on a one-to-one basis.

The width W <NUM>, in the Y direction, of the first end portion 20A of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is set larger than the width W2, in the Y direction, of the second end portion 20B as shown in <FIG>, and the wiring portion <NUM> of the garment <NUM> has substantially the same width in the Y direction as that of the first end portion 20A.

Furthermore, as described above, the density of embroidery of conductive threads in the first end portion 20A of the flexible conductor <NUM> is higher than that in the joint portion 20C, and the exposure area A1 of the conductive threads <NUM> per unit area in the first end portion 20A is larger than the exposure area A2 of the conductive threads <NUM> per unit area in the joint portion 20C.

Accordingly, the wiring portion <NUM> of the garment <NUM> and the first end portion 20A of the flexible conductor <NUM> can have a large substantial contact area therebetween, thus making it possible to electrically connect the first end portion 20A to the wiring portion <NUM> of the garment <NUM> with high reliability.

It should be noted that while the garment <NUM> and the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are sewed together with the sewing thread <NUM> in the form of so-called "running stitch" in <FIG>, the sewing form is not limited thereto.

Aside from that, since the width W1, in the Y direction, of the first end portion 20A of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is larger than the width W2, in the Y direction, of the second end portion 20B, and the wiring portion <NUM> of the garment <NUM> has substantially the same width in the Y direction as that of the first end portion 20A, even when a little misalignment occurs in the Y direction between the first end portions 20A of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> and the wiring portions <NUM> of the garment <NUM> due to manufacturing tolerances of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> and the wiring portions <NUM> of the garment <NUM> or other reasons, the contact area can still be ensured between the first end portions 20A and the wiring portions <NUM>, thus leading to reliable electrical connection therebetween.

The tab sheet <NUM> of the connector <NUM> is also sewed on the garment <NUM> with the sewing thread <NUM>, whereby the connector <NUM> can be fixed to the garment <NUM>.

Since the first end portion 20A of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> and the wiring portion <NUM> of the garment <NUM> are superposed in the Z direction to make direct contact with each other as shown in <FIG>, the sewing thread <NUM> used for sewing may be an insulating thread or a conductive thread.

However, when an insulating thread is used as the sewing thread <NUM>, the plurality of first end portions 20A of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> can be sewed on the plurality of wiring portions <NUM> of the garment <NUM> with the sewing thread <NUM> all at once.

In the foregoing embodiment, a portion of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> situated on the +X direction side of the housing <NUM> and a portion thereof situated on the -X direction side of the housing <NUM> are separately passed through the corresponding slits <NUM> of the garment <NUM> and thereby drawn from the front side toward the back side of the garment <NUM>; however, the invention is not limited thereto. For instance, the connector <NUM> shown in <FIG> can be simply disposed on the surface, facing the +Z direction, of the garment <NUM> and mounted on the garment <NUM> without having a portion of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> drawn to the back side of the garment <NUM>.

At this time, when each first end portion 20A of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is positioned right above the corresponding wiring portion <NUM> disposed on the back side of the garment <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, the first end portion 20A is to be situated on the +Z direction side of the wiring portion <NUM> via the sheet body <NUM> of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> and the garment <NUM>.

Then, the first end portion 20A is sewed through the sheet body <NUM> and the garment <NUM> to the wiring portion <NUM> with the sewing thread <NUM> having conductivity, whereby the first end portion 20A and the wiring portion <NUM> can be electrically connected via the sewing thread <NUM>.

Also in this case, the density of embroidery of conductive threads in the first end portion 20A of the flexible conductor <NUM> is higher than that in the joint portion 20C, and the exposure area A1 of the conductive threads <NUM> per unit area in the first end portion 20A is larger than the exposure area A2 of the conductive threads <NUM> per unit area in the joint portion 20C, thus leading to a large contact area between the first end portion 20A and the sewing thread <NUM> having conductivity. This improves the reliability of electrical connection between the first end portion 20A and the wiring portion <NUM>.

It should be noted that when the sewing thread <NUM> having conductivity is used, each first end portion 20A has to be sewed to the corresponding wiring portion <NUM> with an independent sewing thread <NUM> on a one-to-one basis in order to prevent a short between the plural first end portions <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a counter connector <NUM> to be fitted to the connector <NUM> according to the embodiment. The counter connector <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> made of an insulating material, and a plurality of contacts <NUM> are retained in the housing <NUM>.

The contacts <NUM> correspond to the contacts <NUM> of the connector <NUM> and are arranged in two rows parallel to each other with the same arrangement pitch as that of the contacts <NUM>. Each contact <NUM> faces the -Z direction and is a receptacle type contact corresponding to the plug type contact <NUM> of the connector <NUM>.

A peripherally rounding groove 52A facing the -Z direction is formed in the housing <NUM> to surround the periphery of the contacts <NUM>. The peripherally rounding groove 52A corresponds to the peripheral wall portion 16B of the first insulator <NUM> of the connector <NUM>.

The counter connector <NUM> includes a first insulator <NUM> and a second insulator <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, and these first and second insulators <NUM> and <NUM> constitute the housing <NUM>.

The contacts <NUM> are retained in the second insulator <NUM>, and the peripherally rounding groove 52A is also formed in the second insulator <NUM>.

The counter connector <NUM> further includes a circuit board <NUM>, and a plurality of fixing screws <NUM> used to fix the circuit board <NUM> to the first insulator <NUM>. The contacts <NUM> retained in the second insulator <NUM> are connected to a plurality of connection pads 56A of the circuit board <NUM> by soldering or another method, and the circuit board <NUM> is fixed to the first insulator <NUM> by means of the fixing screws <NUM>. Thus, the counter connector <NUM> is assembled.

Components such as a wireless transmitting circuit (not shown) connected to the contacts <NUM> are mounted on a surface, facing the +Z direction, of the circuit board <NUM> opposite from the housing <NUM>.

When the counter connector <NUM> as above is fitted to the connector <NUM> mounted on the garment <NUM> with the contacts <NUM> facing the -Z direction, the plug type contacts <NUM> of the connector <NUM> are inserted into the receptacle type contacts <NUM> of the counter connector <NUM> and electrically connected thereto. In addition, the peripheral wall portion 16B of the first insulator <NUM> of the connector <NUM> is inserted into the peripherally rounding groove 52A of the housing <NUM> of the counter connector <NUM>, whereby the counter connector <NUM> is retained with respect to the connector <NUM>.

Owing to the above configuration, user's biological data such as the heart rate and the body temperature as obtained using electrodes attached to the garment <NUM> can be input to the wireless transmitting circuit mounted on the circuit board <NUM> through the wiring portions <NUM> of the garment <NUM>, the flexible conductors <NUM> of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> and the contacts <NUM> of the connector <NUM>, and the contacts <NUM> of the counter connector <NUM>, and wirelessly transmitted from the wireless transmitting circuit to a tablet terminal, a stationary measurement device, or the like.

While, in the connector <NUM> according to the embodiment described above, the contacts <NUM> are arranged in two rows parallel to each other, the invention is not limited thereto, and the contacts <NUM> may be arranged in one row. Further, this invention does not necessarily require the plurality of contacts <NUM>, and it suffices if at least one contact <NUM> is provided.

In the embodiment above, as shown in <FIG>, the flexible conductor <NUM> of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is exposed on the surface of the sheet body <NUM> on the +Z direction side, the flat plate portion 13F of the contact <NUM> makes contact with the inner wall surface <NUM> of the recess portion 16E of the first insulator <NUM>, the protrusion piece 18B of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is sandwiched between the flat plate portion 13F of the contact <NUM> and the outer surface 17E of the jut portion 17B of the second insulator <NUM>, and the second end portion 20B of the flexible conductor <NUM> exposed on the surface of the protrusion piece 18B is electrically connected to the contact <NUM>; however, the invention is not limited thereto.

The flexible conductor <NUM> of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> may be exposed on the surface of the sheet body <NUM> on the -Z direction side. In this case, the flat plate portion 13F of the contact <NUM> is disposed to make contact with the outer surface 17E of the jut portion 17B of the second insulator <NUM>, the protrusion piece 18B of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is sandwiched between the flat plate portion 13F of the contact <NUM> and the inner wall surface <NUM> of the recess portion 16E of the first insulator <NUM>, and the second end portion 20B of the flexible conductor <NUM> exposed on the surface of the protrusion piece 18B is electrically connected to the flat plate portion 13F of the contact <NUM>.

For the sheet type conductive member <NUM> of the connector <NUM>, both portions exposed on the surfaces of the sheet body <NUM> on the +Z direction side and the -Z direction side may be formed by embroidery using conductive threads, so that the flexible conductors <NUM> can be exposed on both surfaces of the sheet body <NUM>.

Aside from that, while the flexible conductor <NUM> of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is formed of a conductive thread embroidered on the sheet body <NUM> in the embodiment above, the invention is not limited thereto, and the flexible conductor <NUM> may be formed by weaving a conductive thread into the sheet body <NUM> made of insulating cloth or knitted fabric.

While in the connector <NUM> according to the embodiment above, the tab sheet <NUM> is disposed between the housing <NUM> and the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, the tab sheet <NUM> may be omitted when it is not particularly necessary to reinforce the portion receiving the connector <NUM> when the connector <NUM> is mounted on the garment <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A sheet type conductive member (<NUM>) that is configured to be attached to a connector (<NUM>) mounted on a mounting object (<NUM>) and that is configured to electrically connect a wiring portion (<NUM>) of the mounting object to a contact (<NUM>) of the connector, the sheet type conductive member comprising:
a sheet body (<NUM>) having an insulating property; and
a flexible conductor (<NUM>) formed of a conductive thread embroidered on or woven into the sheet body so as to be exposed on a surface of the sheet body, the flexible conductor extending along the surface of the sheet body,
wherein the flexible conductor includes a first end portion (20A) electrically connected to the wiring portion, a second end portion (20B) electrically connected to the contact, and a j oint portion (20C) joining the first end portion and the second end portion together,
characterized in that
a density of embroidery of conductive thread indicated by a degree of packing of exposed portions of conductive thread is not uniform but varies and an exposure area of conductive thread per unit area is used as an index representing the density of embroidery of conductive thread or the degree of packing of exposed portions of conductive thread, and
the exposure area of the conductive thread per unit area in the first end portion and the second end portion is larger than the exposure area of the conductive thread per unit area in the joint portion.