Patent Description:
The present invention relates also to a connector assembly in which such a connector is attached to a connection target.

These days, what is called smart clothing, which can acquire biological information of a user such as a heart rate or a body temperature simply by wearing, has attracted attention. The smart clothing includes an electrode placed at a measurement point, and can transmit biological information to a wearable device as a measurement instrument by electrically connecting the wearable device to the electrode.

The connection between the electrode and the wearable device can be made by, for example, using a connector to be connected to a flexible conductor drawn out from the electrode.

As a connector of this type, for example, <CIT> discloses a connector like that shown in <FIG>. The connector includes a housing <NUM> and a base member <NUM> placed on both sides of a flexible board <NUM> with the flexible board <NUM> interposed therebetween; in the connector, a cylindrical portion 4A of a contact <NUM> is passed through a contact through hole 2A of the housing <NUM>, and a flange 4B of the contact <NUM> is sandwiched between the housing <NUM> and a flexible conductor 1A exposed on a surface of the flexible board <NUM>.

By pushing the base member <NUM> toward the housing <NUM> in this state, as shown in <FIG>, a protrusion 3A of the base member <NUM> is inserted into a protrusion accommodating portion 4C of the contact <NUM> with the flexible substrate <NUM> interposed therebetween, and the inner surface of the protrusion accommodating portion 4C comes into contact with the flexible conductor 1A with a predetermined contact force, whereby the contact <NUM> is electrically connected to the flexible conductor 1A.

Further, as shown in <FIG>, housing fixing posts 3B formed to protrude on the base member <NUM> are press-fitted into post accommodating portions 2B of the housing <NUM>, and thereby the housing <NUM> and the base member <NUM> are fixed to each other.

By fitting a wearable device to the connector disclosed in <CIT>, the wearable device can be connected to an electrode made of a flexible conductor.

However, when the flexible conductor 1A is exposed on the back surface of the flexible substrate <NUM>, the connector of <CIT> has a problem in that the flexible conductor 1A cannot be electrically connected to the contact <NUM>. <CIT> discloses a connector and a connecting method. The connector includes a pushing member having a projection, a support member disposed to contact a lateral surface of the projection, and a contact made of a conductive material and having a support member facing portion facing the support member, a part of the flexible conductor being disposed between the support member and the support member facing portion of the contact, the lateral surface of the projection pressing the part of the flexible conductor against the support member facing portion of the contact via the support member, whereby the contact is electrically connected to the flexible conductor.

The present invention has been made to solve such an existing problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector and a connector assembly capable of electrically connecting a contact to a flexible conductor of a connection target regardless of whether the flexible conductor is exposed on the front surface or the back surface of the connection target.

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

In accordance with the invention, the insertion portion includes the contact portion and the pressing portion that are formed in the same position in a direction along the fitting axis and, by part of the connection target being sandwiched between the pressing portion and the inner surface of the recess, the insertion portion is elastically deformed such that a spacing between the contact portion and the pressing portion is narrowed, and the contact portion elastically comes into contact with the inner surface of the recess, while the pressing portion elastically presses the part of the connection target toward the inner surface of the recess.

Hereinbelow, an embodiment of the present invention is described on the basis of the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> shows a connector assembly according to an embodiment. The connector assembly includes a connector <NUM>. The connector <NUM> is used as, for example, a garment-side connector for fitting a wearable device, and includes a housing <NUM> made of an insulating material. Four plug contacts <NUM> are held in the housing <NUM>, and a sheet-like conductive member <NUM> is held by the housing <NUM>. The sheet-like conductive member <NUM> forms a connection target to which the connector <NUM> is connected, and the connector <NUM> and the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> constitute a connector assembly.

The four plug contacts <NUM> are arranged in two rows parallel to each other in such a manner as to protrude perpendicularly to the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>.

Here, for the sake of convenience, it is assumed that the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> spreads along an XY plane, and the arrangement direction of the four plug contacts <NUM> is referred to as a Y direction and the direction in which the four plug contacts <NUM> protrude is referred to as a +Z direction. The Z direction is a fitting direction in which the connector <NUM> is fitted to the other-side connector.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the connector assembly. The connector <NUM> includes a top insulator <NUM> and a bottom insulator <NUM>, and the top insulator <NUM> and the bottom insulator <NUM> constitute the housing <NUM>.

Four plug contacts <NUM> are placed on the -Z direction side of the top insulator <NUM>, and the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> is placed on the -Z direction side of the four plug contacts <NUM>. One inner contact <NUM> is placed on the -Z direction side of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>, and the bottom insulator <NUM> is placed on the -Z direction side of the inner contact <NUM>. The inner contact <NUM> corresponds to, among the four plug contacts <NUM>, one plug contact <NUM> located on the -X direction side and the -Y direction side.

The top insulator <NUM> and the bottom insulator <NUM>, the four plug contacts <NUM>, and the one inner contact <NUM> constitute the connector <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the top insulator <NUM> has a recess 16A opened in the +Z direction and four contact through holes 16B formed in the recess 16A. The recess 16A constitutes an other-side connector accommodating portion in which part of a not-illustrated other-side connector is accommodated, and the four contact through holes 16B correspond to the four plug contacts <NUM>. A plurality of bosses 16C protruding in the -Z direction are formed on the surface oriented in the -Z direction of the top insulator <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the bottom insulator <NUM> has a flat plate portion 17A, and four circular recesses 17B opened in the +Z direction are formed in the flat plate portion 17A. The four recesses 17B correspond to the four plug contacts <NUM>. An inner contact temporary holding unit 17C protruding in the +Z direction is formed in, among the four recesses 17B, one recess 17B located on the -X direction side and the -Y direction side, and three protrusions 17D protruding in the +Z direction are formed individually in the other three recesses 17B.

A plurality of through holes 17E corresponding to the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM> are formed in the flat plate portion 17A.

As shown in <FIG>, the inner contact temporary holding unit 17C formed in the recess 17B located on the -X direction side and the -Y direction side of the bottom insulator <NUM> has a columnar portion 17F extending in the Z direction and a pair of temporary holding pieces <NUM> protruding in the +X direction and the -X direction from an outer peripheral portion of the columnar portion 17F. As shown in <FIG>, in a portion where the pair of temporary holding pieces <NUM> are formed, the inner contact temporary holding unit 17C has a width W1 in the X direction.

As shown in <FIG>, each of the protrusions 17D formed in the other three recesses 17B has a substantially regular hexagonal prism shape extending in the Z direction.

Each of the four plug contacts <NUM> is formed of a conductive material such as metal, and is connected to the corresponding contact of the other-side connector when part of the not-illustrated other-side connector is accommodated in the recess 16A of the top insulator <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the plug contact <NUM> has a cylindrical portion 13A in a circular cylindrical shape extending in the Z direction along a fitting axis C and a first flange 13B spreading along the XY plane from an end portion in the -Z direction of the cylindrical portion 13A. As shown in <FIG>, a recess 13C opened in the -Z direction is formed in the interior of the cylindrical portion 13A.

The fitting axis C is an axis passing through the center of the cylindrical portion 13A and extending in the direction of fitting of the connector <NUM> and the other-side connector.

Although the cylindrical portion 13A has a circular cylindrical shape, the cross-sectional shape is not limited to a circular shape but may have various cross-sectional shapes such as an ellipse and a polygon as long as the cylindrical portion has the recess 13C in its interior.

Among the four plug contacts <NUM>, one plug contact <NUM> located on the -X direction side and the -Y direction side is connected to the ground potential and used as a shield terminal, and the other three plug contacts <NUM> are each used as a signal terminal for transmitting an electric signal.

As shown in <FIG>, the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> has a sheet main body 15A made of an insulating material, and has a multilayer structure in which a signal wiring layer 15B formed of a flexible conductor, an insulating layer 15C, a shield layer 15D formed of a flexible conductor, and an insulating layer 15E are sequentially stacked on the front surface oriented in the +Z direction of the sheet main body 15A and a shield layer 15F formed of a flexible conductor and an insulating layer <NUM> are sequentially stacked on the back surface oriented in the -Z direction of the sheet main body 15A.

As shown in <FIG>, four contact placement regions <NUM> for placing the four plug contacts <NUM> are defined on the surface oriented in the +Z direction of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>. Among the four contact placement regions <NUM>, one contact placement region <NUM> located on the -X direction side and the -Y direction side forms a region R1 where the plug contact <NUM> used as a shield terminal is placed, and the remaining three contact placement regions <NUM> each form a region R2 where the plug contact <NUM> used as a signal terminal is placed.

The sheet-like conductive member <NUM> has a circular opening 15J formed in region R1. The opening 15J corresponds to the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM>, and penetrates the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> in the Z direction. Further, the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> has a substantially rectangular protruding portion <NUM> protruding from an edge portion of the opening 15J into the opening 15J.

On the other hand, in each of the three regions R2 placed on the surface oriented in the +Z direction of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>, the signal wiring layer 15B is exposed in the +Z direction by removing the insulating layer 15E, the shield layer 15D, and the insulating layer 15C.

Further, the insulating layer 15E is exposed in the region other than regions R1 and R2.

A plurality of through holes <NUM> corresponding to the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM> are formed in a peripheral edge portion of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the protruding portion <NUM> in region R1 protrudes in the - Y direction from an edge portion on the +Y direction side of the opening 15J into the opening 15J, and in the protruding portion <NUM>, the shield layer 15D is exposed in the +Z direction by removing the insulating layer 15E.

Since the opening 15J penetrates the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> in the Z direction, as shown in <FIG>, the opening 15J and the protruding portion <NUM> are seen in a position corresponding to region R1 also on the back surface oriented in the -Z direction of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>.

On the back surface oriented in the -Z direction of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>, the insulating layer <NUM> is exposed in the region other than the position corresponding to region R1. Further, as shown in <FIG>, in the protruding portion <NUM>, the shield layer 15F is exposed in the -Z direction by removing the insulating layer <NUM>.

<FIG> show a configuration of the inner contact <NUM>. The inner contact <NUM> is formed of a conductive material such as metal, and has a cylindrical, elastically deformable insertion portion 18A through which the fitting axis C passes and a second flange 18B spreading along the XY plane from an end portion in the -Z direction of the insertion portion 18A. The insertion portion 18A is to be inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> through the opening 15J in region R1 of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>, and has a large-diameter portion 18C placed on the -Z direction side and a small-diameter portion 18D joined to the +Z direction side of the large-diameter portion 18C. Each of the large-diameter portion 18C and the small-diameter portion 18D has a circular cylindrical shape with the center at the fitting axis C, and the small-diameter portion 18D has a diameter smaller than the large-diameter portion 18C.

The inner diameter D1 of the small-diameter portion 18D is formed slightly smaller than the width W1 in the X direction of the inner contact temporary holding unit 17C in a portion of the bottom insulator <NUM> where the pair of temporary holding pieces <NUM> are formed as shown in <FIG>.

Therefore, by putting the insertion portion 18A of the inner contact <NUM> on the inner contact temporary holding unit 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM>, the pair of temporary holding pieces <NUM> of the inner contact temporary holding unit 17C are fitted to the interior of the small-diameter portion 18D, and the inner contact <NUM> can be temporarily held on the inner contact temporary holding unit 17C.

A contact portion P1 and a pressing portion P2 placed on opposite sides across the fitting axis C are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion 18C. The contact portion P1 and the pressing portion P2 are placed in substantially the same position in the Z direction along the fitting axis C; the contact portion P1 is located on the -Y direction side, and the pressing portion P2 is located on the +Y direction side.

The spacing in the Y direction between the contact portion P1 and the pressing portion P2, that is, the outer diameter D2 of the large-diameter portion 18C is set slightly larger than a value obtained by subtracting the thickness of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> from the inner diameter of a portion of the recess 13C with which the contact portion P1 and the pressing portion P2 come into contact when the inner contact <NUM> is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM>.

The inner diameter of the large-diameter portion 18C is formed larger than the diameter or the width in the X direction of any portion of the inner contact temporary holding unit 17C.

As shown in <FIG>, the protruding portion <NUM> in region R1 of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> protrudes in the -Y direction from an edge portion on the +Y direction side of the opening 15J. Therefore, when the inner contact <NUM> is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> through the opening 15J of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>, the protruding portion <NUM> is pushed into the recess 13C by the inner contact <NUM> and sandwiched between the pressing portion P2 formed on the +Y direction side of the large-diameter portion 18C and the inner surface on the +Y direction side of the recess 13C, and the contact portion P1 formed on the -Y direction side of the large-diameter portion 18C comes into contact with the inner surface on the - Y direction side of the recess 13C.

Here, since the spacing in the Y direction between the contact portion P1 and the pressing portion P2 is set slightly larger than a value obtained by subtracting the thickness of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> from the inner diameter of a portion of the recess 13C with which the contact portion P1 and the pressing portion P2 come into contact when the inner contact <NUM> is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM>, each of the contact portion P1 and the pressing portion P2 receives a force F1 in the Y direction from the inner surface of the recess 13C toward the fitting axis C, and as indicated by the broken line in <FIG>, the insertion portion 18A of the inner contact <NUM> is elastically deformed such that the spacing in the Y direction between the contact portion P1 and the pressing portion P2 is narrowed.

Although each of the large-diameter portion 18C and the small-diameter portion 18D of the insertion portion 18A has a circular cylindrical shape with the center at the fitting axis C, the shape is not limited to a circular cylindrical shape, and may be any shape as long as it is, for example, a cylindrical shape having any of various cross-sectional shapes such as an ellipse and a polygon.

The four contact through holes 16B of the top insulator <NUM>, the four plug contacts <NUM>, the four contact placement regions <NUM> of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>, and the four recesses 17B of the bottom insulator <NUM> are placed in positions aligned with each other in the Z direction.

The inner contact <NUM> is placed in a position aligned in the Z direction with, among the four contact placement regions <NUM> of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>, the contact placement region <NUM> forming region R1 and located on the -X direction side and the -Y direction side and, among the four recesses 17B of the bottom insulator <NUM>, the recess 17B located on the -X direction side and the -Y direction side where the inner contact temporary holding unit 17C is formed.

The plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM>, the plurality of through holes <NUM> of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>, and the plurality of through holes 17E of the bottom insulator <NUM> are placed in positions aligned with each other in the Z direction.

In assembling the connector assembly, first, the cylindrical portion 13A of each plug contact <NUM> is inserted from the -Z direction into the corresponding one of the four contact through holes 16B of the top insulator <NUM>, and the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> is placed on the -Z direction side of the four plug contacts <NUM>. At this time, the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> is placed such that the four contact placement regions <NUM> come into contact with the first flanges 13B of the four plug contacts <NUM>.

Further, the insertion portion 18A of the inner contact <NUM> is put on the inner contact temporary holding unit 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM>, and thereby the inner contact <NUM> is temporarily held on the inner contact temporary holding unit 17C.

In this state, the bottom insulator <NUM> is pressed in the +Z direction toward the top insulator <NUM>.

Accordingly, the insertion portion 18A of the inner contact <NUM> temporarily held on the inner contact temporary holding unit 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM> is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> through the opening 15J while pushing the protruding portion <NUM> of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> until the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> is sandwiched between the first flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM> and the second flange 18B of the inner contact <NUM>.

Further, the three protrusions 17D of the bottom insulator <NUM> are inserted individually into the recesses 13C of the corresponding plug contacts <NUM> while pushing regions R2 of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>.

At this time, region R2 of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> while expanding due to the protrusion 17D of the bottom insulator <NUM>; if the stretchability of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> is not sufficient, it is desirable that a plurality of notches penetrating the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> in the Z direction be formed in each region R2 in advance. With this configuration, the protrusion 17D is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> while opening the plurality of notches in region R2.

By pressing the bottom insulator <NUM> against the top insulator <NUM>, the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM> sequentially penetrate the plurality of through holes <NUM> of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> and the plurality of through holes 17E of the bottom insulator <NUM>. Then, as shown in <FIG>, the distal ends of the plurality of bosses 16C protruding on the -Z direction side of the bottom insulator <NUM> are thermally deformed, and thereby the top insulator <NUM> and the bottom insulator <NUM> are fixed to each other; thus, the assembly of the connector assembly is completed.

Each plug contact <NUM> is fixed to the top insulator <NUM> and the bottom insulator <NUM> by the first flange 13B being sandwiched between the top insulator <NUM> and the bottom insulator <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in the plug contact <NUM> used as a shield terminal, the insertion portion 18A of the inner contact <NUM> is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> while pushing the protruding portion <NUM> of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>. Consequently, the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> is sandwiched between the first flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM> and the second flange 18B of the inner contact <NUM>.

Further, the protruding portion <NUM> protruding in the -Y direction from an edge portion on the +Y direction side of the opening 15J of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> is sandwiched between the pressing portion P2 formed on the +Y direction side of the inner contact <NUM> and the inner surface on the +Y direction side of the recess 13C, and the contact portion P1 formed on the -Y direction side of the inner contact <NUM> comes into contact with the inner surface on the -Y direction side of the recess 13C.

Consequently, the insertion portion 18A of the inner contact <NUM> is elastically deformed such that the spacing in the Y direction between the contact portion P1 and the pressing portion P2 is narrowed, and the contact portion P1 of the inner contact <NUM> elastically comes into contact with the inner surface on the -Y direction side of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM>; thus, the inner contact <NUM> is electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM>.

Further, the protruding portion <NUM> of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> sandwiched between the pressing portion P2 of the inner contact <NUM> and the inner surface on the +Y direction side of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> is elastically pressed toward the inner surface on the +Y direction side of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> by the pressing portion P2.

Here, as shown in <FIG>, in the protruding portion <NUM>, the shield layer 15D is exposed on the front surface side of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>, and the shield layer 15F is exposed on the back surface side of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>.

Therefore, the shield layer 15D on the front surface side of the protruding portion <NUM> comes into contact with the inner surface on the +Y direction side of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> with a predetermined contact pressure, and the shield layer 15F on the back surface side of the protruding portion <NUM> comes into contact with the pressing portion P2 of the inner contact <NUM> with a predetermined contact pressure.

Accordingly, the shield layer 15D exposed on the front surface of the protruding portion <NUM> of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> is directly electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM>, and the shield layer 15F exposed on the back surface of the protruding portion <NUM> is electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM> via the inner contact <NUM>. That is, both the shield layers 15D and 15F are connected to the plug contact <NUM> used as a shield terminal.

Thus, in the connector <NUM>, by using the inner contact <NUM>, both the shield layer 15D placed on the front surface side of the protruding portion <NUM> of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> and the shield layer 15F placed on the back surface side can be electrically connected to one plug contact <NUM> placed in region R1.

On the other hand, in the three regions R2 where the three plug contacts <NUM> used as signal terminals are placed among the four contact placement regions <NUM> defined on the front surface of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>, each protrusion 17D of the bottom insulator <NUM> is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

When the protrusion 17D of the bottom insulator <NUM> is inserted into the recess 13C of the corresponding plug contact <NUM> while pushing region R2 of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>, the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> pushed into the recess 13C is pressed toward the inner surface of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> by the protrusion 17D.

Here, since the signal wiring layer 15B is exposed in region R2 on the front surface of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> is sandwiched between the side surface of the protrusion 17D and the inner surface of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM>, and the signal wiring layer 15B comes into contact with the inner surface of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> with a predetermined contact pressure and is electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM> placed in region R2.

The signal wiring layer 15B has been subjected to predetermined patterning, and three wiring lines formed of the signal wiring layer 15B and insulated from each other are connected individually to the three plug contacts <NUM> placed in the three regions R2.

As shown in <FIG>, the signal wiring layer 15B is stacked between the shield layer 15D placed on the front surface side of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> and the shield layer 15F placed on the back surface side in a state of being insulated from these shield layers 15D and 15F; therefore, a shielding effect on the signal wiring layer 15B is exerted by connecting the plug contact <NUM> placed in region R1 and connected to the shield layer 15D and the shield layer 15F to the ground potential, and high-accuracy signal transmission in which the influence of disturbance due to electromagnetic waves or the like is suppressed can be performed.

Although in <FIG> the contact portion P1 and the pressing portion P2 are each shown as a point on the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion 18C of the inner contact <NUM>, a contact portion P1 and a pressing portion P2 extending linearly along the Z direction can be set because the large-diameter portion 18C has a circular cylindrical shape with the center at the fitting axis C.

Although in the above embodiment the protruding portion <NUM> of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> has a substantially rectangular shape protruding from an edge portion of the opening 15J into the opening 15J, the shape of the protruding portion is not limited to the shape of the protruding portion <NUM> as long as the protruding portion is one that, when the insertion portion 18A of the inner contact <NUM> is being inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM>, is pushed into the recess 13C together with the insertion portion 18A and is sandwiched between the pressing portion P2 of the insertion portion 18A and the inner surface of the recess 13C.

Further, although in the above embodiment the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> has one protruding portion <NUM> protruding into the opening 15J, the number of protruding portions <NUM> is not limited to one, and also a configuration is possible in which two or more protruding portions <NUM> protrude from an edge portion of the opening 15J into the opening 15J and these two or more protruding portions <NUM> are sandwiched between the pressing portion P2 of the insertion portion 18A and the inner surface of the recess 13C.

Further, in the above embodiment, in assembling the connector assembly, the bottom insulator <NUM> is pressed toward the top insulator <NUM> after the inner contact <NUM> is temporarily held on the inner contact temporary holding unit 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM>; however, it is not always necessary to temporarily hold the inner contact <NUM> on the inner contact temporary holding unit 17C.

For example, also the following method is possible: the cylindrical portions 13A of the plug contacts <NUM> are inserted into the corresponding four contact through holes 16B of the top insulator <NUM>, and the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> is placed on the -Z direction side of the four plug contacts <NUM>; in this state, the insertion portion 18A of the inner contact <NUM> is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> placed in region R1 of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> while pushing the protruding portion <NUM>, and then the bottom insulator <NUM> is pressed toward the top insulator <NUM>. By this method, the inner contact temporary holding unit 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM> becomes unnecessary.

In the above embodiment, the plug contact <NUM> placed in region R1 of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> is connected to both the shield layer 15D exposed on the front surface side of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> and the shield layer 15F exposed on the back surface side of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>; however, for example, also a configuration is possible in which only the shield layer 15F exposed on the back surface side of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> is connected to the plug contact <NUM> placed in region R1.

Although the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> used in the above embodiment has the multilayer structure shown in <FIG>, the sheet-like conductive member is not limited thereto, and may have any structure as long as it has at least a flexible conductor placed on at least one surface of the sheet main body.

Further, although in the above embodiment the two conductive layers of the shield layer 15D and the shield layer 15F of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> are connected to one plug contact <NUM> used as a shield terminal, the configuration is not limited thereto, and three or more conductive layers may be connected to one plug contact <NUM>.

Further, although the connector <NUM> in the above embodiment includes four plug contacts <NUM> including a contact used as a shield terminal and a contact used as a signal terminal, the configuration is not limited to this number of plug contacts <NUM>, and may be any configuration as long as it includes at least one plug contact <NUM> to be electrically connected to a flexible conductor placed on the front surface side or the back surface side of the sheet main body of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A connector comprising:
a plug contact (<NUM>) in a cylindrical shape having conductivity and having a recess (13C) extending along a fitting axis (C); and
an inner contact (<NUM>) having conductivity and having an insertion portion (18A) in a cylindrical shape which is elastically deformable, which is inserted into the recess, and through which the fitting axis passes,
wherein the insertion portion includes: a contact portion (P1) that is placed on an outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion and that comes into contact with the plug contact in the recess; and a pressing portion (P2) placed on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion and on an opposite side to the contact portion across the fitting axis, and
part of a sheet-like connection target (<NUM>) having a flexible conductor (15B, 15D, 15F) exposed on at least one surface is sandwiched between the pressing portion and an inner surface of the recess in a direction orthogonal to the fitting axis, the inner surface of the recess comes into contact with a front surface of the connection target, and the pressing portion comes into contact with a back surface of the connection target, whereby the plug contact is directly electrically connected to the flexible conductor in a case where the flexible conductor is exposed on the front surface of the connection target, and the plug contact is electrically connected to the flexible conductor via the inner contact in a case where the flexible conductor is exposed on the back surface of the connection target,
the insertion portion (18A) includes the contact portion (P1) and the pressing portion (P2) that are formed in the same position in a direction along the fitting axis,
charactrized in that:
by part of the connection target (<NUM>) being sandwiched between the pressing portion and the inner surface of the recess, the insertion portion (18A) is elastically deformed such that a spacing between the contact portion and the pressing portion is narrowed, and the contact portion (P1) elastically comes into contact with the inner surface of the recess, while the pressing portion (P2) elastically presses the part of the connection target toward the inner surface of the recess.