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

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, a connector like that shown in <FIG> is disclosed in <CIT>. The connector includes a housing <NUM> and a base member <NUM> separately placed on both sides of a flexible substrate <NUM> to sandwich the flexible substrate <NUM> 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 substrate <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> being 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>, whereby 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, there is a problem that, when a flexible conductor 1B is exposed on the back surface of the flexible substrate <NUM>, the flexible conductor 1B cannot be electrically connected to the contact <NUM> in the connector of <CIT>.

From <CIT> a connection terminal is known which is placed with an opening end of a recessed portion of the connection terminal contacting a top of a flexible substrate, a linking conductive member is pushed from a bottom toward a top of the flexible substrate, whereby the linking conductive member projects inside the recessed portion through the opening end as catching a part of the flexible substrate, and the part of the flexible substrate is sandwiched between a pressing portion of the linking conductive member and a first inner portion in the recessed portion to allow the pressing portion to contact a conductive portion exposed on the bottom of the flexible substrate and allow a contact portion of the linking conductive member to contact a second inner portion in the recessed portion, whereby the connection terminal is electrically connected to the conductive portion of the flexible substrate via the linking conductive member.

From <CIT> a connector is known which includes a base member having a first surface facing a bottom surface of a flexible substrate, a contact having a second surface facing a conductive portion exposed on a top surface of the flexible substrate, a projection protrudingly formed at one of the base member and the contact, a projection accommodating portion of recess shape disposed at the other of the base member and the contact and configured to accommodate the projection as sandwiching the flexible substrate therebetween, and a blade member configured to cut the flexible substrate at a position corresponding to the projection when the projection is accommodated in the projection accommodating portion with the flexible substrate being sandwiched therebetween.

The present invention has been made to solve such an existing problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector 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.

The connector according to the present invention includes:.

Hereinbelow, embodiments of the present invention are described on the basis of the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> shows a connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <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 reinforcing sheet <NUM> and a sheet-like conductive member <NUM> are further held by the housing <NUM> while being stacked with each other. The sheet-like conductive member <NUM> constitutes a connection target to which the connector <NUM> is connected.

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 reinforcing sheet <NUM> and the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> extend along an XY plane, 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 a counter connector.

<FIG> and <FIG> show exploded perspective views of the connector <NUM>. 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>.

The four plug contacts <NUM> are held in the top insulator <NUM>, the reinforcing sheet <NUM> is placed on the back surface 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 reinforcing sheet <NUM>. Four inner contacts <NUM> are 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 four inner contacts <NUM> correspond to the four plug contacts <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 a counter connector accommodating portion in which part of a not-illustrated counter 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>. A holding hole 17C for holding the inner contact <NUM> is formed in each of the four recesses 17B.

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

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 not-illustrated counter connector when part of the counter 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 flange 13B extending along an 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 fitting direction of the connector <NUM> and the counter connector.

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

Each of the four plug contacts <NUM> can be used as a terminal for transmitting an electric signal.

The sheet-like conductive member <NUM> has a multilayer structure in which a plurality of wiring layers each formed of a flexible conductor and a plurality of insulating layers are stacked.

As shown in <FIG>, four contact placement regions 15A for placing the four plug contacts <NUM> are defined on the surface oriented in the +Z direction of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>. A wiring layer 15B is exposed in the +Z direction in each of the four contact placement regions 15A, and an insulating layer 15C is exposed in the region other than the four contact placement regions 15A.

A plurality of cutouts 15D penetrating the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> in the Z direction are formed in the four contact placement regions 15A. Since the cutouts 15D penetrate the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> in the Z direction, as shown in <FIG>, the cutouts 15D are seen in positions corresponding to the four contact placement regions 15A 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>, a wiring layer 15E is exposed toward the -Z direction in each of positions corresponding to the four contact placement regions 15A, and an insulating layer 15F is exposed in the region other than the contact placement regions 15A.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, 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 reinforcing sheet <NUM> is for reinforcing a not-illustrated mounting target such as a garment on which the connector <NUM> is mounted, and is made of an insulating material and has an opening 14A formed at the center. A plurality of notches 14B corresponding to the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM> are formed along the peripheral edge of the opening 14A of the reinforcing sheet <NUM>.

<FIG> show a configuration of the inner contact <NUM>. The inner contact <NUM> is formed of a bent plate member formed of a conductive material such as metal, and has a first constituent portion 18A placed in an end portion in the +Z direction of the inner contact <NUM> along the fitting axis C, a second constituent portion 18B placed on the -Z direction side of the first constituent portion 18A, and a coupling portion 18C that couples the first constituent portion 18A and the second constituent portion 18B such that the first constituent portion 18A and the second constituent portion 18B are apart from each other along the fitting axis C.

The first constituent portion 18A has a flat shape extending along the YZ plane, and has a pair of cantilever portions 18D separately on both sides of the fitting axis C across the fitting axis C, which cantilever portions 18D extend in the -Z direction and of which the distal ends extend in opposite directions to each other in the Y direction.

The second constituent portion 18B has a pair of arm portions 18E that extend from the connection portion with the coupling portion 18C while bending or curving in the -X direction to face each other in the Y direction in the XY plane in such a manner as to form a substantially cylindrical shape surrounding the fitting axis C. Distal end portions of the pair of arm portions 18E are close to each other and face each other in the Y direction.

The coupling portion 18C is inclined in the X direction with respect to the fitting axis C and couples the first constituent portion 18A and the second constituent portion 18B such that the second constituent portion 18B is located on the -Z direction side of the first constituent portion 18A.

The distal ends oriented in opposite directions to each other of the pair of cantilever portions 18D of the first constituent portion 18A form a pair of contact portions P1 that are elastically displaceable in the Y direction orthogonal to the fitting axis C.

Further, the outer surfaces of the pair of arm portions 18E of the second constituent portion 18B form a plurality of pressing portions P2 that are elastically displaceable in the XY plane orthogonal to the fitting axis C. Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the second constituent portion 18B has a substantially trapezoidal contour when viewed in the Z direction, and four pressing portions P2 are formed on the outer surfaces of the arm portions 18E at the four vertices of the trapezoid.

Here, the first constituent portion 18A and the second constituent portion 18B are placed to be apart from each other in the Z direction via the coupling portion 18C, and the four pressing portions P2 of the second constituent portion 18B are configured to be elastically displaceable independently of the elastic displacement of the pair of contact portions P1 of the first constituent portion 18A. That is, one of the elastic deformation in the contact portion P1 and the elastic deformation in the pressing portion P2 does not affect the other.

The inner contact <NUM> further has a fixing portion 18F protruding in the -Z direction from the second constituent portion 18B.

Such an inner contact <NUM> can be easily produced by, for example, bending a metal plate cut in a predetermined shape.

The spacing in the Y direction between the pair of contact portions P1 is set slightly larger than the inner diameter of a portion of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM>, with which portion the pair of contact portions P1 come into contact when the inner contact <NUM> is inserted into the recess 13C.

Therefore, when the inner contact <NUM> is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM>, the pair of contact portions P1 come into contact with the inner surface of the recess 13C with a predetermined contact pressure while being elastically displaced in directions toward the fitting axis C.

The distance between the fitting axis C and each pressing portion P2 in the XY plane is set to be slightly larger than a value obtained by subtracting the thickness of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> from <NUM>/<NUM> of the inner diameter of a portion of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> with which portion the four pressing portions P2 come into contact when the inner contact <NUM> is inserted into the recess 13C.

Therefore, when the inner contact <NUM> is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> while pushing the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> therein, each of the four pressing portions P2 is elastically displaced in a direction toward the fitting axis C, and presses the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> against the inner surface of the recess 13C with a predetermined contact pressure.

As shown in <FIG>, the inner contact <NUM> is held on the bottom insulator <NUM> by inserting the fixing portion 18F into the holding hole 17C of the corresponding recess 17B of the bottom insulator <NUM>.

The four contact through holes 16B of the top insulator <NUM>, the four plug contacts <NUM>, the four contact placement regions 15A of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>, the four inner contacts <NUM>, and the four recesses 17B of the bottom insulator <NUM> are placed to be aligned with each other in the Z direction.

Further, the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM>, the plurality of notches 14B of the reinforcing sheet <NUM>, the plurality of through holes <NUM> of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>, and the plurality of through holes 17D of the bottom insulator <NUM> are placed to be aligned with each other in the Z direction.

When assembling the connector <NUM>, first, as shown in <FIG>, the fixing portion 18F of each inner contact <NUM> is inserted into the holding hole 17C of the corresponding recess 17B of the bottom insulator <NUM>, whereby the inner contact <NUM> is held on the bottom insulator <NUM>.

Next, the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM> are inserted into the plurality of notches 14B of the reinforcing sheet <NUM>. At this time, the four contact through holes 16B of the top insulator <NUM> are located in the opening 14A of the reinforcing sheet <NUM>.

Further, the cylindrical portion 13A of the plug contact <NUM> is inserted into the corresponding one of the four contact through holes 16B of the top insulator <NUM> from the -Z direction, and the bottom insulator <NUM> is pressed in the +Z direction toward the top insulator <NUM> with the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> being interposed therebetween.

At this time, the flange 13B of each plug contact <NUM> is located on the corresponding contact placement region 15A of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>, and each inner contact <NUM> held on the bottom insulator <NUM> is inserted into the recess 13C of the corresponding plug contact <NUM> while pushing the contact placement region 15A of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>.

Since the plurality of cutouts 15D are formed in each of the four contact placement regions 15A of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>, each of the four inner contacts <NUM> is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> while opening the plurality of cutouts 15D of the corresponding contact placement region 15A.

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 notches 14B of the reinforcing sheet <NUM>, the plurality of through holes <NUM> of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>, and the plurality of through holes 17D of the bottom insulator <NUM>. Then, the distal ends of the plurality of bosses 16C protruding on the -Z direction side of the bottom insulator <NUM> are thermally deformed, whereby the top insulator <NUM> and the bottom insulator <NUM> are fixed to each other; thus, the assembly of the connector <NUM> is completed.

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

As shown in <FIG>, the first constituent portion 18A of the inner contact <NUM> is inserted into a deep portion in the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM>, that is, on the +Z direction side in the recess 13C, and the pair of contact portions P1 formed in the pair of cantilever portions 18D of the first constituent portion 18A are pressed against the inner surface of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM>; thus, the inner contact <NUM> is electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM>.

Further, as shown in <FIG>, the second constituent portion 18B placed on the -Z direction side of the first constituent portion 18A via the coupling portion 18C is inserted on the side nearer to an opening end portion of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> than the first constituent portion 18A, that is, on the -Z direction side in the recess 13C. The sheet-like conductive member <NUM> pushed into the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> by the inner contact <NUM> is pressed toward the inner surface of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> by the pressing portions P2 formed in the pair of arm portions 18E of the second constituent portion 18B of the inner contact <NUM>.

Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> is pressed against the inner surface of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> by the four pressing portions P2 of the second constituent portion 18B having a substantially trapezoidal contour when viewed in the Z direction.

Here, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the wiring layer 15B is exposed in the contact placement region 15A on the front surface of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>, and the wiring layer 15E is exposed in a position corresponding to the contact placement region 15A on the back surface of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>.

Therefore, the wiring layer 15B on the front surface of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> comes into contact with the inner surface of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> with a predetermined contact pressure, and the wiring layer 15E on the back surface of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> comes into contact with the pressing portion P2 of the inner contact <NUM> with a predetermined contact pressure.

Accordingly, the wiring layer 15B exposed on the front surface of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> is directly electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM>, and the wiring layer 15E exposed on the back surface of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> is electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM> via the inner contact <NUM>. That is, both the wiring layers 15B and 15E are connected to the plug contact <NUM>.

Thus, in the connector <NUM>, by using the inner contact <NUM>, both the wiring layer 15B made of a flexible conductor placed on the front surface side of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> and the wiring layer 15E made of a flexible conductor placed on the back surface side can be electrically connected to one plug contact <NUM>.

Therefore, when the connector <NUM> is connected to a sheet-like conductive member in which a flexible conductor is exposed only on the front surface side, the plug contact <NUM> can be electrically connected to the flexible conductor on the front surface side of the sheet-like conductive member, and when the connector <NUM> is connected to a sheet-like conductive member in which a flexible conductor is exposed only on the back surface side, the plug contact <NUM> can be electrically connected to the flexible conductor on the back surface side of the sheet-like conductive member.

Further, when the connector <NUM> is connected to a sheet-like conductive member in which a flexible conductor is exposed on each of the front surface side and the back surface side like the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM>, the plug contact <NUM> can be electrically connected to both the flexible conductor on the front surface side and the flexible conductor on the back surface side of the sheet-like conductive member. For example, in a case where the connection target is a sheet-like conductive member of a multilayer structure in which a flexible conductor forming a shield layer is exposed on each of the front surface side and the back surface side, and a flexible conductor forming a signal wiring layer is stacked between the shield layers while being insulated from both the shield layers, the plug contact <NUM> connected to the shield layers on the front surface side and the back surface side is connected to the ground potential, whereby a shielding effect is exerted on the signal wiring layer, and high-accuracy signal transmission can be performed with the influence of disturbance due to electromagnetic waves or the like being suppressed.

While in the connector <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM>, the reinforcing sheet <NUM> is placed between the bottom insulator <NUM> and the top insulator <NUM>, the reinforcing sheet <NUM> can be omitted when it is not necessary to reinforce a mounting target such as a garment to which the connector <NUM> is attached.

<FIG> show an inner contact <NUM> used in a connector according to Embodiment <NUM>. The inner contact <NUM> uses a second constituent portion 28B and a coupling portion 28C instead of the second constituent portion 18B and the coupling portion 18C in the inner contact <NUM> used in Embodiment <NUM> and shown in <FIG>, and the other configurations are the same as those of the inner contact <NUM>. That is, in the inner contact <NUM>, the second constituent portion 28B is coupled to the first constituent portion 18A via the coupling portion 28C.

The second constituent portion 28B has a pair of arm portions 28E that extend from both end portions in the Y direction of a connection portion connected with the coupling portion 28C while curving in the same rotational direction in the XY plane in such a manner as to form a substantially circular cylindrical shape surrounding the fitting axis C.

The outer surfaces of the pair of arm portions 28E of the second constituent portion 28B form a pair of pressing portions P2 that are elastically displaceable in the XY plane orthogonal to the fitting axis C.

The coupling portion 28C has a flat plate shape along the YZ plane, and couples the first constituent portion 18A and the second constituent portion 28B such that the second constituent portion 28B is located apart from the first constituent portion 18A on the -Z direction side.

In this manner, the pressing portion P2 of the second constituent portion 28B is configured to be elastically displaceable independently of the elastic displacement of the pair of contact portions P1 of the first constituent portion 18A.

When the inner contact <NUM> of such a configuration is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> while pushing the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> therein, the pair of contact portions P1 of the first constituent portion 18A are pressed against the inner surface of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> and the inner contact <NUM> is electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM>, and 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 pair of pressing portions P2 of the inner contact <NUM>.

Therefore, also when the inner contact <NUM> shown in <FIG> is used instead of the inner contact <NUM> in the connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>, similarly both the wiring layer 15B placed on the front surface side of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> and the wiring layer 15E placed on the back surface side of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> can be electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM>.

While in <FIG>, the pressing portion P2 is shown only in a central portion of the outer surface of each arm portion 28E of the second constituent portion 28B, it is also possible to configure such that the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> is pressed toward the inner surface of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> with pressing portions P2 that are formed in band shapes along outer peripheral portions of a pair of arm portions 28E forming a substantially circular cylindrical shape.

<FIG> show an inner contact <NUM> used in a connector according to Embodiment <NUM>. The inner contact <NUM> uses a first constituent portion 38A and a coupling portion 38C instead of the first constituent portion 18A and the coupling portion 18C in the inner contact <NUM> used in Embodiment <NUM> and shown in <FIG>, and the other configurations are the same as those of the inner contact <NUM>. That is, in the inner contact <NUM>, the second constituent portion 18B is coupled to the first constituent portion 38A via the coupling portion 38C.

The first constituent portion 38A has two pairs of cantilever portions 38D that are arranged to face each other with a space therebetween in the X direction with each cantilever portion 38D extending along the YZ plane. The two pairs of cantilever portions 38D are coupled to each other via a curved portion <NUM> curved in a U-shape to open in the -Z direction, and each pair of cantilever portions 38D has a similar structure to the pair of cantilever portions 18D of the first constituent portion 18A of the inner contact <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM>.

The distal ends of the two pairs of cantilever portions 38D of the first constituent portion 38A form two pairs of contact portions P1 that are elastically displaceable in the Y direction orthogonal to the fitting axis C.

The coupling portion 38C couples the first constituent portion 38A and the second constituent portion 18B while being inclined in the X direction with respect to the fitting axis C such that the second constituent portion 18B is located apart from the first constituent portion 38A on the -Z direction side.

In this manner, the two pairs of contact portions P1 of the first constituent portion 38A are configured to be elastically displaceable independently of the elastic displacement of the four pressing portions P2 of the second constituent portion 18B.

When the inner contact <NUM> of such a configuration is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> while pushing the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> therein, the two pairs of contact portions P1 of the first constituent portion 38A are pressed against the inner surface of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> and the inner contact <NUM> is electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM>, and 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> with the four pressing portions P2 of the inner contact <NUM>.

When the inner contact <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM> is used, the four contact portions P1 formed in the two pairs of cantilever portions 38D of the first constituent portion 38A come into contact with the inner surface of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM>, and therefore the reliability of the electrical connection between the inner contact <NUM> and the plug contact <NUM> is improved.

<FIG> show an inner contact <NUM> used in a connector according to Embodiment <NUM>. The inner contact <NUM> uses a second constituent portion 48B and a coupling portion 48C instead of the second constituent portion 18B and the coupling portion 18C in the inner contact <NUM> used in Embodiment <NUM> and shown in <FIG>, and the other configurations are the same as those of the inner contact <NUM>. That is, in the inner contact <NUM>, the second constituent portion 48B is coupled to the first constituent portion 18A via the coupling portion 48C.

The second constituent portion 48B has one arm portion 48E that extends from an end portion in the +Y direction of the connection portion connected with the coupling portion 48C while curving in the XY plane in such a manner as to form a substantially circular cylindrical shape surrounding the fitting axis C.

The outer surface of the one arm portion 48E of the second constituent portion 48B forms a pair of pressing portions P2 that are elastically displaceable in the XY plane orthogonal to the fitting axis C.

The coupling portion 48C has a flat plate shape along the YZ plane, and couples the first constituent portion 18A and the second constituent portion 48B such that the second constituent portion 48B is located apart from the first constituent portion 18A on the -Z direction side.

In this manner, the pressing portion P2 of the second constituent portion 48B is configured to be elastically displaceable independently of the elastic displacement of the pair of contact portions P1 of the first constituent portion 18A.

When the inner contact <NUM> of such a configuration is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> while pushing the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> therein, the pair of contact portions P1 of the first constituent portion 18A are pressed against the inner surface of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> and the inner contact <NUM> is electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM>, and 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> with the pair of pressing portions P2 of the inner contact <NUM>.

While in <FIG>, the pressing portion P2 is shown only at a most +X directional point and a most -X directional point on the outer surface of the arm portion 48E of the second constituent portion 48B, it is also possible to configure such that the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> is pressed toward the inner surface of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> with a pressing portion P2 that is formed in a band shape along an outer peripheral portion of an arm portion 48E forming a substantially circular cylindrical shape.

<FIG> show an inner contact <NUM> used in a connector according to Embodiment <NUM>. The inner contact <NUM> uses a first constituent portion 58A and a coupling portion 58C instead of the first constituent portion 18A and the coupling portion 28C in the inner contact <NUM> used in Embodiment <NUM> and shown in <FIG>, and the other configurations are the same as those of the inner contact <NUM>. That is, in the inner contact <NUM>, the second constituent portion 28B is coupled to the first constituent portion 58A via the coupling portion 58C.

The first constituent portion 58A has a flat shape extending along the YZ plane, and has one cantilever portion 18D that extends in the -Z direction on the +Y direction side of the fitting axis C with the distal end thereof extending in the +Y direction and a flat plate portion <NUM> extending along the YZ plane on the -Y direction side of the fitting axis C.

The cantilever portion 18D is the same as the cantilever portion 18D of the first constituent portion 18A of the inner contact <NUM> used in Embodiment <NUM> and has its distal end extending in the +Y direction, and the flat plate portion <NUM> has its distal end extending in the -Y direction at the -Z directional end.

A contact portion P1 is formed at each of the distal end extending in the +Y direction of the cantilever portion 18D and the distal end extending in the -Y direction of the flat plate portion <NUM>. Due to elastic deformation of the cantilever portion 18D having a shape extending in the -Z direction, the pair of contact portions P1 formed at the distal end of the cantilever portion 18D and the distal end of the flat plate portion <NUM> can be elastically displaced mutually in the Y direction orthogonal to the fitting axis C.

The coupling portion 58C has a flat plate shape along the YZ plane, and couples the first constituent portion 58A and the second constituent portion 28B such that the second constituent portion 28B is located apart from the first constituent portion 58A on the -Z direction side.

In this manner, the pressing portion P2 of the second constituent portion 28B is configured to be elastically displaceable independently of the elastic displacement of the pair of contact portions P1 of the first constituent portion 58A.

When the inner contact <NUM> of such a configuration is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> while pushing the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> therein, the pair of contact portions P1 of the first constituent portion 58A are pressed against the inner surface of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> and the inner contact <NUM> is electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM>, and 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> with the pair of pressing portions P2 of the inner contact <NUM>.

<FIG> show an inner contact <NUM> used in a connector according to Embodiment <NUM>. The inner contact <NUM> uses a first constituent portion 68A and a coupling portion 68C instead of the first constituent portion 18A and the coupling portion 28C in the inner contact <NUM> used in Embodiment <NUM> and shown in <FIG>, and the other configurations are the same as those of the inner contact <NUM>. That is, in the inner contact <NUM>, the second constituent portion 28B is coupled to the first constituent portion 68A via the coupling portion 68C.

The first constituent portion 68A has a double supported beam portion <NUM> extending in both the Y direction orthogonal to the fitting axis C and the +Z direction along the fitting axis C in the YZ plane. The double supported beam portion <NUM> extends along the circumference of an opening <NUM> located in the fitting axis C such that the double supported beam portion <NUM> surrounds the opening <NUM>, and both ends of the double supported beam portion <NUM> are connected to the +Y directional end and the -Y directional end of a base portion of the first constituent portion 68A connected to the coupling portion 68C. A pair of contact portions P1 oriented in opposite directions to each other in the Y direction are formed in the double supported beam portion <NUM>. Each of the contact portions P1 is configured to be elastically displaceable in the Y direction with elastic deformation of the double supported beam portion <NUM>.

The coupling portion 68C has a flat plate shape along the YZ plane, and couples the first constituent portion 68A and the second constituent portion 28B such that the second constituent portion 28B is located apart from the first constituent portion 68A on the -Z direction side.

Thereby, the pressing portion P2 of the second constituent portion 28B is configured to be elastically displaceable independently of the elastic displacement of the pair of contact portions P1 of the first constituent portion 68A.

When the inner contact <NUM> of such a configuration is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> while pushing the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> therein, the pair of contact portions P1 of the first constituent portion 68A are pressed against the inner surface of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> and the inner contact <NUM> is electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM>, and 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> with the pair of pressing portions P2 of the inner contact <NUM>.

Although in <FIG> the pressing portion P2 is shown only in a central portion of the outer surface of each arm portion 28E of the second constituent portion 28B, it is also possible to configure such that the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> is pressed toward the inner surface of the recess 13C of the plug contact <NUM> by pressing portions P2 that are formed in band shapes along outer peripheral portions of a pair of arm portions 28E forming a substantially circular cylindrical shape.

<FIG> shows an inner contact <NUM> used in a connector according to Embodiment <NUM>. The inner contact <NUM> uses a first constituent portion 78A instead of the first constituent portion 68A in the inner contact <NUM> used in Embodiment <NUM> and shown in <FIG>, and the other configurations are the same as those of the inner contact <NUM>. That is, in the inner contact <NUM>, the second constituent portion 28B is coupled to the first constituent portion 78A via the coupling portion 68C.

The first constituent portion 78A is configured such that an auxiliary coupling portion 78J is formed in the double supported beam portion <NUM> in the first constituent portion 68A of the inner contact <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM>. The auxiliary coupling portion 78J extends along the fitting axis C to divide the opening <NUM> surrounded by the double supported beam portion <NUM> into two in the Y direction, and couples a base portion of the first constituent portion 78A connected to the coupling portion 68C and the +Z directional end of the double supported beam portion <NUM>.

A contact portion P1 that is elastically displaceable in the Y direction is formed in each of a portion of the double supported beam portion <NUM> located on the +Y direction side of the auxiliary coupling portion 78J and a portion of the double supported beam portion <NUM> located on the -Y direction side of the auxiliary coupling portion 78J.

Also when the inner contact <NUM> shown in <FIG> is used instead of the inner contact <NUM> in the connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>, similarly both the wiring layer 15B placed on the front surface side of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> and the wiring layer 15E placed on the back surface side of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> can be electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM>.

In Embodiments <NUM> to <NUM> above, the plug contact <NUM> placed in the contact placement region 15A of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> is connected to both the wiring layer 15B exposed on the front surface side of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> and the wiring layer 15E exposed on the back surface side of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM>; meanwhile, for example, it is also possible to configure such that only the wiring layer 15E exposed on the back surface side of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> is connected to the plug contact <NUM> placed in the contact placement region 15A.

While the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> used in Embodiments <NUM> to <NUM> above has a multilayer structure, the sheet-like conductive member is not limited thereto, and may have any structure as long as it has a flexible conductor exposed on at least one surface.

Further, while in Embodiments <NUM> to <NUM> above, the two layers of flexible conductors of the wiring layer 15B and the wiring layer 15E of the sheet-like conductive member <NUM> are connected to one plug contact <NUM>, the configuration is not limited thereto, and three or more layers of flexible conductors may be connected to one plug contact <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A connector comprising:
a plug contact of cylindrical shape, the plug contact (<NUM>) being conductive and having a recess (13C) extending along a fitting axis (C); and
an inner contact (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) formed of a plate member, the inner contact being conductive and inserted into the recess,
wherein the plate member includes:
a first constituent portion (18A, 38A, 58A, 68A, 78A) including a contact portion (P1) that is elastically displaceable in a direction orthogonal to the fitting axis and that comes into contact with the plug contact in the recess;
a second constituent portion (18B, 28B, 48B) including a pressing portion (P2) that is elastically displaceable in a direction orthogonal to the fitting axis independently of elastic displacement of the contact portion of the first constituent portion; and
a coupling portion (18C, 28C, 38C, 48C, 58C, 68C) that couples the first constituent portion and the second constituent portion such that the first constituent portion and the second constituent portion are apart from each other along the fitting axis, and
part of a connection target (<NUM>) of sheet-like shape in which a flexible conductor (15B, 15E) is 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, and the inner surface of the recess comes into contact with a front surface of the connection target while 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.