Patent Description:
Conventionally, a connector that is mounted on a substrate and is to be fitted to a counter connector along a fitting axis parallel to a mounting surface of the substrate has been used. For example, <CIT> discloses a so-called angle-type connector including an upper contact <NUM> and a lower contact <NUM> that are bent, as shown in <FIG>. The upper contact <NUM> and the lower contact <NUM> are accommodated in insulating and cylindrical housings <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. Further, the housings <NUM> and <NUM> are accommodated in conductive and cylindrical shells <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. In addition, the angle-type connector is mounted on a substrate <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the upper contact <NUM> is formed of a metal sheet having a substantially L shape and includes: a horizontally extending portion 1A linearly extending in a fitting direction in which the angle-type connector is fitted to a counter contact; a contacting portion 1B linearly extending frontward along the fitting direction from a tip of the horizontally extending portion 1A; a downwardly extending portion 1C linearly extending downward from a rear end of the horizontally extending portion 1A; and a mounting portion 1D protruding downward from a lower end of the downwardly extending portion 1C and to be connected to a corresponding circuit pattern of the substrate <NUM>.

The horizontally extending portion 1A is press-fitted into an insertion hole 3A of the housing <NUM> until the downwardly extending portion 1C abuts the housing <NUM>, whereby the upper contact <NUM> is retained by the housing <NUM>.

As with the upper contact <NUM>, also the lower contact <NUM> includes: a horizontally extending portion 2A; a contacting portion 2B; a downwardly extending portion 2C; and a mounting portion 2D, and the horizontally extending portion 2A is press-fitted into an insertion hole 4A of the housing <NUM> until the downwardly extending portion 2C abuts the housing <NUM>, whereby the lower contact <NUM> is retained by the housing <NUM>.

Further, in the connector described in <CIT>, a bulging portion 1E and a bulging portion 2E that bulge rearward are formed in the downwardly extending portion 1C of the upper contact <NUM> and the downwardly extending portion 2C of the lower contact <NUM>, respectively, thereby adjusting the characteristic impedance of the connector. The characteristic impedance of the connector can be adjusted by changing bulging lengths of the bulging portions 1E and 2E; when the bulging lengths of the bulging portions 1E and 2E that extend rearward increase, the characteristic impedance decreases, and conversely, when the bulging lengths of the bulging portions 1E and 2E decrease, the characteristic impedance increases.

However, since the bulging portions 1E and 2E formed to adjust the characteristic impedance of the connector are situated at positions displaced downward from the horizontally extending portions 1A and 2A, which are press-fitted into the insertion holes 3A and 4A of the housings <NUM> and <NUM>, toward the mounting portions 1D and 2D, when the upper contact <NUM> and the lower contact <NUM> are pushed from the rear to the front with respect to the housings <NUM> and <NUM> by means of a tool for example, the upper contact <NUM> and the lower contact <NUM> become unstable in position, so that the upper contact <NUM> and the lower contact <NUM> are not easily press-fitted.

In other words, with the connector of <CIT>, it is impossible to achieve both adjustment of characteristic impedance and facilitation of assembling, disadvantageously.

<CIT> relates to a terminal fitting to be incorporated into a connector having a terminal holding portion made of resin, and the connector.

The present invention has been made to overcome such a conventional problem and is aimed at providing an angle-type connector that can achieve both adjustment of characteristic impedance and facilitation of assembling.

An angle-type connector according to the present invention is one to be fitted to a counter connector along a fitting axis, the angle-type connector comprising:.

<FIG> shows an angle-type coaxial connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> mounted on a substrate <NUM>. The angle-type coaxial connector <NUM> is to be fitted to a counter connector (not shown) along a fitting axis C and includes one contact <NUM>, an internal insulator <NUM> that surrounds the contact <NUM>, a conductive shell <NUM> that surrounds the internal insulator <NUM>, and an external insulator <NUM> that surrounds the shell <NUM>.

The external insulator <NUM> includes a counter connector accommodating portion 15A of recess shape in which part of a counter connector is to be inserted and accommodated when the angle-type coaxial connector <NUM> is fitted to the counter connector, and part of each of the contact <NUM>, the internal insulator <NUM>, and the shell <NUM> is exposed to the inside of the counter connector accommodating portion 15A.

The angle-type coaxial connector <NUM> is mounted on the substrate <NUM> while the external insulator <NUM> is disposed on a surface of the substrate <NUM>.

For convenience, the surface of the substrate <NUM> is defined as extending along an XY plane, the direction in which part of a counter connector (not shown) is inserted into the counter connector accommodating portion 15A of the external insulator <NUM> is referred to as "+Y direction," and the direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate <NUM> is referred to as "Z direction. " The Y direction is a direction in which the fitting axis C extends.

<FIG> shows an assembly view of the angle-type coaxial connector <NUM>. Along the fitting axis C, a first shell <NUM> is disposed on the +Y direction side of the external insulator <NUM>, the internal insulator <NUM> is disposed on the +Y direction side of the first shell <NUM>, the contact <NUM> is disposed on the +Y direction side of the internal insulator <NUM>, and a second shell <NUM> is disposed on the +Y direction side of the contact <NUM>.

The internal insulator <NUM> and the external insulator <NUM> constitute an insulating housing <NUM> that retains the contact <NUM>, while the first shell <NUM> and the second shell <NUM> constitute the conductive shell <NUM> that is retained by the housing <NUM> and surrounds the contact <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the contact <NUM> is formed of a single metal sheet punched out in a substantially L shape and includes a press-fitting portion 12A linearly extending in the Y direction along the fitting axis C, a contacting portion 12B connected to a -Y directional tip of the press-fitting portion 12A, and a lead portion 12C connected to a +Y directional base end of the press-fitting portion 12A.

The contacting portion 12B has a round columnar shape linearly extending from the tip end of the press-fitting portion 12A in the -Y direction along the fitting axis C.

The lead portion 12C has a flat plate shape extending from the base end of the press-fitting portion 12A in the -Z direction orthogonal to the fitting axis C.

The contact <NUM> further includes a mounting portion 12D of pin shape protruding in the -Z direction from a -Z directional tip of the lead portion 12C.

A +Z directional and +Y directional end portion of the lead portion 12C is provided with a press-fitting force receiving surface 12E situated on the fitting axis C and facing in the +Y direction that is an opposite direction from the contacting portion 12B. The press-fitting force receiving surface 12E extends along an XZ plane orthogonal to the fitting axis C.

Here, the contact <NUM> is not formed by bending a metal sheet in an L shape but is formed of a metal sheet punched out in an L shape. Therefore, when a press-fitting force acting along the fitting axis C is applied to the press-fitting force receiving surface 12E situated on the fitting axis C, the contact <NUM> can be press-fitted into and retained by the housing <NUM>. In order to allow the press-fitting force acting along the fitting axis C to be applied to the press-fitting force receiving surface 12E, it is desirable that the press-fitting force receiving surface 12E extends along an XZ plane orthogonal to the fitting axis C.

In addition, the contact <NUM> includes an impedance adjusting portion 12F disposed between the press-fitting force receiving surface 12E of the lead portion 12C and the mounting portion 12D. The impedance adjusting portion 12F is formed by cutting out, in the -Y direction, a Z directional intermediate part of an end surface, facing in the +Y direction, of the lead portion 12C at a position away from the fitting axis C in the -Z direction orthogonal to the fitting axis C.

Thus, the press-fitting force receiving surface 12E and the impedance adjusting portion 12F are disposed at positions different from each other in the Z direction orthogonal to the fitting axis C. Therefore, optimization of the shape of the press-fitting force receiving surface 12E for receiving a press-fitting force acting along the fitting axis C and optimization of the shape of the impedance adjusting portion 12F for matching characteristic impedance can be performed without interfering with each other.

As shown in <FIG>, a width W1 of the lead portion 12C in the Y direction orthogonal to the Z direction in which the lead portion 12C extends is set to be wider than a width W2 of the contacting portion 12B and a maximum width W3 of the press-fitting portion 12A in the Z direction orthogonal to the fitting axis C.

As shown in <FIG>, the internal insulator <NUM> includes a tubular portion 13A extending along the fitting axis C, and an orthogonally extending portion 13B extending from a +Y directional part of the tubular portion 13A in the -Z direction orthogonal to the fitting axis C.

As shown in <FIG>, the tubular portion 13A is provided with an insertion hole 13C which penetrates the internal insulator <NUM> along the fitting axis C and in which the press-fitting portion 12A of the contact <NUM> is to be inserted. The insertion hole 13C has a Z directional width slightly narrower than the maximum width W3 of the press-fitting portion 12A of the contact <NUM> shown in <FIG>. In addition, a lead portion accommodating portion 13D of recess shape communicating with the insertion hole 13C and opening in the +Y direction and the -Z direction is formed in a +Y directional part of the tubular portion 13A and the orthogonally extending portion 13B.

As shown in <FIG>, the first shell <NUM> is formed of a single metal sheet being bent and includes a cylindrical portion 16A extending along the fitting axis C, and a front plate portion 16B extending in the -Z direction along an XZ plane from a +Y directional end portion of the cylindrical portion 16A. A +X directional end portion of the front plate portion 16B is bent in the -Y direction and forms a fixing portion 16C extending in the -Y direction along a YZ plane. Although not shown in <FIG>, as with the +X directional end portion of the front plate portion 16B, also a -X directional end portion thereof is bent in the -Y direction and forms another fixing portion 16C extending in the -Y direction along a YZ plane.

As shown in <FIG>, the second shell <NUM> is formed of a single metal sheet being bent and includes a curved portion 17A that forms part of a cylinder taking the fitting axis C as its center, a rear plate portion 17B that extends along an XZ plane so as to cover a +Y directional end portion of the curved portion 17A, and a pair of lateral plate portions 17C that extend in the -Z direction along a YZ plane separately from a +X directional end portion and a -X directional portion of the curved portion 17A.

A plurality of spring contacting portions 17D are formed to project on a -Y directional end portion of the curved portion 17A and extend in the -Y direction, while a plurality of shell mounting portions 17E are formed on a -Z directional end portion of each of the pair of lateral plate portions 17C to protrude in the -Z direction.

Further, a +X directional end portion and a -X directional end portion of the rear plate portion 17B are bent in the -Y direction and separately form fixing portions 17F extending in the -Y direction along a YZ plane. Similarly, -Y directional end portions of the pair of lateral plate portions 17C separately form fixing portions <NUM> protruding in the -Y direction along a YZ plane.

As shown in <FIG>, the external insulator <NUM> includes a housing body portion 15B having a rectangular cuboid outer shape, and a rear cover portion 15C connected to a +Y directional end portion of the housing body portion 15B. The housing body portion 15B is provided in its interior with the counter connector accommodating portion 15A of recess shape opening in the -Y direction. The rear cover portion 15C is provided in its interior with a second shell accommodating portion 15D of recess shape communicating with the counter connector accommodating portion 15A and opening in the +Y direction and the -Z direction.

When the angle-type coaxial connector <NUM> is assembled, first, the contact <NUM> is moved in the -Y direction from the +Y direction toward the internal insulator <NUM>, whereby the contact <NUM> is retained by the internal insulator <NUM>. At this time, the contacting portion 12B and the press-fitting portion 12A of the contact <NUM> shown in <FIG> are inserted into the insertion hole 13C of the internal insulator <NUM> along the fitting axis C, and by means of a tool (not shown) for example, a force acting in the -Y direction is applied to the press-fitting force receiving surface 12E of the contact <NUM> situated on the fitting axis C, whereby the press-fitting portion 12A is press-fitted into the insertion hole 13C.

Here, unlike the bulging portions 1E and 2E of the upper contact <NUM> and the lower contact <NUM> of <CIT> described above, the impedance adjusting portion 12F of the contact <NUM> does not bulge in the +Y direction from the end surface, facing in the +Y direction, of the lead portion 12C but is formed by cutting out, in the -Y direction, the Z directional intermediate part of the end surface, facing in the +Y direction, of the lead portion 12C. Therefore, without interference of the impedance adjusting portion 12F, a force acting in the -Y direction is applied to the press-fitting force receiving surface 12E by means of a tool (not shown), whereby the press-fitting portion 12A can be press-fitted into the insertion hole 13C.

In addition, since the press-fitting force receiving surface 12E of the contact <NUM> is situated on the fitting axis C and extends along an XZ plane orthogonal to the fitting axis C, by application of a force acting in the -Y direction to the press-fitting force receiving surface 12E, the press-fitting can be stably performed.

When a -Y directional end portion of the lead portion 12C shown in <FIG> abuts an inner wall surface of the orthogonally extending portion 13B situated on a -Y directional end portion of the lead portion accommodating portion 13D of the internal insulator <NUM> shown in <FIG>, the operation of press-fitting of the press-fitting portion 12A into the insertion hole 13C is completed. The contacting portion 12B of the contact <NUM> protrudes in the -Y direction from the insertion hole 13C of the internal insulator <NUM>.

Next, the first shell <NUM> is moved in the -Y direction from the +Y direction toward the external insulator <NUM>, and the fixing portion 16C of the first shell <NUM> shown in <FIG> is press-fitted into a fixed portion (not shown) inside the external insulator <NUM>, whereby the first shell <NUM> is retained by the external insulator <NUM>.

When the internal insulator <NUM> that retains the contact <NUM> is moved from the +Y direction toward the -Y direction with respect to the first shell <NUM> thus retained in the external insulator <NUM>, the tubular portion 13A of the internal insulator <NUM> shown in <FIG> is inserted into the cylindrical portion 16A of the first shell <NUM> shown in <FIG>, and the orthogonally extending portion 13B of the internal insulator <NUM> is situated on the +Y direction side of the front plate portion 16B of the first shell <NUM>.

Further, when the second shell <NUM> is moved from the +Y direction toward the - Y direction with respect to the first shell <NUM>, the +Y directional part of the tubular portion 13A and the orthogonally extending portion 13B of the internal insulator <NUM> and a +Y directional end portion of the first shell <NUM> are covered with the second shell <NUM>. When the pair of fixing portions 17F and the pair of fixing portions <NUM> are press-fitted into the fixed portion (not shown) inside the external insulator <NUM>, the second shell <NUM> is retained by the external insulator <NUM>, whereby the assembling operation of the angle-type coaxial connector <NUM> is completed.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of the thus-assembled angle-type coaxial connector <NUM> when viewed from an obliquely lower position. The lead portion 12C of the contact <NUM> is accommodated in the lead portion accommodating portion 13D of the internal insulator <NUM> and surrounded by the front plate portion 16B of the first shell <NUM> and the rear plate portion 17B and the pair of lateral plate portions 17C of the second shell <NUM>.

In addition, the mounting portion 12D of the contact <NUM> and the plurality of shell mounting portions 17E of the second shell <NUM> protrude from the external insulator <NUM> in the -Z direction.

<FIG> shows a cross-sectional view of the angle-type coaxial connector <NUM> mounted on the substrate <NUM>. The cylindrical portion 16A of the first shell <NUM> extends from the second shell accommodating portion 15D of the rear cover portion 15C to the counter connector accommodating portion 15A of the housing body portion 15B through a through-hole 15F formed in a partition wall portion 15E that is situated at a boundary between the housing body portion 15B and the rear cover portion 15C of the external insulator <NUM> and extends along an XZ plane.

The contact <NUM> is surrounded by the cylindrical portion 16A and the front plate portion 16B of the first shell <NUM> and the curved portion 17A, the rear plate portion 17B, and the pair of lateral plate portions 17C shown in <FIG> of the second shell <NUM> with the press-fitting portion 12A being inserted in the insertion hole 13C of the internal insulator <NUM> and the lead portion 12C being accommodated in the lead portion accommodating portion 13D of the internal insulator <NUM>.

The plurality of spring contacting portions 17D elastically make contact with an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 16A of the first shell <NUM>, whereby the second shell <NUM> is electrically connected to the first shell <NUM>.

The substrate <NUM> has a through-hole 21A that corresponds to the mounting portion 12D of the contact <NUM>, the through-hole 21A penetrating the substrate <NUM> in the Z direction and having an inner wall surface that is provided with a conductive layer such as a plating layer. The mounting portion 12D of the contact <NUM> is passed through the through-hole 21A and soldered, thereby being electrically connected to a wiring layer (not shown) of the substrate <NUM> connected to the through-hole 21A.

Similarly, the substrate <NUM> has a plurality of through-holes separately corresponding to the plurality of shell mounting portions 17E of the second shell <NUM>, and each shell mounting portion 17E is passed through the corresponding through-hole of the substrate <NUM> and soldered, thereby being electrically connected to a ground layer (not shown) of the substrate <NUM> connected to the through hole.

The lead portion 12C of the contact <NUM> includes the impedance adjusting portion 12F formed by cutting out the Z directional intermediate part of the end surface, facing in the +Y direction, of the lead portion 12C. Therefore, characteristic impedance in the lead portion 12C can be adjusted by selecting the Y directional depth and the Z directional length of the cutout in the impedance adjusting portion 12F, signal transmission characteristics can be improved, and high-speed transmission can be stably performed.

The contact <NUM> is formed of a metal sheet punched out in an L shape, and includes the impedance adjusting portion 12F formed by cutting out, in the -Y direction, the end surface, facing in the +Y direction, of the lead portion 12C at a position away from the fitting axis C in the -Z direction. Therefore, without interference of the impedance adjusting portion 12F, the press-fitting portion 12A can be press-fitted into the insertion hole 13C of the internal insulator <NUM> by applying a press-fitting force acting along the fitting axis C to the press-fitting force receiving surface 12E situated on the fitting axis C, so that the angle-type coaxial connector <NUM> can be easily assembled.

In addition, since the press-fitting force receiving surface 12E and the impedance adjusting portion 12F of the contact <NUM> are disposed at positions different from each other in the Z direction orthogonal to the fitting axis C, optimization of the shape of the press-fitting force receiving surface 12E and optimization of the shape of the impedance adjusting portion 12F can be performed without interfering with each other.

In other words, it is possible to achieve both adjustment of the characteristic impedance and facilitation of assembling of the angle-type coaxial connector <NUM>.

While the shell <NUM> that surrounds the internal insulator <NUM> is constituted of the two parts, i.e., the first shell <NUM> and the second shell <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM> above, the invention is not limited thereto, and also a shell constituted of a single part can surround the internal insulator <NUM>.

However, when the first shell <NUM> and the second shell <NUM> constitute the shell <NUM> as in Embodiment <NUM>, the angle-type coaxial connector <NUM> can be efficiently assembled.

Similarly, while the housing <NUM> that retains the contact <NUM> is constituted of the two parts, i.e., the internal insulator <NUM> and the external insulator <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM> described above, the invention is not limited thereto, and the contact <NUM> can be retained by a housing constituted of a single part.

However, when the internal insulator <NUM> and the external insulator <NUM> constitute the housing <NUM> as in Embodiment <NUM>, the angle-type coaxial connector <NUM> can be efficiently assembled.

While the lead portion 12C of the contact <NUM> extends from the base end of the press-fitting portion 12A toward the -Z direction orthogonal to the fitting axis C in Embodiment <NUM> described above, the lead portion 12C is not limited to extending in the direction orthogonal to the fitting axis C, but it suffices if the lead portion 12C extends in a direction intersecting the fitting direction C.

While the present invention is applied to a coaxial connector to configure the angle-type coaxial connector <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM> described above, the invention is not limited thereto.

<FIG> shows an assembly view of an angle-type differential signal connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>. Along the fitting axis C, a first shell <NUM> is disposed on the +Y direction side of an external insulator <NUM>, an internal insulator <NUM> is disposed on the +Y direction side of the first shell <NUM>, a pair of contacts <NUM> are disposed on the +Y direction side of the internal insulator <NUM>, and a second shell <NUM> is disposed on the +Y direction side of the pair of contacts <NUM>.

The internal insulator <NUM> and the external insulator <NUM> constitute an insulating housing <NUM> that retains the pair of contacts <NUM>, while the first shell <NUM> and the second shell <NUM> constitute a conductive shell <NUM> that is retained by the housing <NUM> and surrounds the pair of contacts <NUM>.

The pair of contacts <NUM> are used to transmit a differential signal and configured to be retained by the internal insulator <NUM> with a predetermined interval therebetween in the X direction.

Each of the pair of contacts <NUM> has the same structure as that of the contact <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM> shown in <FIG>. In other words, the contact <NUM> is formed of a single metal sheet punched out in a substantially L shape and includes a press-fitting portion linearly extending in the Y direction along the fitting axis C, a contacting portion connected to a -Y directional tip of the press-fitting portion, a lead portion connected to a +Y directional base end of the press-fitting portion, and a mounting portion protruding in the -Z direction from a -Z directional tip of the lead portion.

Further, as with the contact <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM>, a +Y directional end portion of the lead portion of the contact <NUM> is provided with a press-fitting force receiving surface situated on the fitting axis C and facing in the +Y direction and an impedance adjusting portion situated away from the fitting axis C in the -Z direction and formed by cutting out the +Y directional end portion of the contact <NUM> in the -Y direction.

When the angle-type differential signal connector <NUM> is assembled, as with the angle-type coaxial connector <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM>, first, the pair of contacts <NUM> are retained by the internal insulator <NUM>. Next, the first shell <NUM> is retained by the external insulator <NUM>, and the internal insulator <NUM> that retains the pair of contacts <NUM> is covered with the first shell <NUM> and the second shell <NUM>, whereby the angle-type differential signal connector <NUM> is assembled.

Here, since each of the pair of contacts <NUM> includes, at the position away from the fitting axis C in the -Z direction, the impedance adjusting portion formed by cutting out the +Y directional end portion of the lead portion in the -Y direction, without interference of the impedance adjusting portion, the contact <NUM> can be press-fitted into and retained by the internal insulator <NUM> by applying a force acting along the fitting axis C to the press-fitting force receiving surface situated on the fixing axis C, so that the angle-type differential signal connector <NUM> can be easily assembled.

Thus, when the present invention is applied to a differential signal connector, the angle-type differential signal connector <NUM> that can achieve both adjustment of characteristic impedance and facilitation of assembling is configured.

While the shell <NUM> that surrounds the internal insulator <NUM> is constituted of the two parts, i.e., the first shell <NUM> and the second shell <NUM> also in Embodiment <NUM>, the invention is not limited thereto, and also a shell constituted of a single part can surround the internal insulator <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An angle-type connector (<NUM>) to be fitted to a counter connector along a fitting axis (C), the angle-type connector comprising:
at least one contact (<NUM>, <NUM>) made of a metal sheet punched out in an L shape;
a housing (<NUM>, <NUM>) that has an insulating property and retains the at least one contact; and
a shell (<NUM>, <NUM>) that has a conductive property, is retained by the housing, and surrounds the at least one contact,
wherein each of the at least one contact includes
a press-fitting portion (12A) that linearly extends along the fitting axis and is press-fitted into the housing,
a contacting portion (12B) that linearly extends along the fitting axis from a tip end of the press-fitting portion and is to be connected to a counter contact of the counter connector when the angle-type connector is fitted to the counter connector,
a lead portion (12C) extending from a base end of the press-fitting portion along an intersecting direction intersecting the fitting axis, and
a mounting portion (12D) protruding from a tip of the lead portion in the intersecting direction,
a width (W1) of the lead portion in a direction orthogonal to the intersecting direction is wider than a width (W2) of the contacting portion and a width (W3) of the press-fitting portion in a direction orthogonal to the fitting axis,
the lead portion (12C) includes a press-fitting force receiving surface (12E) situated on the fitting axis and facing in an opposite direction from the contacting portion, and
each of the at least one contact (<NUM>, <NUM>) includes an impedance adjusting portion (12F) situated between the press-fitting force receiving surface and the mounting portion and formed by cutting out, in a direction along the fitting axis, part of the lead portion at a position away from the fitting axis in a direction orthogonal to the fitting axis.