Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The disclosures herein relate to a connector. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Electrical equipment generally operates with electric power supplied from a power supply. 
     For the purpose of supplying electric power, connectors are typically used to supply electric power from the power supply to the electric equipment. Such connectors include a male-type connector having one or more male pins and a female-type connector having one or more female sockets, which mate with each other to establish electrical connection, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2. 
     In recent years, the supply of a direct-current high-voltage electric power has been under study for local-area electric power transmission as a measure against global warming. With such a power supply arrangement, power loss is small at the time of voltage conversion and electric power transmission, and, also, there is no need to use thick cables. Especially for information devices such as servers, such a power supply arrangement is believed to be desirable due to their large consumption of electric power. 
     Concerning the electric power that is supplied to electric equipment, there may be a case in which high voltage affects a human body and the operation of electronic components. When high voltage electric power is used, for information devices such as servers, connectors used at the point of electrical connection may need to have a special design that is different from that of normal connectors used for commercial AC power supply because manual work is performed at the time of installment and maintenance of the devices. 
     In the case of a connector in which a switch is embedded, a conventional switch cannot be used when voltage supplied from a power supply is higher than 100 V, or is a direct-current high voltage. When power supplied from a power supply is a direct-current 400 V, for example, a conventional switch for alternate-current 100 V cannot guarantee sufficient safety and reliability, and, thus, there is a risk in the continuing use of such a switch. 
     Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide a connector that can safely supply high-voltage electric power.
     [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-82208   [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-31301   

     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a general object of the present invention to provide a connector that substantially obviates one or more problems caused by the limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
     A connector includes a first connector and a second connector configured to engage with the first connector to establish electrical connection, wherein the first connector includes a first contact terminal, and the second connector includes: a second contact terminal configured to come in contact with the first contact terminal; a switch part connected to the second contact terminal and including a fixed part and a movable part; and a movable member capable of pushing the movable part toward the fixed part, wherein the movable member is pushed by the first connector when the first connector engages with the second connector, and the movable member pushes the movable part toward the fixed part to bring the movable part in contact with the fixed part. 
     According to at least one embodiment, a connector for use with a direct-current power supply or a power supply having higher voltage than a conventional commercial power supply is provided, and can safely supply electric power. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other objects and further features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an oblique perspective view of a connector of a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a lateral view of the connector of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the connector of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is an oblique perspective view of the connector of the first embodiment in an engaged state; 
         FIG. 5  is an lateral view of the connector of the first embodiment in an engaged state; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a plug connector of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the plug connector of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a lateral view of the plug connector of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the plug connector of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the plug connector of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  is an oblique perspective view of the plug connector of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 12  is an oblique perspective view of the plug connector of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 13  is an oblique perspective view of the plug connector of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  is an oblique perspective view of a jack connector of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 15  is an oblique perspective view of the jack connector of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 16  is an exploded view of the jack connector of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 17  is a front view of the jack connector of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 18  is a top view of the jack connector of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 19  is a lateral view of the jack connector of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 20  is a bottom view of the jack connector of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 21  is a drawing illustrating a method of engaging connectors of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 22  is a drawing illustrating the method of engaging connectors of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 23  is a drawing illustrating the method of engaging connectors of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 24  is a drawing illustrating the method of engaging connectors of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 25  is a drawing illustrating the method of engaging connectors of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 26  is a drawing illustrating the method of engaging connectors of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 27  is a drawing illustrating a variation of the connector of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 28  is a drawing illustrating a connector of a second embodiment; and 
         FIG. 29  is a drawing illustrating a variation of the connector of the second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following, embodiments will be described by referring to the accompanying drawings. The same elements throughout the drawings are referred to by the same numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted. 
     [First Embodiment] 
     &lt;Configuration of Connector&gt; 
     In the following, a description will be given of the structure of a connector according to a first embodiment. The connector of the present embodiment includes a plug connector  100  and a jack connector  200  illustrated in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3 . 
     The plug connector  100  has a case part thereof formed of an insulating material, and has three plug-electrode terminals  111 ,  112 , and  113  formed of an electrically conductive material such as metal. The plug-electrode terminals  111 ,  112 , and  113  may be connected to a power-supply cable (not shown). The plug connector  100  has a plug connector coupling part  120  thereof, which is inserted into the interior space of the jack connector  200  for fitting connection. The plug-electrode terminals  111 ,  112 , and  113  are formed to project from the opposite side of the plug connector  100  to the plug connector coupling part  120 . In the description of the present embodiment, the plug-electrode terminal  111  may be connected to the plus of the power supply, the plug-electrode terminal  112  connected to the ground of the power supply, and the plug-electrode terminal  113  connected to the minus of the power supply, for example. 
     The jack connector  200  has a case part thereof formed of an insulating material, and has a recess  201  into which the plug connector coupling part  120  of the plug connector  100  is inserted. The jack connector  200  includes jack-electrode terminals  211  and  212  and a switch part  220 . The jack-electrode terminals  211  and  212  and part of the switch part  220  are mounted on a printed board  260 . The switch part  220  includes a movable part  222  and a fixed part  221 . The fixed part  221  is connected to the printed board  260 , and the movable part  222  is connected to the jack connector  200 . When the jack connector  200  and the plug connector  100  are not engaged, the movable part  222  and the fixed part  221  are not in contact with each other, so that the switch part  220  is in an open state. 
     In the connector of the present embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the plug connector coupling part  120  of the plug connector  100  is inserted into the recess  201  of the jack connector  200  to engage therein for electrical connection, as was previously described. When this happens, the movable part  222  of the switch part  220  comes in contact with the fixed part  221  to establish electrical connection therewith, thereby resulting in a switch-closed state.  FIG. 1  is an oblique perspective view of the connector of the present embodiment when the plug connector and the jack connector are not engaged with each other, and  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  are a lateral view and a top view thereof, respectively.  FIG. 4  is an oblique perspective view of the connector of the present embodiment when the plug connector and the jack connector are engaged with each other, and  FIG. 5  is a lateral view thereof. 
     &lt;Plug Connector&gt; 
     In the following, a description will be given of the plug connector  100  of the present embodiment by referring to  FIG. 6  through  FIG. 13 . As was previously described, the plug connector  100  of the present embodiment includes therein the three plug-electrode terminals  111 ,  112 , and  113  formed of an electrically conductive material such as metal. As illustrated in  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 11 , and  FIG. 13 , an opening  121  is formed inside the plug connector coupling part  120  that is to be coupled to the jack connector  200 , and the opening  121  has plug-contact terminals  131 ,  132 , and  133  provided therein. Inside the plug connector  100 , the plug-contact terminals  131 ,  132 , and  133  are connected to the plug-electrode terminals  111 ,  112 , and  113 , respectively, as illustrated in  FIG. 10  in a representative manner. Namely, the plug-electrode terminal  111  is connected to the plug-contact terminal  131 , the plug-electrode terminal  112  to the plug-contact terminal  132 , and the plug-electrode terminal  113  to the plug-contact terminal  133 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 13 , an indentation  122  is formed in the surface of the plug connector coupling part  120  of the plug connector  100  for the purpose of avoiding easy decoupling of the plug connector coupling part  120  from the jack connector  200 .  FIG. 6  is a front view of the plug connector.  FIG. 7  is a top view of the plug connector.  FIG. 8  is a lateral view of the plug connector.  FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the plug connector.  FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  9 A- 9 B illustrated in  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 11  is an oblique perspective view of the plug connector from the front.  FIG. 12  is an oblique perspective view of the plug connector from the back.  FIG. 13  is an oblique perspective view of the plug connector from the lower surface side. 
     &lt;Jack Connector&gt; 
     In the following, a description will be given of the jack connector  200  of the present embodiment by referring to  FIG. 14  through  FIG. 20 . The jack connector  200  of the present embodiment includes a case part  230  formed of an insulating material, and the recess  201  is provided into which the plug connector coupling part  120  of the plug connector  100  is inserted. The jack-electrode terminals  211  and  212  and the switch part  220  are situated at their respective positions on the case part  230 . As can be understood from  FIG. 16 , the jack-electrode terminal  211  includes a jack-contact terminal  211   a  extending inside the recess  201  of the case part  230  and a jack-connection terminal  211   b  connected to the printed board  260 . By the same token, the jack-electrode terminal  212  includes a jack-contact terminal  212   a  extending inside the recess  201  of the case part  230  and a jack-connection terminal  212   b  connected to the printed board  260 . 
     As was previously described, the switch part  220  includes the fixed part  221  and the movable part  222 . The fixed part  221  includes a spring part  221   a  inclusive of a contact part coming in contact with the movable part  222 , and also includes a fixed-connection part  221   b  connected to the printed board  260 . The movable part  222  includes a jack-contact terminal  222   a  extending inside the recess  201  of the case part  230 , a contact part  222   b  coming in contact with the fixed part  221 , and a spring part  222   c.    
     Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 17 , a movable member  240  is provided on the case part  230  for the purpose of deforming the movable part  222 . The movable member  240  includes a tip part  241  to push and deform the movable part  222  toward the fixed part  221 . The movable member  240  further includes a click  242  for fixing the movable part  222  at such a position that an electrical connection is established between the fixed part  221  and the movable part  222  when the plug connector  100  is engaged in the jack connector  200 . The movable member  240  further includes, at the end facing the plug connector  100 , a contact part  243  coming in contact with the plug connector  100 . 
     The jack connector  200  of the present embodiment is also provided with a hook  231 . The hook  231  is made of a material having spring property such as metal, and includes two arch parts  231   a  and  231   b . The arch part  231   a  serves to maintain the engaged state of the jack connector  200  and the plug connector  100 . The arch part  231   b  serves to maintain the position of the movable member  240  when the movable part  222  is in contact with the fixed part  221 . In the present embodiment, an end  231   c  of the hook  231  pointing to the direction of the plug connector  100  is fixedly mounted in the case part  230 . The hook  231  is deformable while the end  231   c  is fixedly mounted. 
     In the present embodiment, the end  231   c  of the hook  231  is situated on the side where the arch part  231   a  is provided. Namely, the hook  231  is formed such that the end  231   c , the arch part  231   a , and the arch part  231   b  are arranged in this order.  FIG. 14  is an oblique perspective view of the jack connector from the front.  FIG. 15  is an oblique perspective view of the jack connector from the back.  FIG. 16  is an exploded view of the jack connector.  FIG. 17  is a front view of the jack connector. FIG.  18  is a top view of the jack connector in the state in which the fixed part  221  and the movable part  222  are in contact with each other.  FIG. 19  is a lateral view of the jack connector in the state in which the fixed part  221  and the movable part  222  are in contact with each other.  FIG. 20  is a bottom view of the jack connector. 
     &lt;Signal Processing&gt; 
     In the following, a method of coupling connectors according to the present embodiment, namely a method of connecting the plug connector  100  and the jack connector  200  according to the present embodiment, will be described. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 21 , the fixed part  221  and the movable part  222  of the switch part  220  are not in contact with each other when the plug connector  100  and the jack connector  200  are not engaged with each other. 
     The plug connector  100  engages with the jack connector  200  as illustrated in  FIG. 22  and  FIG. 23 . When this happens, the anterior part of the plug connector coupling part  120  of the plug connector  100  comes in contact with the contact part  243  of the movable member  240 , thereby pushing the movable member  240  into a greater depth in the jack connector  200 . With this movement, the tip part  241  of the movable member  240  pushes the movable part  222 , so that the contact part  222   b  of the movable part  222  is brought in contact with a contact part of the spring part  221   a . As a result, the movable part  222  is in contact with the fixed part  221  to establish electrical connection. When the plug connector  100  engages with the jack connector  200 , the plug-contact terminal  131  of the plug connector  100  is in contact with the jack-contact terminal  211   a  of the jack-electrode terminal  211  of the jack connector  200  to provide electrical connection before the movable part  222  comes in contact with the fixed part  221 . By the same token, the plug-contact terminal  132  of the plug connector  100  is in contact with the jack-contact terminal  212   a  of the jack-electrode terminal  212  of the jack connector  200  to provide electrical connection before the movable part  222  comes in contact with the fixed part  221 . In this state, the plug-contact terminal  133  of the plug connector  100  is in contact with the jack-contact terminal  222   a  of the movable part  222  of the jack connector  200  but the movable part  222  is not yet in contact with the fixed part  221 . As a result, the plug-contact terminal  133  of the plug connector  100  is not electrically connected to the fixed part  221  of the jack connector  200 , so that no power is supplied. 
     From the state noted above, the anterior part of the plug connector coupling part  120  of the plug connector  100  pushes the contact part  243  of the movable member  240 , so that the tip part  241  of the movable member  240  pushes and deforms the movable part  222 , thereby bringing the fixed part  221  in contact with the movable part  222 . In this manner, the plug-contact terminal  133  of the plug connector  100  is electrically coupled to the fixed part  221  of the jack connector  200  to supply electrical power.  FIG. 22  is a top view of this state.  FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  22 A- 22 B illustrated in  FIG. 22 . FIG.  24  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  22 C- 22 D illustrated in  FIG. 22 . 
     In this state, the arch part  231   a  of the hook  231  is inserted into the indentation  122  of the plug connector  100 , and the click  242  of the movable member  240  is engaged with the arch part  231   b  of the hook  231 . Consequently, the movable member  240  is kept at its current position, without being allowed to move toward the direction of plug connector  100 . This ensures that the fixed part  221  and the movable part  222  of the switch part  220  be kept in contact with each other. Further, the plug connector  100  is kept within the range of positions defined by the loose fitting of the arch part  231   a  of the hook  231  in the indentation  122 . Namely, even in the state in which the plug connector  100  is detached from the jack connector  200 , the movable part  222  of the switch part  220  is kept in contact with the fixed part  221 .  FIG. 25  is a cross-sectional view taken along the same line as the cross-sectional view illustrated in  FIG. 23 , illustrating the state in which the plug connector  100  is slightly detached from the jack connector  200 .  FIG. 26  is an enlarged view of a relevant part of the cross-section illustrated in  FIG. 25 . 
     When the plug connector  100  is further detached from the jack connector  200 , the arch part  231   a  of the hook  231  is released from the indentation  122  of the plug connector  100 , and the plug connector  100  pushes the arch part  231   a  of the hook  231  outwardly. Because of this, the hook  231  fixed at the end  231   c  thereof is bent, thereby releasing the click  242  of the movable member  240  that has been engaged with the arch part  231   b  of the hook  231 , resulting in the movable member  240  being shifted toward the plug connector  100  due to the restoring force of the spring part  222   c , which is a portion of the movable part  222  of the switch part  220 . Consequently, the movable part  222  is detached from the fixed part  221 , so that the switch part  220  is placed in an open state to disconnect electric power supply. 
     In the connector of the present embodiment, the control of an on-or-off state of power supply is not performed between the plug-contact terminal  133  of the plug connector  100  and the jack-contact terminal  222   a  of the jack connector  200 , but is performed between the movable part  222  and the fixed part  221  of the switch part  220 . With this arrangement, no arc discharge occurs between the plug-contact terminal  133  of the plug connector  100  and the jack-contact terminal  222   a  of the jack connector  200 , thereby increasing the lifetime and reliability of the connector. Since the strong restoring force of the spring part  222   c  is exerted at the time the movable part  222  is detached from the fixed part  221 , high-speed detachment is ensured. Even if arc discharge occurs between these parts, therefore, the duration of arc is extremely short. Damage caused by arc occurring between the fixed part  221  and the movable part  222  would thus be extremely small. 
     The above embodiment has been described with respect to an example in which the switch part  220  is provided for connection with the plug-electrode terminal  113 . Alternatively, as illustrated in  FIG. 27 , a switch part  225  having a movable part  227  and a fixed part  226  similar to the switch part  220  may be provided for connection with plug-electrode terminal  111 . 
     [Second Embodiment] 
     In the following, a second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 28 , the switch part  220  having the fixed part  221  and the movable part  222  is provided for connection with the plug-electrode terminal  113 , and, also, the switch part  222  having the fixed part  226  and the movable part  227  is provided for connection with plug-electrode terminal  111 . With this arrangement, the control of on-or-off state of power supply can be performed substantially simultaneously between the plus side and the minus side. 
     In this case, as illustrated in  FIG. 29 , a single movable member  240   a  that can push the movable part  222  of the switch part  220  and the movable part  227  of the switch part  225  at the same time may be employed. This arrangement reduces the number of components, thereby achieving cost reduction. 
     Configurations other than those described above are the same as or similar to those of the first embodiment. 
     Further, although the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but various variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The present application is based on Japanese priority application No. 2011-176408 filed on Aug. 11, 2011, with the Japanese Patent Office, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Technology Category: 5