JP2880959B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector for interconnecting a plurality of circuit boards, and more particularly, to mechanically and electrically interconnecting a plurality of circuit boards used in electronic equipment such as a personal computer. Related to connectors.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, connectors shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are known as connectors for mutually connecting a plurality of circuit boards. A connector 13 shown in FIG. 1 is called a stacking type, and electrically and mechanically connects a first circuit board 11 and a second circuit board 12 used in electronic equipment such as a personal computer. First and second circuit boards 1
Reference numerals 1 and 12 each include a plurality of laminated boards and metal wiring arranged in each laminated board. The connector 13 includes a plug 19 mounted on the first circuit board 11 and a receptacle 20 mounted on the second circuit board 12.

In the case where the first circuit board 11 and the second circuit board 12 are connected to each other by the above-mentioned conventional connector 13, the guides on the plug 19 side are made while keeping the two circuit boards 11 and 12 parallel to each other. Recess 19a and receptacle 20
The guide protrusions 20a on the side are engaged with each other. At this time, the contact 17 on the plug 19 contacts the contact 18 while being inserted into the insertion groove 20b on the receptacle 20, and the first circuit board 11 and the second circuit board 12 are electrically and mechanically mutually connected. Connected. In this state, the signal from the first circuit board 11 is transmitted to the second circuit board 12 from the contact 18 of the receptacle 20 via the contact 17 of the plug 19, and the signal from the second circuit board 12 is Is transmitted from the contact 17 of the plug 19 to the first circuit board 11 via the contact 18 of the receptacle 20.

[0004]

The above conventional connector 1
In No. 3, the plug 19 and the receptacle 20 each have a frame, and the protruding height from the first and second circuit boards 11 and 12 increases, so that the distance between the boards connected to each other increases. For this reason, when assembling the first and second circuit boards 11 and 12 into an electronic device, a larger space is required, and it is difficult to achieve space saving. The plug 19 and the receptacle 20 have a frame as a dedicated component for connecting the first and second circuit boards 11 and 12, and the material and the surface treatment method thereof are different from those of the laminated board, so that the material cost increases. At the same time, it is difficult to reduce man-hours during manufacturing.

[0005] In view of the above, the present invention reduces the space between boards when they are connected to each other, realizes a space saving required for assembling in electronic equipment, suppresses material costs, and reduces man-hours during manufacturing. An object is to provide a connector that can be reduced.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, a connector according to the present invention comprises a plug mounted on a first circuit board and a receptacle mounted on a second circuit board, and the receptacle and the plug are fitted together. In the connector for mechanically and electrically connecting the first circuit board and the second circuit board to each other by causing the plug, the plug has a part of the laminated board constituting the first circuit board protruding from the board surface. A projection is provided, and a contact supported by the projection and connected to the metal wiring in the first circuit board is provided.

In the connector of the present invention, the plug, which is one of the components, is formed as a part of the first circuit board, not as a dedicated part having a frame and independent of the circuit board, so that the plug is connected to each other. The space between the substrates is reduced by the absence of the frame, and the space required for assembling into the electronic device can be reduced to realize space saving.

[0008] Preferably, the first circuit board is configured as a flexible board. Also, preferably, the uppermost laminated plate is formed as a film substrate, and a part of the film substrate is cut out and bent outward to form the protrusion. Further, the lowermost layer laminate is formed as a film substrate, and a part of the film substrate is cut out and bent, and penetrates through the laminate of the multilayer flexible substrate and projects from the uppermost layer to form the projecting portion. Is preferably formed.

It is preferable that the projecting portion extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the first circuit board. Further, it is a desirable embodiment that the projecting portion has a substantially crank shape that extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the first circuit board and then extends in a direction substantially parallel to the surface. Further, it is preferable that the receptacle extends in a direction substantially parallel to a surface of the second circuit board.

[0010]

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention and a circuit board on which the connector is mounted.
FIG. 2 is a II-II view of the connector part of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
Is composed of a plug 25 and a receptacle 26. The plug 25 is mounted at a substantially central portion of the first circuit board 21, and the receptacle 26 is mounted at a substantially central portion of the second circuit board 22. First circuit board 21 and second circuit board 2
Reference numeral 2 denotes a substrate in which metal wiring and an insulating film are sequentially stacked to form a multilayer wiring, that is, a substrate in which metal wiring such as copper foil is provided in each laminated plate.

The first circuit board 21 is configured as a flexible board including a multilayer flexible board and a film board 31 attached to the uppermost layer of the multilayer flexible board. 1 and 2, the first and second circuit boards 21, 2
Although each laminate 2 is described as being thicker than it actually is,
The circuit board 21 is a flexible board, and each laminated board is actually about 1.2 mm to 1.6 mm. Also,
The second circuit board 22 is not necessarily a flexible board, but may be a hard-plate type multilayer board. In that case, the overall thickness is greater than the first circuit board 21.

The receptacle 26 is formed of a separate member from the substrate 22 adhered to the second circuit board 22 and includes a plug 25.
Is provided with a generally I-shaped mold portion 26a having an insertion groove 26b into which the groove 26 is inserted. An inclined surface is formed near the entrance of the insertion groove 26b to smoothly guide the plug 25 into the inside. The tip portion of the mold portion 26a has an insertion groove 26.
b, and exposed at the rear end of the second circuit board 22.
A plurality of contacts 28 projecting to the side are provided. Further, each of the plurality of contacts 28 is connected to a metal wiring in each laminated board of the second circuit board 22.

The plug 25 is formed by cutting out a part of the film substrate 31 which is the uppermost laminated plate and bending outwardly at a substantially right angle to the surface 21b and corresponding to the plurality of contacts 28. A plurality of contacts 32 and a support member 2 composed of separate members adhered before and after the protruding portion 30
9a and 29b. Each of the plurality of contacts 32 is connected to a metal wiring in each laminated board of the first circuit board 21.

The support members 29a and 29b are each made of a hard synthetic resin material, and hold the relatively soft plug 25, which is a part of the film substrate 31, in the protruding shape shown in FIG. 26 is made stable. The support member 29a has a substantially triangular prism shape, and two mutually orthogonal surfaces are bonded to the protruding portion 30 and the film substrate 31. Similarly, the support member 29b has a substantially triangular prism shape and has two mutually orthogonal shapes. The surface is the protrusion 30
And the portion of the multilayer flexible substrate exposed from the film substrate 31. The protruding portion 30 is held in the protruding state in FIG. 1 by the support members 29a and 29b.
The slope of each of the support members 29a and 29b is
No. 6 comes into contact with the inclined surface near the entrance of the insertion groove 26b without a gap.

In the connector 23 having the above-described structure, the first circuit board 21 and the second circuit board 22 are parallel to each other, and the plug 25 is moved upward in the drawing while being fitted into the insertion groove 26b of the receptacle 26. Combine. At this time, plug 2
5 is guided to the inclined surface near the entrance of the insertion groove 26b, is smoothly inserted while the contact 32 is in contact with the contact 28, and further, the slope of each of the support members 29a, 29b is inserted into the insertion groove 26b.
Abuts the inclined surface near the entrance of the vehicle without gaps. This allows
The first circuit board 21 and the second circuit board 22 are electrically and mechanically connected.

In the above connection state, the first circuit board 21
The signal from the side is transmitted from the contact 28 of the receptacle 26 to the second circuit board 22 via the contact 32 of the plug 25, and the signal from the second circuit board 22 is The signal is transmitted from the contact 32 of the plug 25 to the first circuit board 21 via.

The plug 2 which is one part of the connector 23
5 is formed not as a dedicated component independent of the second circuit board 23 but as a part of the first circuit board 21. For this reason, a separate member is not required, and material costs and man-hours during manufacturing are reduced. Further, the plug 25 and the receptacle 26
Space at the time of connection, and both circuit boards 2 after connection
The interval between 1 and 22 is reduced by the absence of the frame. As a result, it is possible to reduce the space required for assembling the electronic device and save space. Furthermore,
The protruding portion 30 is formed using a part of the extremely thin film substrate 31, and the size of the plug 25 is smaller and shorter, so that a physical mounting space in an electronic device such as a personal computer can be reduced. Thereby, it is easy to insert a finger or a tool at the time of assembling work or maintenance, workability is improved, and productivity and maintainability are improved.

Since the connector 23 can be used in places where dimensional restrictions are severe, it is not necessary to forcibly bypass the flexible board to connect it to another circuit board. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of connector connection parts and to expect a cost reduction by reducing the number of connector parts.

Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. The connector of the second embodiment has a receptacle having substantially the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, but uses a plug having a different shape. In the second embodiment,
The same reference numerals as in the first embodiment denote the same parts on the receptacle side, and a description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first circuit board 21 of the second embodiment is a flexible board composed of a multilayer flexible board and a film board 36 attached to the lowermost layer of the multilayer flexible board. Is configured as The projecting portion 34 of the plug 35 is formed by cutting out a part of a film substrate 36, which is the lowermost laminated plate, and bending the film substrate 36 substantially at right angles to the surface 21 b to form a through groove 21 a formed in the first circuit board 21. Project from the top layer through. Projection 3
4, a plurality of contacts 37 connected to the metal wiring of the first circuit board 21 are provided corresponding to the plurality of contacts 28 on the receptacle 26 side.

Further, a portion of the film substrate 36 corresponding to a lower portion of the projecting portion 34 is provided with the first circuit board 21 of the projecting portion 34.
Support member 39 for maintaining a posture with respect to the plug 35 and stabilizing the joint shape between the plug 35 and the receptacle 26.
Are bonded to the lower part of the protruding portion 34 and the multilayer flexible substrate exposed from the film substrate 36. The support member 39 is made of a hard synthetic resin material. In the second embodiment, the slopes of the support members 29a and 29b provided on the plug 25 side in the first embodiment do not exist.
Since the periphery of the plug 35 protruding from the first circuit board 21 is flat, no inclined surface is formed near the entrance of the insertion groove 26b of the receptacle 26.

Connector 3 having plug 35 having the above structure
According to 3, the plug 35 and the receptacle 26 are electrically and mechanically connected to each other, and the same effect as the connector 23 shown in the first embodiment can be obtained.

Further, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described. In the connector 43 of the third embodiment, the shape of the receptacle together with the plug is different from that of the first embodiment.

First circuit board 21 in the third embodiment
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, is configured as a flexible substrate including a multilayer flexible substrate and a film substrate 31 attached to the uppermost layer of the multilayer flexible substrate. The projecting portion 44 of the plug 45 is formed by cutting out a part of the film substrate 31 which is the uppermost laminated plate, and
And a substantially crank shape extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface 21b after extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the surface 21b.

The receptacle 46 according to the third embodiment has the same orientation as the receptacle 26 according to the first embodiment.
It is changed by 0 ° and adhered to the second circuit board 22, and has a shape extending in a direction substantially parallel to the surface 22b of the second circuit board 22. The receptacle 46 includes a plug 45
Is provided with a generally I-shaped mold portion 46a having an insertion groove 46b into which the groove is inserted. The mold portion 24a includes a plurality of contacts 48 whose front ends are exposed near the entrance of the insertion groove 46b and whose rear ends are bent toward the second circuit board 22 and then project outward from the board 22. .

A plurality of contacts 47 connected to the metal wiring of the first circuit board 21 are provided on the protruding portion 44 so as to correspond to the plurality of contacts 48 on the receptacle 46 side.
The first circuit board 21 of the protrusion 44 is provided on each of the portions corresponding to the outer surface and the inner surface of the protrusion 44 of the film substrate 31.
Members 49a, 49b for maintaining a posture with respect to
Is glued. The support members 49a and 49b are each made of a hard synthetic resin material.

The connector 43 having the above-described configuration also enables the first
The same effect as the connector 23 shown in the embodiment can be obtained. Further, in the connector 43, the first circuit board 21 and the second circuit board 22 are slid in parallel with each other, and the plug 45 and the receptacle 46 are fitted. Only needs to be done.

Although the present invention has been described based on the preferred embodiment, the connector of the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, but may be variously changed from the configuration of the above-described embodiment. Modified and changed connectors
It is included in the scope of the present invention.

[0030]

As described above, according to the connector of the present invention, the distance between the boards when they are connected to each other is reduced,
The space required for assembling into an electronic device can be saved, material costs can be reduced, and man-hours during manufacturing can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention and a circuit board on which the connector is mounted.

FIG. 2 is a view of the connector part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention and a circuit board on which the connector is mounted.

FIG. 4 is a view of the connector part of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention and a circuit board on which the connector is mounted.

FIG. 6 is a view of the connector part of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a conventional connector and a circuit board on which the connector is mounted.

8 is a view of the connector portion of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 First circuit board 22 Second circuit board 23, 33, 43 Connector 25, 35, 45 Plug 26, 46 Receptacle 28, 48 Contact 32, 37, 47 Contact 26b, 46b Insertion groove 30, 34, 44 Projection 31, 36 film substrate

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] A plug mounted on a first circuit board;
A connector that includes a receptacle mounted on a circuit board, and that mechanically and electrically connects the first circuit board and the second circuit board to each other by fitting the receptacle and the plug; A connector comprising: a protruding portion in which a part of a laminated board constituting a circuit board protrudes from a substrate surface; and a contact supported by the protruding portion and connected to a metal wiring in the first circuit board. . 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the first circuit board is configured as a flexible board. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the uppermost laminate is formed as a film substrate, and a part of the film substrate is cut out and bent outward to form the protrusion. Connectors. 4. The lowermost layered laminate is formed as a film substrate, and a part of the film substrate is cut out and bent so as to penetrate another laminated plate and project from the uppermost layer to form the projecting portion. 3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein a connector is formed. 5. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the projecting portion extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to a surface of the first circuit board. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the projecting portion has a substantially crank shape extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the first circuit board and then extending in a direction substantially parallel to the surface. The connector according to any one of the above. 7. The connector according to claim 6, wherein a plug insertion groove formed in the receptacle extends in a direction substantially parallel to a surface of the second circuit board.