JP3394180B2 - Electrical connection method and electrical connection structure for instrument wiring board - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrical connection method and an electrical connection structure for an instrument wiring board for electrically connecting a flexible wiring board mounted on a meter case of a combination meter and a hard wiring board. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A combination meter is constructed by incorporating a plurality of measuring instruments such as a speedometer, a tachometer, a fuel gauge, and a water temperature gauge. An electric circuit for driving these plural instruments is composed of a flexible wiring board and a hard wiring board mounted in the meter case.

At this time, the control electronic components, which normally require soldering, are mounted on a hard wiring board, other light source circuits and the like are formed on the flexible wiring board, and both the hard wiring board and the flexible wiring board are mounted. It is electrically connected by a connecting connector interposed between the wiring boards. The connector for connection is provided with a plurality of pin terminals, one end of which is fixed to the hard wiring board by soldering and the other end of which is elastically contacted with the connection end portion of the circuit pattern of the flexible wiring board.

[0004]

However, in such an electrical connection structure for a wiring board for an instrument, the flexible wiring board and the connector for connection are connected by a method of making an electrical connection simply by abutting vertically. Since the activation of the site is insufficient and reliability is lacking, conventionally, a wiping process for activating the connected site is provided before the electrical connection process, which increases the number of processes, and eventually There is a problem that it causes high cost.

Therefore, according to the present invention, a method for electrically connecting a wiring board for an instrument, in which electrical connection can be made at the same time while activating the connection portion, thereby reducing the number of steps and thus reducing the cost. And an electrical connection structure.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is for connecting a flexible wiring board and a hard wiring board mounted on a meter case between the wiring boards. A method for electrically connecting a wiring board for an instrument electrically connected by a connector, wherein the flexible wiring board is mounted on the meter case with its pattern surface facing outward, and the hard wiring board has its pattern. The connection connector is fixed to the surface and is assembled in a cover to form a sub-assembly, and the cover has an engaging portion formed at an edge portion along the connection connector and an opposite edge portion thereof. Is formed by piercing a positioning hole, and the meter case is formed with an engagement hole with which the engaging portion engages and a boss portion with which the positioning hole is inserted. The sub-assembly is set by allowing the engaging portion to pass through the flexible wiring board to engage with the engaging hole and bring the positioning hole into contact with the top of the boss portion, and then the engaging portion. It is characterized in that the positioning hole is attached to the meter case by being rotated around the section to externally insert the positioning hole into the boss section.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the invention, when the subassembly is rotated, the connecting end of the connecting connector slides on the connecting end of the circuit pattern of the flexible wiring board, thereby connecting. The connection end of the connector and the connection end of the circuit pattern are activated mutually.

A second aspect of the present invention is an electrical connection structure configured by the electrical connection method for an instrument wiring board according to the first aspect, wherein the positioning hole is a long hole. The boss portion is formed to have an inclined surface portion with which the hole wall of the positioning hole is in sliding contact when the subassembly is rotated, and the engaging portion is loosely inserted into the engaging hole. It is characterized in that it is formed by having a connecting portion and a claw portion formed at the tip of the connecting portion and engaging with the inner surface of the meter case.

Therefore, according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the sub-assembly is attached, the rotation is performed by sliding the hole wall of the positioning hole on the inclined surface portion of the boss portion and connecting the engaging portion in the engaging hole. As the rotation progresses, the sub-assembly moves parallel to the meter case, and the connecting end of the connecting connector slides securely on the connecting end of the circuit pattern of the flexible wiring board. As a result, the connection end of the connector and the connection end of the circuit pattern are activated mutually.

A third aspect of the present invention is the electrical connection structure for an instrument wiring board according to the second aspect, wherein the connection end of the circuit pattern of the flexible wiring board is electrically connected to the connector for connection. It is characterized in that a concave portion is formed in the meter case so as to correspond to the portion.

Therefore, according to the third aspect of the invention, the portion of the flexible wiring board on which the connection end of the circuit pattern is formed can be bent into the concave portion, so that at the connection end of the connection connector when sliding. It is possible to prevent the connection end portion of the circuit pattern of the flexible wiring board from being damaged.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an electrical connection structure 1 constituted by a method for electrically connecting a wiring board for an instrument as an embodiment of the present invention applied to a combination meter 50.
The combination meter 50 includes a speedometer 51, a tachometer 52, and a fuel meter 5 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
3, water temperature gauge 54, odometer 55, indicator 56
A plurality of measuring instruments such as the above are built in the meter case 2. The electric circuit for driving these plural instruments is composed of a flexible wiring board 3 and a hard wiring board 4 mounted on the back surface of the meter case 2. An electrical connection structure 1 constructed by using these two wiring boards 3 and 4
Is configured on the back surface of the meter case 2.

This electrical connection structure 1 includes a meter case 2
The flexible wiring board 3 and the hard wiring board 4 mounted on the wiring board 3 are electrically connected to each other by a connecting connector 6 interposed between the wiring boards 3 and 4, and are generally configured. It is composed of

That is, the flexible wiring board 3 is mounted on the meter case 2 with its pattern surface 3a facing outward. As shown in FIG. 6, the flexible wiring board 3 is formed in such a size as to cover the bottom rear surface of the meter case 2, and a circuit such as an electric circuit for electrically connecting the bulb 57 (see FIG. 8) for the light source. The pattern surface 3a formed by printing the pattern 34 is attached to the bottom rear surface of the meter case 2 with its outside. The circuit pattern 34 is formed to have a connection end portion 35 that is electrically connected to the connection connector 6.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the hard wiring board 4 has the connecting connector 6 fixed to the pattern surface 4a thereof and is assembled in the cover 15 to form a sub-assembly 16. . The hard wiring board 4 has electronic components for control such as a central processing unit (CPU) 8 and a power supply integrated circuit 9 on a pattern surface 4a formed by printing a circuit pattern (not shown), and a connector 10 for an odometer 55 and a connection. The connector 6 is attached by soldering. The connection connector 6 includes a case frame 12 and a plurality of pin terminals 1 attached to the case frame 12 with the upper end 11a and the lower end 11b protruding upward and downward, respectively.
, 11, and so on, and the upper end 11a is attached to the hard wiring board 4 by soldering 13 (see FIG. 1). The hard wiring board 4 is incorporated in a cover 15 together with a heat sink 14 made of a single stainless steel plate member to form a sub-assembly 16.

The cover 15 has a connector 6 for connecting the cover 15.
The engaging portion 30 is formed on the edge portion 15a along with, and the positioning hole 31 is formed on the opposing edge portion 15b. In this embodiment, the positioning holes 31 are formed on both sides of the facing edge portion 15b.

Further, in the meter case 2, as shown in FIG. 6, an engaging hole 32 with which the engaging portion 30 engages and a positioning hole 3 are provided.
A boss portion 33 into which 1 is externally inserted is formed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sub-assembly 16 allows the engaging portion 30 to penetrate the flexible wiring board 3 and engage with the engaging hole 32, and the positioning hole 31 is provided on the top of the boss portion 33. Contact and set (Fig. 2)
(A)) After that, the engaging portion 30 is rotated as a center, the positioning hole 31 is externally inserted into the boss portion 33, and is attached to the meter case 2 (FIGS. 2B and 2C). This sub-assembly 16 is attached by a screw 17 that is screwed into a screw hole 40 (see FIG. 6) of the meter case 2 (see FIG. 8).
Electrical connection structure 1 in which the lower end 11b of the pin terminal 11 elastically contacts the connecting end 35 of the circuit pattern 34.
(FIG. 1) can be configured.

In the electrical connection structure 1 constructed by this electrical connection method, the connection end of the connection connector 6 (the lower end 11b of the pin terminal 11) is rotated by the rotation of the subassembly 16 when it is attached. 3 slides on the connection end 35 of the circuit pattern 34, whereby the connection end of the connector for connection and the connection end 35 of the circuit pattern 34 are activated mutually.

At this time, in the electrical connection structure 1, the positioning hole 31 is formed in a long hole, and the boss portion 33 has a slant surface portion with which the hole wall of the positioning hole 31 is slidably contacted when the subassembly 16 is rotated. 33a, the engaging portion 30 is formed with the connecting portion 30a loosely inserted in the engaging hole 32, and the claw portion 30b formed at the tip of the connecting portion 30a and engaging with the inner surface of the meter case 2. Since the subassembly 16 is rotated by the above-described electrical connection method, the sliding of the wall of the positioning hole 31 on the inclined surface portion 33a of the boss portion 33 is caused by the rotation of the subassembly 16. And the movement of the connecting portion 30a of the engaging portion 30 in the engaging hole 32, whereby the subassembly 16 moves parallel to the meter case 2 as the rotation progresses (FIG. 2 (b), ( c) move in a direction) Connecting end of connector 6 (bottom 1
1b) surely slides on the connection end 35 of the circuit pattern 34 of the flexible wiring board 3, and the connection end of the connector 6 for connection and the connection end 35 of the circuit pattern 34 are mutually activated.

The electrical connection structure 1 is preferably a circuit pattern 3 of a flexible wiring board 3 which is electrically connected to a connector 6 for connection, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6.
4 is connected to the connection end portion 35 of the concave portion 3 in the meter case 2.
6 is formed.

With this structure, the portion of the flexible wiring board 3 on which the connection end portion 35 of the circuit pattern 34 is formed can be bent into the recess 36, whereby the connection of the connection connector 6 can be achieved during sliding. It is possible to prevent the connection end portion 35 of the circuit pattern 34 of the flexible wiring board 3 from being damaged at the end (lower end 11b).

[0024]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the connecting end of the connecting connector is located above the connecting end of the circuit pattern of the flexible wiring board when the subassembly is rotated. Since the connection end of the connector for connection and the connection end of the circuit pattern are activated by sliding on each other, electrical connection can be made at the same time while achieving high activation of the connection part. It is possible to provide a method for electrically connecting a wiring board for an instrument, which enables cost reduction by reducing the number.

According to the second aspect of the invention, when the sub-assembly is attached, the sub-assembly slides the hole wall of the positioning hole on the slope of the boss and connects the engaging part in the engaging hole. While moving in parallel with the meter case along with the movement of the part, the connecting end of the connecting connector surely slides on the connecting end of the circuit pattern of the flexible wiring board, and the connecting end of the connecting connector and the circuit pattern Since the connection ends are mutually activated, it is possible to make electrical connections at the same time while activating the connection parts at a high level, which reduces the number of processes and reduces the cost. It is possible to provide a dynamic connection structure.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the portion of the flexible wiring board on which the connection end of the circuit pattern is formed can be bent into the recess, which allows the connection end of the connection connector to slide. Thus, it is possible to prevent the connection end portion of the circuit pattern of the flexible wiring board from being damaged, so that a defective connection can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electrical connection structure of an instrument wiring board as an embodiment of the present invention.

2A and 2B show a connecting step of the electrical connecting structure of the wiring board for a meter of FIG. 1, in which (a) shows a setting step, and (b) and (c) show an intermediate step, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a subassembly applied to the electrical connection structure of the wiring board for a meter of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the subassembly of FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the combination meter to which the electrical connection structure for the wiring board for instruments of FIG. 1 is applied, with the subassembly removed.

7 is a front view of the combination meter of FIG.

8 is a rear view of the combination meter of FIG. 6 with a subassembly attached.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Electrical connection structure of wiring board for instrument 2 meter case 3 Flexible wiring board 3a Pattern surface (of flexible wiring board) 4 hard wiring board 4a Pattern surface (of hard wiring board) 6 Connector for connection 15 cover 15a edge 15b opposite edge 16 sub-assembly 30 Engagement part 30a connection part 30b claw 31 Positioning hole 32 engagement hole 33 Boss 33a slope part 34 circuit pattern 35 Connection end 36 recess

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-3-25878 (JP, A) JP-A-6-231841 (JP, A) Actually open 4-120324 (JP, U) Actually open 4- 36779 (JP, U) Actual development 3-94327 (JP, U) Actual development Sho 58-8977 (JP, U) Actual development Sho 59-7577 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 23/68 H01R 9/09 H01R 13/22 H01R 13/24

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method of electrically connecting an instrument wiring board, wherein a flexible wiring board and a hard wiring board mounted on a meter case are electrically connected by a connecting connector interposed between the both wiring boards. The flexible wiring board is mounted on the meter case with its pattern surface facing outward, and the hard wiring board is fixed to the pattern surface of the connection connector and assembled in a cover to form a sub-assembly. The cover is configured such that an engaging portion is formed at an edge portion along the connector for connection and a positioning hole is bored at an opposing edge portion thereof, and the cover is provided in the meter case. An engagement hole with which the engagement portion engages and a boss portion with which the positioning hole is externally inserted are formed, and the sub-assembly includes the flexible wiring for the engagement portion. And is engaged with the engaging hole and the positioning hole is brought into contact with the top of the boss portion for setting, and then the positioning hole is rotated by rotating the engaging portion as a center. A method for electrically connecting a wiring board for an instrument, characterized in that it is attached to the meter case by being externally inserted into a boss portion. 2. An electrical connection structure configured by the electrical connection method for an instrument wiring board according to claim 1, wherein the positioning hole is formed as an elongated hole, and the boss portion is A slanting surface portion with which the hole wall of the positioning hole is slidably contacted when the sub-assembly is rotated, and the engaging portion is a connecting portion loosely inserted into the engaging hole and the connecting portion. And a claw portion that is formed at the tip of the instrument and that engages with the inner surface of the meter case. 3. The electrical connection structure for an instrument wiring board according to claim 2, wherein the flexible wiring board is electrically connected to the connection connector, and the flexible wiring board has a circuit pattern corresponding to a connection end portion of the flexible wiring board. An electrical connection structure for an instrument wiring board, characterized in that a recess is formed in the meter case.