JP4285706B2 - Connector and apparatus equipped with the same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a connector, for example, a connector suitable as a connector for a digital camera or the like and an apparatus including the connector.

  Conventionally, a waterproof connector including a connection terminal and a camera case is known (see Patent Document 1 below).

  The connection terminal is pin-shaped. The camera case is a case for accommodating a CCD camera unit or the like. The camera case includes a case half and a lid. The case half has a partition. The partition holds the connection terminal. Both ends of the connection terminal protrude from the partition wall. A cylindrical portion is formed on the outer surface of the partition so as to surround one end of the connection terminal protruding from the partition to the outside of the camera case. A packing is accommodated in the cylindrical portion. A packing holder that holds the packing is attached to the cylindrical portion. The lid is screwed to the half of the case via a seal rubber.

According to this waterproof connector, the CCD camera unit or the like can be prevented from getting wet.
JP 2005-327570 A (see paragraphs 0034 and 0035, FIG. 2)

  In the above-described waterproof connector, the other end of the connection terminal is soldered to the first substrate housed in the case half. A second substrate is accommodated in the lid. The second substrate is connected to the first substrate by FPC. A CCD camera unit is mounted on the second substrate. The second substrate is fixed to the camera case after the optical axis alignment of the CCD camera unit.

  Since the first substrate is connected to the connection terminal fixed to the partition wall of the half of the case, it cannot be moved. Therefore, an electronic component that requires position adjustment, such as a CCD camera unit, is used. It cannot be mounted on a board. Therefore, in the above-described waterproof connector, the second board whose position is adjustable is arranged in the camera case, the CCD camera unit is mounted on the second board, and the second board is connected to the first board by FPC. Was.

  Thus, in the conventional waterproof connector, since the second substrate is used to electrically connect the electronic component that needs to be adjusted to the first substrate, in order to accommodate the second substrate. The camera case body has become larger, which has been a cause for the increase in size of the connector.

  This invention is made in view of such a situation, and is providing the connector which can perform positioning of a connector main body and the housing | casing which accommodates this, without causing the enlargement of a housing | casing.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the connector of the invention of claim 1 is a connector comprising a connector body having contacts and a housing for housing the connector body, wherein the housing is connected to the connector via a space. A front housing portion disposed so as to surround a fitting side portion of the main body with the mating connector, and a rear end portion of the front housing portion, which is opposite to the fitting side portion of the connector main body. A rear housing portion that accommodates a rear portion of the side, wherein the connector main body includes a housing that holds the contact, a cover portion that covers the housing, and an annular convex portion and an annular concave portion that surround the cover portion. and a ground shell having one of said front housing portion, said positioning coaxially one engaging to the front housing part of the annular projection and the annular recess with respect to the cover portion Characterized by having a Jo recess and the other of said annular protrusion.

  As described above, the housing has a front housing portion and a rear housing portion, the connector main body has a positioning portion, and the front housing portion can be engaged with the positioning portion of the connector main body. Therefore, even if the position of the connector body is adjusted during assembly, the front housing portion is accurately positioned with respect to the connector body by the engagement between the positioning portion of the connector body and the positioned portion of the front housing portion thereafter. Therefore, the positional relationship between the connector main body and the front casing is kept constant.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the connector according to the first aspect, an O-ring is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the front housing portion.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus according to the first aspect, comprising the connector according to the first or second aspect and a CCD module.

  According to the present invention, positioning of the connector main body and the housing that accommodates the connector main body can be performed without causing an increase in the size of the housing.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1A is a front view of a receptacle connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1B is a side view of the receptacle connector, FIG. 1C is a bottom view of the receptacle connector, and FIG. 2 is taken along the line II-II shown in FIG. 3A is a front view of the plug connector connected to the receptacle connector shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3B is a side view of the plug connector, FIG. 3C is a bottom view of the plug connector, and FIG. 4 is FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a state before the plug connector shown in FIG. 3 is connected to the receptacle connector, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state after the plug connector shown in FIG. 3 is connected to the receptacle connector shown in FIG. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, the receptacle connector 50 includes a connector main body 501 and a housing 502.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the connector body 501 includes a female terminal (contact) 51, a housing 52, and a ground shell 53.

  The female terminal 51 has a contact part 51a, a terminal part 51b, and a connecting part 51c. The contact part 51a contacts the male terminal 11 of the plug connector 10 described later. The terminal portion 51b is soldered to a conductive path (not shown) of the printed board 61. The connecting part 51c connects the contact part 51a and the terminal part 51b.

  The housing 52 is substantially cylindrical and has a receiving portion 52a and a terminal receiving hole 52b. The receiving portion 52 a receives the terminal holding portion 121 of the plug-side housing 12 of the plug connector 100 together with the male terminal 11. The terminal accommodating hole 52b accommodates the female terminal 51, and one end thereof communicates with the receiving portion 52a. A portion excluding the rear portion of the housing 52 corresponds to a fitting portion of the connector main body 501.

  The ground shell 53 includes a cover portion 53a, a housing portion 53b, a connecting portion 53c, and a lid portion 53d. The cover portion 53a, the accommodating portion 53b, the connecting portion 53c, and the lid portion 53d are formed of a thin metal plate having conductivity. The cover portion 53 a has a cylindrical shape and covers the outer peripheral surface of the housing 52. The accommodating portion 53b is cylindrical, and accommodates the printed circuit board 61, the CCD 62 mounted on the printed circuit board 61, and the like. The connecting portion 53c connects the cover portion 53a and the accommodating portion 53b. An annular convex portion (positioning portion) 53e is formed on the connecting portion 53c. The annular convex portion 53e protrudes toward the cover portion 53a. The central axis of the annular convex part 53e and the central axis of the cover part 53a coincide. The outer peripheral surface of the annular convex portion 53e is formed in a tapered shape. The lid portion 53d is connected to the housing portion 53b and closes the opening of the housing portion 53b. A portion excluding the front end portion of the ground shell 53 corresponds to a rear portion of the connector main body 502.

  The housing 502 includes a shell (front housing portion) 54 and a housing body (rear housing portion) 55.

  The shell 54 has a cylindrical portion 54a and a flange portion 54b. The cylindrical portion 54a and the flange portion 54b are integrally formed of resin. The cylindrical portion 54 a surrounds the cover portion 53 a of the ground shell 53. An annular space (space) 56 is formed between the cylindrical portion 54a and the cover portion 53a. Eight lock claws 54c are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 54a. Three fitting main keys 54d are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 54a. The fitting main key 54d is inserted into the erroneous fitting preventing key groove 161a of the barrel 16 of the plug connector 100. An annular notch 54e is formed on the peripheral surface of the rear portion of the cylindrical portion 54a. An O-ring 57 is disposed in the annular notch 54e.

  An annular recess (positioned portion) 54f is formed on the back surface of the flange portion 54b. The annular recess 54f is recessed toward the cylindrical portion 54a. The central axis of the annular recess 54f coincides with the central axis of the cylindrical portion 54a. The inner peripheral surface of the annular recess 54f is tapered. The annular recess 54 f engages with the annular protrusion 53 e of the ground shell 53.

  The housing body 55 has a bottomed rectangular tube shape and accommodates the printed circuit board 61, the CCD 62, and the like. A stepped surface 55a is formed at the tip of the housing body 55, and the inner diameter of the tip is larger than the outer diameter of the flange portion 54b (see FIG. 4). Before fixing the flange portion 54b to the stepped surface 55a of the housing body 55, the shell 54 moves in a direction perpendicular to the fitting direction with respect to the housing body 55 (vertical direction in the drawing of the housing body 55 in FIG. 2). Is possible.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the plug connector 100 which is the mating connector of the receptacle connector 50 is an angle type connector. The plug connector 100 includes a connector body 10, an angle end bell 15, a barrel 16, a coupling nut 18, and a ground nut 19.

  The connector body 10 includes a male terminal 11, a plug-side housing 12, and a shield member 13.

  The male terminal 11 is formed by punching a thin metal plate and has a substantially plate shape. The male terminal 11 contacts the female terminal 51 of the receptacle connector 50. The male terminal 11 is connected to the core wire 28f of the electric wire 28d of the cable 28.

  The plug-side housing 12 includes a terminal holding part 121, an engaging part 122, and a wire holding part 123. The terminal holding part 121, the engaging part 122, and the wire holding part 123 are integrally formed of resin.

  The terminal holding part 121 is substantially prismatic. The terminal holding part 121 holds the male terminal 11. A positioning key 121 a is formed on the upper surface of the terminal holding part 121.

  The engaging part 122 is substantially disc-shaped, and the terminal holding part 121 passes through the center part thereof. The engaging portion 122 is locked to a shield portion 131 of the shield member 13 described later.

  The wire holding part 123 has a substantially truncated cone shape and is connected to the rear end of the terminal holding part 121. The wire holding unit 123 holds the electric wire 28d of the cable 28.

  The shield member 13 has a shield part 131 and a clamp part 132. The shield part 131 and the clamp part 132 are integrally formed of a thin metal plate. The shield part 131 has a cylindrical shape, is attached to the plug-side housing 12, and covers the plug-side housing 12. In the shield part 131, three lances 131b are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The lance 131b is formed by cutting and raising, and is retracted inside the shield part 131. The surface of the engaging portion 122 on the wire holding portion 123 side is supported.

  The clamp part 132 is connected to the shield part 131 at a substantially right angle, and clamps one end of the cable 28. The cable 28 has a shield wire (not shown). The shield wire is sandwiched between the sleeve 23 and the clamp portion 132 that are attached to the distal end portion of the jacket 28 a of the cable 28. A ferrule 24 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the clamp portion 132, and the sleeve 23, the shield wire, the clamp portion 132, and the ferrule 24 are integrated by caulking this, and the shield wire is electrically connected to the shield member 13.

  The angle end bell 15 has a surrounding portion 151 and a cable lead-out portion 152. The surrounding part 151 and the cable lead-out part 152 are integrally formed of resin. The surrounding portion 151 has a cylindrical shape and covers the shield member 13 except for the tip of the shield portion 131. Three lock claws 151 a are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the surrounding portion 151 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

  The cable lead-out portion 152 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is connected to the surrounding portion 151. The cable lead-out part 152 covers the clamp part 132 of the shield member 13. Three lock claws 152 a are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cable lead-out portion 152. A fitting convex portion 152 b is formed between the three lock claws 152 a on the outer peripheral surface of the cable lead-out portion 152. The fitting convex part 152b has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.

  The barrel 16 has a cylindrical portion 161 and a flange portion 162. The cylindrical portion 161 and the flange portion 162 are integrally formed of resin. The cylindrical portion 161 covers the tip end portion of the shield portion 131 of the shield member 13. Three misfitting prevention key grooves 161a are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 161 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The erroneous fitting prevention key groove 161a extends along the fitting / removing direction.

  The flange portion 162 is connected to the rear end of the cylindrical portion 161. The flange portion 162 is abutted against the step surface 151 d of the angle end bell 15 via the O-ring 21. Thereby, the internal space of the angle end bell 15 is sealed.

  The coupling nut 18 has a cover part 181 and a fitting part 182. The cover portion 181 and the fitting portion 182 are made of resin and are integrally formed. The cover portion 181 is substantially cylindrical and covers the surrounding portion 151 and the barrel 161 of the angle end bell 15. Three lock holes 181a are formed at a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction at the rear end portion of the cover portion 181. The lock hole 181a receives the lock claw 151a of the angle end bell 15 and engages with the lock claw 151a. Further, a notch (not shown) is formed in the rear end portion of the cover portion 181. The notch is for preventing the coupling nut 18 from contacting the angle end bell 15. The coupling nut 18 is locked to the angle end bell 15 by inserting the lock claw 151 a of the angle end bell 151 into the lock hole 181 a.

  A pair of lock pieces 181b is formed at the front end of the cover 181 (see FIG. 3). The pair of lock pieces 181b are in point-symmetrical positions with respect to the center of the cover portion 181. The lock piece 181b can be deformed in the radial direction of the cover portion 181 and has a hole 181c. The hole 181c receives the lock claw 54c of the receptacle connector 50. At this time, the lock piece 181b and the lock claw 54c are engaged.

  The fitting portion 182 is connected to the cover portion 181 at a substantially right angle. A fitting recess 182 a is formed on the back surface of the fitting portion 182. The fitting concave portion 182a is fitted with the fitting convex portion 152b of the angle end bell 15.

  The ground nut 19 has a bottomed cylindrical shape and is made of resin. The cross-sectional shape of the ground nut 19 is substantially a keyhole shape, and three lock holes 191a are formed in the rear part thereof. The three lock holes 191a receive the lock claws 152a of the angle end bell 15.

  A lock hole 192 a is formed in the front portion of the ground nut 19. The lock hole 192 a receives the lock claw 182 b of the coupling nut 18.

  Next, the assembly procedure of the receptacle connector 50 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, first, the terminal portion 51 b of the female terminal 51 held by the housing 52 is soldered to one surface of the printed circuit board 61, and the CCD 62 is mounted on the other surface of the printed circuit board 61.

  Next, the housing 52 is inserted into the cover portion 53a of the ground shell 53, and the printed circuit board 61 and the CCD 62 are accommodated in the accommodating portion 53b. Thereafter, the lid 53d is closed.

  Thereafter, the ground shell 53 is accommodated in the housing body 55. Then, the optical axis of the CCD 62 is aligned with the axes of holes, lenses, etc. (not shown) provided in the housing body 55. When the optical axis alignment of the CCD 62 is completed, the ground shell 53 is fixed to the housing main body 55 with screws, an adhesive or the like.

  Next, the shell 54 is disposed on the step surface 55 a of the housing body 55. At this time, the annular convex portion 53e of the ground shell 53 and the annular concave portion 54f of the shell 54 are engaged. Since the outer peripheral surface of the annular convex portion 53e and the inner peripheral surface of the annular concave portion 54f are each tapered, the shell 54 is positioned so as to be coaxial with the cover portion 53a.

  When the shell 54 is positioned by the engagement of the annular convex portion 53e and the annular concave portion 54f, the shell 54 is fixed to the housing body 55 by a fixing means such as a screw.

  Next, an operation for connecting the plug connector 100 to the receptacle connector 50 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the mating main key 54d of the receptacle connector 50 and the erroneous mating prevention key groove 161a of the plug connector 100 face each other, and the plug connector 100 is pushed straight along the mating direction.

  As a result, the lock claw 54c of the receptacle connector 50 is fitted into the hole 181c of the lock piece 181b of the plug connector 100, and the plug connector 100 is locked to the receptacle connector 50 as shown in FIG. Further, the male terminal 11 contacts the female terminal 51, and the plug connector 100 is connected to the receptacle connector 50.

  At this time, the tip of the barrel 16 of the plug connector 100 crushes the O-ring 57 of the receptacle connector 50, and the internal space of the receptacle connector 50 is sealed.

  As described above, according to the receptacle connector 50 of this embodiment, even if the position of the connector main body 501 is adjusted to align the optical axis of the CCD 62 when the receptacle connector 50 is assembled, the annular protrusion 53e of the ground shell 53 is thereafter adjusted. And the annular recess 54f of the shell 54 can be accurately positioned with respect to the connector main body 501. As a result, the plug connector 100 can be connected to the receptacle connector 50 without any trouble. Further, since the receptacle connector 50 and the plug connector 100 are fitted without being decentered, the waterproof seal surface is not decentered, and the reliability of the seal is increased.

  Further, since the connector main body 501 can be mounted on the printed circuit board 61 on which the CCD 62 is mounted, and two printed circuit boards are not required unlike the prior art, the housing 502 is downsized, and the connector main body 501 is downsized. Can be achieved.

  In the above-described embodiment, the connector main body 501 has the ground shell 53. However, for example, when no EMI countermeasure is required, the ground shell 53 can be omitted. In this case, the positioning portion of the connector body 501 may be formed in the housing 12 of the connector body 501.

  In this embodiment, the annular convex portion 53e is used as the positioning portion, and the annular convex portion 54f is used as the positioned portion. However, the shapes of the positioning portion and the positioned portion are not limited thereto.

FIG. 1A is a front view of a receptacle connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a side view of the receptacle connector. FIG. 1C is a bottom view of the receptacle connector. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II shown in FIG. FIG. 3A is a front view of the plug connector connected to the receptacle connector shown in FIG. FIG. 3B is a side view of the plug connector. FIG. 3C is a bottom view of the plug connector. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state before the plug connector shown in FIG. 3 is connected to the receptacle connector shown in FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state after the plug connector shown in FIG. 3 is connected to the receptacle connector shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

501 Connector body 50 Receptacle connector 51 Female terminal (contact)
52 Housing 53 Ground shell 53e Annular convex part (positioning part)
502 housing 54 shell (front housing)
54f Annular recess (positioned part)
55 Case body (rear case)
56 Annular space (space)
57 O-ring

Claims (3)

A connector body having contacts;
In a connector provided with a housing for housing this connector body,
The housing is attached to a front housing portion disposed so as to surround a fitting side portion of the connector main body with a mating connector through a space, and a rear end portion of the front housing portion, A rear housing portion that accommodates a rear side portion opposite to the fitting side portion of the connector body;
The connector main body includes a housing that holds the contact, a cover portion that covers the housing, and a ground shell that includes one of an annular convex portion and an annular concave portion that surround the cover portion,
The front housing part has the annular recess and the other of said annular convex portion for positioning one engaging to the front housing part of the annular projection and the annular recess coaxial to the cover portion A connector characterized by that. The connector according to claim 1, wherein an O-ring is attached to an inner peripheral surface of the front housing portion. An apparatus comprising the connector according to claim 1 and a CCD module.

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