JP5841912B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a vehicular antenna that is attached to a window glass of a vehicle such as an automobile and receives radio waves such as television broadcasting is known. A vehicular connector including an amplifying unit that amplifies a signal received by the vehicular antenna is disposed between the vehicular antenna and the subsequent apparatus.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle in which a cover member is attached to a holder that holds an amplification unit to ensure insulation against the amplification unit, and an antenna connection terminal formed on the bottom surface of the holder is attached to a window glass of the vehicle. Vehicle connectors that connect to industrial antennas have been proposed.

  In the vehicle connector described in Patent Document 1, the antenna connection terminal arranged on the bottom side protrudes to the side of the holder. Therefore, the connection confirmation between the vehicle connector and the antenna can be performed by inspecting the continuity between the protruding portion of the antenna connection terminal and the vehicle antenna.

JP 2008-035479 A

  However, in the vehicle connector described in Patent Document 1, since the antenna connection terminal protrudes toward the bottom side of the holder in a state of being connected to the vehicle antenna, there is a possibility that the antenna connection terminal may be damaged due to an external force applied directly. is there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector capable of easily confirming connection with an antenna while suppressing damage to an antenna connection terminal.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention includes an antenna connection terminal connected to an antenna, and a holder in which the antenna connection terminal is disposed in an opening formed in a part of the bottom surface. And an amplifier unit having an amplifying unit that amplifies a signal input from the antenna via the antenna connection terminal, and the holder is connected to the antenna connection terminal within the holder, In addition, a continuity test terminal protruding outward from the side of the holder is provided.

  In the connector according to the present invention, the antenna connection terminal is provided in an opening formed in a part of the bottom surface so that the antenna connection terminal does not protrude sideways from the connector bottom surface, and a separate continuity test terminal is provided on the connector. Therefore, there is an effect that the connection with the antenna can be easily confirmed while suppressing deformation, breakage or damage of the antenna connection terminal.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an attachment position and a schematic configuration of a vehicle connector according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a specific configuration of the vehicle connector according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a specific configuration of the vehicle connector according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a method for incorporating the amplifier unit into the holder. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the installation method and installation state of the vehicle connector. FIG. 6 is a schematic bottom view, a schematic side view, and a schematic plan view of a holder according to an example. FIG. 7 is a schematic development view and a schematic external view of a plate-like metal member according to an example. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an image of a mold for insert molding of a plate-shaped metal member with respect to a holder. FIG. 9 is a schematic bottom view, a schematic side view, and a schematic plan view of another holder according to the embodiment.

  Embodiments of the connector according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. For example, in this embodiment, a vehicle connector will be described as an example of a connector, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the positive direction of the X axis is the front, the positive direction of the Y axis is the left direction, and the positive direction of the Z axis is the upper direction.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of an attachment position and configuration of a vehicle connector according to an embodiment. As shown to Fig.1 (a), the connector 1 for vehicles concerning a present Example is connected to the antenna 3 for vehicles arrange | positioned at the window glass 2 of vehicles, such as a motor vehicle.

  The vehicular connector 1 amplifies the signal received by the vehicular antenna 3 and outputs the amplified signal to the receiver 5 via the cable 70. As the cable 70, for example, a coaxial cable or the like is used.

  The feeding terminals 4a and 4b of the vehicle antenna 3 are arranged at positions that do not block the driver's field of view, for example, in the vicinity of the pillars of the window glass 2 such as a windshield and a rear glass. The antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b of the vehicle connector 1 are connected to the power supply terminals 4a and 4b.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle connector 1 is attached to the side portion of the window glass 2 on the vehicle interior side, but the installation location of the vehicle connector 1 is not limited to this. For example, when the power feeding terminals 4 a and 4 b of the vehicle antenna 3 are arranged in the upper portion of the window glass 2 on the vehicle interior side, the vehicle connector 1 is attached to the upper portion of the window glass 2 on the vehicle interior side.

  The vehicle antenna 3 is an antenna that can receive, for example, analog television broadcasting, one-segment broadcasting, or 12-segment broadcasting (terrestrial digital television broadcasting). The receiver 5 acquires a signal received by the vehicle antenna 3 via the vehicle connector 1 and the cable 70, and displays a television screen on a display device (not shown) based on the signal.

  The vehicle antenna 3 is described as receiving television broadcast radio waves, but is not limited thereto, and may receive radio waves other than television broadcasts. The vehicle antenna 3 is described as being attached to the inside of the window glass 2, but is not limited thereto, and may be attached to a place other than the window glass 2.

  Next, a schematic configuration of the vehicle connector 1 according to the embodiment will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1B, the vehicle connector 1 includes a holder 10 connected to the vehicle antenna 3 and an amplifier unit 20 incorporated in the holder 10.

  Antenna connection terminals 11 a and 11 b are formed in openings 18 a and 18 b formed in a part of the bottom surface of the holder 10. The holder 10 is fixed to the window glass 2 on which the vehicle antenna 3 is formed by an adhesive material such as a double-sided tape, and is assembled to the window glass 2. As a result, the antenna connection terminals 11 a and 11 b of the holder 10 are coupled to the power supply terminals 4 a and 4 b of the vehicle antenna 3.

  The amplifier unit 20 includes a circuit board (corresponding to an example of an amplification unit) on which an amplification circuit that amplifies a signal input from the vehicle antenna 3 via the antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b is formed. It is. A connector 71 of a cable 70 can be connected to the rear end side of the amplifier unit 20, and a signal received by the vehicle antenna 3 via the cable 70 is output from the vehicle connector 1 to the receiver 5. The

  In the vehicle connector 1 according to the present embodiment, the antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b are disposed in the openings 18a and 18b formed on the bottom surface of the holder 10 as described above. Therefore, in a state where the vehicle connector 1 is connected to the vehicle antenna 3 (hereinafter referred to as an installation state), the antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b do not protrude sideways. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b from being directly damaged by an external force.

  The holder 10 is provided with continuity testing terminals 19a and 19b. The continuity testing terminals 19a and 19b are connected to the antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b in the holder 10, and are arranged in a state of protruding from the side of the holder 10 to the outside. Therefore, when the vehicle connector 1 is in the installed state, the continuity test terminals 19a and 19b are exposed to the outside, and the continuity test between the continuity test terminals 19a and 19b and the antenna becomes possible.

  Moreover, the holder 10 has extending portions 6a and 6b extending from the side to the outside, and the continuity inspection terminals 19a and 19b are disposed along the upper surface side of the extending portions 6a and 6b. Therefore, even when an external force is directly applied to the continuity testing terminals 19a and 19b, it is difficult to be damaged. Moreover, since the continuity test terminals 19a and 19b are exposed upward, the continuity test can be easily performed.

  Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the vehicle connector 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. 2 and 3 are schematic views illustrating an example of a specific configuration of the vehicle connector 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the holder 10 is a substantially box-shaped member that includes a bottom wall 12, a side wall 13, and a front wall 14, and has an upper surface and a rear end side opened. As shown in FIG. 3, in a state where the amplifier unit 20 is incorporated in the holder 10, the side surface of the amplifier unit 20 is covered with the side wall 13, and the front surface of the amplifier unit 20 is covered with the front wall 14.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b are arranged on the bottom wall 12 of the holder 10 so as to be exposed to the upper surface side and the lower surface side through the openings 18a and 18b, respectively. Further, the bottom wall 12 of the holder 10 is formed with extending portions 6 a and 6 b that extend forward and rearward than the side wall 13. Then, continuity inspection terminals 19a and 19b are arranged along the upper surfaces of the extending portions 6a and 6b. The antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b and the continuity inspection terminals 19a and 19b will be described in detail later.

  The side wall 13 of the holder 10 is configured by notching a part on the rear side, and the height of the rear side wall 13b is lower than that of the front side wall 13a. A notch 15 that is concave toward the front is formed at the rear end of the front side wall 13a. The notch 15 restricts the movement of the amplifier unit 20 incorporated in the holder 10 in the vertical direction and in the forward direction.

  Further, on the upper surface side of the front side wall 13a, there are formed protrusions 16 each formed with a slope that becomes higher toward the front, and the amplifier unit 20 incorporated in the holder 10 is moved rearward by the protrusions 16. Is regulated.

  The amplifier unit 20 includes a case member 21, a cover member 22, and a circuit board 23 (corresponding to an example of an amplification unit). The circuit board 23 has an amplifier circuit and is accommodated in a space formed by the case member 21 and the cover member 22 being engaged.

  An opening is provided in the bottom surface of the amplifier unit 20, and connection terminals 24a and 24b having springiness (elasticity) project downward from the opening. The antenna connection terminals 11 a and 11 b of the holder 10 are exposed on the upper surface side of the bottom wall 12 facing the amplifier unit 20, and by connecting the amplifier unit 20 to the holder 10, the connection terminals 24 a and 24 b of the amplifier unit 20 are connected. The connection terminals 24 a and 24 b and the antenna connection terminals 11 a and 11 b of the holder 10 are connected by the spring property.

  On both side walls 25 of the amplifier unit 20, elongated projections 26 that project outward from the rear end side are formed. When the protruding portion 26 is inserted into the notch portion 15 of the holder 10, the movement of the amplifier unit 20 incorporated in the holder 10 in the vertical direction and the forward direction is restricted. The amplifier unit 20 includes an extending portion 32 that extends forward from the upper part on the rear side and has an engaging claw 29 formed at the tip. The amplifier unit 20 is incorporated in the holder 10 by the engaging claw 29. The rearward movement is restricted.

  Here, an example of a method for incorporating the amplifier unit 20 into the holder 10 will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a method for incorporating the amplifier unit 20 into the holder 10.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, first, the tip of the amplifier unit 20 is positioned at an upper position offset backward with respect to the tip of the holder 10. The offset is performed in order to prevent the protrusion 26 from hitting the front side wall 13a.

  Next, the amplifier unit 20 is moved downward, and a part of the amplifier unit 20 is positioned in the holder 10. From this state, as shown in FIG. 4B, the amplifier unit 20 is moved forward. As shown in FIG. 4C, the forward movement is continued until the engaging claw 29 of the amplifier unit 20 is engaged with the protrusion 16 of the holder 10, and the amplifier unit 20 is thus engaged. Is incorporated into the holder 10.

  Here, installation of the vehicle connector 1 will be described. FIG. 5 is a view for explaining an installation method and an installation state of the vehicle connector 1.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the bottom surface of the vehicle connector 1 is moved to the positions of the power supply terminals 4 a and 4 b of the window glass 2. Double-sided tapes 94a, 94b are attached to the bottom surface of the holder 10 of the vehicle connector 1 so as to surround the antenna connection terminals 11a, 11b. The double-sided tapes 94a, 94b attach the vehicle connector 1 to the window glass. 2 is fixed.

  FIG. 5B shows a state in which the vehicle connector 1 is fixed to the window glass 2. In such a state, a part of the power supply terminals 4a and 4b is covered by the vehicle connector 1, but the remaining part is exposed to the outside. Further, continuity inspection terminals 19a and 19b arranged on the vehicle connector 1 are also exposed to the outside.

  Accordingly, in a state where the vehicle connector 1 in which the amplifier unit 20 is incorporated in the holder 10 is fixed to the window glass 2, confirmation of the continuity between the power supply terminal 4a and the continuity test terminal 19a, and the power supply terminal 4b and the continuity test terminal. Confirmation of conduction with 19b can be easily performed.

  Therefore, for example, even if the vehicle connector 1 shipped from the factory in a state where the connection between the amplifier unit 20 and the holder 10 has been confirmed is fixed to the window glass 2 at another location, confirmation inspection is easy. It is.

  Here, consider a case where the continuity testing terminals 19a and 19b are not formed. In this case, the connection confirmation between the power supply terminals 4 a and 4 b and the vehicle connector 1 is performed by, for example, inputting a signal from the power supply terminals 4 a and 4 b and inspecting a signal output via the cable 70. Therefore, a dedicated inspection device must be prepared, which is a complicated operation.

  On the other hand, in the vehicle connector 1 according to the present embodiment, the connection confirmation between the vehicle antenna 3 and the vehicle connector 1 can be performed by confirming the continuity between the power supply terminals 4a and 4b and the continuity inspection terminals 19a and 19b. . This eliminates the need for a dedicated inspection device as described above, and allows easy confirmation.

  Thus, in the vehicle connector 1 according to the present embodiment, the antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b do not protrude sideways from the bottom surface of the holder 10, and the vehicle connection connector 11a and 11b is prevented from being damaged while being suppressed. 1 and the vehicle antenna 3 can be easily confirmed.

  Here, the configuration of the antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b and the continuity inspection terminals 19a and 19b arranged in the holder 10 will be described more specifically. 6A is a schematic bottom view of the holder 10, FIG. 6B is a schematic side view of the holder 10, and FIG. 6C is a schematic plan view of the holder 10.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b are respectively formed in an opening 18a formed at the front left and right center of the bottom wall 12 of the holder 10 and an opening 18b formed at the left and right center of the rear side. Be placed. The antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b include spring portions 60a and 60b extending from the base portion. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, by attaching the vehicle connector 1 to the window glass 2, the spring portions 60a and 60b (hereinafter collectively referred to as the spring portion 60) are connected to the power feeding terminals 4a and 4b of the vehicle antenna 3. Is done.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, the continuity test terminals 19a and 19b are disposed on extending portions 6a and 6b extending from the bottom wall 12 in the front-rear direction, respectively. Therefore, the lower surfaces of the continuity test terminals 19a and 19b are protected by the extending portions 6a and 6b, and the continuity test terminals 19a and 19b are hardly damaged.

  Further, since the continuity testing terminals 19a and 19b are opposed to the window glass 2 through the extending portions 6a and 6b in a state where the vehicle connector 1 is installed on the window glass 2, the window glass Even if static electricity or condensation occurs in 2, it is not easily affected.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6 (c), in the plan view, the continuity test terminals 19a and 19b are smaller than the extending portions 6a and 6b, so that the creepage distance between the window glass 2 is increased and the static electricity is increased. The effects from electricity and condensation can be further reduced.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6C, the antenna connection terminal 11a and the continuity test terminal 19a are integrally formed, and similarly, the antenna connection terminal 11b and the continuity test terminal 19b are integrally formed. It is formed. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced, and the manufacture of the holder 10 is facilitated.

  When the amplifier unit 20 is incorporated in the holder 10, the connection terminals 24a and 24b (see FIG. 2) of the amplifier unit 20 are disposed so as to contact the antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b. Therefore, the continuity test terminals 19a and 19b are not on the signal path from the antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b to the connection terminals 24a and 24b of the amplifier unit 20, and the influence of the continuity test terminals 19a and 19b on the signal path is affected. Can be suppressed.

  As shown in FIG. 6C, the continuity test terminals 19a and 19b are connected to the antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b via connecting portions 68a and 68b having narrow regions. Therefore, for example, even when a surge voltage is applied to the continuity testing terminals 19a and 19b, the connecting portions 68a and 68b become resistance components, and the influence of the surge voltage on the antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b can be suppressed.

  The antenna connection terminal 11a, the continuity test terminal 19a, and the connecting portion 68a are formed of a substantially rectangular plate-like metal member, and an opening 93a is formed between the antenna connection terminal 11a and the continuity test terminal 19a. A narrow region in the connecting portion 68a is formed. The antenna connection terminal 11b, the continuity test terminal 19b, and the connecting portion 68b are formed in the same manner as the antenna connection terminal 11a, the continuity test terminal 19a, and the connection portion 68a.

  Hereinafter, the antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b, the continuity test terminals 19a and 19b, and the connecting portions 68a and 68b will be described in more detail. In the following description, the antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b are collectively referred to as the antenna connection terminal 11, and the continuity test terminals 19a and 19b are collectively referred to as the continuity test terminal 19. The connecting portions 68a and 68b are collectively referred to as the connecting portion 68, and the openings 93a and 93b are collectively referred to as the opening 93.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the antenna connection terminal 11, the continuity test terminal 19, and the connecting portion 68 are formed by processing a plate-like metal member 90 having elasticity, and a part of the metal member 90 protrudes to be a spring portion 60. It is said.

  Specifically, the antenna connection terminal 11 is formed by the rectangular lower surface portion 61 including the spring portion 60, the side surface portions 62 a, 62 b and 63, and the upper surface portion 64. Further, a connecting portion 68 is formed by the plane portion 65, the outer side surface portion 66a, the inner side surface portion 67, and the opening 93, and the continuity inspection terminal 19 is formed by the plane portion 69 and the outer side surface portion 66b. A part of the outer surface portion 66 a is formed across the antenna connection terminal 11.

  In the plate-shaped metal member 90 having such a configuration, the side surface portion 62b extending from the end portion of the upper surface portion 64 is bent at a substantially right angle, and the lower surface portion 61 extending from the end portion of the side surface portion 62b is opposed to the upper surface portion 64. Fold it approximately at a right angle. Then, the spring portion 60 is bent at a predetermined angle with respect to the lower surface portion 61. Further, the side surface portions 62a and 63 extending from the end portion of the lower surface portion 61 are bent at a substantially right angle. Thereby, the antenna connection terminal 11 is formed.

  Further, the connecting portion 68 is formed by bending the outer side surface portion 66a and the inner side surface portion 67 extending from the flat surface portion 65 substantially at a right angle. The outer side surface portion 66a and the inner side surface portion 67 are held by resin as will be described later. Further, the connecting portion 68 is formed with a narrow region by the opening 93. Further, the continuity test terminal 19 is formed by bending the outer surface portion 66b extending from the flat surface portion 69 at a substantially right angle. The outer side surface portion 66b is held by resin as will be described later.

  A spacer 72 is inserted into the antenna connection terminal 11 as shown in FIG. The spacer 72 is a rectangular parallelepiped metal member, and has a size that can substantially fill the entire space in the antenna connection terminal 11. By filling the spacers 72 into the antenna connection terminals 11 in this way, insert molding of the antenna connection terminals 11 into the holder 10 can be performed with high accuracy.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an image of a mold for insert molding of the plate-like metal member 90 with respect to the holder 10. As shown in FIG. 8, the holder 10 can be molded by making the inner space formed by the upper mold 80 and the lower mold 81 into the shape of the holder 10.

  Furthermore, in order to perform the insert molding of the antenna connection terminal 11 with respect to the holder 10, a clearance space 82 is provided, whereby the resin can be prevented from entering the spring portion 60. The side surfaces of the spacer 72, the side surface portions 62 a, 62 b, 63, the outer side surface portions 66 a, 66 b and the inner side surface portion 67 are fixed to the resin when the holder 10 is molded.

  Here, another holder according to the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, the holder 10 </ b> A is different from the holder 10 in that a concave portion 92 opened in the bottom wall 12 is provided. The recess 92 is an opening that penetrates the bottom wall 12, but may be a recess that does not penetrate the bottom wall 12. That is, a recess may be formed on the bottom surface of the holder 10A.

  Since the bottom surface of the holder 10 (see FIG. 5) described above is a flat surface, moisture enters between the bottom surface of the holder 10 and the window glass 2, and moisture accumulates between the antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b. As a result, the antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b may be short-circuited. When the antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b are short-circuited, a signal received by the vehicle antenna 3 cannot be transmitted to the receiver 5.

  Therefore, by forming the recess 92 as in the holder 10A shown in FIG. 9, it is possible to easily collect moisture in the recess 92 and to prevent a short circuit between the antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b.

  As described above, in the vehicle connector 1 according to the present embodiment, the antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b are arranged in the openings 18a and 18b formed in a part of the bottom surfaces of the holders 10 and 10A, so that the antenna connection terminal 11a is provided. 11b can be prevented from being directly damaged by an external force. The antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b are connected to each other in the holders 10 and 10A, and are provided with continuity inspection terminals 19a and 19b protruding from the sides of the holders 10 and 10A. The connection confirmation between the connector 1 for a vehicle and the antenna 3 for a vehicle can be easily performed.

  In addition, a concave portion 92 is formed between the antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b on the bottom surface of the holder 10A, thereby preventing a short circuit between the antenna connection terminals 11a and 11b.

  As described above, some of the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, these are merely examples, and various embodiments can be made based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art including the aspects described in the section of the disclosure of the invention. The present invention can be implemented in other forms that have been modified or improved.

  As described above, the connector according to the present invention is effective when it is desired to improve workability such as confirmation of connection of the connector to the antenna and maintenance management, and in particular, the vehicle antenna formed on the window glass of the vehicle. It is suitable for application to the technology of connecting with the connection terminal.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle connector 3 Vehicle antenna 5 Receiver 6a, 6b Extending part 10, 10A Holder 11, 11a, 11b Antenna connection terminal 12 Bottom wall 18a, 18b Opening 19a, 19b Conduction inspection terminal 20 Amplifier unit 23 Circuit board (amplification Part)
68a, 68b Connecting portion 70 Cable 90 Plate-shaped metal member 92 Recessed portion 93 Opening

Claims (6)

A holder having an antenna connection terminal connected to a power supply terminal of the antenna, and the antenna connection terminal disposed in an opening formed in a part of the bottom;
Said integrated into the holder, a connector which Ru and a amplifier unit having an amplification unit for amplifying a signal input from the antenna via the antenna connection terminal,
The holder is
Connected to said antenna connection terminal in the holder, and projects outward from the side of the holder, with the exposed portion of the feeding terminal exposed to the outside without being covered with the connector, a continuity test A connector comprising a continuity test terminal exposed to the outside for performing . 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the holder has an extending portion extending outward from a side, and the continuity inspection terminal is disposed on an upper surface side of the extending portion. The antenna connection terminal and the continuity test terminal are integrally formed of a plate-shaped metal member.
The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The amplifier unit includes an amplifier-side connection terminal that is connected to the amplification unit and has a spring property.
The amplifier side connection terminal and the antenna connection terminal are connected by the spring property of the amplifier side connection terminal when the amplifier unit is incorporated in the holder . The connector according to any one of the above. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the antenna connection terminal and the continuity test terminal are connected via a connecting portion having an area narrower than these. The holder is
A plurality of the antenna connection terminals, and a plurality of the openings in which each of the plurality of antenna connection terminals is disposed,
Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the area between each of said plurality of apertures, wherein the recesses are formed.

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