JP7601651B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a connector. More specifically, the present invention relates to a connector for connecting to a computer board or the like.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an electrical connector for use in an electronic control unit (ECU).

JP 2008-47432 A

The inventors of the present application realized that there were problems with conventional electrical connectors that needed to be overcome, and found it necessary to take measures to address these issues. Specifically, the inventors of the present application discovered the following problems:

For example, as shown in Fig. 11, a conventional connector 100 disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like can be electrically connected to a board 200 included in an electronic control unit (ECU) or the like (see Fig. 11(A)). The conventional connector 100 generally has a connector body 101 and a wall portion 102 integrally formed on the surface thereof (see Fig. 11(B)). The conventional connector 100 can be coupled to another connector arranged in the direction indicated by _X1 in Fig. 11(B), for example, and the board 200 can be arranged in the direction indicated by _X2 .

The wall portion 102 provided on the connector body 101 is disposed so as to entirely surround the periphery of the connector body 101. The wall portion 102 of the connector body 101 can seal or cap the housing 300 by being positioned, for example, inside an opening of the housing 300 for accommodating and protecting the substrate 200 (see FIG. 12A).
The conventional connector 100 has a plurality of terminals (or contacts) 103 arranged to penetrate a connector body 101 (see FIGS. 11 and 12). The terminal 103 has two ends 103a and 103b (see FIG. 12(A)). The end 103a is referred to as a first end, and the end 103b is referred to as a second end. The first end 103a can be electrically connected to another terminal provided inside another connector 400 (see FIGS. 12(B) and 12(C)). The second end 103b can be electrically connected to an electronic circuit of a board 200 via solder 150 or the like (see FIG. 12(A)).

The conventional connector 100 can be coupled with another connector 400 to form an electrical connection between the two connectors (100, 400) (see Figures 12(B) and 12(C)).

Connector 400 has wiring 500 called a harness attached, and when connector 400 is attached to conventional connector 100, harness 500 may swing wildly, for example, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 12(B) (hereinafter referred to as "wobbling"). After connector 400 is attached to connector 100, harness 500 may swing wildly or vibrate finely, for example, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 12(C) (hereinafter referred to as "vibration").

When such "agitation" or "vibration" occurs, stress is applied to the terminal 103 provided on the connector 100, and cracks may develop in the connection between the terminal 103 and the board 200, specifically the solder 150, which may damage the bond between the terminal 103 and the board 200 and cause poor contact.

Such "jerking" and "vibration" can occur not only in the up-down direction as shown in FIG. 12, but also in the left-right direction. If such "jerking" or "vibration" generates a force in the left direction as shown by the arrow in FIG. 13(A), the connector 100, particularly the wall portion 102, may tilt inside the opening 301 of the housing 300 (see FIG. 13(B)). Such tilting also puts stress on the terminals, and there is a risk that the connection between the terminals and the board, specifically the solder, may crack, damaging the bond between the terminals and the board and causing poor contact.

The present invention was made in consideration of these problems. That is, the main objective of the present invention is to provide a connector that can further reduce stress caused by "agitation" and "vibration."

In addition, in the conventional connector 100, for example as shown by the arrow in FIG. 14, there is a risk that fluids such as water droplets may seep in between the wall 102 of the connector body 101 and the opening 301 of the housing 300, causing poor contact of the board. For this reason, a secondary objective of the present invention is to provide a connector that can further suppress the intrusion of fluids.

The inventors attempted to solve the above problems by approaching them in a new direction, rather than by simply extending the existing technology. As a result, they came up with the invention of a connector that achieves the above-mentioned main objective.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, by arranging multiple protrusions 2 protruding outward from the surface of the connector body 1 in a direction that crosses the terminals 3 (for example, in the Y-axis direction and/or Z-axis direction shown in FIG. 1(C)) and positioning such protrusions 2 inside the opening of the housing 30 for accommodating the board (see FIGS. 2 and 3), it has been found that even if the connector body is subjected to external forces due to "shaking" or "vibration," the force can be dispersed and released by such multiple protrusions 2, thereby further reducing the stress on the terminals 3. It has also been found that the intrusion of fluids such as water droplets can be further suppressed by providing such multiple protrusions 2.

According to the present invention, there is provided a connector including a terminal, the connector comprising:
The terminal has a first end for electrically connecting to another terminal and a second end for connecting to a substrate;
the connector has a plurality of protrusions provided to face an opening of a housing for accommodating the board and to be positioned within the opening;
The plurality of protrusions each protrude outward from the surface of the connector body and are arranged in a direction transverse to the terminal.

The present invention provides a connector that can reduce stress caused by "agitation" and "vibration" and a connector that can further suppress the intrusion of fluids. Note that the effects described in this specification are merely examples and are not limiting, and additional effects may also be provided.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between a convex portion of a connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and a concave portion provided in an opening portion of a housing. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between a convex portion of a connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and a concave portion provided in an opening portion of a housing (specifically, an opening portion having a stopper). FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between a convex portion of a connector according to another embodiment of the present disclosure and a concave portion provided in an opening portion of another housing. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between a protrusion of a connector according to another embodiment of the present disclosure and an opening of another housing. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a relationship between a protrusion of a connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and an opening of a housing. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a protrusion of the connector. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a relationship between a protrusion of a connector according to another embodiment of the present disclosure and an opening of a housing. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a connector according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a conventional connector (A is a perspective view of the conventional connector as seen from the board side, and B is a perspective view of the conventional connector as seen from the side where it is connected to other terminals). FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the coupling of a conventional connector with another connector (A: cross-sectional view of the connector, B: connector (cross-sectional view) and another connector (side view), C: coupling of the connector (cross-sectional view) with another connector (side view)). FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional connector (A: a cross-sectional view of the conventional connector and the housing as viewed from above; B: a cross-sectional view showing only the wall of the conventional connector and the opening of the housing). FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates a conventional connector.

The present disclosure relates to a connector that can be used for electrical connections. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a connector (10) that includes a terminal (3) (see FIG. 1).
In the connector (10) of the present disclosure, the terminal (3) has a first end (3a) for electrically connecting to another terminal (not shown) and a second end (3b) for connecting to the substrate (20) (see Figures 1(A) and 1(B)).
The connector (10) of the present disclosure has a plurality of protrusions (2) arranged to face an opening of a housing (30) for accommodating a substrate (20) and to be positioned inside the opening (see Figures 1 and 2).
Such multiple protrusions (2) each protrude outward from the surface of the connector body (1) and are arranged in a direction transverse to the terminals (3) (e.g., the Y-axis direction and/or the Z-axis direction shown in Figure 1 (C)).

Explain the terms used in this disclosure.

(connector)
"Connector" means a part or member that includes at least one terminal and can be electrically connected to another connector.
The connector has a connector body. There is no particular limitation on the shape of the connector body. The connector body is preferably box-shaped (see FIG. 1). The cross-sectional shape of the connector body is preferably rectangular, such as a square. The corners of the connector body may be rounded.
The connector body has two end faces (or edges) (1a, 1b). One end face (1a) of the connector body can be physically coupled (e.g., engaged and/or mated) with another connector. The other end face (1b) of the connector body can be physically coupled (e.g., engaged and/or mated) with another structure. Examples of other structures include, but are not limited to, enclosures or housings for computers, such as electronic control units (ECUs), more specifically, electronic control units for vehicles. It is preferable that the two end faces (1a, 1b) of the connector body are positioned opposite each other, specifically, in a parallel relationship.

An end face of the connector main body that can be joined with another connector preferably has a fitting portion for receiving at least a part of the other connector (see FIG. 1(C)).
The end faces that can mate with other structures in the connector body may or may not have mating portions.
The connector body can secure at least one terminal that extends through an end face (eg, end face 1b) of the connector (see Figures 1(A) and 1(B)).

The connector of the present disclosure is characterized by having "multiple protrusions" that protrude outward from the surface of the connector body. The multiple protrusions are preferably arranged in a direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction and/or the Z-axis direction shown in FIG. 1C) that crosses the terminal (e.g., terminal 3 shown in FIG. 1) described below. Here, the direction that crosses the terminal includes, but is not limited to, a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the terminal as in the illustrated embodiment.

There is no particular limit to the number of protrusions, and it is 2 or more, for example, 2 or more and 50 or less, and in a more specific example, 2 or more and 20 or less.

By having multiple protrusions, the connector of the present disclosure can disperse and release the force even when the connector body is subjected to external force due to "agitation" or "vibration." Furthermore, by providing multiple protrusions 2, the intrusion of liquids such as water droplets can be further suppressed. The effect of multiple protrusions will be explained in the specific embodiment described below.

It is preferable that the plurality of protrusions are aligned on the surface of the connector body.
It is more preferable that the plurality of protrusions are aligned in a straight line (see FIG. 1(A) and FIGS. 2(A) and 2(B)).
"Multiple convex portions are aligned in a straight line" means that at least two of the multiple convex portions are arranged on the same line on one face of the connector body, and two or more convex portions may be arranged on the same line on each face around the entire circumference of the connector body.
The straight line along which the multiple protrusions are aligned is preferably a straight line along a direction that crosses the terminal described below (for example, the Y-axis direction and/or the Z-axis direction in FIG. 1C).
By aligning multiple protrusions in a straight line, even if the connector body is subjected to external forces such as shaking or vibration, the force can be better dispersed and dissipated.

It is preferable that a plurality of protrusions are arranged over the entire circumference of the connector body (see FIG. 2(B)).
In the present disclosure, the arrangement of multiple protrusions "all around" the connector body means that multiple protrusions surround the connector body along a direction crossing the terminal (e.g., the Y-axis direction and/or the Z-axis direction in FIG. 1C) described below. There is no particular limit to the number of protrusions surrounding the connector body.
By arranging multiple protrusions around the entire circumference of the connector body, the force can be better dispersed and dissipated even when the connector body is subjected to external force due to "jerking" or "vibration."

The multiple protrusions are preferably arranged at a distance. The distance may be called a "pitch" and means the distance between two protrusions. The pitch may be equal or irregular (random). For example, the pitches _P1 and _P2 shown in FIG. 3B may be the same or different.
For example, it is preferable that the multiple protrusions are arranged at an equal pitch. In one example, by arranging the multiple protrusions at an equal pitch, even if the connector body receives an external force due to "jerking" or "vibration," the force can be more uniformly dispersed and released. In another example, when the vector of the external force of "jerking" or "vibration" received by the connector body is predetermined or specific, for example, an arrangement other than an equal pitch is preferable in order to set the pitch to counter the specific vector.

The main body of the protrusion preferably has a "plate-like" shape (see Figs. 1 and 2). In the present disclosure, "plate-like" means a shape in which two main surfaces are positioned opposite each other (see Fig. 8(A)). However, it is not limited to the shape shown in the figures in which the two main surfaces are positioned parallel to each other.
The two main surfaces are preferably arranged along a direction crossing the terminal described below (for example, the Y-axis direction and/or the Z-axis direction in FIG. 1C).
Since at least the main body of the protrusion is plate-shaped, even if the connector main body is subjected to external force due to "jitter" or "vibration," the force can be dispersed and released more effectively.

There is no particular limitation on the shape of the main surface of the protrusion.
The main surface of the protrusion preferably has a substantially rectangular shape.
In the present disclosure, the term "substantially rectangular" refers to shapes such as quadrilaterals such as squares and rectangles, trapezoids, rhombuses, and parallelograms (see FIGS. 6 and 8(A)).

The protrusions preferably have a rectangular cross-sectional shape. The term "rectangular cross-sectional shape" refers to a cross-sectional shape having a substantially rectangular shape such as a quadrilateral such as a square or a rectangle, a trapezoid, a rhombus, or a parallelogram.
Such a cross section may be a cross section perpendicular to the main surface of the protrusion, or a cross section parallel to the main surface of the protrusion.
It is preferable that the cross section perpendicular to the main surface of the protrusion and the cross section parallel to the main surface of the protrusion both have a substantially rectangular shape.
The protrusion preferably has, for example, a plate-like box shape as a whole.
Such a plate-like protrusion may be flexibly and elastically deformed when subjected to an external force.
By having the protrusion have a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape, even if the connector body is subjected to external force due to "jitter" or "vibration," the force can be more evenly distributed and dissipated.

The connector body and the convex portion may be manufactured integrally or separately from materials such as resin by a conventionally known manufacturing method. The connector body and the convex portion may be manufactured by molding. Only the convex portion may be attached externally. There are no particular restrictions on the resin that constitutes the connector body and the convex portion. The resins used in the connector body and the convex portion may be the same or different.

(Terminal)
A "terminal" refers to a part or member that has the property of conducting electricity, in other words, is conductive, and can be electrically connected to a terminal contained in another connector (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "another terminal").
There is no particular limitation on the shape of the terminal, but it is preferable that the terminal has a linear, elongated shape such as a rod shape or a plate shape.
The terminal has two ends. One end can be electrically connected to another terminal (hereinafter referred to as the "first end") (see "first end 3a" in FIG. 1B). The other end can be electrically connected to a board included in, for example, a computer (hereinafter referred to as the "second end") (see "second end 3b" in FIG. 1A).
The terminal is preferably made of a conductor. Examples of the conductor include metals and/or alloys. Examples of metal elements that can be contained in the metals and/or alloys include copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and the like. It is preferable to use at least one selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminum, stainless steel, and brass (sometimes called brass or brass) as the conductor.
When the terminal is made of a material such as a metal and/or an alloy, it may further have a plating layer or a surface treatment layer, which preferably contains an element such as chromium or nickel.
The terminals are preferably inserted by press-fitting through at least one through-hole provided in the connector body and fixed to the connector body.
Preferably, at least one (but not more than 100) terminals are secured to the connector body.

(other connectors)
"Another connector" means a part or member that can be at least electrically connected to the connector of the present disclosure.
The other connector includes at least one terminal (but not more than 100) that corresponds to the terminal included in the connector of the present disclosure (hereinafter referred to as the "other terminal").
The other connector may be a conventionally known commercially available connector, for example, a connector (400) having a harness (500) attached thereto as shown in Fig. 12(B) may be used as the other connector.
The harness may be a bundle of wires, each of which may be electrically connected to a different terminal.
Another connector may be used to connect to a computer.
There is no particular limitation on the shape of the other connector. The other connector may have a complementary shape that can fit into the connector of the present disclosure. In other words, the connector of the present disclosure may have a complementary shape that can fit into the shape of the other connector. Specifically, the connector of the present disclosure and the other connector may have shapes that allow them to fit together with each other.

(other terminals)
The "other terminal" is a part or member that can be electrically connected to the terminal included in the connector of the present disclosure. For example, if the terminal included in the connector of the present disclosure is a male terminal, the other terminal may be a female terminal. The other terminal may be a commercially available terminal that is publicly known in the art, without any particular restrictions.

(substrate)
"Substrate" means a plate-shaped part or member having an electronic circuit or a plate-shaped part or member capable of forming an electronic circuit. The substrate is preferably a printed circuit board that can be used in a computer or the like.
An electronic circuit formed on the board can be electrically connected to the connector of the present disclosure via the terminals. The electrical connection between the board and the terminals can be by soldering as in the conventional case (see FIG. 12).
The substrate preferably has a substantially rectangular shape, including a quadrilateral such as a square or a rectangle, when viewed from above.

(computer)
The term "computer" refers to a computing device or apparatus having electronic circuits formed on a substrate. The electronic circuits may include semiconductor elements such as transistors and capacitors.
Examples of computers include electronic control units (ECUs), more specifically, in-vehicle electronic control units. Examples of in-vehicle electronic control units include calculation devices for controlling engines and/or motors. Computers generally have a housing for housing a board on which an electronic circuit is formed.

(Housing)
The "casing" is a part or member capable of accommodating a substrate and protecting the accommodated substrate and the electronic circuit formed thereon, and may also be called a housing or case (see FIG. 1(C)). The casing preferably has a box-like shape with a cross section that is substantially rectangular, including quadrilaterals such as a square or rectangle.
The housing has an opening for disposing and/or positioning the connector of the present disclosure, and can accommodate a board in the space inside the housing body. From this perspective, the connector of the present disclosure can be said to be a part or member that can function as a cap.
The housing may be made of metal or resin, but is preferably made of metal from the viewpoint of heat dissipation.
The housing may have a two-part configuration, for example, a cup-shaped member and a lid-shaped member. Both the cup-shaped member and the lid-shaped member may be made of metal. Either the cup-shaped member or the lid-shaped member, preferably the cup-shaped member, may be made of metal. In this case, the lid-shaped member may be made of resin.

The term "cup-shaped member" refers to a member having a side portion corresponding to a body portion and a main surface portion (in a typical embodiment, for example, the top surface) that is continuous with the side portion, and in which a hollow portion can be formed inside. The cup-shaped member preferably has a substantially rectangular shape, including a quadrangle such as a square or a rectangle, when viewed from above.
The term "lid-like member" refers to a member that can be provided to cover the cup-like member. The lid-like member may be, for example, a single member (typically a flat member) that extends in the same plane. It is preferable that the lid-like member has a substantially rectangular shape, including a quadrangle such as a square or a rectangle, in a top view in correspondence with the cup-like member.
It is preferable that the cup-shaped member and the lid-shaped member are coupled to each other by engaging or fitting to form the housing (see Fig. 1(C) and Fig. 2). The cup-shaped member and the lid-shaped member may be coupled to each other by fastening using screws or the like.

An "opening" of the housing refers to a part (e.g., a wall portion, etc.) that constitutes a space or opening provided for arranging and/or positioning the connector of the present disclosure in the housing, and refers to a part (e.g., a wall portion, etc.) of the housing that can receive or accommodate at least some of the multiple protrusions provided on the connector body (see FIG. 2). Such an "opening" may also be referred to as a "receiving portion," "accommodating portion," or "fitting portion." The opening is preferably provided so as to face the connector of the present disclosure. The opening may be provided, for example, on a side surface of the housing other than the main surface. Here, the main surface of the housing refers to the surface having the largest area, for example, the top surface and/or bottom surface of the housing.

The opening has an opening through which a portion of the connector body can pass. There are no particular limitations on the shape and dimensions of the opening, and it is preferable for the opening to have a shape and dimensions that are approximately complementary to the shape of the connector body (see Figure 1 (C) and Figures 2 (A) and (B)).

The opening of the housing may have multiple recesses (e.g., recess 32 shown in schematic cross section from above in Figure 3(A)) to receive multiple protrusions provided on the connector body.

There is no particular limit to the number of recesses, and it is 2 or more, for example, 2 or more and 50 or less, more specifically, 2 or more and 20 or less.

It is preferable that the recess provided in the opening of the housing has a shape that is complementary to the shape of the protrusion provided in the connector body (see Figs. 3(A) and 5(A)).
In this disclosure, "complementary shape" means a similar shape with different dimensions, and may be a shape similar to the convex portion of the connector as long as it can receive at least a portion of the convex portion of the connector, and does not have to be exactly the same shape.

The recess preferably has a rectangular cross-sectional shape. The rectangular cross-sectional shape may be, for example, a quadrilateral such as a square or a rectangle, or a substantially rectangular shape such as a trapezoid, a rhombus, or a parallelogram (see Figures 3(A) and 5(A)).

By providing multiple recesses at the opening of the housing, even if the connector body is subjected to external forces such as shaking or vibration, the force can be dispersed and released by the protrusions provided on the connector body.

There may be a space (S) between the recess provided at the opening of the housing and the protrusion provided on the connector body, which may be formed by separation (or spacing) (see Figures 3(B) and 5(B)).

By providing the space (S), even if the connector body is subjected to external force due to "jerking" or "vibration," the force can be mitigated by the protrusions provided on the connector body, and the force can be more dispersed and released.

In this disclosure, "jerking" means to swing strongly at least once. More specifically, it means swinging of the connector that can occur when the harness of another connector attached to the connector of the present disclosure swings strongly or ripples. "Jerking" can occur, for example, when connecting another connector to the connector of the present disclosure on an assembly line during manufacturing. It can also occur when the connector of the present disclosure is in use, for example, when it is mounted on a vehicle or during maintenance.

In this disclosure, "vibration" means small periodic or non-periodic shaking. More specifically, it means shaking that can occur when the harness of another connector attached to the connector of the present disclosure vibrates small. For example, "vibration" can occur when another connector is connected to the connector of the present disclosure on an assembly line during manufacturing. It can also occur when the connector of the present disclosure is in use, for example, when it is mounted on a vehicle or during maintenance.

Such "agitation" and "vibration" include not only vertical and horizontal shaking, but shaking in all directions. In this disclosure, "agitation" and "vibration" may be collectively referred to simply as "shaking."

Even if the connector of the present disclosure is subjected to such an external force due to "vibration," the force can be dispersed and released by the multiple protrusions provided on the connector body. This in turn reduces the stress on the terminals provided on the connector body. As a result, the connection between the terminals and the board, more specifically the connection by solder, can be protected, and undesirable contact failures can be avoided.

The space (S) (see Figs. 3(B) and 5(B)) between the recessed portion at the opening of the housing and the protruding portion at the connector body can retain fluids such as water droplets in the space (S) by, for example, capillary action and/or surface tension. This in turn can prevent fluids from penetrating the housing at a more forward position. As a result, corrosion of the terminals and board caused by fluids such as water droplets can be prevented, and undesirable poor contact can be avoided.

In this disclosure, "fluid" refers to fluids such as water, alcohol, oil, etc., and may contain various additives. The fluid may be a liquid or a particulate material such as water droplets or water vapor. The fluid may be water droplets or water vapor for cleaning. The invention of this disclosure can provide remarkable drip-proof performance for such fluids.

It is preferable that the distance between the recess provided at the opening of the housing and the protrusion provided on the connector body (e.g., _d1 to _d9 shown in FIG. 3(B), _d10 to _d18 shown in FIG. 5(B), and _D2 and _D4 shown in FIG. 7(B)) is smaller than the distance between the housing and the connector body (e.g., _D5 shown in FIG. 7(B)).
With this configuration, for example by capillary action and/or surface tension, fluids such as water droplets can be retained in the space between the recess provided in the opening of the housing and the protrusion provided in the connector body (for example, space S shown in Figures 3 to 6 and space _S1 shown in Figure 7), and fluids can be prevented from entering the space provided between the housing and the connector body (for example, _S2 shown in Figure 7).

Furthermore, the convex portion formed on the connector body may have at least one selected from the group consisting of a passage for retaining fluids such as water droplets (e.g., passage 50 provided at the bottom of the convex portion as shown in Figure 8 (B)), a groove (or notch), a hole (or recess), and a hole (or through hole).
By providing such passages, grooves, holes and/or apertures in the protrusions, fluids such as water droplets can be further retained, which can further prevent the fluids from penetrating into the housing.
Such passages, grooves, holes and/or pores can be formed in any location or region of the protrusion. They may be provided on the main surface and/or the upper surface and/or the side surface and/or the lower surface of the protrusion. In addition, from the viewpoint of retaining such fluids, the protrusion may be made of a porous material.

The connector of the present disclosure has the above-mentioned configuration, which allows liquids such as water droplets to be retained at the opening of the housing. This in turn makes it possible to further suppress the intrusion of liquids into the housing, thereby avoiding undesirable poor contact.

In this disclosure, "apparatus" refers to an apparatus or device that includes at least a board having an electronic circuit, a housing for housing the board, and a connector including terminals. More specifically, it refers to an apparatus or device that includes the above-mentioned computer, etc.

"Electronic circuit" generally refers to an electric circuit that includes semiconductor elements such as transistors and capacitors. There are no particular limitations to such electronic circuits.

The present invention will be described below with reference to specific embodiments. The description will be given with reference to the drawings as necessary. However, the various elements and configurations in the drawings are merely shown as schematic and illustrative examples for the purpose of understanding the present invention, and the appearance and/or dimensional ratios may differ from the actual product.

In each drawing, the shape of the connector is described based on an _XYZ coordinate system in which the Z axis is a normal line in the Z 1 -Z ₂ direction of the X-Y plane parallel to the X axis in the X ₁ -X ₂ direction shown in Fig. 1 (C) and the Y axis in the Y ₁ -Y ₂ direction perpendicular to the X axis. For convenience of explanation, the Z ₁ direction may be referred to as the upward direction, and the Z ₂ direction may be referred to as the downward direction. In addition, the direction toward the center of the XYZ coordinate system may be referred to as the inward direction, inside, or interior, and the direction away from the center may be referred to as the outward direction, outside, or exterior.

[First embodiment]
A connector according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is a connector 10 including a terminal 3, as shown in, for example, FIGS. 1 and 2 ,
The terminal 3 has a first end (3a) for electrically connecting to another terminal (not shown) and a second end (3b) for connecting to a substrate;
The connector 10 has a plurality of protrusions 2 that are provided so as to face an opening 31 of a housing 30 for accommodating a board 20 and be positioned inside the opening 31,
The plurality of protrusions 2 each protrude outward from the surface of the connector body 1 and are arranged in a direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction and/or the Z-axis direction in FIG. 1C) that crosses the terminals 3. The terminals 3 may be arranged, for example, in the X-axis direction shown in FIG. 1C.

1 and 2, a connector 10 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure has a connector body 1 and a plurality of protrusions 2 protruding outward from a surface of the connector body 1. The connector body 1 has a terminal 3 disposed so as to penetrate a portion thereof.
The terminal 3 has two ends (3a, 3b), the first end (3a) can be electrically connected to another terminal (not shown), and the second end (3b) can be electrically connected to the substrate 20 (see Figures 1 (A) and 2 (C)).
The second end (3b) of the terminal 3 can be connected to an electronic circuit provided on the substrate 20 by solder or the like in a conventional manner (see FIG. 12). The terminal 3 may be rod-shaped or plate-shaped. Considering the connection to the substrate 20 by solder, the terminal 3 is preferably plate-shaped from the viewpoints of strength and the area of connection by solder.
The substrate 20 may be parallel to the XY plane and coupled to the lower surface of the connector body 1 (see FIGS. 1(A) and 2(C)).

Here, FIG. 1(A) is a perspective view of the connector 10 as viewed from the side of the board 20. FIG. 1(B) is a perspective view of the connector 10 as viewed from the side where it connects to other terminals (not shown). FIG. 1(C) is a perspective view of the connector 10 as viewed together with the housing 30 as viewed from the side where it connects to other terminals (not shown) (however, the side of the housing 30 has been omitted for ease of explanation).

The multiple protrusions 2 provided on the main body 1 of the connector 10 may be positioned inside or on the inside of the opening 31 of the housing 30, with at least a portion of the protrusions facing the opening 31 of the housing 30 (see FIG. 2(C)).

Here, FIG. 2(A) shows a partial cross section of the connector (showing a cross section along Z-Z' in FIG. 2(B)). FIG. 2(B) shows the connector as viewed from the side that connects to other terminals (not shown) together with the housing 30. FIG. 2(C) shows a cross section along X-X' of the connector in FIG. 2(B). FIG. 2(D) shows a cross section along Y-Y' of the connector in FIG. 2(B).

The relationship between the multiple protrusions 2 provided on the main body 1 of the connector 10 and the opening 31 of the housing 30 is shown in Figure 3. Note that Figure 3, and particularly Figure 3(B), corresponds to a partial cross section viewed from above in Figure 2(A).

Here, FIG. 3(A) shows a schematic diagram of an opening 31 provided in a housing 30. The opening 31 can receive at least a part of the multiple protrusions 2 provided in the connector body 1. The opening 31 also has a space or opening provided for placing and/or positioning the connector 10 (particularly the connector body 1) (see FIG. 2, particularly FIG. 2(B)).

The opening 31 has a plurality of recesses (areas surrounded by dotted lines) 32 having a shape that can correspond to the plurality of protrusions 2 provided on the connector body 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of protrusions 2 provided on the connector body 1 have a plate-like box shape as shown in FIG. 8(A), for example, and therefore it is preferable that the recesses 32 provided on the opening 31 of the housing 30 have a complementary shape that can correspond to the shape of such protrusions 2. More specifically, the recesses 32 may have a box shape.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3(B), the multiple protrusions 2 provided on the connector body 1 can be wholly or partially housed inside the multiple recesses 32 provided in the opening 31 of the housing 30 (see FIG. 1(C) and FIG. 2(A) and FIG. 2(B)).

As shown by the dashed line in FIG. 3B, it is preferable that the multiple protrusions 2 are aligned in a straight line. By aligning the multiple protrusions 2 in a straight line, even if the connector is subjected to "shaking" or "vibration," the force received can be more evenly distributed by contacting the opening 31 of the housing 30, particularly the wall of the recess 32, at a surface or point, preferably at a surface. This in turn makes it possible to further reduce the stress on the terminal 3 and suppress poor contact.

The multiple protrusions 2 can be arranged around the entire circumference of the connector body 1 (see FIG. 2(B)). When protrusions are arranged at the corners of the connector body 1, the protrusions may have an L-shape as shown in the figure. By making the protrusions have such an L-shape, even if the connector is tilted due to being "jumped" or "vibrated" as in the conventional case (see FIG. 13), the force received can be successfully dispersed at the corners.

It is preferable that the plurality of protrusions 2 are arranged at equal pitches. For example, as shown in Fig. 3B, it is preferable that the pitches _P1 and _P2 between any two protrusions are the same.
The pitch between any two convex portions is not particularly limited and can be determined arbitrarily.

When the protrusion 2 has a plate-like shape, for example, the dimension _L1 in the longitudinal direction of the protrusion 2 shown in FIG. 8(A) is not particularly limited and can be determined arbitrarily.
The dimension _L2 of the protrusion 2 in the height direction (direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction) is not particularly limited and can be determined arbitrarily.
The dimension _L3 of the protrusion 2 in the thickness direction is not particularly limited and can be determined arbitrarily.

The protrusion 2 preferably has a rectangular cross-sectional shape, for example as shown in FIG. 3(B). As shown in the figure, the cross-sectional shape of the protrusion 2 is not limited to a quadrangle such as a rectangle, but may be a substantially rectangular shape such as a trapezoid, rhombus, or parallelogram (see FIG. 5(B)).

A space (S) may be formed by separation (or spacing) between the recess 32 (preferably a wall portion) provided in the opening 31 of the housing 30 and the protrusion 2 provided in the connector body 1 (see Figures 3(A) and 3(B)).

The presence of the space (S) limits the movement of the protrusion 2 inside the recess 32, and when the connector is subjected to "agitation" or "vibration," the protrusion 2 moves laterally (in other words, in the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 1(C)) and/or vertically (in other words, in the X-axis direction shown in FIG. 1(C)) and comes into contact with the wall of the recess 32, distributing the force received more evenly. This in turn reduces the stress on the terminal 3 and further suppresses poor contact.

A space (S) may exist around each protrusion 2, and there is no particular limitation on the distance between the recess 32 and the protrusion 2. For example, the separation distances (or spacing distances) d ₁ to d ₆ in the horizontal direction (Y-axis direction) shown in FIG. 3B may be the same or different, and can be determined independently and arbitrarily.
The separation distances (or spacing distances) d ₇ to d ₉ in the vertical direction (X-axis direction) may be the same or different, and can be determined independently and arbitrarily.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3(C), when the connector is subjected to "shaking" or "vibration" and the connector body is tilted obliquely as in the conventional case (see FIG. 13(B)), the wall surface of the recess 32 can restrict the movement of the protrusion 2 for each block, and the force received by the connector body can be transmitted to the wall surface of the recess 32 by contacting the protrusion 2 with the recess 32, preferably by contacting the surfaces of the protrusion 2 with the recess 32, and the received force can be further dispersed. As a result, the stress on the terminals provided in the connector body can be significantly reduced. This effect can be achieved not only when the force is received in the horizontal direction (Y-axis direction), but also when the force is received in the vertical direction (X-axis direction) and/or up-down direction (Z-axis direction). In other words, the connector can achieve the same effect even when the force is received from any direction.

To enhance this effect, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a stopper 33 may be provided around the recess 32. The stopper 33 can enhance the above effect in the vertical direction (X-axis direction). The stopper 33 may be formed integrally with the opening 31 or separately.

As a further improvement, for example, as shown in Figures 5(A) and 5(B), the cross-sectional shapes of the recess 32' and the protrusion 2' that may be provided in the opening 31' may both be changed to trapezoids.

By making the cross-sectional shape of the recess 32' and the protrusion 2' trapezoidal, the force received can be distributed more uniformly even when the connector body receives a force from the horizontal direction (Y-axis direction), the vertical direction (X-axis direction) and/or the up-down direction (Z-axis direction), or even when the connector body receives a force from an oblique direction (see FIG. 5(C)). In other words, the same effect can be achieved more remarkably even when the connector body receives a force from any direction.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5(B), it is preferable that the space (S) between the convex portion 2' and the concave portion 32' be formed by the convex portion 2' and the concave portion 32' having similar shapes. In other words, it is preferable that the surfaces constituting the convex portion 2' and the concave portion 32' are positioned approximately parallel to each other.

For example, the separation distances (or spacing distances) d ₁₀ to d ₁₅ shown in FIG. 5(B) may be the same or different, and can be determined independently and arbitrarily.
For example, when the connector body is tilted as shown in Fig. 5(C), the separation distances _d10 to _d15 may be gradually increased from _d10 to _d15 (in other words, may be gradually decreased from _d15 to _d10 ). When the connector body is tilted in the direction opposite to the direction shown in Fig. 5(C), the separation distances _d10 to _d15 may be gradually increased from _d15 to _d10 (in other words, may be gradually decreased from _d10 to _d15 ). By doing so, it is possible to significantly reduce stress even when the connector body is tilted at a larger angle.
The separation distances (or spacing distances) d ₁₆ to d ₁₈ in the vertical direction (X-axis direction) shown in FIG. 5(B) may be the same or different, and can be determined independently and arbitrarily.

Here, the shape of the main surface of the convex portion is not limited to a quadrangle such as the rectangle shown in FIG. 6(A), but may be a substantially rectangular shape such as a trapezoid as shown in FIG. 6(B). This shape can increase the contact area between the convex portion 2'' and the opening 31'' not only in the vertical and horizontal directions (X-axis and Y-axis directions) but also when tilted obliquely in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction), and can distribute the force received more uniformly.

In this way, by providing multiple protrusions, the connector according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure can disperse and release the force even when the connector body is subjected to external force due to "jerking" or "vibration" by receiving the force on a surface or point, preferably on a surface. This further reduces the stress on the terminals provided on the connector body. As a result, the connection between the terminals and the board, more specifically the connection by solder, can be protected, and undesirable poor contact can be avoided.

[Second embodiment]
A connector according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure is a connector including a terminal 3,
The terminal 3 has a first end (3a) for electrically connecting to another terminal (not shown) and a second end (3b) for connecting to a substrate;
The connector has a plurality of protrusions 2 provided to face an opening 31 of a housing 30 for accommodating a board 20 and to be positioned inside the opening 31;
A plurality of protrusions 2 each protrude outward from a surface of the connector body 1 and are arranged in a direction crossing the terminals 3 (e.g., in the Y-axis direction and/or the Z-axis direction),
The opening 31 of the housing 30 has a plurality of recesses 32 for receiving the plurality of protrusions 2,
A space (S ₁ ) that can be formed by separation (or separation) exists between the recess 32 provided in the opening 31 of the housing 30 and the protrusion 2 provided in the connector body 1,
The space (S ₁ ) is a space provided for retaining a fluid.

The connector of the second embodiment is similar to the connector 10 of the first embodiment, but is characterized in that, as shown in the partial cross-sectional view of Figure 7 (B), for example, a space ( _S1 ) formed by separation (or gap) between a recess 32 (see Figure 3 (A)) provided in the opening 31 and a protrusion 2 provided in the connector body 1 is provided to retain fluids such as water droplets.

For example, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 7A, fluid such as water droplets may infiltrate along the direction of the arrow. However, in the connector of the second embodiment, the space (S 1 ) that can be formed by the separation between the recess 32 (preferably a wall portion) provided in the opening 31 and the protrusion ₂ provided in the connector body 1 allows the fluid to be held in the space (S ₁ ). More specifically, the fluid can be held in the space (S ₁ ) by capillary action and/or surface tension. As a result, the fluid can be prevented from infiltrating into the space (S ₂ ) that can be formed between the housing 30 and the connector body 1 at the front side. In the connector of the second embodiment, the presence of multiple such protrusions 2 dramatically improves the drip-proof effect.

The space (S ₁ ) is formed by making it larger than the conventional clearance between parts, and by increasing the volume of the space (S ₁ ), it is possible to retain a larger amount of fluid. Such an invention and effect cannot be easily arrived at from a conventional invention that aims to reduce the clearance between parts. Furthermore, it cannot be easily arrived at from an invention that is premised on the use of a sealing material, such as the invention described in Patent Document 1.

The distance (e.g., _D2 and _D4 shown in FIG. 7(B)) between the recess 32 (preferably a wall portion) provided in the opening 31 of the housing 30 and the protrusion 2 provided in the connector body 1 is preferably smaller than the distance (e.g., _D5 shown in FIG. 7(B)) between the housing 30 and the connector body 1. By adjusting these distances, the fluid can be more easily and quickly retained in the space ( _S1 ) by capillary action and/or surface tension.

The ratio of the distance _D2 or _D4 to the distance _D5 (the ratio of _D2 / _D5 or _D4 / _D5 ) may be less than 1, and can be determined arbitrarily.

The separation distances _D2 and _D4 may be the same or different. It is preferable that the distance _D2 is smaller than the separation distance _D4 . In this way, the intrusion of the fluid can be suppressed on the near side.
The distances _D2 and _D4 can be determined independently and arbitrarily.

The value of the distance _D2 and/or the distance _D4 may be the same as or different from the values of _d1 to _d18 shown in Figures 3 and 5. It is preferable that the values of _d1 to _d18 shown in Figures 3 and 5 are smaller than the distance _D5 from the viewpoint of suppressing the intrusion of fluids on the near side.

The distance _D5 is not particularly limited and can be determined arbitrarily.

In the opening 31 of the housing 30, the ratio of the separation distance _D2 to the dimension _D1 in the height direction (Z-axis direction) of the recess ( _D2 / _D1 ratio) is not particularly limited and can be determined arbitrarily.
In the opening 31 of the housing 30, the ratio of the separation distance _D4 to the dimension _D3 in the vertical direction (X-axis direction) of the recess ( _D4 / _D3 ratio) is not particularly limited and can be determined arbitrarily.

In FIG. 7, the protrusion 2 is disposed inside the opening 31, but the outer surface of the protrusion 2 may be flush with the outer surface of the opening 31.

The protrusion 2 may have at least one selected from the group consisting of passages, grooves, holes, and pores for retaining fluids. Such passages, grooves, holes, and pores can also retain fluids such as water droplets.

For example, as shown in Fig. 8B, 9 and 10, some of the protrusions 2 may have passages 50. The passages 50 do not have to penetrate through the protrusions 2. In other words, the passages 50 may be grooves.
The passage 50 may be formed in the lower part of the protrusion 2, more specifically, so that the passage 50 contacts the connector body 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the passage 50 is located in the center of the lower part of the protrusion 2, but the position of the passage 50 is not particularly limited.

The ratio of the dimension _L50 of the passage ₅₀ in the longitudinal direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction) to the dimension L1 of the convex portion 2 in the longitudinal direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction) ( _L50 / _L1 ratio) is not particularly limited and can be determined arbitrarily.
_L50 is not particularly limited and can be determined arbitrarily.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9 , a distance _D50 in the height direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction) of the passage 50 is preferably smaller than a distance _D5 between the housing 30 and the connector body 1, and is further preferably smaller than a separation distance _D2 and/or _D4 between the convex portion 2 and the concave portion 32.

The ratio of distance _D50 to distance _D5 ( _D50 / _D5 ratio) is less than 1. It is preferable that _{the D50} / _D5 ratio is an even smaller value.

The _D50 value is not particularly limited and can be determined arbitrarily.

Figure 10 shows a connector according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, including a protrusion 2 having a passage 50. Figure 10(A) shows a partial cross section of the connector (cross section taken along Z-Z' in Figure 10(B)). Figure 10(B) shows the connector viewed from the side that connects to another terminal (not shown) together with the housing 30. Figure 10(C) shows a cross section taken along X-X' of the connector in Figure 10(B). Figure 10(D) shows a cross section taken along Y-Y' of the connector in Figure 2(B).

The protrusion 2 may have a groove, a hole, and/or a hole instead of or in addition to the passage 50. For example, a groove, a hole, and/or a hole may be formed at the top of the protrusion 2. Note that such a passage, groove, hole, and/or hole may be formed in the protrusion of the first embodiment.

The connector of the present disclosure may be a waterproof type connector or a non-waterproof type connector. More specifically, a sealant may be disposed between the connector body 1 and the opening 31 and/or between the protrusion 2 and the opening 31 to enhance waterproof performance.

[Third embodiment]
A substrate 20 having electronic circuits;
A housing 30 for housing the substrate 20;
A connector 10 including a terminal 3,
The terminal 3 has a first end (3a) for electrically connecting to another terminal (not shown) and a second end (3b) for connecting to a substrate;
The connector 10 has a plurality of protrusions 2 that are provided to face an opening 31 of a housing 30 for accommodating the board 20 and are positioned inside the opening 31,
A device in which the multiple protrusions 2 each protrude outward from the surface of the connector body 1 and are arranged in a direction crossing the terminal 3 (e.g., in the Y-axis direction and/or the Z-axis direction).

The substrate, housing, and connector that may be included in the device of the present disclosure may be any combination of those described above as needed. In addition, the configurations included in the first and second embodiments may be any combination as needed.

The device disclosed herein can be used as an electronic control unit (ECU), specifically as an electronic control unit for an automobile. More specifically, it can be used as an on-board computer for an automobile, hybrid automobile, electric automobile, etc.

Finally, we will briefly discuss the aspects of the present invention. The above-mentioned invention includes, but is not limited to, the following aspects.

(Aspect 1)
A connector including a terminal,
The terminal has a first end for electrically connecting to another terminal and a second end for connecting to a substrate;
the connector has a plurality of protrusions provided to face an opening of a housing for accommodating the board and to be positioned within the opening;
A connector, wherein the plurality of protrusions each protrude outward from a surface of the connector body and are arranged in a direction across the terminals.
(Aspect 2)
2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions are aligned in a straight line.
(Aspect 3)
A connector according to aspect 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of protrusions are arranged around an entire circumference of the connector body.
(Aspect 4)
A connector according to any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of protrusions are arranged at equal pitch.
(Aspect 5)
A connector according to any one of aspects 1 to 4, wherein the convex portion has a plate-like shape.
(Aspect 6)
A connector according to any one of aspects 1 to 5, wherein the convex portion has a rectangular cross-sectional shape.
(Aspect 7)
A connector as described in any one of aspects 1 to 6, wherein the opening of the housing has a plurality of recesses for receiving the plurality of protrusions, and the recesses have complementary shapes corresponding to the shapes of the protrusions.
(Aspect 8)
A connector as described in aspect 1, wherein the opening of the housing has a plurality of recesses for receiving the plurality of protrusions, and a space is formed by separation between the recesses provided in the opening of the housing and the protrusions provided on the connector body.
(Aspect 9)
A connector including a terminal,
The terminal has a first end for electrically connecting to another terminal and a second end for connecting to a substrate;
the connector has a plurality of protrusions provided to face an opening of a housing for accommodating the board and to be positioned within the opening;
The plurality of protrusions each protrude outward from a surface of the connector body and are arranged in a direction across the terminals,
the opening of the housing has a plurality of recesses for receiving the plurality of protrusions,
a space is formed between the recess provided at the opening of the housing and the protrusion provided at the connector body by separation,
A connector, wherein the space is a space provided for retaining a fluid.
(Aspect 10)
A connector as described in aspect 9, wherein a distance between a recess provided at the opening of the housing and a protrusion provided on the connector body is smaller than a distance between the housing and the connector body.
(Aspect 11)
11. The connector according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the protrusion has at least one selected from the group consisting of a passage, a groove, a hole, and a hole for retaining a fluid.
(Aspect 12)
A connector according to any one of aspects 9 to 11, wherein the plurality of protrusions are aligned in a straight line.
(Aspect 13)
A connector according to any one of aspects 9 to 12, wherein the plurality of protrusions are arranged around an entire circumference of the connector body.
(Aspect 14)
A connector according to any one of aspects 9 to 13, wherein the plurality of convex portions are arranged at equal pitch.
(Aspect 15)
A connector according to any one of aspects 9 to 14, wherein the convex portion has a plate-like shape.
(Aspect 16)
A connector according to any one of aspects 9 to 15, wherein the convex portion has a rectangular cross-sectional shape.
(Aspect 17)
A connector as described in any one of aspects 9 to 16, wherein the opening of the housing has a plurality of recesses for receiving the plurality of protrusions, and the recesses have complementary shapes corresponding to the shapes of the protrusions.
(Aspect 18)
A connector according to any one of aspects 1 to 17, wherein the connector is an on-vehicle connector.
(Aspect 19)
A substrate having an electronic circuit;
A housing for accommodating the substrate;
and a connector including a terminal,
The terminal has a first end for electrically connecting to another terminal and a second end for connecting to a substrate;
the connector has a plurality of protrusions provided to face an opening of a housing for accommodating the board and to be positioned within the opening;
The device, wherein the plurality of protrusions each protrude outward from a surface of the connector body and are arranged in a direction transverse to the terminal.
(Aspect 20)
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the plurality of protrusions are aligned in a straight line.
(Aspect 21)
Aspect 21. The device of aspect 19 or 20, wherein the plurality of protrusions are arranged around the entire circumference of the connector body.
(Aspect 22)
Aspect 22. The device according to any one of aspects 19 to 21, wherein the plurality of protrusions are arranged at equal pitch.
(Aspect 23)
The device according to any one of aspects 19 to 22, wherein the protrusion has a plate-like shape.
(Aspect 24)
Aspect 24. The device of any one of aspects 19 to 23, wherein the convex portion has a rectangular cross-sectional shape.
(Aspect 25)
A device according to any one of aspects 19 to 24, wherein the opening of the housing has a plurality of recesses for receiving the plurality of protrusions, the recesses having complementary shapes corresponding to the shapes of the protrusions.
(Aspect 26)
The device described in aspect 19, wherein the opening of the housing has a plurality of recesses for receiving the plurality of protrusions, and a space is formed by separation between the recesses provided in the opening of the housing and the protrusions provided on the connector body.
(Aspect 27)
27. The device of claim 26, wherein the space is a space provided for retaining a fluid object.
(Aspect 28)
A device as described in aspect 26 or 27, wherein the distance between a recess provided at the opening of the housing and a protrusion provided on the connector body is smaller than the distance between the housing and the connector body.
(Aspect 29)
A device according to any one of aspects 19 to 28, wherein the protrusion has at least one selected from the group consisting of a passage, a groove, a hole, and a hole for retaining a fluid.
(Aspect 30)
30. The apparatus of any of aspects 19 to 29, for use as an electronic control device.
(Aspect 31)
31. The device according to any one of aspects 19 to 30, which is used as an on-board electronic control device.

The connector of the present disclosure can be used for electrical connections, and there are no particular limitations on its application. The connector of the present disclosure can be connected to a circuit board, such as a computer. More specifically, the connector of the present disclosure can be used in electronic control devices, particularly electronic control devices for vehicles, such as automobiles, hybrid vehicles, and electric vehicles.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Connector body 1a First end surface 1b Second end surface 2 Convex portion 3 Terminal 3a First end portion 3b Second end portion 10 Connector 20 Substrate 30 Case (or housing)
31 Opening 32 Recess 33 Stopper 50 Passage P Pitch S Space 100 Conventional connector 101 Conventional connector body 102 Wall 103 Terminal 103a First end 103b Second end 150 Solder (or connection)
200 Previous board 300 Previous housing 301 Previous opening 400 Other connector 500 Harness (or wiring)

Claims (10)

A connector including a terminal,
The terminal has a first end for electrically connecting to another terminal and a second end for connecting to a substrate;
the connector has a plurality of protrusions provided to face an opening of a housing for accommodating the board and to be positioned within the opening;
The plurality of protrusions are arranged around the entire circumference of the connector body, protruding outward from a surface of the connector body and arranged in a direction crossing the terminals,
A connector, wherein the opening of the housing has a plurality of recesses for receiving the plurality of protrusions, the recesses having complementary shapes corresponding to the shapes of the protrusions. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions are aligned in a straight line. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of protrusions are arranged at equal pitch. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the protrusion has a plate-like shape. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the protrusion has a rectangular cross-sectional shape. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the opening of the housing has a plurality of recesses for receiving the plurality of protrusions, and a space is formed by separation between the recesses provided in the opening of the housing and the protrusions provided in the connector body. The connector according to claim 6, wherein the space is a space provided for retaining a fluid. The connector according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the distance between the recess provided at the opening of the housing and the protrusion provided on the connector body is smaller than the distance between the housing and the connector body. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the protrusion has at least one selected from the group consisting of a passage, a groove, a hole, and a hole for retaining a fluid. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the connector is an on-board connector.

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