JP7640448B2 - Connector Set - Google Patents

Description

The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a connector set that includes a first connector that is fixed to a device and a second connector that is coupled to the first connector. In particular, the technology relates to a connector set in which the first connector has a so-called floating mechanism.

Connectors are known that have a movable housing that is elastically supported so that it can swing while holding terminals. Such connectors are sometimes called floating connectors or floating-type connectors. The movable housing that holds the terminals is elastically supported on the fixed housing by an elastic member. The movable housing moves to follow the position of the mating connector to be joined, so it can be smoothly joined to the mating connector.

Patent documents 1-3 disclose examples of floating connectors. In some cases, the terminals held by the movable housing also serve as members that elastically support the movable housing (Patent documents 1-3).

In the connector of Patent Document 1, a hole is provided in the holding member (fixed housing) that is fixed to the device, and the movable housing is inserted through the hole. Springs are arranged on the upper and lower outer surfaces of the movable housing, and the springs contact the inner surface of the hole. The springs hold the movable housing in the center of the hole, while allowing it to swing to follow the position of the mating connector. The hole in the holding member restricts the range of movement of the movable housing.

For ease of explanation, the connector having the floating mechanism will be referred to as the first connector, and the mating connector that is coupled to the second connector will be referred to as the second connector. The second connector is often provided at the end of a flexible cable.

JP 2018-81873 A JP 2015-158991 A JP 2016-62661 A

When the first connector and the second connector are coupled, the terminal (first terminal) held by the movable housing comes into contact with the terminal (second terminal) of the second connector, resulting in electrical continuity. If the movable housing continues to move after the second connector is coupled, the first terminal and the second terminal may rub against each other, increasing contact resistance. This specification provides a technology for suppressing sliding between the first terminal and the second terminal when the second connector is coupled to a first connector having a movable housing.

The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a connector set consisting of a first connector having a movable housing and a second connector that is coupled to the first connector. The first connector comprises a first housing (fixed housing), a movable housing, and a first terminal. The first housing is fixed to a device such as a board. The first terminal has a front end fixed to the movable housing and a rear end fixed to the first housing, and has an elastic portion between the front end and the rear end, which elastically supports the movable housing.

The second connector comprises a second housing having a recess into which the movable housing fits, and a second terminal whose base is cantilevered on the second housing at the bottom of the recess. The second terminal extends along the insertion/removal direction of the second connector, and comes into contact with the first terminal when the second housing fits into the movable housing.

The movable housing has an outer surface facing a height direction intersecting with the insertion/removal direction. The second housing has an inner surface that is the inner surface of the recess and faces the outer surface. An elastic member is disposed in the gap between the outer surface and the inner surface, and biases the gap in the height direction. The elastic member may be fixed to the movable housing or to the second housing.

In the connector set disclosed in this specification, an elastic member disposed between the outer surface of the movable housing and the inner surface of the second housing prevents relative displacement between the movable housing and the second housing when the first connector and the second connector are coupled. This suppresses sliding of the first and second terminals after the first and second connectors are coupled.

Details and further improvements of the technology disclosed in this specification are explained in the "Description of Embodiments" below.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector set according to a first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the connector set taken along the XZ plane (before coupling). 1 is a cross-sectional view of the connector set taken along the XZ plane (after coupling). FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tip portion of a first terminal. 4A and 4B are a plan view and a side view of a tip portion of a first terminal. FIG. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a connector set according to a second embodiment (before being connected). FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the connector set of the second embodiment (after connection). FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a connector set according to a third embodiment (before being connected). FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the connector set of the third embodiment (after connection).

(First embodiment) The connector set 2 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The connector set 2 is composed of a first connector 100 having a movable housing 120, and a second connector 200. FIG. 1 shows an oblique view of the connector set 2. In FIG. 1, the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are depicted separately. Please note that in FIG. 1, the orientation of the coordinate system of the first connector 100 (the drawing on the right) is different from the orientation of the coordinate system of the second connector 200 (the drawing on the left).

For ease of explanation, the X direction of the coordinate system in the figure is referred to as the insertion/removal direction. The first connector 100 is fixed to the board 20, and the second connector 200 approaches the first connector 100 along the insertion/removal direction, and the two are coupled. For ease of explanation, the Y direction is referred to as the horizontal direction, and the Z direction is referred to as the height direction. The terms "horizontal direction" and "height direction" are used for convenience to distinguish between directions, and the height direction does not necessarily mean the vertical direction, and the horizontal direction does not necessarily mean the horizontal direction.

The first connector 100 has a plurality of first terminals 130. As described above, the first connector 100 is fixed to the substrate 20, and the rear end 132 of the first terminal 130 is connected to the wiring on the substrate 20. The tip of the first terminal 130 is located inside the movable housing 120. The second connector 200 has a second terminal 230. When the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are coupled, the second terminal 230 is inserted into the movable housing 120, and the first terminal 130 and the second terminal 230 come into contact/conduct. The base of the second terminal 230 is connected to an electric cable (not shown). When the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are coupled, the wiring on the substrate 20 and the electric cable are conductive via the first terminal 130 and the second terminal 230. The electric cable is connected to another device.

The first connector 100 will now be described. The first connector 100 includes a first housing 110 and a movable housing 120 in addition to a plurality of first terminals 130. The first housing 110 and the movable housing 120 are made of insulating resin. The first terminals 130 are made of a conductive metal plate.

The first housing 110 is fixed to the substrate 20. The movable housing 120 is disposed inside the first housing 110. In FIG. 1, the outer frame of the first housing 110 and the substrate 20 are drawn with imaginary lines so that the shape of the movable housing 120 can be seen.

The movable housing 120 is elastically supported by the first terminal 130. The movable housing 120 has a flat shape with a length in the Y direction longer than that in the Z direction. The movable housing 120 has a plurality of openings 121 aligned in the Y direction, and the tip 131 of the first terminal 130 is located inside each opening 121. In other words, the plurality of first terminals 130 are aligned in the Y direction. The first housing 110 also has an opening 112, and when viewed from the insertion/removal direction, the first housing 110 surrounds the movable housing 120. The movable housing 120 is positioned such that the opening 121 is exposed from the opening 112 of the first housing 110.

Figure 2 shows a cross section of the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 cut on the XZ plane in the figure. Figure 2 shows a cross section of the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 before they are joined. Figure 2 shows a cross section cut on a plane passing through the center of one opening 121.

The tip 131 of the first terminal 130 is fixed to the movable housing 120, and the rear end 132 is fixed to the fixed base 113 of the first housing 110. The rear end 132 of the first terminal 130 is electrically connected to the wiring (not shown) of the substrate 20. The elastic portion 133 is between the tip 131 and the rear end 132 of the first terminal 130. The elastic portion 133 is bent in an S shape when viewed from the Y direction. The movable housing 120 is elastically supported by the first terminal 130, and the movable housing 120 does not touch the first housing 110. Therefore, when a force is applied to the movable housing 120, the elastic portion 133 of the first terminal 130 deforms, and the movable housing 120 moves. The movable housing 120 is elastically supported by a plurality of first terminals 130.

The second connector 200 will now be described. The second connector 200 comprises a second housing 210 and a plurality of second terminals 230. The second housing 210 is made of insulating resin. The plurality of second terminals 230 are made of conductive metal rods. The base of the second terminals 230 is connected to a cable, but the cable is not shown in the figure.

The second housing 210 is provided with a recess 211, and multiple second terminals 230 are cantilevered on the bottom surface of the recess 211. The base of the elongated second terminal 230 is press-fitted into the bottom of the recess 211, and the main body of the second terminal 230 extends in the recess 211 along the X direction (insertion/removal direction).

The second connector 200 has a plurality of second terminals 230 corresponding to each of the plurality of openings 121 of the movable housing 120 of the first connector 100. When the first connector 100 is coupled to the second connector 200, each of the second terminals 230 is inserted into the opening 121 and contacts/conducts with the first terminals 130 arranged inside the opening 121.

The second connector 200 (second housing 210) passes through the opening 112 of the first housing 110 and engages with the movable housing 120. When the second connector 200 approaches the first connector 100 along the insertion/removal direction, the second housing 210 and the movable housing 120 engage with each other. More specifically, the movable housing 120 engages with the recess 211 of the second housing 210. The movable housing 120, which is elastically supported by the first terminal 130, swings back and forth, left and right, and up and down. The movable housing 120, which is elastically supported so that it can swing relative to the first housing 110, corresponds to a floating mechanism.

The opening of the recess 211 of the second connector 200 is tapered. When the second connector 200 is coupled to the first connector 100, the movable housing 120 comes into contact with the edge of the opening of the recess 211. As the second connector 200 advances further, the movable housing 120 moves along the tapered opening of the recess 211. Any position error between the second housing 210 and the movable housing 120 is eliminated by the movement of the movable housing 120. As the movable housing 120 moves, the position error is eliminated, and the second housing 210 smoothly fits with the movable housing 120. In other words, the second connector 200 smoothly couples with the first connector 100.

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 when they are coupled. When the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are coupled, the first terminal 130 and the second terminal 230 come into contact inside the movable housing 120. A gap Gp is secured between the outer surface 122 of the movable housing 120 and the inner surface 212 of the recess 211 of the second housing 210. A leaf spring 141 is attached to the outer surface 122, and when the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are coupled, the leaf spring 141 comes into contact with the inner surface 212 and presses the inner surface 212 in a direction to widen the gap Gp. Since the leaf spring 141 applies pressure in a direction to widen the gap Gp, the outer surface 123 on the lower side of the movable housing 120 and the inner surface 213 on the lower side of the recess 211 are in close contact with each other. That is, the second housing 210 and the movable housing 120 are in close contact with each other in the Y direction.

The leaf spring 141 is curved in a convex shape when viewed from the Y direction (horizontal direction), and the center of the convex shape abuts against the inner surface 212.

When the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are coupled, the leaf spring 141 is located in the gap Gp. In other words, the leaf spring 141 is located between the outer surface 122 of the movable housing 120 and the inner surface 212 of the recess 211 of the second housing 210. The leaf spring 141 prevents the movable housing 120 and the second housing 210 from shifting relative to each other when the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are coupled. That is, even if the movable housing 120 swings, the second connector 200 swings together with the movable housing 120. The above structure provides the advantage that sliding of the first and second terminals after the first and second connectors are coupled is suppressed.

The structure of the tip portion 131 of the first terminal 130 will be described in detail. Figure 4 shows an oblique view of the tip portion 131 of the first terminal 130. The tip portion 131 is bifurcated in the Z direction. One of the bifurcated portions has a first curved portion 135 and a second curved portion 136, and the other is a plate 137. The first and second curved portions 135, 136 face the plate 137.

The first curved portion 135 and the second curved portion 136 are aligned in the X direction (the insertion/removal direction of the second connector 200). Both the first curved portion 135 and the second curved portion 136 are curved in a convex shape so as to protrude toward the plate 137. As shown in FIG. 3, when the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are coupled, the bifurcated tip portion 131 sandwiches the second terminal 230 in the Z direction (height direction). The first curved portion 135 and the second curved portion 136 have elasticity that allows them to bend in the Z direction, and due to this elasticity, the second terminal 230 is firmly sandwiched between the first curved portion 135/second curved portion 136 and the plate 137.

The bifurcated first terminal 130 clamps the second terminal 230 in the Z direction (height direction), and the leaf spring 141 brings the movable housing 120 and the second housing 210 into close contact in the height direction. Inside the movable housing 120, the first terminal 130 and the second terminal 230 are in close contact in the Z direction, and the movable housing 120 and the second housing 210 are also in close contact in the Z direction. Along the Z direction, the movable housing 120 is in close contact with the second housing 210 on both its inside and outside. This configuration also contributes to suppressing sliding between the first terminal 130 and the second terminal 230.

The contact point between the first curved portion 135 and the second terminal 230 is referred to as the first contact C1, and the contact point between the second curved portion 136 and the second terminal 230 is referred to as the second contact C2 (see FIG. 3). If the direction from the first connector 100 to the second connector 200 is defined as the "forward" direction, and the direction from the second connector 200 to the first connector 100 is defined as the "rearward" direction, then the first contact C1 is located forward of the second contact C2.

The contact point between the leaf spring 141 fixed to the movable housing 120 and the inner surface 212 of the second housing 210 is called the third contact C3 (see FIG. 3). When viewed in the Z direction and the Y direction (height direction and horizontal direction), the third contact C3 is located between the first contact C1 and the second contact C2. In FIG. 3, the X-direction position X3 of the third contact C3 is located between the position X1 of the first contact C1 and the position X2 of the second contact C2. The second terminal 230 is pressed from below at two points (positions X1 and X2) and from above at position X3 between positions X1 and X2. The second terminal 230 is pressurized from above and below in a balanced manner. This configuration ensures more reliable contact between the first terminal 130 and the second terminal 230.

The third contact C3 may overlap the first contact C1 or the second contact C2 when viewed from the Z direction (height direction). When the third contact C3 overlaps the second contact C2 when viewed from the Z direction (height direction), the contact between the first terminal 130 and the second terminal 230 becomes more reliable.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first terminal 130 and the second terminal 230 are in contact at three points (contact point C1, contact point C2, and contact point between the second terminal 230 and the plate 137). When viewed from the Y direction, the second terminal 230 is located between contact points C1 and C2 and the contact point between the second terminal 230 and the plate 137. In other words, the second terminal 230 is sandwiched between the two contact points C1/C2 and the contact point between the second terminal 230 and the plate 137. The contact point between the second terminal 230 and the plate 137 is linear and extends in the insertion/removal direction, and both contact points C1 and C2 face the contact point between the second terminal 230 and the plate 137. With this structure, the contact between the first terminal 130 and the second terminal 230 is firmly maintained after the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are coupled.

5 shows a plan view and a side view of the tip portion 131. In the plan view, the plate 137 is omitted so that the first curved portion 135 and the second curved portion 136 can be seen. A U-shaped slit is provided around the second curved portion 136. In FIG. 5, the slit is shown with gray hatching to facilitate understanding. The slit is composed of two parallel slits 138 extending parallel to each other along the insertion/removal direction (X direction) and a connecting slit 139 connecting the front ends of the two parallel slits 138. The first curved portion 135 is formed by curving the portion in front of the connecting slit 139 in a convex shape in the height direction. The second curved portion 136 is formed by curving the portion between the two parallel slits 138 in a convex shape in the height direction. Therefore, the first contact C1 is located forward of the second contact.

The dashed line Lx in FIG. 5 is a straight line parallel to the insertion/removal direction (X direction). The first curved portion 135 and the second curved portion 136 overlap when viewed from the insertion/removal direction. Therefore, when the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are coupled, the first contact C1 and the second contact C2 overlap when viewed from the insertion/removal direction. The first contact C1 and the second contact C2 overlap in both the height direction and the width direction when viewed from the insertion/removal direction.

The above structure provides the following advantages. That is, when the second terminal 230 is inserted between the two prongs of the first terminal 130, the first curved portion 135 first contacts the second terminal 230 to form the first contact C1, and then the second curved portion 136 contacts the second terminal 230 to form the second contact C2. If dust is attached to the second terminal 230, the dust is captured by the first contact C1 and does not reach the second contact C2. Therefore, good conductivity is ensured at the second contact C2. The first curved portion 135 (first contact C1) functions as a dust capture means.

6 shows a front view (viewed from the insertion/removal direction) of the movable housing 120. In FIG. 6, the second housing 210 (second connector 200) that fits into the movable housing 120 is drawn in imaginary lines. The movable housing 120 has a flat shape with a length in the Z direction (height direction) shorter than its length in the Y direction (horizontal direction). Therefore, the gap Gp between the outer surface 122 and the inner surface 212 also has a flat shape with a width in the Z direction narrower than its width in the Y direction. Two leaf springs 141 are fixed to the outer surface 122, which corresponds to the wide surface of the outer periphery. The two leaf springs 141 are arranged at both ends of the outer surface 122 in the Y direction (horizontal direction). In other words, the two leaf springs 141 are arranged at both ends of the gap Gp in the Y direction (horizontal direction). The fact that the two leaf springs 141 are arranged at both ends of the outer surface 122 in the Y direction (horizontal direction) is also shown in FIG. 1.

When the second connector 200 (second housing 210) is coupled to the first connector 100 (movable housing 120), each of the two leaf springs 141 comes into contact with the inner surface 212 of the second housing 210. Because the distance between the two leaf springs 141 is large, the movable housing 120 and the second housing 210 do not easily come out of alignment even if a moment M1 with the axis in the insertion/removal direction (X direction) is applied to the connector.

The leaf spring 141 ensures a gap Gp between the outer surface 122 and the inner surface 212, but the outer surface 123 and the inner surface 213 on the opposite side are in close contact with each other.

(Second embodiment) Figures 7 and 8 show cross-sectional views of a connector set 2a of a second embodiment. The connector set 2a includes a first connector 100a and a second connector 200a. Figure 7 shows a cross-section before the first connector 100a and the second connector 200a are coupled. Figure 8 shows a cross-section after the first connector 100a and the second connector 200a are coupled.

In the connector set 2 of the first embodiment, the leaf spring 141 is fixed to the outer surface 122 of the movable housing 120, but in the connector set 2a of the second embodiment, the leaf spring 241 is fixed to the inner surface 212 of the recess 211 of the second housing 210. Except for the leaf spring 241, the connector set 2 and the connector set 2a have the same structure.

The leaf spring 241 fixed to the inner surface 212 of the second housing 210 is curved in a convex shape when viewed from the Y direction. When the first connector 100a and the second connector 200a are coupled, the leaf spring 241 is positioned in the gap Gp, and the convex part of the curve contacts the outer surface 122 of the movable housing 120. The leaf spring 241 applies pressure to widen the gap Gp in the Z direction, so that the opposite outer surface 123 and the opposite inner surface 213 are in close contact with each other.

When the first connector 100a and the second connector 200a are joined, a contact point (first contact C1) between the first curved portion 135 and the second terminal 230 and a contact point (second contact C2) between the second curved portion 136 and the second terminal 230 are formed, and a contact point (third contact C3) between the leaf spring 241 and the outer surface 122 is formed. The third contact C3 is located between the first contact C1 and the second contact C2 when viewed from the Y and Z directions.

The connector set 2a of the second embodiment has the same advantages as the connector set 2 of the first embodiment.

(Third embodiment) Figures 9 and 10 show cross-sectional views of connector set 2b of the third embodiment. Connector set 2b includes a first connector 100b and a second connector 200b. Figure 9 shows the cross-section before the first connector 100b and the second connector 200b are coupled. Figure 10 shows the cross-section after the first connector 100b and the second connector 200b are coupled.

In connector set 2b, the size of the opening 112b in the first housing 110b of the first connector 100b is different from that of connector set 2 of the first embodiment. Except for the size of the opening 112b, the configuration of connector set 2b is the same as that of connector set 2.

The size of the opening 112b in the Y direction is the same as the length of the second housing 210 of the second connector 200b in the Y direction. Therefore, when the first connector 100b and the second connector 200b are coupled, the upper inner surface 114 of the first housing 110b comes into contact with the upper outer surface 214 of the second housing 210b, and the lower inner surface 115 of the first housing 110b comes into contact with the lower outer surface 215 of the second housing 210b. In other words, when the first connector 100b and the second connector 200b are coupled, the position of the second housing 210b in the Y direction is restrained by the frame of the first housing 110b.

When the first connector 100b and the second connector 200b are coupled, the position of the second housing 210b in the Y direction is constrained by the frame of the first housing 110b. Therefore, when the board 20 vibrates, the second housing 210b (second connector 200b) vibrates together with the first housing 110b. In addition to the leaf spring 141 bringing the movable housing 120 and the second housing 210b into close contact, the first housing 110b constrains the position of the second housing 210b, so that sliding between the first terminal 130 and the second terminal 230 when the board 20 vibrates is more effectively suppressed.

In addition, there may be a small clearance (gap) between the inner surface of the first housing 110b and the outer surface of the second housing 210b.

The features of the connector set described in the embodiment are listed below. The connector set includes a first connector 100 (100a, 100b) fixed to the substrate 20 and a second connector 200 (200a, 200b) coupled to the first connector. The first connector includes a first housing 110 (110b) fixed to the substrate 20, a movable housing 120, and a first terminal 130. The first housing has a frame shape, and the movable housing 120 is disposed within the frame of the first housing 110. The first terminal 130 has a front end 131 fixed to the movable housing 120 and a rear end 132 fixed to the first housing 110. The first terminal 130 includes an elastic portion 133 between the front end 131 and the rear end 132, and elastically supports the movable housing 120 so that it can swing relative to the first housing 110.

The second connector 200 (200a, 200b) includes a second housing 210 and a second terminal 230. The second housing 210 has a recess 211 into which the movable housing 120 fits when the first connector is mated with the second connector. The second terminal 230 has its base cantilevered on the bottom of the recess and extends along the insertion/removal direction of the second connector 200. When the second housing 210 is mated with the movable housing 120, i.e., when the second connector 200 is coupled to the first connector, the second terminal 230 comes into contact with the first terminal 130.

The movable housing 120 has an outer surface 122 facing the height direction (Z direction) intersecting the insertion/removal direction, and the second housing 210 has an inner surface 212 that is the inner surface of the recess 211 and faces the outer surface 122. When the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are coupled, a gap Gp is secured between the outer surface 122 and the inner surface 212. An elastic member (leaf spring 141, 241) that applies pressure to the gap Gp so as to expand the gap Gp in the height direction is disposed in the gap Gp. The elastic member may be fixed to the outer surface 122 or to the inner surface 212. In the former case, when the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are coupled, the elastic member comes into contact with the inner surface 212 and applies pressure in a direction that expands the gap Gp. In the latter case, when the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are coupled, the elastic member comes into contact with the outer surface 122 and applies pressure in a direction that expands the gap Gp.

The tip 131 of the first terminal 130 is bifurcated (first and second curved portions 135, 136 and a plate 137). When the second connector 200 is connected to the first connector 100, the bifurcated tip 131 sandwiches the second terminal 230 in the height direction inside the movable housing 120.

The gap Gp has a flat shape with a width in the height direction (Z direction) that is shorter than its width in the horizontal direction (Y direction) that intersects both the insertion/removal direction and the height direction, and two elastic members (leaf springs 141) are arranged at both ends of the gap Gp in the horizontal direction.

The elastic member (leaf spring 141, 241) is plate-shaped and curved in a convex shape when viewed from the lateral direction (Y direction). The top surface of the convexity abuts against the inner surface 212 (or the outer surface 122).

When the direction from the first connector 100 to the second connector 200 along the insertion/removal direction is defined as the front, and the direction from the second connector 200 to the first connector 100 is defined as the rear, when the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are coupled, a first contact C1 and a second contact C2 are formed where the first terminal 130 and the second terminal 230 come into contact. The second contact C2 is located behind the first contact C1. A third contact C3 is formed between the top surface of the curved leaf spring 141 (leaf spring 241) and the inner surface 212 (outer surface 122). When viewed from the lateral direction, the second terminal 230 is located between the first/second contacts C1, C2, and the third contact C3. When viewed from the Y direction (Z direction), the third contact C3 is located between the first contact C1 and the second contact C2.

When viewed from the height direction, the third contact C3 overlaps with the second contact C2. When viewed from the insertion/removal direction, the first contact C1 overlaps with the second contact C2.

The tip 131 of the first terminal 130 has two parallel slits 138 that extend parallel to each other in the insertion/removal direction, and a connecting slit 139 that connects the front ends of the two parallel slits 138. The portion in front of the connecting slit 139 curves in the height direction to form a first curved portion 135 (first contact C1), and the portion between the two parallel slits 138 curves in the height direction to form a second curved portion 136 (second contact C2).

The first housing 110b (fixed housing) has a frame shape, and when the first connector 100b and the second connector 200b are coupled, the second housing 210 is positioned within the frame of the first housing 110b. At the same time, the movable housing 120 is positioned within the recess 211 of the second housing 210. In other words, the second housing 210 is sandwiched between the first housing 110b and the movable housing 120 inside and outside the recess 211. Therefore, the second housing 210 (second connector 200b) is firmly fixed to the first connector 100b.

Notes regarding the technology described in the embodiment are as follows. The "first housing" may alternatively be called a fixed housing. The first housing in the embodiment is fixed to the substrate 20. The first housing may also be fixed to a device other than the substrate.

The "movable housing" may alternatively be called a floating piece. In the connector set of the embodiment, four first terminals are arranged in the Y direction. In the connector set, multiple first terminals may be arranged in the height direction.

The leaf springs 141 and 241 are an example of an elastic member disposed between the outer surface of the movable housing and the inner surface of the recess in the second housing. The elastic member may be made of resin or rubber. The elastic member is fixed to either the outer surface of the movable housing or the inner surface of the recess in the second housing, and presses against the other surface when the first and second connectors are coupled.

Although specific examples of the present invention have been described above in detail, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and variations of the specific examples exemplified above. The technical elements described in this specification or drawings exert technical utility alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Furthermore, the technology exemplified in this specification or drawings can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving one of those objectives is itself technically useful.

Reference Signs 2, 2a, 2b: Connector set 20: Board 100, 100a, 100b: First connector 110, 110b: First housing 112, 112b: Opening 113: Fixed base 114: Upper inner surface 115: Lower inner surface 120: Movable housing 121: Opening 122, 123: Outer surface 130: First terminal 131: Tip portion 132: Rear end portion 133: Elastic portion 135: First curved portion 136: Second curved portion 137: Plate 138: Parallel notch 139: Connecting notch 141, 241: Leaf spring 200, 200a, 200b: Second connector 210, 210b: Second housing 211: Recess 212: Inner surface 213: Inner surface 214: Upper outer surface 215: Lower outer surface 230: Second terminal

Claims (4)

A connector set including a first connector fixed to a device and a second connector coupled to the first connector,
The first connector is
a first housing secured to the device;
A movable housing;
a first terminal having a front end portion fixed to the movable housing and a rear end portion fixed to the first housing, the first terminal including an elastic portion between the front end portion and the rear end portion, and elastically supporting the movable housing;
Equipped with
The second connector is
a second housing having a recess into which the movable housing fits;
a second terminal having a base supported by the second housing at a bottom of the recess in a cantilever manner, the second terminal extending along an insertion/removal direction of the second connector, and contacting the first terminal when the second housing is fitted to the movable housing;
Equipped with
the movable housing has an outer surface facing a height direction intersecting with the insertion/removal direction,
the second housing has an inner surface that is an inner surface of the recess and faces the outer surface,
An elastic member is disposed in the gap between the outer surface and the inner surface, and biases the gap so as to expand the gap in the height direction.
Connector set. The connector set according to claim 1, wherein the tip of the first terminal is bifurcated, and when the second connector is coupled to the first connector, the tip sandwiches the second terminal in the height direction inside the movable housing. The connector set according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the gap has a flat shape in which the width in the height direction is shorter than the width in a horizontal direction intersecting both the insertion/removal direction and the height direction, and two of the elastic members are disposed at both ends of the gap in the horizontal direction. The connector set according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the elastic member is plate-shaped and curved when viewed from a lateral direction intersecting both the insertion/removal direction and the height direction.

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