阅读说明：本技术 一种适用于双排线fpc连接器的自动锁扣结构 (Automatic locking structure suitable for double-row-line FPC connector ) 是由 朱炳全 钱金 徐春艳 于 2020-07-17 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及适用于双排线FPC连接器的自动锁扣结构,由FPC连接器、PCB板、第一FFC排线、第二FFC排线构成。FPC连接器包括绝缘胶座、上、下排接线端子、第一外壳、第二外壳、第一固定件和第二固定件。第一外壳、第二外壳分别扣合于绝缘胶座的上、下侧壁上。第一固定件、第二固定件均由弹片部、连接过渡部、固定部、两对称布置的弹性卡接臂连接而成。正对应于弹性卡接臂,由第一外壳、第二外壳相向地延伸出顶压臂。这样一来,仅需通过施压顶靠第一外壳、第二外壳体动作即可实现对弹性卡接臂相对位置的改变,随即实现了对FFC排线的锁定、解锁操作,从而大大地提高了FFC排线的拆、装速度。(The invention relates to an automatic locking structure suitable for a double-flat-cable FPC connector, which consists of an FPC connector, a PCB, a first FFC flat cable and a second FFC flat cable. The FPC connector comprises an insulating rubber seat, an upper row of wiring terminals, a lower row of wiring terminals, a first shell, a second shell, a first fixing piece and a second fixing piece. The first shell and the second shell are respectively buckled on the upper side wall and the lower side wall of the insulating rubber seat. The first fixing piece and the second fixing piece are formed by connecting an elastic piece part, a connection transition part, a fixing part and two symmetrically arranged elastic clamping arms. Just correspond to the elasticity joint arm, extend the top arm in opposite directions by first shell, second shell. Therefore, the relative position of the elastic clamping arm can be changed only by pressing against the first shell and the second shell, and the locking and unlocking operations of the FFC flat cable are realized immediately, so that the dismounting and mounting speeds of the FFC flat cable are greatly improved.)

1. An automatic locking structure suitable for a double-row-line FPC connector is characterized by comprising the FPC connector, a PCB, a first FFC (flexible flat cable) and a second FFC; the first FFC flat cable and the second FFC flat cable are inserted into the FPC connector and integrally fixed on the PCB; the FPC connector comprises an insulating rubber seat, an upper row of wiring terminals, a lower row of wiring terminals, a first shell, a second shell, a first fixing piece and a second fixing piece; the insulating rubber seat is internally provided with a first FFC flat cable plugging groove and a second FFC flat cable plugging groove which are arranged in parallel, and the first FFC flat cable plugging groove and the second FFC flat cable plugging groove extend forwards and backwards to plug in the first FFC flat cable and the second FFC flat cable respectively; a series of terminal insertion grooves are formed in the width directions of the first FFC flat cable insertion groove and the second FFC flat cable insertion groove and used for inserting and fixing the upper row of wiring terminals and the lower row of wiring terminals; the first shell and the second shell are buckled and fixed on the upper side wall and the lower side wall of the insulating rubber seat respectively; the first fixing piece is formed by connecting a first elastic piece part, a first connecting transition part, a first fixing part, a first elastic clamping arm and a second elastic clamping arm; the first fixing part is clamped and fixed on the left side of the insulating rubber seat so as to fix the position of the first fixing part; the first elastic piece part is formed by continuously extending the first connecting transition part and folding forwards; the first elastic clamping arm and the second elastic clamping arm are arranged in parallel and are formed by continuously extending the front side wall of the first fixing part forwards; the second fixing piece is formed by connecting a second elastic piece part, a second connection transition part, a second fixing part, a third elastic clamping arm and a fourth elastic clamping arm; the second fixing part is clamped and fixed on the right side of the insulating rubber seat so as to fix the position of the second fixing part; the second elastic piece part is formed by continuously extending the second connecting transition part and folding forwards; the third elastic clamping arm and the fourth elastic clamping arm are arranged in parallel and are formed by continuously extending the front side wall of the second fixing part forwards; a first clamping part and a third clamping part extend upwards from the free ends of the first elastic clamping arm and the third elastic clamping arm respectively and face the first FFC flat cable; a first clamping positioning notch and a third clamping positioning notch are formed in the first FFC flat cable right opposite to the positions of the first clamping part and the third clamping part, so that the first clamping part and the third clamping part can be respectively placed in the first FFC flat cable; a first pressing arm and a third pressing arm extend downwards from the first shell and correspond to the first elastic clamping arm and the third elastic clamping arm; correspondingly, a first through hole which is communicated with the first FFC flat cable insertion groove and is used for the first jacking arm to pass through and a third through hole which is used for the third jacking arm to pass through are extended downwards from the upper plane of the insulating rubber seat; a second clamping portion and a fourth clamping portion extend downwards from the free ends of the second elastic clamping arm and the fourth elastic clamping arm respectively and face the second FFC flat cable; a second clamping positioning notch and a fourth clamping positioning notch are formed in the second FFC flat cable right opposite to the positions of the second clamping part and the fourth clamping part, so that the second clamping part and the fourth clamping part can be respectively placed in the notches; a second pushing arm and a fourth pushing arm extend upwards from the second shell and correspond to the second elastic clamping arm and the fourth elastic clamping arm; correspondingly, a second penetrating hole which is communicated with the second FFC flat cable inserting groove and is used for the second jacking arm to penetrate through and a fourth penetrating hole which is used for the fourth jacking arm to penetrate through are upwards extended from the lower plane of the insulating rubber seat.

2. The automatic locking structure for the double-row FPC connector according to claim 1, wherein the first spring piece portion and the second spring piece portion run along a front-back direction and are arranged on the periphery of the left side wall of the insulating rubber seat; the PCB comprises a main body part, an inserting part, a first clamping part, a second clamping part, a first splitting groove and a second splitting groove; the insertion part is formed by continuously extending the front side wall of the main body part forwards; the first clamping part and the second clamping part are formed by continuously extending the front side wall of the main body part forwards and are symmetrically arranged on the left side and the right side of the insertion part; the first clamping part and the second clamping part are arranged at intervals of a set distance relative to the insertion part and are separated from the insertion part by the aid of the first splitting groove and the second splitting groove respectively; a PCB board inserting groove for the inserting part to be inserted is formed in the front extending direction of the rear side wall of the insulating rubber seat; the first elastic sheet part and the second elastic sheet part are respectively arranged in the first split groove and the second split groove; a first clamping fin is punched and formed outwards from the side wall of the first elastic sheet part just corresponding to the first clamping part, and correspondingly, a first hook protrusion matched with the first clamping fin extends inwards from the free end of the first clamping part; just corresponding to second joint portion, by the outside stamping forming of lateral wall of second bullet piece portion has the second card wing, correspondingly, by the free end of second joint portion inwards extend have with the second hook of second card wing looks adaptation is protruding.

3. The automatic locking structure for the double-row FPC connector according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein the first housing is formed by sequentially connecting a first side wall, a first main body wall and a second side wall; the first jacking arm and the second jacking arm extend from the first main body wall and are bent downwards; a first limiting notch and a second limiting notch are formed in the first side wall and the second side wall, and correspondingly, a first limiting lug and a second limiting lug which are respectively matched with the first limiting notch and the second limiting notch extend outwards from the left side wall and the right side wall of the insulating rubber seat; the second shell is formed by sequentially connecting a third side wall, a second main body wall and a fourth side wall; the third jacking arm and the fourth jacking arm extend from the second main body wall and are bent upwards; and a third limiting notch and a fourth limiting notch are formed in the third side wall and the fourth side wall, and correspondingly, a third limiting lug and a fourth limiting lug which are respectively matched with the third limiting notch and the fourth limiting notch extend outwards from the left side wall and the right side wall of the insulating rubber seat.

4. The automatic locking structure for the double-row FPC connector according to claim 3, wherein top walls of the first and second limiting protrusions are chamfered to form a first and second guiding inclined surfaces; the bottom walls of the third limiting lug and the fourth limiting bulge are obliquely cut to form a third guide inclined plane and a fourth guide inclined plane.

5. The automatic latching structure of claim 3, wherein the first housing and the second housing are made of metal and are shielding cases with EMI shielding function.

6. The automatic locking structure for a double-row Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) connector according to claim 5, wherein at least one first elastic conductive arm is punched from the first body wall and bent downward corresponding to the upper row of terminals; the first elastic conduction arm is elastically pressed against the upper row of wiring terminals and conducts electricity; the second elastic conducting arm is punched from the second main body wall and bent upwards to form at least one second elastic conducting arm just corresponding to the lower row of wiring terminals; the second elastic conduction arm is elastically pressed against the lower row of wiring terminals and conducts electricity; the first shell and the second shell are both conducted with the ground through conducting wires.

7. The automatic locking structure for the FPC connector according to claim 6, wherein a first arc-shaped transition portion and a second arc-shaped transition portion are respectively disposed at the free ends of the first elastic conduction arm and the second elastic conduction arm.

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of FPC connector manufacturing, in particular to an automatic locking structure suitable for a double-row-line FPC connector.

Background

A Flexible Flat Cable (FFC) is a signal transmission component, which has the advantages of being able to be bent at will and high in signal transmission, and thus is widely used in many electronic products. The flexible flat cable is used in combination with the electronic connector by means of the FPC connector to transmit signals from one end to the other end, so that the purpose of signal transmission is achieved. The method is generally applied to the fields of various digital communication products, portable electronic products, computer peripheral equipment, measuring instruments, automobile electronics and the like.

Most of the existing FPC connectors in the market adopt a push-pull structure or a lift-close structure. For the push-pull type structure, the push rod needs to be inserted again after the FFC flat cable is inserted; for the lift-close structure, when the FFC cable is inserted into the FPC connector, the lift cover must be lifted in advance, and then the FFC cable is inserted, and when the cable is removed, the reverse pushing step is performed. Therefore, the FPC connectors with the two structural forms are very inconvenient to install and disassemble the FFC flat cable, automatic insertion production of the FFC flat cable is not convenient to achieve, production efficiency is greatly reduced, and in addition, after the FFC flat cable is inserted into the FPC connectors with the two structures, the FFC flat cable is easy to break away due to external force acting factors.

Recently, chinese invention patent CN209641891U discloses a press-type FPC connector (as shown in fig. 1), which includes an insulating rubber base, an outer housing, and a connection terminal. The outer shell comprises a top plate, a bottom plate and a C-shaped elastic connecting plate. A left connecting arm and a right connecting arm extend upwards from the left end and the right end of the bottom plate and are respectively used for fixing the left side wall and the right side wall of the insulating rubber base. And a left clamping arm and a right clamping arm extend downwards from the left end part and the right end part of the top plate close to the front wall of the top plate, and the left clamping arm and the right clamping arm are matched with the mounting groove on the top surface of the FFC flat cable. And a rotating supporting part is arranged on the top surface of the insulating rubber seat. When the rear end of the top plate is pressed, the top plate rotates around the central axis of the rotating support part, so that the FFC flat cable is unlocked. According to the technical scheme disclosed by the invention, the FFC flat cable can be mounted and dismounted only by pressing the outer shell. However, the implementation structure disclosed in this document is complicated, expensive to manufacture, and inconvenient to assemble, which affects the popularization and application thereof (especially, the above design structure is clumsy when applied to a dual-flex FPC connector); in addition, the requirements for the material and the forming precision of the C-shaped elastic connecting plate are high, which is not favorable for manufacturing and forming, and therefore, technical personnel are urgently needed to solve the problems.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to solve the technical problem of providing an automatic locking structure which is simple in structural design, beneficial to manufacturing and molding, convenient to install and disassemble FFC flat cables and effectively ensures high reliability in connection and is suitable for a double-flat-cable FPC connector.

In order to solve the technical problem, the invention relates to an automatic locking structure suitable for a double-flat-cable FPC connector, which comprises an FPC connector, a PCB, a first FFC flat cable and a second FFC flat cable. The first FFC flat cable and the second FFC flat cable are inserted into the FPC connector and integrally fixed on the PCB. The FPC connector comprises an insulating rubber seat, an upper row of wiring terminals, a lower row of wiring terminals, a first shell, a second shell, a first fixing piece and a second fixing piece, wherein a first FFC (flexible flat cable) plugging groove and a second FFC plugging groove which are arranged in parallel are arranged in the insulating rubber seat and extend forwards and backwards respectively to plug the first FFC plugging groove and the second FFC plugging groove. A series of terminal insertion grooves are formed in the width direction of the first FFC flat cable insertion groove and the second FFC flat cable insertion groove and used for inserting and fixing the upper row of wiring terminals and the lower row of wiring terminals. The first shell and the second shell are buckled and fixed on the upper side wall and the lower side wall of the insulating rubber seat respectively. The first fixing piece is formed by connecting a first elastic piece part, a first connecting transition part, a first fixing part, a first elastic clamping arm and a second elastic clamping arm. The first fixing part is clamped and fixed on the left side of the insulating rubber seat so as to fix the position of the first fixing part. The first elastic piece part is formed by continuously extending the first connecting and transition part and folding forwards. The first elastic clamping arm and the second elastic clamping arm are arranged in parallel and are formed by continuously extending the front side wall of the first fixing part forwards. The second fixing piece is formed by connecting a second elastic piece part, a second connection transition part, a second fixing part, a third elastic clamping arm and a fourth elastic clamping arm. The second fixing part is clamped and fixed on the right side of the insulating rubber seat so as to fix the position of the second fixing part. The second elastic piece part is formed by continuously extending the second connecting transition part and folding forwards. The third elastic clamping arm and the fourth elastic clamping arm are arranged in parallel and are formed by continuously extending the front side wall of the second fixing part forwards. And a first clamping part and a third clamping part extend upwards from the free ends of the first elastic clamping arm and the third elastic clamping arm respectively in an opposite direction to the first FFC flat cable. Just opposite to the positions of the first clamping part and the third clamping part, a first clamping positioning notch and a third clamping positioning notch are formed in the first FFC flat cable so as to be respectively embedded by the first clamping part and the third clamping part. Just corresponding to the first elastic clamping arm and the third elastic clamping arm, a first jacking arm and a third jacking arm extend downwards from the first shell. Correspondingly, a first through hole and a third through hole are formed in the upper plane of the insulating rubber base in a downward extending mode, the first through hole is communicated with the first FFC flat cable insertion groove, the first top pressure arm penetrates through the first through hole, and the third top pressure arm penetrates through the third through hole. And a second clamping part and a fourth clamping part extend downwards from the free ends of the second elastic clamping arm and the fourth elastic clamping arm respectively in an opposite direction to the second FFC flat cable. Just opposite to the positions of the second clamping portion and the fourth clamping portion, a second clamping positioning notch and a fourth clamping positioning notch are formed in the second FFC flat cable so as to be respectively embedded into the second clamping portion and the fourth clamping portion. Just corresponding to second elasticity joint arm, fourth elasticity joint arm, upwards extend by the second shell has second top pressure arm, fourth top pressure arm. Correspondingly, a second through hole which is communicated with the second FFC flat cable plugging groove and is used for the second jacking arm to pass through and a fourth through hole which is used for the fourth jacking arm to pass through are upwards extended from the lower plane of the insulating rubber seat.

As a further improvement of the technical scheme of the invention, the first elastic sheet part and the second elastic sheet part move along the front-back direction and are arranged on the periphery of the left side wall of the insulating rubber seat. The PCB board includes main part, grafting portion, first joint portion, second joint portion, first fracture groove and second fracture groove. The plug part is formed by continuously extending the front side wall of the main body part forwards. The first clamping portion and the second clamping portion are formed by continuously extending the front side wall of the main body portion forwards and are symmetrically arranged on the left side and the right side of the inserting portion. The first clamping portion and the second clamping portion are spaced by a set distance relative to the insertion portion and are separated from the insertion portion by the first splitting groove and the second splitting groove respectively. A PCB board inserting groove for the inserting part to be inserted is extended forwards from the back side wall of the insulating rubber seat. The first elastic sheet part and the second elastic sheet part are respectively arranged in the first split groove and the second split groove. Just corresponding to first joint portion, the outside punching press of the lateral wall of first shell fragment portion has first card fin, correspondingly, inwards extends from the free end of first joint portion to have the first hook arch with above-mentioned first card fin looks adaptation. And a second clamping fin is punched and formed outwards from the side wall of the second elastic sheet part just corresponding to the second clamping part, and correspondingly, a second hook protrusion matched with the second clamping fin extends inwards from the free end of the second clamping part.

As a further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention, the first housing is formed by sequentially connecting a first side wall, a first main body wall, and a second side wall. The first jacking arm and the second jacking arm extend from the first main body wall and are formed by bending downwards. The first side wall and the second side wall are provided with a first limit notch and a second limit notch, and correspondingly, a first limit lug and a second limit lug which are respectively matched with the first limit notch and the second limit notch extend outwards from the left side wall and the right side wall of the insulating rubber seat. The second shell is formed by sequentially connecting a third side wall, a second main body wall and a fourth side wall. The third jacking arm and the fourth jacking arm extend from the second main body wall and are formed by bending upwards. And a third limiting notch and a fourth limiting notch are formed in the third side wall and the fourth side wall, and correspondingly, a third limiting lug and a fourth limiting lug which are respectively matched with the third limiting notch and the fourth limiting notch extend outwards from the left side wall and the right side wall of the insulating rubber seat.

As a further improvement of the technical scheme of the invention, the top walls of the first limiting lug and the second limiting lug are obliquely cut to form a first guide inclined plane and a second guide inclined plane. The bottom walls of the third limiting lug and the fourth limiting lug are obliquely cut to form a third guide inclined plane and a fourth guide inclined plane.

As a further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention, the first housing and the second housing are preferably made of metal and are shielding cases having a function of blocking and shielding EMI.

As a further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention, just corresponding to the upper row of connection terminals, the first body wall is punched and bent downward to form at least one first elastic conduction arm. The first elastic conduction arm is elastically pressed against the upper row of connection terminals and conducts electricity. Just corresponding to the lower row of the connecting terminals, the second body wall is punched and bent upwards to form at least one second elastic conducting arm. The second elastic conduction arm is elastically pressed against the lower row of wiring terminals and is electrically conducted. The first shell and the second shell are both communicated with the ground through a lead.

As a further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention, a first arc transition portion and a second arc transition portion are respectively disposed at the free ends of the first elastic conduction arm and the second elastic conduction arm.

Compared with the traditional push-pull type or lift-close type FPC connector, in the technical scheme disclosed by the invention, the action of a push rod or a lift cover is omitted, and the two FFC cables can be installed and detached only by pressing and abutting against the first shell and the second shell, so that the installation and detachment speed of the FFC cables is greatly improved. In addition, the first shell and the second shell can be directly attached and fixed on the upper surface and the lower surface of the insulating rubber seat, and no movable space needs to be reserved, so that the thickness size of the FPC connector is effectively reduced, and the arrangement and design of the assembly space of the FPC connector in the later period are facilitated. For a first FFC flat cable, when locking operation is performed on the first FFC flat cable, the first FFC flat cable is pushed to perform translational motion along a first FFC flat cable plugging groove, in the process, a first elastic clamping arm and a third elastic clamping arm are forced to generate elastic deformation under the action of the pushing force of the first FFC flat cable, and then a first clamping part and a third clamping part are elastically abutted against the bottom plane of the first FFC flat cable to perform relative sliding motion until the first clamping part and the third clamping part are respectively clamped into a first clamping positioning notch and a third clamping positioning notch which are formed in the first FFC flat cable; when the first FFC flat cable is unlocked, an operator presses and abuts against the first shell from the top surface to drive the first jacking arm and the third jacking arm to move downwards, the first clamping portion and the third clamping portion synchronously move downwards under the abutting force action of the first jacking arm and the third jacking arm respectively until the first clamping portion and the third clamping portion are separated from the first clamping positioning notch and the third clamping positioning notch respectively, and the unlocking operation of the first FFC flat cable is completed. Similarly, the locking and unlocking of the second FFC bus are performed with reference to the above-described operation method.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly described below, it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained according to the drawings without creative efforts.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a press-fit FPC connector in the prior art.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the automatic locking structure of the FPC connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the FPC connector in the automatic locking structure for the dual-row FPC connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the FPC connector assembly in the automatic locking structure for the dual row FPC connector according to the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a top view of fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view a-a of fig. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a first viewing angle of an insulating rubber base in an automatic locking structure for a double-row FPC connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second view of the insulating rubber seat in the automatic locking structure for a double-row FPC connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a third view of the insulating rubber seat in the automatic locking structure for a double row FPC connector according to the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the upper wiring terminals in the automatic latching structure for the double-row FPC connector according to the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a schematic perspective view of the lower row of terminals in the automatic latching structure for a double-row FPC connector according to the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the first housing of the automatic locking structure for a double-row FPC connector according to the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the second housing in the automatic locking structure for a double-row FPC connector according to the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a first fixing member in the automatic locking structure for a double-row FPC connector according to the present invention.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of another perspective view of the first fixing member in the automatic locking structure for a double-row FPC connector according to the present invention.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the second fixing member in the automatic locking structure for a double-row FPC connector according to the present invention.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a PCB board in an automatic locking structure for a double row FPC connector according to the present invention.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the first FFC bus in the automatic locking structure for a dual bus FPC connector according to the present invention.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a second FFC bus in the automatic latching structure for a dual bus FPC connector according to the present invention.

Fig. 20 is an assembled perspective view of the automatic latch structure suitable for the double row FPC connector of the present invention.

Fig. 21 is a top view of fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is a sectional view B-B of fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is a cross-sectional view C-C of fig. 21.

Fig. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D of fig. 21.

Fig. 25 is an enlarged view of part I of fig. 20.

1-FPC connector; 11-an insulating rubber base; 111-first FFC flat cable plugging slot; 112-a second FFC flat cable plugging slot; 113-a first through-hole; 114-a third through-hole; 115-second through-holes; 116-a fourth through-hole; 117-PCB board plugging slot; 118-a first limit tab; 1181-a first guide ramp; 119-a second limit bump; 1191-second guide ramp; 1110-a third limit bump; 11101-third guide ramp; 1111-a fourth limit bump; 11111-fourth guide ramp; 12-upper row wiring terminals; 13-lower row of wiring terminals; 14-a first housing; 141-a first side wall; 1411-a first limit notch; 142-a first body wall; 1421 — first jacking arm; 1422-third press arm; 1423-first elastic conducting arm; 14231 — first arc transition; 143-a second sidewall; 1431-a second limit notch; 15-a second housing; 151-third side wall; 1511-third limit notch; 152-a second body wall; 1521-second jacking arm; 1522 fourth jacking arm; 1523 second elastic conducting arm; 15231-second arcuate transition; 153-fourth side wall; 1531-a fourth limit notch; 16-a first fixture; 161-a first tab portion; 1611-a first fin; 162-a first connection transition; 163-first fixation; 164-a first resilient snap-in arm; 1641-first clamping part; 165-a second resilient snap arm; 1651-a second clamping part; 17-a second fixture; 171-a second tab portion; 1711-a second fin; 172-a second connection transition; 173-second fixed part; 174-a third resilient snap-on arm; 1741-a third snap-fit portion; 175-a fourth resilient snap arm; 1751-a fourth clamping part; 2-a PCB board; 21-a main body portion; 22-a plug-in part; 23-a first snap-in part; 231-first hooking protrusion; 24-a second snap-in portion; 241-a second hooking protrusion; 25-a first cleavage groove; 26-a second cleavage groove; 3-a first FFC flex cable; 31-a first clamping positioning notch; 32-a third snap locating notch; 4-a second FFC flex; 41-a second clamping positioning notch; 42-fourth snap locating notch.

Detailed Description

In the description of the present invention, it is to be understood that the terms "left", "right", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on those shown in the drawings, and are only for convenience in describing the present invention and simplifying the description, but do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed in a specific orientation, and be operated, and thus, should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

In the following, the contents of the present invention will be further described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments, and fig. 2 shows an explosion diagram of an automatic latch structure suitable for a dual-flex FPC connector according to the present invention, which is composed of an FPC connector 1, a PCB 2, a first FFC flex 3, and a second FFC flex 4. The first FFC flat cable 3 and the second FFC flat cable 4 are inserted into the FPC connector 1 and integrally fixed on the PCB 2 to realize signal transmission.

Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of the FPC connector in the automatic locking structure for the double-row FPC connector according to the present invention, and it can be known that the FPC connector mainly comprises an insulating rubber base 11, an upper row of connection terminals 12 (as shown in fig. 10), a lower row of connection terminals 13 (as shown in fig. 11), a first housing 14, a second housing 15, a first fixing member 16, and a second fixing member 17.

As shown in fig. 7 and 9, a first FFC flat cable plugging groove 111 and a second FFC flat cable plugging groove 112 are disposed in the insulating rubber base 11 and extend forward and backward to plug the first FFC flat cable 3 and the second FFC flat cable 4, respectively. A series of terminal insertion grooves are formed along the width direction of the first FFC flat cable insertion groove 111 and the second FFC flat cable insertion groove 112 for inserting and fixing the upper row of connection terminals 12 and the lower row of connection terminals 13.

As shown in fig. 4, 5 and 6, the first housing 14 and the second housing 15 are respectively fastened and fixed on the upper and lower sidewalls of the insulating rubber base 11.

As shown in fig. 14 and 15, the first fixing member 16 is formed by connecting a first elastic sheet portion 161, a first connection transition portion 162, a first fixing portion 163, a first elastic latching arm 164, and a second elastic latching arm 165. The first fixing portion 163 is clamped and fixed to the left side of the insulating rubber base 11, so as to fix the position of the first fixing member 16. The first elastic piece portion 161 is formed by continuously extending the first connection transition portion 162 and being folded back forward. The first elastic clamping arm 164 and the second elastic clamping arm 165 are parallel to each other and are formed by the front sidewall of the first fixing portion 163 extending forward. As shown in fig. 16, the second fixing member 17 is formed by connecting a second elastic piece portion 171, a second connecting transition portion 172, a second fixing portion 173, a third elastic latching arm 174 and a fourth elastic latching arm 175. The second fixing portion 173 is engaged and fixed to the right side of the insulating rubber base 11, so as to fix the position of the second fixing member 17. The second elastic piece portion 171 is formed by continuously extending the second connecting transition portion 172 and being folded back forward. The third elastic latching arm 174 and the fourth elastic latching arm 175 are disposed in parallel, and each is formed by extending the front sidewall of the second fixing portion 173 forward.

As shown in fig. 14 and 16, a first engaging portion 1641 and a third engaging portion 1741 extend upward from the free ends of the first elastic engaging arm 164 and the third elastic engaging arm 174, respectively, opposite to the first FFC cable 3. As shown in fig. 18, a first clamping positioning notch 31 and a third clamping positioning notch 32 are formed on the first FFC flat cable for the first clamping portion 1641 and the third clamping portion 1741 to be inserted into respectively. As shown in fig. 14 and 16, a second clamping portion 1651 and a fourth clamping portion 1751 extend downward from the free ends of the second elastic clamping arm 165 and the fourth elastic clamping arm 175 respectively, and face the second FFC flat cable 4. As shown in fig. 19, a second clamping positioning notch 41 and a fourth clamping positioning notch 42 are formed on the second FFC flat cable 4 for the insertion of the second clamping portion 1651 and the fourth clamping portion 1751, respectively.

In order to ensure the rational design, reduce the manufacturing cost and facilitate the detachment and installation of the first housing with respect to the housing, as shown in fig. 12, the first housing 14 is preferably formed by sequentially connecting a first sidewall 141, a first body wall 142 and a second sidewall 143, and a first pressing arm 1421 and a third pressing arm 1422 downwardly extend from the first body wall 142 corresponding to the first elastic latching arm 164 and the third elastic latching arm 174. Correspondingly, a first through hole 113 for passing through the first pressing arm 1421 and a third through hole 114 for passing through the third pressing arm 1422 are extended downward from the upper plane of the insulating rubber base 11, both of which are communicated with the first FFC flat cable plugging groove 111 (as shown in fig. 7).

For the same purpose, the second housing 15 is preferably formed by sequentially connecting a third side wall 151, a second body wall 152 and a fourth side wall 153, as shown in fig. 13, in analogy to the first housing described above. Corresponding to the second elastic latching arm 165 and the fourth elastic latching arm 175, a second pressing arm 1521 and a fourth pressing arm 1522 extend upward from the second body wall 152. Correspondingly, a second through hole 115 for the second pressing arm 1521 to pass through and a fourth through hole 116 for the fourth pressing arm 1522 to pass through are extended upward from the lower plane of the insulating rubber base 11 and both are communicated with the second FFC flat cable plugging slot 112 (as shown in fig. 9).

In the technical scheme disclosed by the invention, the action of pushing a rod or lifting a cover is omitted, and the first FFC flat cable 3 and the second FFC flat cable 4 can be installed and detached only by pressing and abutting against the first shell 14 and the second shell 15, so that the installation and detachment speeds of the first FFC flat cable 3 and the second FFC flat cable 4 are greatly improved. In addition, the first housing 14 and the second housing 15 can be directly attached and fixed to the upper and lower surfaces of the insulating rubber base 11 without reserving a movable space, thereby effectively reducing the thickness of the FPC connector 1 and facilitating the layout and design of the assembly space in the later stage.

The working principle of the automatic locking structure suitable for the double-row FPC connector is as follows: for the first FFC flat cable 3 alone, when the locking operation is performed on the first FFC flat cable 3, the first FFC flat cable 3 is pushed to perform a translational motion along the first FFC flat cable insertion groove 111, in this process, the first elastic clamping arm 164 and the third elastic clamping arm 174 are forced to generate an elastic deformation under the action of the pushing force of the first FFC flat cable 3, and then the first clamping portion 1641 and the third clamping portion 1741 elastically abut against the bottom plane of the first FFC flat cable 3 to perform a relative sliding motion until the first clamping portion 1641 and the third clamping portion 1741 are respectively clamped into the first clamping positioning notch 31 and the third clamping positioning notch 32 which are arranged on the first FFC flat cable 3; when the first FFC flat cable 3 is unlocked, an operator presses and abuts the first housing 14 from the top surface to drive the first abutting arm 1421 and the third abutting arm 1422 to move downward, the first engaging portion 1641 and the third engaging portion 1741 move downward synchronously under the abutting force of the first abutting arm 1421 and the third abutting arm 1422, respectively, until the first engaging portion 1641 and the third engaging portion 1741 are separated from the first engaging positioning notch 31 and the third engaging positioning notch 32, respectively, so that the unlocking operation of the first FFC flat cable 3 is completed. Similarly, locking and unlocking of the second FFC bus 4 is performed with reference to the above-described operation method (as shown in fig. 20 to 24).

As a further refinement of the automatic locking structure suitable for the dual-row FPC connector, the first spring piece portion 161 and the second spring piece portion 171 both run along the front-back direction and are disposed on the periphery of the left side wall of the insulating rubber base 11. As shown in fig. 17, the PCB board 2 includes a main body portion 21, a plugging portion 22, a first catching portion 23, a second catching portion 24, a first cleavage groove 25, and a second cleavage groove 26. The insertion part 22 is formed by extending forward the front side wall of the main body part 21. The first clamping portion 23 and the second clamping portion 24 are formed by extending the front sidewall of the main body portion 21 forward, and are symmetrically disposed on the left and right sides of the inserting portion 22. The first clamping portion 23 and the second clamping portion 24 are spaced apart from the insertion portion 22 by a predetermined distance, and are separated from the insertion portion 22 by the first slit groove 25 and the second slit groove 26, respectively. A PCB board insertion groove 117 (shown in fig. 8) for the insertion of the insertion part 22 extends forward from the rear sidewall of the insulating rubber base 11. The first tab portion 161 and the second tab portion 171 are respectively housed in the first slit groove 25 and the second slit groove 26 (see fig. 20, 21, and 22). Just corresponding to the first clip portion 23, a first clip fin 1611 is stamped and formed outwardly from the side wall of the first elastic piece portion 161 (as shown in fig. 15), and correspondingly, a first hooking protrusion 231 (as shown in fig. 17) adapted to the first clip fin 1611 extends inwardly from the free end of the first clip portion 23. A second hooking protrusion 241 (shown in fig. 17) corresponding to the second clip portion 24 is formed by punching a second clip fin 1711 outward from the sidewall of the second elastic piece portion 171 (shown in fig. 16), and correspondingly, a second hooking protrusion 241 corresponding to the second clip fin 1711 is formed by extending inward from the free end of the second clip portion 24. By adopting the above technical scheme for setting, when the FPC connector 1 is pushed to move relative to the PCB 2, the height position of the FPC connector is limited by the PCB inserting slot 117. The FPC connector 1 is continuously pushed until the first and second snap fins 1611 and 1711 completely pass over the first and second hooking protrusions 231 and 241, so that the displacement of the FPC connector 1 in the front-rear direction is limited, and the FPC connector 1 and the PCB 2 are reliably assembled. When the FPC connector 1 needs to be removed, the side walls of the first fixing member 16 and the second fixing member 17 are pressed from both sides so that the first locking fin 1611 and the second locking fin 1711 move inward and oppositely.

In order to ensure the convenience of detaching and installing the first housing 14 with respect to the insulating rubber seat 11, a first limiting notch 1411 and a second limiting notch 1431 (as shown in fig. 12) may be further formed on the first side wall 141 and the second side wall 143, and correspondingly, a first limiting protrusion 118 and a second limiting protrusion 119 (as shown in fig. 7 and 9) respectively adapted to the first limiting notch 1411 and the second limiting notch 1431 extend outwards from the left side wall and the right side wall of the insulating rubber seat 11. During the installation process of the first housing 14, the first housing 14 is pressed and abutted by the first housing with a strong force, and the first sidewall 141 and the second sidewall 143 respectively undergo adaptive elastic deformation under the action of the abutting force to avoid the first limiting protrusion 118 and the second limiting protrusion 119 until the first limiting protrusion 118 and the second limiting protrusion 119 are respectively clamped into the first limiting notch 1411 and the second limiting notch 1431. When the first housing 14 needs to be removed, the first sidewall 141 and the second sidewall 143 are simultaneously pulled with force, so as to eliminate the position limitation of the first limiting notch 1411 and the second limiting notch 1431 on the first limiting protrusion 118 and the second limiting protrusion 119.

In order to ensure the smooth proceeding of the first limiting protrusion 118 and the second limiting protrusion 119 entering or exiting the first limiting notch 1411 and the second limiting notch 1431 and further ensure the efficiency of the assembly and disassembly of the first housing 14, a first guiding inclined plane 1181 and a second guiding inclined plane 1191 (as shown in fig. 7 and 9) may be formed by beveling top walls of the first limiting protrusion 118 and the second limiting protrusion 119.

For the same design purpose, a third limiting notch 1511 and a fourth limiting notch 1531 (as shown in fig. 13) may be further disposed on the third sidewall 151 and the fourth sidewall 153 of the second housing 15, and correspondingly, a third limiting bump 1110 and a fourth limiting bump 1111 (as shown in fig. 7 and 9) respectively corresponding to the third limiting notch 1511 and the fourth limiting notch 1531 extend outward from the left sidewall and the right sidewall of the insulating rubber base 11. During the installation process of the second housing 15, the third and fourth sidewalls 151 and 153 are pressed against each other, and the third and fourth sidewalls 1110 and 1111 elastically deform under the action of the pushing force to avoid the third and fourth limiting protrusions 1110 and 1111, respectively, until the third and fourth limiting protrusions 1110 and 1111 are snapped into the third and fourth limiting notches 1511 and 1531, respectively. When the second housing 15 needs to be removed, the third sidewall 151 and the fourth sidewall 153 are pulled forcefully and simultaneously to eliminate the limitation of the third limiting notch 1511 and the fourth limiting notch 1531 on the positions of the third limiting protrusion 1110 and the fourth limiting protrusion 1111.

Of course, in order to ensure the smooth proceeding of the third limiting protrusion 1110 and the fourth limiting protrusion 1111 into or out of the third limiting notch 1511 and the fourth limiting notch 1531 and further ensure the assembling and disassembling efficiency of the second housing 15, the bottom walls of the third limiting protrusion 1110 and the fourth limiting protrusion 1111 are obliquely cut to form a third guiding oblique surface 11101 and a fourth guiding oblique surface 11111 (as shown in fig. 7).

Further, as a further optimization of the above technical solution, the first housing 14 and the second housing 15 are preferably made of metal and are shielding cases having a function of blocking and shielding EMI. Therefore, the shielding performance of the FPC connector 1 is effectively increased, the influence of external electromagnetic interference on the signal transmission process is further reduced, the reliability and stability of signal transmission are ensured, and the FPC connector has excellent high-frequency performance.

Corresponding to the upper row of terminals 12, at least one first resilient conductive arm 1423 is punched from the first body wall 142 of the first housing 14 and bent downward (as shown in fig. 12). The first resilient conduction arm 1423 is resiliently pressed against the upper-row connection terminal 12 and is electrically conducted (as shown in fig. 25). Corresponding to the lower row of terminals, at least one second resilient conductive arm 1523 (shown in fig. 13) is punched out of the second body wall 152 of the second housing 15 and bent upward. The second elastic conduction arm 1523 is elastically pressed against the lower row of connection terminals 13 and is electrically conducted (not shown). The first housing 14 and the second housing 15 are each in conduction with the ground via a wire. Therefore, on one hand, the existence of the first elastic conduction arm 1423 and the second conduction arm 1523 can effectively adjust the impedance values of the upper row of connection terminals 12 and the lower row of connection terminals 13 in the signal transmission process, so that the upper row of connection terminals 12 and the lower row of connection terminals 13 have good high-frequency performance in the signal transmission process; on the other hand, the first housing 14 and the second housing 15 are grounded, so that a conductive path for grounding by interference such as electromagnetic waves and crosstalk can be effectively reduced, that is, the speed of releasing electromagnetic waves and crosstalk interference from being guided to ground is increased, the integrity and stability of high-frequency signals transmitted in the FPC connector 1 are ensured, and the FPC connector 1 has good high-frequency performance.

Finally, in order to avoid the occurrence of the scratch damage phenomenon on the upper row of connection terminals 12 and the lower row of connection terminals 13, and ensure the stability and reliability of the connection between the connection and the first elastic conduction arm 1423 and the second conduction arm 1523, a first arc-shaped transition portion 14231 and a second arc-shaped transition portion 15231 (as shown in fig. 12 and 13) may be respectively disposed at the free ends of the first elastic conduction arm 1423 and the second elastic conduction arm 1523.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.