阅读说明：本技术 防水连接器 (Waterproof connector ) 是由 多田贵志 横山阳平 于 2019-04-29 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种防水连接器,具备：多个触头、保持多个触头的壳体、以及中板；多个触头分别具有位于嵌合方向的中部的触头侧防水形状部、相较于所述触头侧防水形状部更位于嵌合方向的前方且形成有接触部的触头前部、以及相较于触头侧防水形状部更位于嵌合方向的后方且形成有连接部的触头后部；中板包括与多个触头的触头前部对向的平板状的前部、与多个触头的触头后部对向的平板状的后部、以在前部和后部之间形成间隙部的方式使前部和后部互相连结的同时埋入壳体内并形成有用于阻断水沿着与壳体的界面浸入的中板侧防水形状部的连结部；与多个触头中的一部分触头对向的部分的间隙部的嵌合方向的长度,和与其他触头对向的部分的间隙部的嵌合方向的长度互不相同。(A waterproof connector is provided with: a plurality of contacts, a housing holding the plurality of contacts, and a middle plate; each of the plurality of contacts has a contact-side waterproof shape portion located at a middle portion in the mating direction, a contact front portion located forward in the mating direction than the contact-side waterproof shape portion and formed with a contact portion, and a contact rear portion located rearward in the mating direction than the contact-side waterproof shape portion and formed with a connection portion; the middle plate comprises a flat front part opposite to the front parts of the contacts, a flat rear part opposite to the rear parts of the contacts, and a connecting part which is embedded in the shell and is provided with a middle plate side waterproof shape part for blocking water from entering along an interface with the shell while mutually connecting the front part and the rear part in a mode of forming a gap part between the front part and the rear part; the length of the gap portion in the fitting direction of the portion facing a part of the plurality of contacts and the length of the gap portion in the fitting direction of the portion facing the other contact are different from each other.)

1. A waterproof connector is characterized by comprising: a plurality of contacts extending and arranged in a fitting direction, respectively, a housing holding the plurality of contacts, and a middle plate made of metal arranged to oppose the plurality of contacts;

the plurality of contacts respectively have: a contact-side waterproof shaped portion located in a middle portion of the fitting direction, embedded in the housing, and configured to block water from entering along an interface with the housing; a contact front portion located forward in the fitting direction than the contact-side waterproof shape portion and formed with a contact portion that contacts a contact of a mating connector; and a contact rear portion located behind the contact-side waterproof shape portion in the fitting direction and having a connection portion connected to a connection object formed thereon;

the middle plate has: a flat plate-shaped front portion facing the contact front portions of the plurality of contacts; a flat plate-shaped rear portion opposed to the contact rear portions of the plurality of contacts; a coupling portion that is embedded in the housing while coupling the front portion and the rear portion to each other so as to form a gap portion therebetween, the coupling portion having a middle plate-side waterproof shape portion formed thereon for blocking water from entering along an interface with the housing;

the length in the fitting direction of the gap portion of a portion facing a part of the plurality of contacts and the length in the fitting direction of the gap portion of a portion facing another contact are different from each other.

2. The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of contacts have a plurality of first contacts and a plurality of second contacts arranged so as to face each other on both surfaces of the middle plate, respectively, sandwiching the middle plate.

3. The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein the contact-side waterproof shaped portions of the plurality of contacts are arranged at positions corresponding to the gap portions of the middle plate in the fitting direction.

4. The watertight connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the part of the contacts includes a high-speed signal transmission contact; the other contacts are contacts other than the high-speed signal transmission contact; the length of the gap portion in the fitting direction of the portion facing the one contact is shorter than the length of the gap portion in the fitting direction of the portion facing the other contact.

5. The waterproof connector according to claim 4, wherein the part of the contacts are arranged on both sides of the other contacts in the arrangement direction of the plurality of contacts.

6. The waterproof connector according to claim 5, wherein the rear portion of the middle plate has a pair of projections corresponding to the part of the contacts, projecting toward the front portion along the fitting direction on both sides in the arrangement direction of the plurality of contacts.

7. The waterproof connector according to claim 5, wherein the front portion of the middle plate has a pair of protruding portions corresponding to the part of the contacts, protruding toward the rear portion along the fitting direction on both sides in the arrangement direction of the plurality of contacts.

8. The waterproof connector according to claim 6, wherein the middle plate has a pair of coupling portions arranged on both sides in the arrangement direction of the plurality of contacts, and further has a pair of notches formed between the pair of projections and the pair of coupling portions; the intermediate plate-side waterproof shaped portion and the notch are disposed at positions at least partially overlapping each other in the fitting direction.

9. The waterproof connector according to claim 6, wherein the middle plate has a pair of the coupling portions arranged on both sides in an arrangement direction of the plurality of contacts, and the pair of protruding portions are connected to the pair of coupling portions.

10. The waterproof connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the contact-side waterproof shape portion has at least one groove or protrusion formed on a surface of the contact in a manner of surrounding and closing the periphery of the contact.

11. The waterproof connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the middle-plate-side waterproof shape portion has at least one groove or protrusion formed on a surface of the coupling portion in a manner of surrounding and closing the periphery of the coupling portion.

12. The waterproof connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the housing has a mating connector accommodating portion that opens forward in the fitting direction; the contact portions of the plurality of contacts are exposed at least in the mating connector receiving portion.

13. The waterproof connector according to claim 12, wherein the housing has: a first insulator covering contact front portions of the plurality of contacts and the front portion of the middle plate so that the contact portions of the plurality of contacts are exposed; a second insulator covering the contact-side waterproof shapes and the contact rear portions of the plurality of contacts, the coupling portions and the rear portions of the intermediate plate, and a rear portion of the first insulator such that the connection portions of the plurality of contacts are exposed;

the mating connector receiving portion is formed by the second insulator, and a bottom portion of the mating connector receiving portion is closed by the first insulator.

14. The waterproof connector according to claim 12, further comprising a metal shell attached to a rear portion of the housing and covering the connection portions of the plurality of contacts.

15. The waterproof connector according to claim 12, further comprising a waterproof member that surrounds a front end portion of the mating connector housing and is seamless at a front end portion of the housing in the fitting direction.

16. The waterproof connector according to claim 12, further comprising an inner panel disposed at a bottom of the mating connector housing and abutting against the mating connector housed in the mating connector housing when the inner panel is fitted to the mating connector.

17. The waterproof connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the housing has a pair of fixing portions protruding from both sides in an arrangement direction of the plurality of contacts, and is fixed to the connection object via the pair of fixing portions.

18. The waterproof connector according to claim 17, wherein the middle plate has a pair of projecting portions projecting from both sides in the arrangement direction of the plurality of contacts and covered with the pair of fixing portions of the housing.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a waterproof connector, and more particularly, to a waterproof connector including a contact for high-speed signal transmission.

Background

In recent years, portable electronic devices have been widely used, and these electronic devices are required to have a high waterproof function while being thinned, and at the same time, a connector used for the electronic devices is preferably thin and waterproof.

In addition, in order to prevent the transmitted electric signal from being affected by electromagnetic waves from the outside, a connector in which electromagnetic waves are shielded has been developed.

For example, patent document 1 discloses a connector having both waterproof and electromagnetic wave shielding. As shown in fig. 26, this connector has a structure in which a middle plate 5 made of metal is disposed between an upper module 2 having a plurality of upper contacts 1 and a lower module 4 having a plurality of lower contacts 3, an insulator 6 is molded so that the upper module 2, the lower module 4, and the middle plate 5 are held by the insulator 6, an outer peripheral portion of the insulator 6 is covered with a metal shell 7, and a waterproof plate 8 is formed by potting on a back portion of the insulator 6. Further, a gasket 9 is disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the metal case 7.

By forming the waterproof plate 8 on the back of the insulator 6, even if the plurality of upper contacts 1, the plurality of lower contacts 3, and the middle plate 5 disposed inside the metal shell 7 protrude from the back of the metal shell 7, water can be prevented from entering the back from inside the metal shell 7.

Further, since the peripheries of the plurality of upper contacts 1 and the plurality of lower contacts 3 are surrounded by the middle plate 5 and the metal housing 7 made of metal, signal transmission can be performed while reducing the influence of electromagnetic waves.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

However, there are the following problems: in order to form the waterproof board 8 by potting, after the insulator 6 is molded and the upper module 2, the lower module 4, and the middle board 5 are held by the insulator 6, it is necessary to inject a potting material into the back of the insulator 6 covered with the metal shell 7 and further cure the potting material, which requires a lot of time and labor for manufacturing the connector.

When a high-speed signal is transmitted using the plurality of upper contacts 1 and the plurality of lower contacts 3, it is preferable to make the intermediate plate 5 face each other by a sufficient length for suppressing crosstalk of the signal, but when the intermediate plate 5 is arranged along the contacts by a long length, the thickness of the resin arranged around the contacts is reduced accordingly, and it is difficult to obtain high water resistance by the contraction force of the resin.

In order to achieve both the improvement of waterproofness and the suppression of crosstalk, there is a problem that the connector becomes large in size, particularly, the thickness becomes large, after the thickness of the resin disposed around the contact is increased.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a thin waterproof connector which can be easily manufactured while suppressing crosstalk and obtaining excellent waterproofness.

Means for solving the problems

The waterproof connector of the present invention includes: a plurality of contacts extending and arranged in a fitting direction, respectively, a housing holding the plurality of contacts, and a middle plate made of metal arranged to face the plurality of contacts,

the plurality of contacts each have: a contact-side waterproof shaped portion which is located in the middle of the fitting direction, is embedded in the housing, and blocks water from entering along an interface with the housing; a contact front portion located forward in the fitting direction than the contact-side waterproof shape portion and formed with a contact portion that contacts the contact of the mating connector; and a contact rear portion located more rearward in the fitting direction than the contact-side waterproof shape portion and formed with a connection portion connected to a connection object;

the middle plate has: a flat plate-shaped front portion facing the contact front portions of the plurality of contacts; a flat rear portion opposed to the contact rear portions of the plurality of contacts; a connecting part which connects the front part and the rear part with each other in a way of forming a gap part between the front part and the rear part, is embedded in the shell, and is provided with a middle plate side waterproof shape part for blocking water from entering along an interface with the shell;

the length of the gap portion in the fitting direction of the portion facing a part of the plurality of contacts and the length of the gap portion in the fitting direction of the portion facing the other contact are different from each other.

Preferably, the plurality of contacts include a plurality of first contacts and a plurality of second contacts arranged so as to face each other on both surfaces of the midplane while sandwiching the midplane.

Preferably, the contact-side waterproof shaped portions of the plurality of contacts are arranged at positions corresponding to the gap portions of the intermediate plate in the fitting direction.

The configuration may be such that: some of the contacts include high-speed signal transmission contacts; the other contacts are contacts other than the high-speed signal transmission contacts; the length of the gap portion in the fitting direction of the portion facing one of the contacts is shorter than the length of the gap portion in the fitting direction of the portion facing the other contact.

Some of the contacts may be arranged on both sides of the other contacts in the arrangement direction of the plurality of contacts.

The rear portion of the middle plate may have a pair of projections corresponding to a part of the contacts, projecting toward the front portion along the fitting direction on both sides in the arrangement direction of the plurality of contacts. Further, the front portion of the middle plate may have a pair of protruding portions corresponding to a part of the contacts, protruding toward the rear portion along the fitting direction on both sides in the arrangement direction of the plurality of contacts.

The middle plate may have a pair of connection portions arranged on both sides in the arrangement direction of the plurality of contacts, and a pair of notches formed between the pair of protrusions and the pair of connection portions; the intermediate plate-side waterproof shaped portion and the notch are disposed at positions at least partially overlapping each other in the fitting direction. Alternatively, the middle plate may have a pair of coupling portions disposed on both sides in the arrangement direction of the plurality of contacts, and the pair of protruding portions may be connected to the pair of coupling portions.

Preferably, the contact-side waterproof shape portion has at least one groove or protrusion formed on a surface of the contact in a closed manner surrounding the periphery of the contact. Also preferably, the middle plate-side waterproof shaped portion has at least one groove or protrusion formed on a surface of the coupling portion in a closed manner surrounding the periphery of the coupling portion.

Preferably, the housing has a mating connector housing portion opened forward in the fitting direction; the contact portions of the plurality of contacts are exposed at least in the mating connector housing portion.

The housing may be configured to have: a first insulator covering contact front portions of the plurality of contacts and a front portion of the middle plate so that contact portions of the plurality of contacts are exposed; a second insulator covering the contact-side waterproof shape portions and the contact rear portions of the plurality of contacts, the coupling portions and the rear portions of the intermediate plate, and the rear portion of the first insulator so that the coupling portions of the plurality of contacts are exposed; the second insulator forms a mating connector housing, and the first insulator closes the bottom of the mating connector housing.

The connector may further include a metal shell attached to a rear portion of the housing and covering the connection portions of the plurality of contacts.

The housing may further include a waterproof member that surrounds a front end portion of the mating connector housing in a fitting direction and that is seamless.

The connector housing may further include an inner panel disposed at a bottom of the mating connector housing and abutting against the mating connector housed in the mating connector housing when the inner panel is fitted to the mating connector.

The housing may have a pair of fixing portions protruding from both sides in the arrangement direction of the plurality of contacts, and may be fixed to the connection object via the pair of fixing portions.

The middle plate may have a pair of protruding portions protruding from both sides in the arrangement direction of the plurality of contacts and covered with a pair of fixing portions of the housing.

Effects of the invention

According to the waterproof connector of the present invention, the plurality of contacts respectively have the contact side waterproof shape portion, the contact front portion located more forward in the fitting direction than the contact side waterproof shape portion, and the contact rear portion located more rearward in the fitting direction than the contact side waterproof shape portion; the middle plate has a flat front portion facing the contact front portions of the plurality of contacts, a flat rear portion facing the contact rear portions of the plurality of contacts, and a connecting portion formed with a middle plate side waterproof shape portion, which connects the front portion and the rear portion to each other outside the plurality of contacts so as to form a gap portion between the front portion and the rear portion in the fitting direction. Since the length of the gap portion of the portion facing a part of the plurality of contacts in the fitting direction and the length of the gap portion of the portion facing another contact in the fitting direction are different from each other, a thin waterproof connector which is easy to manufacture while suppressing crosstalk and having excellent waterproof property can be obtained.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a waterproof connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from obliquely above.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the waterproof connector according to the embodiment, as viewed obliquely from below.

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of a waterproof connector according to an embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a side sectional view of the waterproof connector according to the embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a plurality of first contacts used in the waterproof connector according to the embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a plurality of second contacts used in the waterproof connector according to the embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a first module having a plurality of first contacts.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a second module having a plurality of second contacts.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a middle plate used in the waterproof connector according to the embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which a middle plate is interposed between the first module and the second module.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a state where the first insulator is molded.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing a state in which an inner panel is embedded in the first insulator.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a state where the second insulator is molded.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing the waterproof connector according to the embodiment mounted on the substrate.

Fig. 15 is a plan view showing a positional relationship of a plurality of first contacts with the middle plate.

Fig. 16 is a bottom view showing the positional relationship of a plurality of second contacts with the middle plate.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged view of a main portion of fig. 4.

Fig. 18 is a plan view showing a middle plate used in the waterproof connector according to the embodiment.

Fig. 19 is a plan view showing a middle plate used in the waterproof connector according to modification 1.

Fig. 20 is a plan view showing a middle plate used in the waterproof connector according to modification 2.

Fig. 21 is a plan view showing a middle plate used in the waterproof connector according to modification 3.

Fig. 22 is a plan view showing a middle plate used in the waterproof connector according to modification 4.

Fig. 23 is a plan view showing a middle plate used in the waterproof connector according to modification 5.

Fig. 24 is a plan view showing a middle plate used in the waterproof connector according to modification 6.

Fig. 25 is a plan view showing a middle plate used in the waterproof connector according to modification 7.

Fig. 26 is a side sectional view showing a conventional connector.

Reference numerals

1 upper contact 2 upper contact 3 lower contact 4 lower contact 5 middle plate 6 insulator

7 metal shell 8 waterproof board 9 gasket 11 waterproof connector 12 shell

12A cylindrical portion 12B, fixing portion 12C, and counterpart connector housing portion 13 first contact

13A, 14A contact side waterproof shape parts 13B, 14B contact front parts 13C, 14C contact rear parts

13D, 14D contact portions 13E, 14E connection portion 14 second contact 15 tongue portion

16. 41-47 plates 16A, 41A-47A front parts 16B, 41B-47B rear parts

16C 43C- 47C connecting parts 16D, 41D-47D gap parts

16E, 41F, 42E, 42F, 43E, 44F, 45E, 45F, 46E, 46F, 47E, 47F protrusions

16F notches 16G, 16K middle plate side waterproof shaped portion 16H and arm 16J projecting portion

Waterproof member for metal case 17A and leg 18 of 16L opening 16M middle plate side connecting portion 17

19 first insulator 20 second insulator 21-24 insulator 25 inner panel 26 first module

27 second module 28 flange 29 bottom plate 30 flat plate 31 substrate C fitting shaft

G1, G2 length S1-S12, T1-T12 contact

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 and 2 show a waterproof connector 11 according to an embodiment. The waterproof connector 11 is a receptacle connector that is fixed to a board in an electronic device such as a portable device or an information device and is fitted to a mating connector, not shown, along a fitting axis C.

The waterproof connector 11 includes: the housing 12, a plurality of first contacts 13 extending in the direction of the fitting axis C and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the fitting axis C, and a plurality of second contacts 14 extending in the direction of the fitting axis C and arranged in parallel with the plurality of first contacts 13. The first contacts 13 and the second contacts 14 are made of a conductor such as metal, and are held by the housing 12.

The case 12 is made of an insulating resin and includes: a flat cylindrical portion 12A extending along the fitting axis C so as to cover the outer peripheries of the first contacts 13 and the second contacts 14, and a pair of fixing portions 12B protruding from both side portions of the cylindrical portion 12A.

The cylindrical portion 12A has a mating connector housing portion 12C into which a mating connector, not shown, is inserted. The mating connector housing portion 12C is provided with a tongue portion 15 as a part of the housing 12, the tongue portion 15 holds the front end portions of the plurality of first contacts 13 in the fitting axis C direction and the front end portions of the plurality of second contacts 14 in the fitting axis C direction, and a middle plate 16 made of metal is fitted into the tongue portion 15 and is disposed between the plurality of first contacts 13 and the plurality of second contacts 14.

For convenience, a direction from the front to the rear of the waterproof connector 11 along the fitting axis C is referred to as a + Y direction, an arrangement direction of the plurality of first contacts 13 and the plurality of second contacts 14 is referred to as an X direction, and a direction perpendicular to the XY plane and extending from the second contact 14 side toward the first contact 13 side is referred to as a + Z direction.

A metal shell 17 that covers the + Y direction end portions of the first contacts 13 and the second contacts 14 is disposed on the + Y direction side of the cylindrical portion 12A.

Further, a waterproof member 18 is disposed at the-Y direction end of the cylindrical portion 12A so as to surround the-Y direction end of the mating connector housing portion 12C without a seam.

The tongue-shaped portion 15 protrudes in the-Y direction more than the cylindrical portion 12A, the plurality of first contacts 13 are arranged on the surface of the tongue-shaped portion 15 on the + Z direction side, and the plurality of second contacts 14 are arranged on the surface of the tongue-shaped portion 15 on the-Z direction side.

An exploded view of the waterproof connector 11 is shown in fig. 3. The waterproof connector 11 includes a plurality of first contacts 13, a plurality of second contacts 14, a middle plate 16, a first insulator 19 forming a tongue-shaped portion 15 of the housing 12, a second insulator 20 forming a cylindrical portion 12A and a pair of fixing portions 12B of the housing 12, a metal shell 17, and a waterproof member 18. The housing 12 is formed by a first insulator 19 and a second insulator 20.

The waterproof connector 11 further has: insulators 21 and 22 for modularizing the plurality of first contacts 13, insulators 23 and 24 for modularizing the plurality of second contacts 14, and an inset plate 25 embedded in the first insulator 19.

A side cross-section of the watertight connector 11 is illustrated in fig. 4. In fig. 4, a portion located on the + Z direction side than a chain line L extending in the Y direction shows a cross section of the waterproof connector 11 cut by a YZ plane passing through the first contact 13, and a portion located on the-Z direction side than the chain line L shows a cross section of the waterproof connector 11 cut by a YZ plane passing through the second contact 14.

The first insulator 19 is molded in a state where a plurality of first contacts 13 are modularized into a first module 26 by insulators 21 and 22 and a plurality of second contacts 14 are modularized into a second module 27 by insulators 23 and 24 with a middle plate 16 interposed therebetween. The first insulator 19 has a tongue-shaped portion 15 and a flange portion 28 extending along the XZ plane at the + Y direction end of the tongue-shaped portion 15.

The inner panel 25 is fitted into the flange portion 28 of the first insulator 19. The inner panel 25 is made of metal or resin, and is disposed on a plane facing the-Y direction side of the flange portion 28 of the mating connector housing portion 12C, so as to be in contact with a mating connector, not shown, inserted into the mating connector housing portion at the time of fitting.

The second insulator 20 is molded so as to cover the flange portion 28 of the first insulator 19 and the inner panel 25. The second insulator 20 includes a cylindrical portion 12A, a bottom plate portion 29 that closes the end of the cylindrical portion 12A in the + Y direction, and a flat plate portion 30 that protrudes from the bottom plate portion 29 in the + Y direction and extends along the XY plane.

The plurality of first contacts 13, the plurality of second contacts 14, and the middle plate 16 penetrate the bottom plate portion 29 and the flat plate portion 30 of the second insulator 20 in the Y direction.

The metal shell 17 is disposed on the + Y direction side of the second insulator 20 so as to cover the + Y direction end portions of the first block 26 and the second block 27, and the leg portion 17A of the metal shell 17 protrudes in the-Z direction.

As shown in fig. 5, the first contact 13 is formed of a plate-like member that expands in the Y direction, and includes a contact-side waterproof shape portion 13A formed in the middle in the Y direction, a contact front portion 13B located on the-Y direction side of the contact-side waterproof shape portion 13A, and a contact rear portion 13C located on the + Y direction side of the contact-side waterproof shape portion 13A.

The contact-side waterproof shape portion 13A is embedded in the second insulator 20, blocks water from entering along an interface with the second insulator 20, and has at least one groove or protrusion formed on a surface of the first contact 13 so as to surround and close the periphery of the first contact 13. A contact portion 13D that contacts a contact of a mating connector, not shown, is formed at an end of the contact front portion 13B in the-Y direction, and a connection portion 13E that is connected to a connection object such as a board is formed at an end of the contact rear portion 13C in the + Y direction.

Similarly, as shown in fig. 6, the second contact 14 is formed of a plate-like member that expands in the Y direction, and includes a contact-side waterproof shaped portion 14A formed in the middle in the Y direction, a contact front portion 14B located on the-Y direction side of the contact-side waterproof shaped portion 14A, and a contact rear portion 14C located on the + Y direction side of the contact-side waterproof shaped portion 14A.

The contact-side waterproof shape portion 14A is embedded in the second insulator 20, blocks water from entering along an interface with the second insulator 20, and has at least one groove or protrusion formed on a surface of the second contact 14 so as to surround and close the periphery of the second contact 14. A contact portion 14D that contacts a contact of a mating connector, not shown, is formed at an end of the contact front portion 14B in the-Y direction, and a connection portion 14E that is connected to a connection object such as a board is formed at an end of the contact rear portion 14C in the + Y direction.

A method for manufacturing the waterproof connector 11 according to the embodiment will be described below.

First, as shown in fig. 7, the first module 26 in which the plurality of first contacts 13 are modularized is formed by molding the insulator 21 surrounding the contact front portions 13B of the plurality of first contacts 13 in a state in which the respective contact portions 13D are exposed, and molding the insulator 22 surrounding the contact rear portions 13C of the plurality of first contacts 13 in a state in which the respective connecting portions 13E are exposed.

Similarly, as shown in fig. 8, a second module 27 in which the plurality of second contacts 14 are modularized is formed by molding the insulator 23 surrounding the contact front portions 14B of the plurality of second contacts 14 in a state in which the respective contact portions 14D are exposed, and molding the insulator 24 surrounding the contact rear portions 14C of the plurality of second contacts 14 in a state in which the respective connecting portions 14E are exposed.

As shown in fig. 9, the middle plate 16 sandwiched between the first modules 26 and the second modules 27 has: a flat plate-shaped front portion 16A, a flat plate-shaped rear portion 16B arranged on the side away from the front portion 16A in the + Y direction, and a pair of coupling portions 16C coupling both ends in the X direction of the front portion 16A and both ends in the X direction of the rear portion 16B to each other.

A gap portion 16D is formed between the front portion 16A and the rear portion 16B. A pair of protruding portions 16E protruding in the-Y direction toward the front portion 16A in the gap portion 16D are formed at both ends in the X direction of the rear portion 16B, respectively, and a length G1 in the Y direction of the gap portion 16D at both ends in the X direction of the rear portion 16B is set shorter than a length G2 in the Y direction of the gap portion 16D at the center in the X direction of the rear portion 16B. That is, a short portion and a long portion along the Y direction of the gap portion 16D are formed by the pair of protruding portions 16E depending on the position in the X direction.

A pair of notches 16F extending in the Y direction are formed between the pair of projections 16E and the pair of coupling portions 16C.

The pair of coupling portions 16C are each formed with a middle plate-side waterproof shaped portion 16G. The intermediate plate-side waterproof shaped portion 16G is embedded in the second insulator 20 to block water from entering along an interface with the second insulator 20, and has at least one groove or protrusion formed on a surface of the coupling portion 16C so as to surround and close the periphery of the coupling portion 16C. The intermediate plate-side waterproof shaped portion 16G and the notch 16F are arranged at positions at least partially overlapping each other in the Y direction.

Further, at the-Y direction end portions of the pair of coupling portions 16C, substantially rectangular flat plate-shaped protruding portions 16J are coupled via arm portions 16H extending in the X direction outward, respectively. The arm 16H is formed with a middle-plate-side waterproof shaped portion 16K similar to the middle-plate-side waterproof shaped portion 16G of the coupling portion 16C. Further, an opening 16L is formed in the center of the projection 16J.

Further, at both ends of the rear portion 16B in the X direction, a middle plate side connecting portion 16M to be connected to an object to be connected such as a substrate is formed.

As shown in fig. 10, with such a middle plate 16 interposed, a first module 26 is disposed on the + Z direction side of the middle plate 16, and a second module 27 is disposed on the-Z direction side of the middle plate 16. At this time, although not shown, it is understood that the front portion 16A of the middle plate 16 faces the contact front portions 13B of the plurality of first contacts 13 of the first module 26 and the contact front portions 14B of the plurality of second contacts 14 of the second module 27; the rear portion 16B of the middle plate 16 opposes the contact rear portions 13C of the plurality of first contacts 13 of the first module 26 and the contact rear portions 14C of the plurality of second contacts 14 of the second module 27. The contact-side waterproof shapes 13A of the first contacts 13 of the first module 26 and the contact-side waterproof shapes 14A of the second contacts 14 of the second module 27 are disposed at positions corresponding to the gap portions 16D of the intermediate plate 16.

As shown in fig. 11, the first insulator 19 is molded in a state where the middle plate 16 is sandwiched between the first block 26 and the second block 27. The middle plate 16, the first block 26, and the second block 27 are integrated by molding the first insulator 19.

Further, as shown in fig. 12, the insert plate 25 is fitted into the flange portion 28 of the first insulator 19 from the-Y direction side, and in this state, as shown in fig. 13, the second insulator 20 is molded. The second insulator 20 forms a cylindrical portion 12A having a mating connector housing portion 12C therein, and a pair of fixing portions 12B protruding from both ends of the cylindrical portion 12A in the X direction.

Although not shown, the protruding portion 16J of the middle plate 16 is covered with the fixing portion 12B. A through hole 12D penetrating in the Z direction is formed in the fixing portion 12B, and an opening 16L of the projecting portion 16J of the intermediate plate 16 corresponds to the through hole 12D of the fixing portion 12B.

Further, a groove 12E surrounding an end of the mating connector housing portion 12C in the-Y direction is formed at an end of the cylindrical portion 12A in the-Y direction.

The waterproof connector 11 shown in fig. 1 and 2 is completed by disposing the metal shell 17 on the surface of the insulator 22 of the first block 26 protruding and exposed in the + Y direction of the second insulator 20 and attaching the waterproof member 18 to the groove 12E at the-Y direction end of the cylindrical portion 12A.

As shown in fig. 2, the connection portions 13E of the plurality of first contacts 13, the connection portions 14E of the plurality of second contacts 14, the pair of midplane-side connection portions 16M of the midplane 16, and the pair of legs 17A of the metal shell 17 are exposed at the + Y-direction end portions of the waterproof connector 11 and protrude in the-Z direction.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing the waterproof connector 11 mounted on the substrate 31 as a connection object. The waterproof connector 11 can be fixed to the substrate 31 by fixing screws, not shown, through the through holes 12D of the pair of fixing portions 12B.

The connection portions 13E of the plurality of first contacts 13 and the connection portions 14E of the plurality of second contacts 14 protruding from the + Y direction end of the waterproof connector 11 in the-Z direction are connected to connection pads, not shown, of the substrate 31, respectively. A pair of intermediate plate-side connecting portions 16M of the intermediate plate 16 protruding from the + Y-direction end of the waterproof connector 11 in the-Z direction and a pair of legs 17A of the metal shell 17 are connected to a ground line, not shown, of the substrate 31, and the intermediate plate 16 and the metal shell 17 are set at a ground potential.

Note that, if the second insulator 20 is molded such that the projecting portion 16J of the intermediate plate 16 is exposed from the-Z direction side of the fixing portion 12B, the intermediate plate 16 may be brought to the ground potential by fixing the waterproof connector 11 to the substrate 31 with a fixing screw, not shown, and connecting the projecting portion 16J of the intermediate plate 16 to a ground pad, not shown, of the substrate 31.

Fig. 15 and 16 show the positional relationship between the first contacts 13 and the second contacts 14 and the middle plate 16. That is, fig. 15 and 16 are a plan view and a bottom view showing a state where all components other than the plurality of first contacts 13, the plurality of second contacts 14, and the middle plate 16 are removed from the waterproof connector 11.

The plurality of first contacts 13 include 12 contacts S1 to S12 extending in the Y direction and arranged in the-X direction to the + X direction. Among these contacts, the contacts S1 and S12 located outermost in the X direction are ground contacts, the two contacts S2 and S3 adjacent to the contact S1 and the two contacts S11 and S10 adjacent to the contact S12 are used as high-speed signal transmission contacts, and the contacts S6 and S7 located at the center in the X direction are used as low-speed signal transmission contacts. The remaining contacts S4, S5, S8, and S9 are contacts for power supply, or contacts for insertion and extraction detection or the like of the waterproof connector 11.

Similarly, the second contacts 14 include 12 contacts T1 to T12 extending in the Y direction and arranged in the-X direction to the + X direction. Among these contacts, the contacts T1 and T12 located on the outermost sides in the X direction are ground contacts, the two contacts T2 and T3 adjacent to the contact T1 and the two contacts T11 and T10 adjacent to the contact T12 are used as high-speed signal transmission contacts, and the contacts T6 and T7 located in the center in the X direction are used as low-speed signal transmission contacts. The remaining contacts T4, T5, T8, and T9 are contacts for power supply, or contacts for insertion and extraction detection or the like of the waterproof connector 11.

The pair of protrusions 16E disposed at both ends in the X direction of the rear portion 16B of the middle plate 16 face the contacts S1 to S3 and S10 to S12 disposed at both ends in the X direction among the plurality of first contacts 13, and the contacts T1 to T3 and T10 to T12 disposed at both ends in the X direction among the plurality of second contacts 14, but do not face the contacts S4 to S9 disposed at the center in the X direction among the plurality of first contacts 13, and the contacts T4 to T9 disposed at the center in the X direction among the plurality of second contacts 14.

That is, the gap portion 16D of the intermediate plate 16 in the portion facing the contacts S4 to S9 and T4 to T9 (other contacts) not including the high-speed signal transmission contact has the length G2 in the Y direction because the protrusion 16E is not present, and the gap portion 16D of the intermediate plate 16 in the portion facing the contacts S1 to S3, S10 to S12, T1 to T3 and T10 to T12 (some contacts) including the high-speed signal transmission contact has the length G1 shorter than the length G2 by one protrusion 16E in the Y direction.

In this way, the middle plate 16 faces the contacts S1 to S3, S10 to S12, T1 to T3, and T10 to T12 including the high-speed signal transmission contacts over a longer range in the Y direction than the other contacts, and even if a high-speed signal is applied to the high-speed signal transmission contacts including the contacts S2, S3, S11, S10, T2, T3, T11, and T10, crosstalk is suppressed, and transmission with high reliability is performed.

As shown in fig. 17, for example, the contacts S2 and T2 serving as high-speed signal transmission contacts face the protrusion 16E of the midplane 16, and the contact-side waterproof shaped portion 13A of the contact S2 and the contact-side waterproof shaped portion 14A of the contact T2 are disposed at positions corresponding to the gap portion 16D of the midplane 16. In fig. 17, as in fig. 4, a portion located on the + Z direction side of the chain line L extending in the Y direction shows a cross section of the waterproof connector 11 cut by the YZ plane passing through the contact S2, and a portion located on the-Z direction side of the chain line L shows a cross section of the waterproof connector 11 cut by the YZ plane passing through the contact T2.

Similarly, the contacts S4 to S9 and T4 to T9, which do not include the high-speed signal transmission contacts, have contact-side waterproof shaped portions 13A and 14A disposed at positions corresponding to the gap portion 16D of the intermediate plate 16.

Thus, a sufficient thickness of the resin constituting the second insulator 20 can be secured around the contact-side waterproof shaped portions 13A and 14A without being affected by the intermediate plate 16 and without increasing the height of the waterproof connector 11 in the Z direction. Therefore, a high resin shrinkage force can be obtained at the time of molding of the second insulator 20, and excellent water resistance can be achieved.

Further, since excellent waterproofing can be achieved by molding the second insulator 20, a potting process is not required, and the waterproof connector 11 is easily manufactured.

In particular, since the contact-side waterproof shapes 13A and 14A include at least one groove or protrusion formed on the surfaces of the first contact 13 and the second contact 14 so as to surround and close the periphery of the first contact 13 and the second contact 14, it is possible to effectively block the intrusion of water along the interface with the second insulator 20.

The middle plate-side connecting portion 16M of the middle plate 16 is exposed from the + Y direction end of the waterproof connector 11, but the middle plate-side waterproof shaped portion 16G of the connecting portion 16C is embedded in the second insulator 20, thereby blocking the penetration of water along the interface between the connecting portion 16C and the second insulator 20.

Similarly, since the middle plate-side waterproof shaped portions 16K are formed on the pair of arm portions 16H of the middle plate 16, even if at least a part of the projecting portion 16J is exposed from the fixing portion 12B of the second insulator 20, the middle plate-side waterproof shaped portion 16K is embedded in the second insulator 20, and thus the entry of water along the interface between the arm portions 16H and the second insulator 20 can be blocked.

Therefore, water can be prevented from entering the substrate 31 side through the inside of the mating connector housing 12C of the second insulator 20.

In the waterproof connector 11 of the above embodiment, as shown in fig. 18, a pair of protruding portions 16E protruding toward the front portion 16A are formed at both ends in the X direction of the rear portion 16B of the intermediate plate 16, but the waterproof connector is not limited to this.

For example, as shown in fig. 19, even if the middle plate 41 has a pair of protruding portions 41F protruding from both ends in the X direction of the front portion 41A toward the rear portion 41B, the length of the gap portion 41D in the Y direction at both ends in the X direction is shorter than the length of the gap portion 41D in the Y direction at the center portion in the X direction, and even if a high-speed signal is applied to the contacts S2, S3, S11, S10, T2, T3, T11, and T10 arranged at both ends in the X direction among the plurality of first contacts 13 and the plurality of second contacts 14, crosstalk is suppressed, and high-reliability transmission is performed.

Further, as shown in fig. 20, even when the middle plate 42 projects from both ends in the X direction of the rear part 42B toward the front part 42A with a pair of projecting parts 42E and also projects from both ends in the X direction of the front part 42A toward the rear part 42B with a pair of projecting parts 42F, the length in the Y direction of the gap parts 42D at both ends in the X direction is shorter than the length in the Y direction of the gap part 42D at the center part in the X direction, and the same effect as that of the waterproof connector 11 according to the embodiment can be obtained.

In the waterproof connector 11 of the above embodiment, as shown in fig. 18, a pair of notches 16F extending in the Y direction are formed between the pair of projections 16E of the intermediate plate 16 and the pair of coupling portions 16C, but the invention is not limited thereto.

For example, even when a pair of projections 43E projecting from both ends in the X direction of the rear portion 43B toward the front portion 43A are connected to the connection portion 43C without notches as in the middle plate 43 shown in fig. 21, the same effect as that of the waterproof connector 11 according to the embodiment can be obtained. On the other hand, if the middle plate 16 shown in fig. 18 has the notch 16F, the length in the Y direction of the middle plate-side waterproof shaped portion 16G formed in the connecting portion 16C can be ensured to be long, and the waterproof property can be more reliably improved.

Further, even when a pair of projections 44F projecting from both ends in the X direction of the front portion 44A toward the rear portion 44B are connected to the connection portion 44C without notches as in the middle plate 44 shown in fig. 22, the same effect as that of the waterproof connector 11 according to the embodiment can be obtained.

Similarly, as shown in fig. 23, the middle plate 45 may have a pair of projections 45E projecting from both ends in the X direction of the rear portion 45B toward the front portion 45A, a pair of projections 45F projecting from both ends in the X direction of the front portion 45A toward the rear portion 45B, and a pair of projections 45E projecting from the rear portion 45B may be connected to the connecting portion 45C without a notch.

As shown in fig. 24, the intermediate plate 46 may have a pair of projections 46E projecting from both ends in the X direction of the rear portion 46B toward the front portion 46A, a pair of projections 46F projecting from both ends in the X direction of the front portion 46A toward the rear portion 46B, and the pair of projections 46F projecting from the front portion 46A may be connected to the connecting portion 46C without notches.

Further, as shown in fig. 25, the intermediate plate 47 may have a pair of projections 47E projecting from both ends in the X direction of the rear portion 47B toward the front portion 47A, a pair of projections 47F projecting from both ends in the X direction of the front portion 47A toward the rear portion 47B, and the pair of projections 47E and the pair of projections 47F may be connected to the connection portion 47C without having notches.

In the above embodiment, the plurality of first contacts 13 and the plurality of second contacts 14 are arranged in two rows so as to face each other on both surfaces of the intermediate plate 16, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to a waterproof connector in which a plurality of contacts are arranged in one row.

The number of contacts is not limited as long as two or more contacts are included.