阅读说明：本技术 电连接器及其制造方法 (Electric connector and manufacturing method thereof ) 是由 林耕平 樱田英将 于 2020-03-19 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及电连接器及其制造方法。其课题在于,通过抑制除去外部绝缘体、露出到外部状态的内部电线的特性阻抗的变化得到良好的传输特性。与电缆(100)连接的电连接器(1)包括:具有导电性的多个端子(30),分别与多条电线(103)的各自的内部导体(101)连接；绝缘性的外壳,设有嵌合部(11),端子保持部(51),及电线保持部(52),嵌合部(11)配置多个端子(30),与对方侧连接器嵌合,端子保持部(51)设在嵌合部(11)的后方,同时,保持端子(30),电线保持部(52)设在端子保持部(51)的后方,以在左右方向互相密接的状态使得除去外部绝缘体(104)而露出的多条电线(103)排列保持。(The invention relates to an electrical connector and a method of manufacturing the same. The problem is to obtain good transmission characteristics by suppressing the change of characteristic impedance of an internal wire exposed to the outside by removing an external insulator. An electrical connector (1) connected to a cable (100) comprises a plurality of conductive terminals (30) connected to respective inner conductors (101) of a plurality of wires (103); an insulating housing is provided with a fitting part (11), a terminal holding part (51), and a wire holding part (52), wherein the fitting part (11) is provided with a plurality of terminals (30) and is fitted to a mating connector, the terminal holding part (51) is provided behind the fitting part (11), and the terminals (30) are held, and the wire holding part (52) is provided behind the terminal holding part (51) and is arranged and held in close contact with each other in the left-right direction so that a plurality of wires (103) exposed by removing an outer insulator (104) are arranged and held.)

1. An electrical connector connected to a cable provided with a plurality of electric wires and an outer insulator covering the plurality of electric wires, the plurality of electric wires each being composed of an inner conductor and an inner insulator covering the inner conductor, the electrical connector comprising:

a plurality of conductive terminals connected to the inner conductors of the plurality of wires, respectively; and

an insulating housing provided with a fitting portion for fitting the mating connector while arranging the plurality of terminals, a terminal holding portion provided behind the fitting portion for holding the terminals, and a wire holding portion provided behind the terminal holding portion for aligning and holding the plurality of wires exposed by removing the external insulator in a state of being closely contacted with each other in a right-and-left direction.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the wire holding portion comprises:

A groove into which the plurality of electric wires can be inserted; and

and a plurality of ribs which are provided at intervals in the front-rear direction, protrude from the inner wall of the recess, and abut against the internal insulator.

3. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein:

the plurality of ribs are provided in the front-rear direction at the interval of 10 times or less the outer diameter of a single electric wire among the plurality of electric wires.

4. The electrical connector of claim 2 or 3, wherein:

the plurality of ribs are provided in the front-rear direction at the interval of more than the outer diameter of a single electric wire among the plurality of electric wires.

5. A method of manufacturing an electrical connector connected to a cable including a plurality of wires and an outer insulator covering the plurality of wires, the plurality of wires each being composed of an inner conductor and an inner insulator covering the inner conductor, the method comprising:

connecting a plurality of terminals having conductivity to the respective inner conductors of the plurality of electric wires, respectively; and

the insulating housing includes a fitting portion that fits the mating connector while arranging the plurality of terminals, a terminal holding portion that is provided behind the fitting portion and holds the terminals, and a wire holding portion that is provided behind the terminal holding portion and aligns and holds the plurality of wires exposed by removing the external insulator in a state of being in close contact with each other in the left-right direction.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an electrical connector connected to a cable provided with a plurality of electric wires each composed of an inner conductor and an inner insulator covering the inner conductor and an outer insulator covering the plurality of electric wires, and a method of manufacturing the same.

Background

Conventionally, an electrical connector connected to a cable enclosing (incorporating) a plurality of wires is known. In such an electrical connector, in order to connect a plurality of wires built in a cable to a conductive terminal by pressure bonding or the like, it is necessary to remove a sheath covering the plurality of wires and expose the sheath to the outside. In addition, such electrical connectors are of the following type: when the cable is connected to the cable, the cable is not provided with a structure for restricting the movement of the plurality of wires exposed to the outside, a structure for fixing the plurality of wires exposed to the outside with a tape or the like, or a structure for fixing the plurality of wires exposed to the outside with a tape or the like in advance and assembling the plurality of wires. Further, in such an electrical connector, the characteristic impedance is adjusted by appropriately arranging the internal core wires of the plurality of wires included in the connected cable, thereby realizing a good transmission characteristic. However, in the electrical connector having no structure for restricting the movement of the plurality of wires exposed to the outside, the distance between the inner core wires varies due to the gaps between the plurality of wires, which leads to an increase in characteristic impedance. Further, the electric connector having a structure in which the plurality of wires exposed to the outside are fixed with a tape or the like and the electric connector having a structure in which the plurality of wires exposed to the outside are fixed with a tape or the like in advance are poor in assemblability.

In this case, patent document 1 discloses a cable alignment member provided with a plurality of first groove portions and second groove portions that can accommodate a plurality of individual cables connected to the wire connection portions of the substrate, respectively. Further, patent document 2 discloses a plug connector in which a part of a jacket of a twisted pair cable in which cable conductors each covered with an insulating jacket are twisted in pairs is housed in at least one of housing sections.

[ patent document 1 ] Japanese patent laid-open No. 2014-127460

[ patent document 2 ] Japanese examined patent publication No. 2016-524299

However, patent document 1 has a structure in which a plurality of single cables each including a pair of signal lines are arranged, and the distance between the signal conductors of the pair of signal lines is maintained by an internal shield covering the pair of signal lines. Further, patent document 2 does not have a structure for restricting the movement of the wire exposed from the sheath.

Therefore, in patent documents 1 and 2, when the external insulator such as the internal shield or the sheath is removed and the internal wires such as the pair of signal wires or the wire rods are exposed, there is a problem that the distance between the core wires of the internal wires cannot be maintained at an appropriate distance, the characteristic impedance cannot be adjusted, and good transmission characteristics cannot be obtained.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the conventional art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector and a method of manufacturing the same, which can obtain good transmission characteristics by suppressing a change in characteristic impedance of a plurality of wires exposed to the outside by removing an external insulator.

An electrical connector according to the present invention is an electrical connector connected to a cable, the cable including a plurality of wires and an outer insulator covering the plurality of wires, the plurality of wires each including an inner conductor and an inner insulator covering the inner conductor, the electrical connector including:

a plurality of conductive terminals connected to the inner conductors of the plurality of wires, respectively; and

an insulating housing provided with a fitting portion for fitting the mating connector while arranging the plurality of terminals, a terminal holding portion provided behind the fitting portion for holding the terminals, and a wire holding portion provided behind the terminal holding portion for aligning and holding the plurality of wires exposed by removing the external insulator in a state of being closely contacted with each other in a right-and-left direction.

When the plurality of wires exposed by removing the outer insulator are held by the wire holding portion, the distance of each inner conductor of the plurality of wires is set to an appropriate distance, thereby suppressing a change in characteristic impedance.

The effects of the present invention are explained below:

according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a good transmission characteristic by suppressing a change in characteristic impedance of a plurality of wires exposed to the outside by removing an outer insulator.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view a-a of fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a holder of the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a rear view of the holder of the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the cover of the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a relationship between a holder and an electric wire of the electric connector according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a holder according to a modification of the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a relationship between a holder and an electric wire in a modification of the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The symbols in the drawings have the following meanings:

1-electric connector

10-Shell body

11-fitting part

12-front end opening part

13-rear end opening part

14-holding groove

20-shielding case

21-main body part

22-projection

23-connecting part

24-crimping part

30-terminal

31-connecting part

32-engaging part

33-crimping section

40-lid

41-front projection

42-rear projection

43-flat part

50-Stent

51-terminal holding part

52-wire holding part

53-bifurcation part

54-crimp holding part

55-locking groove

56-chamfer part

57-front engaging groove

58-rear clamping groove

60-bracket

62-wire holding part

100-cable

101-inner conductor

102-inner insulator

103-wire

104-outer insulator

521-groove

522-Rib

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, various limitations are imposed on the components, types, combinations, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like, but these are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

In the figure, the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis constitute a three-axis orthogonal coordinate system, and the positive direction of the y-axis is defined as the front direction, the negative direction of the y-axis is defined as the rear direction, the positive direction of the x-axis is defined as the left direction, the negative direction of the x-axis is defined as the right direction, the positive direction of the z-axis is defined as the up direction, and the negative direction of the z-axis is defined as the down direction.

< construction of electric connector >

The structure of the electrical connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to fig. 1 to 8.

The electrical connector 1 is connected to a cable 100. Here, the cable 100 includes a pair of wires 103 and an outer insulator 104 covering the pair of wires 103, and the pair of wires 103 are each composed of an inner conductor 101 and an inner insulator 102 covering the inner conductor 101. The pair of wires 103 are covered with the outer insulator 104 in a state of being closely arranged to each other in the left-right direction, and can be separated when the outer insulator 104 is removed. Cable 100 is not limited to a configuration in which a pair of wires 103 are enclosed, and may have a configuration in which three wires or more than three wires are enclosed in close contact with each other.

Specifically, the electrical connector 1 includes a housing main body 10, a shield shell 20, a terminal 30, a cover 40, and a holder 50. Here, the case main body 10, the cover 40, and the bracket 50 constitute a case.

The case main body 10 is formed of an insulating material, and has a rectangular and cylindrical shape. The housing body 10 includes a fitting portion 11, a front end opening portion 12, a rear end opening portion 13, and a holding groove 14, the fitting portion 11 communicating with the front end opening portion 12 and being fitted to a counterpart connector not shown, the front end opening portion 12 opening a hollow interior forward, the rear end opening portion 13 opening a hollow interior rearward, and the holding groove 14 extending in the forward and rearward directions and communicating with the fitting portion 11 at a rear end.

The shield case 20 is formed by bending a metal plate. The shield case 20 includes a main body portion 21, a protruding portion 22, a connecting portion 23, and a crimping portion 24. The main body 21 houses a cover 40 and a holder 50, which will be described later.

The protruding portions 22 protrude forward from the front ends of the left and right side surfaces of the main body 21, are inserted into the holding grooves 14 of the housing main body 10, and restrict the shield cover 20 from moving forward relative to the housing main body 10.

The connection portion 23 is formed by cutting inward from the protruding portion 22 and protrudes toward the fitting portion 11 in an elastically deformable state. The connection portion 23 is connected to a shield member of a mating connector, not shown, fitted to the fitting portion 11 so as to be elastically deformed.

Crimping portion 24 extends rearward from the rear end of body 21 and is crimped to outer insulator 104 of cable 100.

The plurality of terminals 30 are made of a conductive material and are connected to the inner conductors 101 of the pair of wires 103, respectively. The plurality of terminals 30 include a connection portion 31, a locking portion 32, and a pressure-bonding portion 33.

The connecting portion 31 is disposed in the fitting portion 11.

The engagement portions 32 are provided in a pair between the connection portion 31 and the pressure-bonding portion 33, and are cut out to the outside side.

The crimping portion 33 is crimped with the inner conductor 101 of the cable 100.

The cover 40 is made of an insulating material, and holds the plurality of terminals 30 and the pair of wires 103 of the cable 100 with the holder 50. The cover 40 has a front projection 41, a rear projection 42, and a flat portion 43.

The front projection 41 projects downward from the flat portion 43.

The rear protrusion 42 is provided behind the front protrusion 41 and protrudes downward from the flat portion 43.

The flat portion 43 is flat along the x-y plane and covers the upper side of the holder 50.

The holder 50 is made of an insulating material and holds the plurality of terminals 30 and the pair of wires 103. The holder 50 has a terminal holding portion 51, a wire holding portion 52, a branch portion 53, a pressure-bonding section holding portion 54, an engagement groove 55, a chamfered portion 56, a front engagement groove 57, and a rear engagement groove 58.

The terminal holding portion 51 is provided behind the fitting portion 11, and is a concave groove for holding the pair of terminals 30 while being separated from each other.

The wire holding portion 52 is provided behind the terminal holding portion 51 and the branch portion 53, and aligns and holds the pair of wires 103 exposed by removing the outer insulator 104 in close contact with each other in the left-right direction. The wire holding portion 52 has a groove 521 into which the pair of wires 103 can be inserted, and a plurality of ribs 522 which are provided at intervals in the front-rear direction, protrude from the inner wall of the groove 521, and abut against the inner insulator 102 of the cable 100. The inner walls of groove 521 do not abut inner insulator 102 of cable 100.

Here, as shown in fig. 8, a left-right direction interval L2 of a portion of the concave groove 521 where the rib 522 is provided is smaller than a left-right direction interval L1 of a portion of the concave groove 521 where the rib 522 is not provided when viewed from above (L1> L2). The ribs 522 are preferably provided in the wire holding portion 52 such that the distance L4 (see fig. 5) in the front-rear direction is 10 times or less (L4 ≦ 10 × R1) the outer diameter R1 of the single wire 103, or the outer diameter R1 or more (R1 ≦ L4) of the single wire 103, or 10 times or less the outer diameter R1 of the single wire 103 and the outer diameter R1 or more (R1 ≦ L4 ≦ 10 × R1) of the single wire 103. For example, when the outer diameter R1 of the single wire 103 is 0.82mm, the ribs 522 are provided at the wire holding portion 52 at intervals of 8.2mm (L4 is 8.2 mm).

The rib 522 is configured such that, while pressing the inner insulators 102 of the pair of electric wires 103, a pressing force against the inner insulators 102 can be absorbed by the inner insulators 102.

The branch portion 53 communicates with the terminal holding portion 51, is provided between the terminal holding portion 51 and the wire holding portion 52, and is a concave groove for holding the pair of branched wires 103. The crotch portion 53 is provided at a predetermined angle with respect to the front-rear direction, and extends forward and outward.

The pressure-bonding section holding portion 54 is provided between the terminal holding portion 51 and the branch portion 53, and is a concave groove for holding the pressure-bonding section 33.

The locking groove 55 locks the locking portion 32 of the terminal 30, and restricts the forward and backward movement of the terminal 30 with respect to the holder 50.

The chamfered portion 56 is formed by chamfering the left and right side surfaces, and the width of the bracket 50 in the left-right direction gradually decreases toward the rear when viewed from above.

The front engaging groove 57 engages with the front projection 41 of the cover 40.

The rear engaging groove 58 is provided behind the front engaging groove 57 and engages with the rear protrusion 42 of the cover 40.

< method for manufacturing electric connector >

The method of manufacturing the electrical connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below.

First, after inserting the cable 100 into the shield case 20, the outer insulator 104 at the tip of the cable 100 is removed to expose the pair of wires 103, and the inner insulators 102 at the tips of the pair of exposed wires 103 are removed to expose the inner conductors 101.

Next, the exposed inner conductors 101 of the pair of electric wires 103 are crimped with the crimping portions 33 of the plurality of terminals 30, respectively, to connect the inner conductors 101 and the terminals 30.

Next, the locking portions 32 of the terminals 30 are locked in the locking grooves 55 of the terminal holding portions 51 of the holder 50, and the terminals 30 are held by the terminal holding portions 51.

The pair of wires 103 aligned in the left-right direction are held by the wire holding portion 52 of the holder 50.

At this time, as shown in fig. 8, when the pair of wires 103 are arranged in the left-right direction, the width L3 in the left-right direction is 2 times the outer diameter R1 of the wires 103 (L3 is 2 × R1). Width L3 is greater than interval L2 (L2< L3) and smaller than interval L1 (L1> L3). Therefore, the inner insulators 102 of the pair of electric wires 103 do not abut against the inner walls of the recesses 521, and the inner insulators 102 abut against the ribs 522 and are held by the electric wire holding portions 52.

Thus, the inner insulator 102 is not subjected to the pressing force and the frictional force from the inner wall of the recessed groove 521 but only to the slight interference of the rib 522, so that the pair of electric wires 103 can be easily inserted into the electric wire holding part 52, and the cover 40 can be easily attached to the holder 50, and therefore, the assembly can be performed under a low load with a small load. Further, since the pair of electric wires 103 held by the electric wire holding portion 52 absorb the pressing force from the ribs 522 only by the inner insulator 102, the pressing force from the ribs 522 does not affect the inner conductors 101, and the pressing force received from the ribs 522 is a pressing force to such an extent that the distance between the inner conductors 101 does not change, and therefore, the characteristic impedance is not adversely affected, and a good transmission characteristic can be obtained.

Further, since the ribs 522 are provided in the wire holding portion 52 with a gap in the front-rear direction, it is possible to prevent a gap from being generated between the pair of wires 103, and to arrange the wires in close contact in the left-right direction, and to hold the pair of wires 103 in the wire holding portion 52, and at the same time, it is possible to make the distance between the pair of wires 103 substantially the same as that when the wires are incorporated in the cable 100, and therefore, it is possible to obtain a good transmission characteristic without adversely affecting the characteristic impedance.

In particular, by providing the ribs 522 in the wire holding portion 52 so that the interval L4 shown in fig. 5 is 10 times or less the outer diameter R1 of the single wire 103, it is possible to reliably prevent the pair of wires 103 from being bent between the adjacent ribs 522 and a gap from being generated between the pair of wires 103, and thus, it is possible to maintain the characteristic impedance appropriately. Further, by providing the rib 522 in the wire holding portion 52, the interval L4 is set to be equal to or larger than the outer diameter R1 of the single wire 103, and the pair of wires 103 can be easily inserted into the wire holding portion 52. Further, by providing the rib 522 in the wire holding portion 52 so that the interval L4 is 10 times or less the outer diameter R1 of the single wire 103 and is equal to or more than the outer diameter R1 of the single wire 103, the pair of wires 103 can be easily inserted into the wire holding portion 52, and a good transmission characteristic can be obtained without adversely affecting the characteristic impedance.

Next, the cover 40 is covered with respect to the holder 50 for holding the terminal 30 and the pair of wires 103, the front protrusion 41 of the cover 40 is engaged with the front engaging groove 57 of the holder 50, and the rear protrusion 42 of the cover 40 is engaged with the rear engaging groove 58 of the holder 50, so that the cover 40 and the holder 50 are integrated. At this time, the terminal holding portion 51, the wire holding portion 52, and the branch portion 53 are covered from above by the flat portion 43 of the cover 40, whereby the plurality of terminals 30 and the pair of wires 103 are held between the cover 40 and the holder 50 in a state where the plurality of terminals 30 are held by the terminal holding portion 51 and in a state where the pair of wires 103 are held by the wire holding portion 52.

Next, the crimping portion 24 of the shield cover 20 is crimped onto the outer insulator 104 of the cable 100, and the cable 100 is fixed to the shield cover 20. Thus, the cover 40 and the holder 50 can be restricted from moving rearward relative to the shield case 20 by the shield case 20.

Next, the shield cover 20 is inserted forward from the rear end opening 13 of the housing body 10, and the protruding portion 22 of the shield cover 20 is inserted into the holding groove 14 of the housing body 10, thereby restricting the forward movement of the shield cover 20 relative to the housing body 10.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by arranging and holding the plurality of wires 103 exposed by removing the outer insulator 104 in a state of being closely attached to each other in the left-right direction, it is possible to suppress a change in characteristic impedance of the plurality of wires 103 exposed to the outside by removing the outer insulator 104, and to obtain a good transmission characteristic.

(other embodiment)

The structure of the electrical connector according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to fig. 9 and 10.

In fig. 9 and 10, the same components as those in fig. 1 to 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. In the electrical connector according to another embodiment of the present invention, the structure of the electrical connector 1 is the same as that of the electrical connector 1 except that the bracket 60 is provided in place of the bracket 50, and therefore, the description of the structure other than the bracket 60 is omitted.

The holder 60 is made of an insulating material and holds the plurality of terminals 30 and the pair of wires 103.

The holder 60 has a terminal holding portion 51, a branch portion 53, a pressure-bonding section holding portion 54, a locking groove 55, a chamfered portion 56, and an electric wire holding portion 62.

The wire holding portion 62 is provided behind the terminal holding portion 51 and the branch portion 53, and is a concave groove for holding the pair of wires 103 exposed by removing the outer insulator 104 in a state of being arranged in close contact with each other in the left-right direction.

Here, the distance L5 (see fig. 10) in the left-right direction of the wire holding portion 62 as viewed from above is smaller than the distance L3 (L3> L5). Therefore, the inner insulators 102 of the pair of wires 103 are held in the wire holding portion 62 in contact with the inner wall portion of the wire holding portion 62.

The pair of wires 103 held by the wire holding portion 62 absorb the pressing force from the inner wall portion of the wire holding portion 62 only by the inner insulator 102, and do not affect the inner conductor 101. Accordingly, since the pressing force of the pair of wires 103 from the inner wall of the wire holding portion 62 is a pressing force to such an extent that the distance between the internal conductors 101 does not change, the characteristic impedance is not adversely affected, and a good transmission characteristic can be obtained.

Further, the pair of wires 103 can be held by the wire holding portion 62 by preventing a gap from being generated between the pair of wires 103 by the inner wall portion of the wire holding portion 62 and being arranged in close contact in the left-right direction, and the state can be substantially the same as the state in which the pair of wires 103 are enclosed in the cable 100.

Thus, according to this other embodiment, by arranging and holding the plurality of wires 103 exposed by removing the outer insulator 104 in a state of being closely attached to each other in the left-right direction, it is possible to suppress a change in characteristic impedance of the plurality of wires 103 exposed to the outside by removing the outer insulator 104, and to obtain a good transmission characteristic.

The types, arrangements, numbers, and the like of the components of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the components may be replaced with those having equivalent functions and effects as appropriate, and may be modified as appropriate within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention.

Specifically, in the above embodiment, the shield case 20 may not be provided.

In the above embodiment, the case main body 10, the cover 40, and the holder 50 are provided, but the case may be configured to be vertically separable, and the upper case may have the same configuration as the cover 40 and the lower case may have the same configuration as the holder 50.

The following explains industrial applicability:

the electrical connector according to the present invention is suitable for connection with a cable including a plurality of electric wires each constituted by an inner conductor and an inner insulator covering the inner conductor, and an outer insulator covering the plurality of electric wires.

The shapes and structures of the respective portions shown in the above-described embodiments for carrying out the present invention are merely specific examples for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.