JP2008198382A - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical connector capable of surely realizing an intended contact state is provided.
An electrical connector includes a housing, a contact held by the housing, and an operation member for operating the contact. The operating member 8 is a cold cathode in which the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25 of the contact 7 are inserted between the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25 as the operating member 8 is displaced to the second position C2. The outer lead 21 of the tube 2 is pressurized. When the end portion 3 of the cold cathode tube 2 is deviated by a predetermined amount F or more from the normal position D1, the restricting portion 66 of the operation member 8 comes into contact with the end portion 3 so that the second portion of the operation member 8 is in contact. Is displaced to the position C2.
[Selection] Figure 14

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connector.

A connector for connecting a fluorescent tube such as a backlight of a liquid crystal display device to a circuit board is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-259370 A

  In Patent Document 1, the terminal of the fluorescent tube and the terminal of the connector are electrically connected by sandwiching the terminal at the end of the fluorescent tube between a pair of contact portions of the connector terminal. The distance between the pair of contact portions can be widened or narrowed by operating the actuator. When attaching the fluorescent tube, the terminal of the fluorescent tube is passed between the pair of contact portions in a state where the distance between the pair of contact portions is widened by operating the actuator, and then the actuator is operated between the pair of contact portions. The distance is narrowed.

However, when the distance between the pair of contact portions is widened, the fluorescent tube may be disposed at a position shifted from the original position with respect to the connector due to a dimensional error of each part of the connector. . If the interval between the pair of contact portions is narrowed in this state, the terminal of the fluorescent tube is not held at the regular position (between the pair of contact portions), and the intended contact state may not be realized.
The present invention has been made under such a background, and an object thereof is to provide an electrical connector capable of reliably realizing an intended contact state.

  In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 includes an insulating housing, a contact held by the housing, and an operation member for operating the contact, wherein the contact is fluorescent. A terminal provided at an end of the tube includes a pair of elastic pieces that can be inserted between each other along a predetermined attachment direction, and the operation member includes first and second operation members along a predetermined operation direction. The terminal of the fluorescent tube in which the operation member is supported by the housing so as to be displaceable to a position, and the pair of elastic pieces are inserted between the pair of elastic pieces as the operation member is displaced to the second position. When the amount of deviation from the normal position of the end of the fluorescent tube inserted between the pressurizing unit and the pair of elastic pieces is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount, the end of the fluorescent tube abuts By moving the operating member to the second position. An electrical connector which comprises a restricting portion for restricting the position.

  According to the present invention, when the end portion of the fluorescent tube is deviated from the normal position by a predetermined amount or more, the pressing member pressurizes the pair of elastic members so that the operating member cannot be displaced to the second position. It is possible to prevent the terminal of the fluorescent tube and the pair of elastic pieces from coming into contact with each other in a desired non-contact state. In addition, when the end of the fluorescent tube is in the normal position or the amount of deviation from the normal position is smaller than a predetermined amount and small, the terminal of the fluorescent tube and the pair of elastic pieces can be contacted in a desired contact state. The operation member can be displaced to the second position to bring the pair of elastic pieces into contact with the terminals. Therefore, the contact state between the terminal of the fluorescent tube and the pair of elastic pieces can be surely intended.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the predetermined attachment direction includes a direction along a radial direction of the fluorescent tube, and the predetermined operation direction is a direction along the axial direction of the fluorescent tube. Including electrical connectors.
According to the present invention, the fluorescent tube is moved in the radial direction, inserted between the pair of elastic pieces, and the operation member is moved along the axial direction of the fluorescent tube. Contact with the pair of elastic pieces can be achieved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the fluorescent tube includes a main body that holds the terminal, the restricting portion includes an end portion of an operation member related to a predetermined operation direction, and the restricting portion is The end of the fluorescent tube that comes into contact is an electrical connector including the end of the main body of the fluorescent tube.
According to the present invention, it is possible to regulate the displacement of the operation member to the second position with a simple configuration in which the end of the operation member and the end of the fluorescent tube main body are brought into contact with each other.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the fluorescent tube includes a cold cathode tube, and the terminal includes an outer lead exposed from an end portion of the main body of the cold cathode tube. It is a connector. According to the present invention, a cold cathode tube can be used as the fluorescent tube.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the fluorescent tube includes an external electrode fluorescent tube, and the terminal covers the peripheral surface of the end portion of the main body of the external electrode fluorescent tube. An electrical connector including an electrode layer formed. According to the present invention, an external electrode fluorescent tube can be used as the fluorescent tube.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is the electrical connector according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the housing includes a temporary holding portion capable of temporarily holding the fluorescent tube at a position within a normal range. According to the present invention, the operation member can be operated in a state where the fluorescent tube is temporarily held in the housing. There is no need to separately support the fluorescent tube by hand when operating the operating member.
A seventh aspect of the present invention provides the electronic device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the operation member includes a support portion for supporting the end portion of the fluorescent tube at a normal position when the operation member is at the second position. Including electrical connectors. According to the present invention, the fluorescent tube can be supported at the normal position.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect, when the amount of deviation of the end portion of the fluorescent tube from the normal position is less than the predetermined amount, the operation member is accompanied by the displacement to the second position. The electrical connector includes a drive unit that moves the fluorescent tube to the support unit by sliding contact with the end of the fluorescent tube.
According to the present invention, even if the position of the fluorescent tube is slightly deviated from the normal position, this displacement can be corrected when the operation member is displaced to the second position. The fluorescent tube does not have to be strictly positioned with respect to the operating member before the operating member is displaced to the second position.

A ninth aspect of the present invention includes the cover according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the operation member includes a cover for covering at least a part of an end portion of the fluorescent tube when the operation member is at the second position. It is an electrical connector. According to the present invention, foreign matter such as dust can be prevented from entering from the outside, and as a result, a short circuit or the like can be prevented.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect, when the cover as the operation member is in the second position, a visual recognition portion for visually recognizing a contact area between the pair of elastic piece portions and the terminal is provided. Including electrical connectors. According to the present invention, when the operating member is in the second position, the contact state between the terminal of the fluorescent tube and the pair of elastic pieces can be confirmed, and the desired contact state can be achieved more reliably.

  The invention according to claim 11 is the electrical connector according to claim 10, wherein the visual recognition portion includes an opening formed in the cover. According to the present invention, the visual recognition unit can be configured with a simple configuration in which an opening is formed in the cover.

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a main part of a liquid crystal display device including an electrical connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the liquid crystal display device as viewed from a direction different from that in FIG.
3A is a view seen along the direction of arrow IIIA in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIIB-IIIB in FIG. 3A. ) Is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIIC-IIIC in FIG.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an electrical connector 1 is provided in a liquid crystal display device such as a monitor of a television or personal computer, for example, and is an end of a cold cathode tube 2 (CCFL: Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp) as a fluorescent tube. The part 3 is electrically connected to the corresponding conductor pattern 5 of the circuit board 4 provided with an inverter circuit (not shown). The electrical connector 1 is disposed at each of the pair of end portions 3 and 3 of the cold cathode tube 2.

  3A and 3B, cold cathode tube 2 includes a bottomed cylindrical main body 20 made of glass. Outer leads 21 as terminals are exposed at the pair of end portions 20a, 20a of the main body 20 of the cold cathode tube 2 (only one outer lead 21 is shown). An outer lead 21 is held by the main body 20. The end 3 of the cold cathode tube 2 includes an end 20 a of the main body 20 and an outer lead 21. The outer lead 21 has an axial shape with a diameter of about 1 mm, and extends along the axial direction S1 of the cold cathode tube 2.

The electrical connector 1 includes a housing 6, a contact 7 held by the housing 6, and an operation member 8 for operating the contact 7. The electrical connector 1 has a symmetrical shape with respect to a predetermined direction A1 along the radial direction R1 of the cold cathode tube 2.
The housing 6 and the operation member 8 are each an integrally molded product made of synthetic resin and are insulating members. The contact 7 is an integrally molded product using a conductive member such as metal. The operation member 8 is supported by the housing 6 and is displaced between a predetermined first position C1 and a second position C2 along a predetermined operation direction B1 along the axial direction S1 of the cold cathode tube 2. Is possible. The position of the operation member 8 refers to a position with reference to the one end surface 8a of the operation member 8.

4 is a perspective view of the housing 6 and the contact 7, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the housing 6 and the contact 7 as seen from a direction different from FIG. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, the housing 6 includes a base 9. The base 9 includes a flat plate-like first portion 11 and a second portion 12 that protrudes from one side surface of the first portion 11.
The first portion 11 is provided with a pair of overhang portions 13 that face each other. Each overhanging portion 13, 13 is for detachably coupling the housing 6 to the circuit board 4 and includes an engaging convex portion 14.

Each engagement convex part 14 and 14 is inserted into a corresponding through hole 15 and 15 formed in the circuit board 4. A claw portion 16 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of each engaging convex portion 14.
A slit 17 is formed in the longitudinal direction of each of the engaging projections 14, 14, and by picking the proximal end portions of these engaging projections 14, 14, the corresponding outer diameter is reduced. The holes 15 and 15 can be respectively inserted. When the engaging convex portions 14 and 14 corresponding to the through holes 15 and 15 are inserted, the corresponding claw portions 16 and 16 are engaged with the circuit board 4, respectively.

3B and 5, the second portion 12 of the housing 6 protrudes from one side surface 11 a of the first portion 11 of the housing 6 and corresponds to the main body 20 of the cold cathode tube 2. A U-shaped groove 18 that accommodates the end 20a is formed.
The groove portion 18 surrounds a part of the corresponding end portion 20a of the main body 20 of the cold cathode tube 2 and protects the end portion 20a. The bottom portion of the groove portion 18 includes a temporary holding portion 19 that can temporarily hold the cold cathode fluorescent lamp 2 at a position within the normal range D. The temporary holding portion 19 is formed in a shape corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the end portion 20 a of the main body 20 of the cold cathode tube 2. In FIG. 3B, the end 3 of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp 2 is located at a predetermined regular position D1.

  Referring to FIG. 3B and FIG. 4, the contact 7 is made of a sheet metal member and is provided on each of the pair of main body portions 22 and 23 and the pair of main body portions 22 and 23, and corresponding outer leads. A pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25 for contact with 21, a connection part 26 for connecting between the pair of main body parts 22 and 23, and extending from the connection part 26 to contact the conductor pattern 5 of the circuit board 4. Circuit board elastic piece 27 for the purpose.

  Each of the pair of main body portions 22 and 23 extends substantially in parallel with the cold cathode tube 2 along the operation direction B1. A pair of corresponding elastic pieces 24 and 25 are disposed at one end of each main body 22 and 23, respectively. The other end portions of the main body portions 22 and 23 are connected to each other by the connecting portion 26. Fixed portions 28 and 29 project from the other end portions of the main body portions 22 and 23.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the housing 6. With reference to FIGS. 4 and 6, each of the fixed portions 28 and 29 is press-fitted and fixed in the corresponding fixing holes 30 and 31 formed in the second portion 12 of the base 9 of the housing 6.
With reference to FIG. 3 (B) and FIG. 4, the pair of main body portions 22, 23 are respectively inserted into insertion holes 32 formed in the first portion 11 of the housing 6, and are accommodated in the insertion holes 32. Has been. The circuit board elastic piece 27 extends from the connecting portion 26 toward the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25, and protrudes from the other side surface 11 b of the first portion 11 of the housing 6 toward the circuit board 4. Yes. The tip of the circuit board elastic piece 27 includes a contact portion 27 a that contacts the conductor pattern 5 of the circuit board 4.

An intermediate portion of the pair of main body portions 22 and 23 has a generally square shape as a whole. The distance between the pair of intermediate portions is continuously narrowed from the other end side to the one end side (elastic piece portions 24 and 25 side).
The pair of elastic piece portions 24 and 25 extend in a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the corresponding main body portions 22 and 23. Each elastic piece part 24 and 25 and the corresponding main part 22 and 23 are L-shaped as a whole. Each elastic piece part 24 and 25 is each extended from the corresponding main-body parts 22 and 23 to the operation member 8 side.

An outer lead 21 can be inserted between the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25 along a predetermined mounting direction E1 as a direction along the radial direction R1 of the cold cathode tube 2.
Inner side surfaces of the elastic piece portions 24 and 25 include contact portions 33 and 34 for contacting the outer leads 21 of the cold cathode tube 2, respectively.
The pair of tip portions of the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25 are spaced apart from each other toward the tip side, and the cold cathode tube 2 is inserted between the pair of contact portions 33 and 34 along the mounting direction E1. It is set as the guide parts 35 and 36 at the time.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the operation member 8, and FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the operation member 8 as viewed from a direction different from FIG. 7A. These are sectional views which follow a VIIC-VIIC line of Drawing 7 (A).
Referring to FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C, the operation member 8 has a box shape with one end opened as a whole, and includes first to fifth side portions. 41-45. Each of the first to fifth side portions 41 to 45 has a rectangular shape.

The first and second side portions 41 and 42 are arranged in parallel to each other, and the third and fourth side portions 43 and 44 are arranged in parallel to each other. The first and second side portions 41 and 42 and the third and fourth side portions 43 and 44 are orthogonal to each other. The fifth side portion 45 is connected to one end portion of each of the first to fourth side portions 41 to 44 and constitutes an end wall of the operation member 8.
3B and 3C, the operation member 8 covers at least a part of the end portion 3 of the cold cathode tube 2 when the operation member 8 is at the second position C2. The cover is configured. The first to fifth side portions 41 to 45 define a cavity 46 that houses the pair of elastic piece portions 24 and 25 exposed from the housing 6.

The distance between the inner side surfaces 41 a and 42 a of the first and second side portions 41 and 42 is substantially the same as the diameter K of the end portion 20 a of the main body 20 of the cold cathode tube 2.
The operation member 8 is supported by the housing 6 and can be moved relative to the housing 6 in the operation direction B1. Specifically, a pair of engagement pieces 47 and 48 are provided on the second portion 12 of the housing 6.

  FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the housing 6 and the operation member 8. 5 and 8, each engagement piece 47, 48 extends from the second portion 12 of the base 9 of the housing 6 in a first direction B1a as one of the operation directions B1. Each engagement piece 47, 48 and one side surface 11a of the first portion 11 of the housing 6 are opposed to each other with a predetermined gap. This gap is substantially equal to the thickness of the first side portion 41 of the operation member 8.

3 (B) and 3 (C), a pair of engagement piece portions 47 and 48 are inserted into the cavity 46 of the operation member 8, and the operation member 8 and the pair of engagement piece portions 47 and 48 The operation member 8 is held by the housing 6 by the frictional engagement. The operation member 8 and the pair of engagement piece portions 47 and 48 are relatively movable in the operation direction B1.
The inner side surface 41a of the first side portion 41 of the operation member 8 is for supporting the end portion 20a of the main body 20 of the cold cathode tube 2 at the normal position D1 when the operation member 8 is at the second position C2. A support 49 is included.

In the regular position D1, the end portion 20a of the main body 20 of the cold cathode tube 2 is received by the support portion 49, and the outer lead 21 of the cold cathode tube 2 is disposed between the contact portions 33 and 34 of the contact 7. Says the position. The normal range D is set with the normal position D1 as a reference.
The normal range D includes a range advanced by less than a predetermined amount F in each of the attachment direction E1 and the opposite removal direction E2 with respect to the normal position D1. The predetermined amount F is set to a sufficient number of millimeters, for example.

  Referring to FIG. 12A, drive units 50 and 51 are provided on each of the inner side surface 41 a of the first side portion 41 and the inner side surface 42 a of the second side portion 42 of the operation member 8. Each of the driving units 50 and 51 has a first shift when the deviation amount of the end 3 of the cold cathode tube 2 with respect to the normal position D1 is less than a predetermined amount F and the end 3 is within the normal range D. With the displacement from the position C1 to the second position C2, the end portion 20a is moved to the support portion 49 of the first side portion 41 by slidingly contacting the end portion 3 (end portion 20a of the main body 20). Is. Each drive part 50 and 51 is formed by chamfering the inner side surfaces 41a and 42a of the first side part 41 and the second side part 42 to form a smooth curved surface.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. With reference to FIG. 3 (B), FIG. 3 (C) and FIG. 9, the first side portion 41 of the operation member 8 is inserted with the corresponding elastic pieces 24 and 25 of the contact 7, respectively. A pair of clamping parts 52 and 53 that clamp the parts 24 and 25 are included.
Each of the holding portions 52 and 53 is formed with a slit in the first side portion 41, and one end of the slit is opened to the other end portion of the first side portion 41. Each clamping part 52, 53 extends longitudinally in the operation direction B1.

Each clamping part 52,53 is the space | interval between the introduction parts 54 and 55 for introducing the corresponding elastic piece parts 24 and 25 in the said clamping parts 52 and 53, and a pair of elastic piece parts 24 and 25, respectively. The expansion parts 56 and 57 for expanding, and the pressurization parts 58 and 59 for pressurizing a pair of elastic piece parts 24 and 25 to the mutually close direction are included.
The pair of introduction portions 54 and 55 extend parallel to each other along the operation direction B1. From the other end of the first side portion 41, the pair of elastic piece portions 24, 25 can be inserted into the corresponding introduction portions 54, 55.

The pair of expanded portions 56 and 57 are configured so that the distance between the pair of elastic piece portions 24 and 25 is wider than the diameter G of the outer lead 21 of the cold cathode tube 2. The distance H between the pair of expanded portions 56 and 57 is wider than the diameter G of the outer lead 21 of the cold cathode tube 2 (H> G).
The pair of pressing portions 58 and 59 moves the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25 in a direction approaching each other in accordance with the displacement of the operation member 8 to the second position C2, and the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25. Thus, the outer lead 21 inserted between the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25 is pressed. The distance J between the pair of pressure portions 58 and 59 is substantially the same as the diameter G of the outer lead 21, and the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25 are brought into contact with the outer lead 21 with a predetermined contact pressure.

The pair of pressurizing portions 58 and 59 are relatively disposed on the first direction B1a side, and the pair of expanding portions 56 and 57 are relatively second side B1b opposite to the first direction B1a. Placed on the side.
The second position C <b> 2 is a position where the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25 are pressed by the pair of pressurizing parts 58 and 59 and the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25 are brought into contact with the outer lead 21.
The expanding portions 56 and 57 and the corresponding pressurizing portions 58 and 59 are connected via connecting portions 60 and 61, respectively. Each of the connecting portions 60 and 61 changes the relative movement force between the operation piece 8 and the corresponding elastic piece portions 24 and 25 in the operation direction B1 to a force for changing the interval between the pair of elastic piece portions 24 and 25, respectively. Convert.

Specifically, the pair of connection portions 60 and 61 has a generally C-shaped shape as a whole, and the distance between the pair of connection portions 60 and 61 is continuously narrowed in the first direction B1a. The groove width of each connection part 60 and 61 is made wider than the groove width of each expansion part 56 and 57 and the groove width of each pressurization part 58 and 59.
Thereby, when each elastic piece part 24 and 25 passes the corresponding connection part 60 and 61, a mutual parallelism of a pair of elastic piece parts 24 and 25 is maintained, and each elastic piece part 24 and 25 is twisted. To prevent that.

The introduction parts 54 and 55 and the corresponding expansion parts 56 and 57 are connected via the second connection parts 62 and 63, respectively. The pair of second connection portions 62 and 63 has a generally C-shaped shape as a whole, and the distance between the pair of second connection portions 62 and 63 increases continuously as the first direction B1a is advanced.
The groove width of each of the second connection parts 62 and 63 is made wider than the groove width of each of the expanded parts 56 and 57 and the groove width of each of the pressure parts 58 and 59.

Thereby, when each elastic piece part 24 and 25 passes the corresponding 2nd connection part 62 and 63, a mutual parallelism of a pair of elastic piece parts 24 and 25 is maintained, and each elastic piece part 24 and 25 is maintained. Prevents twisting.
With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, an opening 64 is formed in the second side portion 42 of the operation member 8. The opening 64 is provided as a visual recognition part for visually recognizing the contact region 65 between the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25 and the outer lead 21 when the operation member 8 is at the second position C2.

  The opening 64 penetrates a part of the second side portion 42 and communicates with the cavity 46 of the operation member 8. Similarly, an opening 67 as a visual recognition part for visually recognizing the contact region 65 is formed in the fifth side part 45 of the operation member 8. The opening 67 is formed at a position facing the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25 in the operation direction B1. The opening 67 is used as an insertion port for inserting a terminal of a test apparatus for conducting a continuity test of the cold cathode tube 2.

The operating member 8 is provided with a restricting portion 66 for preventing the operating member 8 from moving in the second direction B1b when the cold cathode tube 2 is not in the normal range D. The restricting portion 66 includes the distal end surface of the second side portion 42 of the operation member 8 with respect to the second direction B1b of the operation direction B1.
The restricting portion 66 is the cold cathode tube 2 in which the outer lead 21 is inserted between the pair of elastic piece portions 24 and 25 and is not in the normal range D (the amount of deviation from the normal position D1 is a predetermined amount F or more). The contact of the operation member 8 to the second position C2 can be regulated by contacting the end 20a of the main body 20 of the cold cathode tube 2.

When the operation member 8 is in the second position C <b> 2, the restricting portion 66 is received by the one side surface 12 a of the second portion 12 of the housing 6. Thereby, the operation member 8 in the second position C2 is positioned with respect to the operation direction B1.
The outer lead 21 of the cold cathode tube 2 is connected to the electrical connector 1 as follows.
That is, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, first, the electrical connector 1 is prepared, and the position of the operation member 8 of the electrical connector 1 is set to the first position C1.

The first position C1 is the position of the operating member 8, and the distance between the pair of elastic pieces 24, 25 so that the outer lead 21 can be inserted between the pair of elastic pieces 24, 25 with no insertion force. Is the position to expand. When the operation member 8 is in the first position C1, the pair of expanded portions 56 and 57 of the working member 8 are engaged with the corresponding elastic piece portions 24 and 25, respectively.
In this state, the cold cathode tube 2 is moved along the mounting direction E1, and the outer lead 21 of the cold cathode tube 2 is inserted into the cavity 46 through the opening 64.

Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C, the end 20a of the main body 20 of the cold cathode tube 2 is inserted into the groove 18 of the housing 6, and the outer lead 21 Is guided by the guide portions 35, 36 of the pair of elastic pieces 24, 25 to the contact portions 33, 34 side.
As a result, the end portion 20 a of the main body 20 of the cold cathode tube 2 is temporarily held by the temporary holding portion 19 of the housing 6, and the cold cathode tube 2 is positioned within the normal range D. When the end portion 20a of the main body 20 is held by the temporary holding portion 19, the end portion 3 of the cold cathode tube 2 is shifted from the normal position D1 by less than a predetermined amount F. In this state, the operating member 8 is moved to the second direction B1b side and is displaced from the first position C1 to the second position C2.

At this time, as shown in FIGS. 12 (A), 12 (B), and 12 (C), at least one of the drive units 50 and 51 (for example, the drive unit 50) of the operation member 8 is the cold cathode tube 2. The end portion 3 of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp 2 is brought into sliding contact with the end portion 20 a of the main body 20 and moved from the temporary holding portion 19 to the support portion 49.
Further, the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25 are engaged with the pair of connection portions 60 and 61 of the operation member 8, and the distance between them is gradually reduced.

As shown in FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 13C, when the operating member 8 is displaced to the second position C2, the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25 are paired with a pair of pressure portions. 58 and 59 are engaged, whereby the contact portions 33 and 34 are pressed against the outer lead 21. Electrical connection between the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25 and the outer lead 21 is achieved.
Removal of the cold-cathode tube 2 from the electrical connector 1 is achieved by performing the reverse procedure.

  As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, when the operating member 8 is displaced from the first position C1 to the second position C2, the normal position of the end portion 3 of the cold cathode tube 2 is determined. When the amount of deviation from D1 is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount F (when the end 3 of the cold cathode tube 2 is located outside the normal range D), the end 20a of the main body 20 of the cold cathode tube 2 is restricted. As a result, the operation member 8 is restricted from moving in the second direction B1b.

  According to the present embodiment, the following operational effects can be achieved. That is, when the deviation amount from the normal position D1 of the end portion 3 of the cold cathode tube 2 in which the outer lead 21 is inserted between the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25 is equal to or more than the predetermined amount F, the operation member 8 is restricted. The portion 66 abuts on the end 20 a of the main body 20 of the cold cathode tube 2. As a result, the operating member 8 cannot be displaced to the second position C2, the pressurizing portions 58 and 59 cannot press the pair of elastic piece portions 24 and 25, and the outer lead 21 and the pair of elastic piece portions. It can prevent contacting with 24 and 25 in the aspect which is not a desired contact state.

Further, the end 20 a of the main body 20 of the cold cathode tube 2 is disposed between the first and second side portions 41 and 42 of the operation member 8, and the main body 20 of the cold cathode tube 2 is disposed in the groove portion 18 of the housing 6. By disposing the end portion 20a, the end portion 20a can be positioned, and the outer lead 21 can be reliably disposed between the pair of elastic piece portions 24 and 25.
Further, when the end portion 3 of the cold cathode tube 2 is at the normal position D1 or the amount of deviation from the normal position D1 is smaller than the predetermined amount F (by being within the normal range D), a pair with the outer lead 21 is provided. When the elastic pieces 24 and 25 can be brought into contact with each other in a desired contact state, the operation member 8 can be displaced to the second position C2 to bring the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25 into contact with the outer lead 21. it can. Therefore, the contact state between the outer lead 21 and the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25 can be surely intended.

  Further, the mounting direction E1 is a direction along the radial direction R1 of the cold cathode tube 2, and the operation direction B1 is a direction along the axial direction S1 of the cold cathode tube 2. Thereby, the cold cathode tube 2 is moved in the radial direction R1 and inserted between the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25, and the operation member 8 is moved along the axial direction S1 of the cold cathode tube 2. The contact between the outer lead 21 of the cold cathode tube 2 and the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25 can be achieved.

Further, the operation member 8 is displaced to the second position C2 with a simple configuration in which the regulating portion 66 provided at the end of the operation member 8 and the end 20a of the main body 20 of the cold cathode tube 2 are brought into contact with each other. Can be regulated. Further, the cold cathode tube 2 can be used as a fluorescent tube.
Further, by providing the temporary holding portion 19 in the groove portion 18 of the housing 6, the operation member 8 is moved to the second position C2 in a state where the end portion 20a of the cold cathode tube 2 is temporarily held by the temporary holding portion 19. It can be operated to be displaced. When operating the operation member 8, it is not necessary to separately support the cold cathode tube 2 by hand or the like.

Further, the end portion 20a of the main body 20 of the cold cathode tube 2 can be supported at the normal position D1 when the operation member 8 is at the second position C2 by the support portion 49 of the operation member 8.
Further, when the amount of deviation of the end portion 3 of the cold cathode tube 2 from the normal position D1 is less than the predetermined amount F, the drive units 50 and 51 are moved along with the displacement of the operation member 8 to the second position C2. The cold cathode tube 2 is moved to the support portion 49 by sliding contact with the end 20 a of the main body 20 of the cold cathode tube 2. Thereby, even if the position of the cold cathode tube 2 is slightly deviated from the normal position D1, this misalignment can be corrected when the operation member 8 is displaced to the second position C2. Before the operating member 8 is displaced to the second position C2, it is not necessary to position the cold cathode tube 2 strictly with respect to the operating member 8.

Further, when the operation member 8 at the second position C2 covers at least a part of the end portion 3 of the cold cathode tube 2, foreign matter such as dust enters the periphery of the end portion 3 from the outside. As a result, a short circuit or the like can be prevented.
Further, when the operation member 8 is at the first position C1, the end 20a of the main body 20 of the cold cathode tube 2 is not covered by the operation member 8, and when the operation member is at the second position C2, the operation member 8 is not covered. As a result, the end 20a of the main body 20 of the cold cathode tube 2 is covered. Thereby, it can be easily confirmed visually that the operating member 8 is in the second position C2 (the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25 are in contact with the outer lead 21).

Further, since the operating member 8 is provided with the openings 64 and 67, when the operating member 8 is at the second position C2, the outer lead 21 of the cold cathode tube 2 and the pair of elastic pieces 24 and 25 are arranged. The contact state can be confirmed, and the desired contact state can be achieved more reliably. Moreover, a simple configuration in which the openings 67 and 67 are formed in the operation member 8 may be used.
The present invention is not limited to the contents of the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the first holding mechanism 68 that holds the operation member 8 at the first position C1 or the operation member 8 is held at the second position C2. A second holding mechanism 69 may be provided.
Specifically, convex portions 70 and 71 are provided on one of the outer side surface 47 a of the engagement piece portion 47 of the housing 6 and the inner side surface 43 a of the third side portion 43 of the operation member 8, and the concave portion 72 is provided on the other side.

  For example, the convex portions 70 and 71 are provided on the outer surface 47a of the engagement piece portion 47 and are arranged along the operation direction B1. The first holding mechanism 68 is configured by the engagement between the one convex portion 70 and the concave portion 72. Further, the second holding mechanism 69 is configured by the engagement between the other convex portion 71 and the concave portion 72. The convex portions 70 and 71 and the concave portion 72 may be provided on the engaging piece portion 48 and the fourth side portion 44 of the operation member 8.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 16, at least one of the members of the electrical connector 1 such as the outer surface of the housing 6 may be provided with one or a plurality of heat radiation fins 72. In this case, the heat generated from the cold cathode tube 2 and transmitted to the housing 6 and the like can be efficiently released.
Further, the operation member 8 may cover the entire end portion 3 of the cold cathode tube 2. Further, the mounting direction E1 may be a direction along the axial direction S1 of the cold cathode tube 2.

  As shown in FIG. 17, an external electrode fluorescent tube 2A (EEFL: External Electrofluorescent Lamp) may be used as the fluorescent tube. In the external electrode fluorescent tube 2A, each outer peripheral surface of the pair of end portions 20Aa of the main body 20A is covered with an electrode layer 21A as a terminal.

It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the principal part of a liquid crystal display device provided with the electrical connector concerning one embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the principal part of the liquid crystal display device from the direction different from FIG. (A) is the figure seen along the arrow IIIA direction of FIG. 1, (B) is sectional drawing which follows the IIIB-IIIB line | wire of FIG. 3 (A), (C) is FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the IIIC-IIIC line of A). It is a perspective view of a housing and a contact. It is the perspective view which looked at the housing and the contact from the direction different from FIG. It is a bottom view of a housing. (A) is a perspective view of the operation member, (B) is a perspective view of the operation member viewed from a direction different from FIG. 7 (A), and (C) is a perspective view of FIG. 7 (A). It is sectional drawing which follows a VIIC-VIIC line. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a housing and an operation member. It is sectional drawing which follows the IX-IX line | wire of FIG. 3 (B). It is a figure for demonstrating the process of connecting a cold cathode tube to an electrical connector, (A) has shown the cross section of the state in which the operation member of an electrical connector is located in a 1st position, (B) These show the cross section which meets the XB-XB line of (A). It is a figure for demonstrating the process of connecting a cold cathode tube to an electrical connector, (A) has shown the state by which the cold cathode tube was hold | maintained at the temporary holding part of the housing of an electrical connector, (B) The cross section which follows the XIB-XIB line of (A) is shown, (C) has shown the cross section which follows the XIC-XIC line of (A). It is a figure for demonstrating the process of connecting a cold cathode tube to an electrical connector, (A) has shown the state in the middle of displacing the operation member from the 1st position to the 2nd position, ( (B) has shown the cross section which followed the XIIB-XIIB line | wire of (A), (C) has expanded the principal part of (A). It is a figure for demonstrating the process of connecting a cold cathode tube to an electrical connector, (A) has shown the state which the operation member displaced to the 2nd position, (B) is XIIIB of (A). The cross section which follows the -XIIIB line is shown, (C) has shown the cross section which followed the XIIIC-XIIIC line of (A). (A) is sectional drawing which shows the state in which the edge part of the cold cathode tube by which the outer lead was inserted between a pair of elastic piece parts is not in a regular range, (B) is the principal part of (A). FIG. It is sectional drawing of the principal part of another embodiment of this invention, (A) has shown the state which has an operation member in a 1st position, (B) has an operation member in a 2nd position. Indicates the state. It is sectional drawing of the principal part of another embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the principal part of another embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Electrical connector 2 Cold cathode tube (fluorescent tube)
2A external electrode fluorescent tube (fluorescent tube)
3 (end of fluorescent tube) 6 Housing 7 Contact 8 Operating member (cover)
19 Temporary holding part 20, 20A (fluorescent tube) main body 20a, 20Aa (fluorescent tube main body) end 21 Outer lead (terminal)
21A Electrode layer (terminal)
24, 25 Elastic piece part 49 Support part 50, 51 Drive part 58, 59 Pressurization part 64, 67 Opening (visual recognition part)
65 Contact area 66 Restriction part B1 Operation direction C1 1st position C2 2nd position D Normal range D1 Normal position E1 Mounting direction F Predetermined amount R1 (Fluorescent tube) radial direction S1 (Fluorescent tube) axial direction

Claims (11)

An insulating housing;
Contacts held by this housing;
An operation member for operating the contact,
The contact includes a pair of elastic pieces that can be inserted between the terminals provided at the end of the fluorescent tube along a predetermined mounting direction.
The operation member is supported by the housing so as to be displaceable to first and second positions along a predetermined operation direction,
The operating member includes a pressurizing unit for pressurizing the pair of elastic pieces to a terminal of the fluorescent tube inserted between the pair of elastic pieces with the displacement of the operating member to the second position; When the amount of deviation from the normal position of the end of the fluorescent tube inserted between the pair of elastic pieces is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, the second position of the operating member is brought into contact with the end of the fluorescent tube. An electrical connector comprising: a restricting portion for restricting displacement to the head. In Claim 1, the predetermined mounting direction includes a direction along the radial direction of the fluorescent tube,
The predetermined operating direction includes an electrical connector including a direction along an axial direction of the fluorescent tube. The fluorescent tube according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fluorescent tube includes a main body for holding the terminal,
The restricting portion includes an end portion of an operation member related to a predetermined operation direction,
An end of the fluorescent tube with which the restricting portion abuts includes an end of the main body of the fluorescent tube. In any one of Claims 1-3, the said fluorescent tube contains a cold cathode tube,
The terminal is an electrical connector including an outer lead exposed from an end of the cold cathode tube body. In any one of Claims 1-3, the said fluorescent tube contains an external electrode fluorescent tube,
The terminal is an electrical connector including an electrode layer coated on the peripheral surface of the end of the main body of the external electrode fluorescent tube.   6. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a temporary holding portion that can temporarily hold the fluorescent tube at a position within a normal range.   The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the operation member includes a support portion for supporting an end portion of the fluorescent tube at a normal position when the operation member is at the second position.   8. The operation member according to claim 7, wherein when the amount of deviation from the normal position of the end portion of the fluorescent tube is less than the predetermined amount, the operation member is attached to the end portion of the fluorescent tube along with the displacement to the second position. An electrical connector including a drive unit that moves the fluorescent tube to the support unit by sliding contact.   9. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the operation member includes a cover for covering at least a part of an end portion of the fluorescent tube when the operation member is in the second position.   10. The electrical connector according to claim 9, wherein the cover as the operation member includes a visual recognition portion for visually recognizing a contact area between the pair of elastic piece portions and the terminal when the cover is in the second position.   The electrical connector according to claim 10, wherein the visual recognition unit includes an opening formed in the cover.

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