JP2018160393A - Electric connector - Google Patents

Abstract

In an electrical connector such as a BNC coaxial connector, a technique for improving high frequency characteristics and improving durability of a contact portion of an external conductor is provided. A central conductor, a cylindrical outer conductor, and a cylindrical outer contact provided on an outer peripheral surface of the outer conductor are provided. The outer contact has first and second ends. A plurality of plate-like elastic portions 41 whose portions are curved outward, an annular first connecting portion 42 to which each first end portion of the plurality of elastic portions 41 is connected, and a plurality of elastic portions 41 Each of the first and second end portions of each of the first and second end portions of the ring-shaped second connecting portion 43 is connected to the receptacle 2 and is engaged with the outer conductor 30. In this case, the elastic portion 41 of the external contact 40 is configured so as to be deformed in contact with the inner peripheral surface 22 of the external conductor 21 of the receptacle 2. [Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a BNC coaxial connector suitable for transmitting a high-frequency signal.

  Conventionally, a BNC coaxial connector is known as an electrical connector for connecting a coaxial cable. Since the BNC coaxial connector has relatively good frequency characteristics and can be made compact, it is widely used for measurement, communication, video signal, medical equipment and the like. It is easy to attach and detach because it has a mechanism (bayonet type) that can be easily locked in one behavior without using screws. BNC coaxial connectors conforming to JIS standards are widely used.

  In addition, as a technique regarding such a coaxial connector, for example, a technique described in Patent Document 1 can be cited.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-156282

  In recent years, with an increase in transmission signal speed and capacity, a BNC coaxial connector having excellent frequency characteristics and corresponding to a high-frequency signal has been demanded. In order to improve the frequency characteristics, some springs are used as the contact structure of the outer conductor, but in the conventional contact structure, when used in a frequency band of 4 GHz or more, the contact becomes unstable at the time of twisting and vibration, In some cases, the high frequency characteristics were not stable and a momentary interruption occurred during vibration.

  In addition, when the BNC coaxial connector is repeatedly attached and detached, the spring as the contact structure is repeatedly deformed, so the spring may be plastically deformed or broken when used for a long period of time. There was a problem.

  Further, in the case of the BNC coaxial connector described in Patent Document 1, a cantilever spring is used as a contact portion (external contact) and one side is in an open state.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for stabilizing the contact of the contact portion of the outer conductor and improving the high frequency characteristics even when vibration or the like occurs in an electrical connector such as a BNC coaxial connector. It is in.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a technique for improving the durability of a contact portion of an external conductor even when used for a long time in an electrical connector such as a BNC coaxial connector.

  The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

Of the inventions disclosed in the present application, the outline of typical ones will be briefly described as follows.
That is, the electrical connector of the present invention includes a center conductor, a cylindrical outer conductor insulated from the center conductor, and a cylindrical outer contact provided on an outer peripheral surface of the outer conductor, and the outer contact Each of which has a first end portion on the distal end side of the connector and a second end portion on the proximal end side of the connector, and a plurality of plate-like elastic curves between the first and second end portions curved outward. A first connecting portion that is connected to the first end of each of the plurality of elastic portions, a locking portion that extends from the distal end side of the connector and engages with the outer conductor, The elastic part of the external contact is configured to be deformed in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the external conductor of the mating connector when mated with the mating connector.

Of the inventions disclosed in the present application, effects obtained by typical ones will be briefly described as follows.
(1) Since a plurality of springs having both ends are used for the contact portion of the outer conductor, the contact is stabilized and the high frequency characteristics are improved.
(2) Since the tip end side of the plurality of springs at both ends of the contact portion of the external conductor is fixed to the external conductor, the portion on the connector base end side can freely move, and the durability of the contact portion is improved.

It is the fragmentary sectional view which cut | disconnected the upper part of the connector front end side (fitting side) of the BNC coaxial connector (plug) and the other party connector (receptacle) by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the BNC coaxial connector (plug) by Embodiment 1 of this invention, (a) is the perspective view which cut off some connection sleeves, (b) is the front which cut off some connection sleeves FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the BNC coaxial connector (plug) by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing to which the external contact part of the BNC coaxial connector (plug) by Embodiment 1 of this invention was expanded, (a) is the state before fitting, (b) was fitted with the other party connector (receptacle). Indicates the state. It is the figure which expanded one of the elastic parts of the external contact of the BNC coaxial connector (plug) by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the BNC coaxial connector (plug) by Embodiment 2 of this invention, (a) is the perspective view which cut off some connection sleeves, (b) is the front which cut off some connection sleeves FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the BNC coaxial connector (plug) by Embodiment 3 of this invention, (a) is the perspective view which cut off some connection sleeves, (b) is the front which cut off some connection sleeves FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that components having the same function are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings for describing the embodiment, and the repetitive description thereof will be omitted.

  In the following embodiment, when it is necessary for the sake of convenience, the description will be divided into a plurality of sections or embodiments. However, unless otherwise specified, they are not irrelevant, and one is the other. Some or all of the modifications, details, supplementary explanations, and the like are related. Further, in the following embodiments, when referring to the number of elements (including the number, numerical value, quantity, range, etc.), especially when clearly indicated and when clearly limited to a specific number in principle, etc. Except, it is not limited to the specific number, and may be more or less than the specific number.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a BNC coaxial connector (plug) and a mating connector (receptacle) according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and is a partial cross-sectional view in which the upper part of the connector tip side (fitting side) is cut. is there. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing a configuration of a BNC coaxial connector (plug) according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, in which FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a part of the connection sleeve, and FIG. 2B is a part of the connection sleeve. It is the front view which cut off. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the BNC coaxial connector (plug) according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an external contact portion of the BNC coaxial connector (plug) according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, where (a) is a state before fitting, and (b) is a mating connector (receptacle). And shows a fitted state. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of one of the elastic portions of the external contact of the BNC coaxial connector (plug) according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, an example of the configuration of the electrical connector according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The electrical connector according to the first embodiment is a BNC coaxial connector (hereinafter referred to as “plug (1)”) to which a coaxial cable is connected, and is a counterpart connector (hereinafter referred to as “receptacle (2)”) attached to a device or the like. The cable and the signal line in the device are electrically connected.

  The plug 1 according to the first embodiment includes a center conductor 10, a cylindrical outer conductor 30 insulated from the center conductor 10 by an insulator 20, a cylindrical outer contact 40 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the outer conductor 30, an outer The connecting sleeve 50 is rotatably covered on the connector tip side of the conductor 30 (right direction in FIG. 1).

  The external conductor 30 has an external contact 40 that is mounted over the outer periphery thereof. The external contact 40 is attached to a portion whose proximal end side is smaller than the thickness of the external contact with respect to the large diameter portion 35 at the distal end of the external conductor 30. The first connecting portion 42 is protected by the large-diameter portion 35 at the tip when the tip is fitted to the receptacle. The plurality of elastic portions 41 of the external contact 40 are in contact with the inner peripheral surface 22 of the external conductor 21 of the receptacle 2 when the plug 1 is engaged with the receptacle 2 and are narrowed. A coaxial cable (not shown) is connected to the connector base end side portion (the left portion in FIG. 1) of the plug 1. The receptacle 2 is fixed to a device or the like. The plug 1 (BNC coaxial connector) has a bayonet coupling mechanism, and the opening end (the right end portion in FIG. 1) of the plug 1 is axially moved with respect to the opening end (the left end portion in FIG. 1) of the receptacle 2 by manual operation. Both are connected by pushing and twisting clockwise. When the plug 1 is twisted in the counterclockwise direction and pulled out from this connected state, the connection between the two is released. In this way, the plug 1 and the receptacle 2 are detachably connected (fitted) to each other. The plug 1 has a configuration in which an insulator 20 and a center conductor (male center contact) 10 are concentrically fixedly arranged on the inner peripheral side of the outer conductor 30.

  A connection sleeve 50 is rotatably mounted on the outside of the outer conductor 30. A cut groove 51 extending in an oblique direction of the bayonet coupling mechanism is formed on the side surface of the connection sleeve 50 in the circumferential direction. On the plug base end side of the connection sleeve 50, a rotation operation portion 52 for rotating the connection sleeve 50 whose outer peripheral surface is knurled is provided. In the plug 1, an opening 33 that opens to the tip end side of the plug is formed concentrically with the plug center axis.

  The receptacle (mating connector) 2 shown in FIG. 1 has a configuration in which an insulator (not shown) and a center conductor (female center contact) 23 are concentrically fixedly arranged on the inner peripheral side of the outer conductor 21. The inner peripheral surface 22 of the outer conductor 21 (the surface with which the elastic portion 41 of the plug 1 contacts) is smooth, and there is no step at any part in the entire axial direction. A center hole 24 is formed at the center of the center conductor 23. Two protrusions 25a and 25b of the bayonet coupling mechanism are formed at two locations opposite to each other in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the outer conductor 21.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the external contact 40 has a plurality of plate-like elastic portions (springs) 41 whose central portions are curved outward, and first end portions of the plurality of elastic portions 41 are respectively An annular first coupling portion 42 to be coupled, an annular second coupling portion 43 to which each second end of each of the plurality of elastic portions 41 is coupled, and an external conductor provided on the first coupling portion side 30 is configured with a locking portion 44 and the like for fixing to 30. The first connecting portion 42 is located on the connector front end side (the right side in FIGS. 1 to 3) with respect to the second connecting portion 43. The elastic portion 41 is wide (in the circumferential direction) near the center. When the plug 1 is engaged with the receptacle 2, the elastic portion 41 of the external contact 40 is configured to be deformed in contact with the inner peripheral surface 22 of the external conductor 21 of the receptacle 2. An apex in the outer direction near the center of the elastic portion 41 becomes a contact portion at the time of fitting. At the time of mating with the receptacle 2, the front end side of the connector becomes the first collision part from the vicinity of the center (the contact part). The locking portion 44 may be provided at the first connecting portion 42 or may be provided at a place other than the first connecting portion 42. Further, the second connecting portion 43 may be eliminated. Even without the second connecting portion 43, the second end of the elastic portion is in contact with or close to the outer peripheral surface of the outer conductor, and acts as a doubly-supported spring.

  The outer conductor 30 has a groove 31 extending in the circumferential direction on the distal end side of the connector on the outer peripheral surface, and the locking portion 44 extends to the connector proximal end side (left side in FIGS. 1 to 3), and the distal end portion is external. The locking piece 46 is bent on the inner side of the contact 40, the distal end portion of the locking piece 46 engages with the groove 31, and the movement of the first contact portion 42 of the external contact 40 toward the connector proximal end side is performed. It is configured to be regulated. Further, grooves are provided on the outer periphery of the outer conductor 30 so that the respective locking pieces 46 are fitted, and the outer contacts 40 are arranged in the circumferential direction of the outer conductor 30 so that the locking pieces 46 are fitted in the grooves. You may make it regulate rotation of. Further, the distal end side of the first connecting portion is extended, this extended portion is on the proximal end side wall of the large-diameter portion 35 at the distal end of the outer conductor, and the locking piece 46 of the locking portion 44 is on the proximal end side wall of the groove 31. It may be fixed and fixed by being regulated.

  The external contact 40 has a cut 45 along the axial direction. The cut 45 is formed by pressing a flat metal plate and rounding it into a cylindrical shape to make the external contact 40. This makes it easy to process, and expands the external contact 40 when the external contact 40 is mounted. Since it can be put on the conductor 30, assembly becomes easy. Further, the external contact 40 has a double-supported spring structure, so that it can be easily processed. Further, the external contact 40 has a C-shaped ring shape formed of a single plate, but is not limited to a single plate and may be configured by combining two or more. Further, a protrusion may be provided on the inner periphery of the first connecting portion 42 to stabilize the contact position. Further, the contact position may be stabilized by providing a linear part in the annular first connecting part 42 or by providing a polygonal part.

  The larger the number of the plurality of elastic portions 41, the better. However, at least five are required, and preferably 12 to 16 (when the inner circumference of the outer conductor 30 of the plug is 24 mm). Further, the plurality of elastic portions 41 are arranged at substantially equal intervals along the circumferential direction. The interval between the plurality of elastic portions 41 is preferably 6 mm or less.

  The outer conductor 30 is provided on the outer circumferential surface thereof, and has a triangular protrusion 32 having a gentle cross section for restricting deformation of the plurality of elastic portions 41 beyond a certain level. The protrusion 32 includes the plurality of elastic portions 41. Located inside. Thereby, since the displacement of the elastic part 41 can be limited and the excessive bending can be prevented, the durability of the external contact 40 is improved. Even if the distal end portion of the inner peripheral surface 22 of the outer conductor 21 of the receptacle 2 and the elastic portion 41 of the outer contact 40 come into contact with each other in a twisted state and the elastic portion 41 is excessively deformed, the outer periphery of the outer conductor 30 Since there are no protrusions on the surface that interfere with the base end side of the second connecting portion 43, the external contact 40 is prevented from being damaged.

As shown in FIG. 5, each of the plurality of elastic portions 41 has a width between the vicinity of the center and the first connecting portion 42 and between the vicinity of the center and the second connecting portion 43 in the vicinity of the center. It is narrower than the width. This is a shape in which stress concentration is dispersed, and the spring width of the stress concentration portion is narrowed to prevent sag. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the second connecting portion 43 is longer in the longitudinal direction than the first connecting portion 42 (L ₂ > L ₁ ), so that the elastic portion 41 is deformed. The sliding of is stable.

  Further, a protrusion (beat shape) punched out from the inside toward the outside may be provided near the center of each of the plurality of elastic portions 41. While the elastic portion 41 is flat, the inner peripheral surface 22 of the outer conductor 21 of the receptacle 2 that contacts the elastic portion 41 is a curved surface. Thus, contact is made at a single point, and the stability of electrical contact between the outer conductors is improved.

  Therefore, according to the electrical connector of the first embodiment, since a plurality of springs having both ends are used for the contact portion of the outer conductor, the contact is stabilized and the high frequency characteristics are improved. In addition, since the tip end side of the plurality of springs at both ends of the contact portion of the outer conductor is fixed to the outer conductor, the durability of the contact portion is improved.

(Embodiment 2)
6A and 6B are diagrams showing a configuration of a BNC coaxial connector (plug) according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, in which FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a part of the connection sleeve, and FIG. 6B is a part of the connection sleeve. It is the front view which cut off.

  The BNC coaxial connector (plug) 1a according to the second embodiment has a structure of a locking portion 44 for fixing the first connecting portion 42 of the external contact 40 to the external conductor 30 as compared with the first embodiment. Are different.

  In the second embodiment, the outer conductor 30 has holes 33a and 33b on the connector tip side. The locking portion 44 of the first connecting portion 42 has locking pieces 46a and 46b whose tip portions are bent inside the external conductor 30 through the holes 33a and 33b. Then, the locking pieces 46a and 46b are engaged with the holes 33a and 33b so that the movement of the external contact 40 toward the connector base end side is restricted. The locking piece 46a is fixed by bending a claw extending toward the connector tip side (axial direction) inward through the hole 33a. The locking piece 46b is fixed by bending a claw extending in the circumferential direction inward through the hole 33b. In the second embodiment, two types of the locking piece 46a and the locking piece 46b are shown, but the embodiment may be only one type.

  With such a structure, the BNC coaxial connector (plug) 1a according to the second embodiment has the same effects as those of the first embodiment.

(Embodiment 3)
FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing a configuration of a BNC coaxial connector (plug) according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, in which FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a part of the connection sleeve, and FIG. 7B is a part of the connection sleeve. It is the front view which cut off.

  The BNC coaxial connector (plug) 1b according to the third embodiment has a structure of a locking portion 44 for fixing the first connecting portion 42 of the external contact 40 to the external conductor 30 as compared with the first embodiment. Are different.

  In the third embodiment, the outer conductor 30 has a plurality of holes 33c on the connector tip side. The locking portion 44 of the first connecting portion 42 has a cylindrical member 47 that is bent inward of the outer conductor 30 along the wall surface of the hole 33c. The external contact 40 is fixed to the external conductor 30 by a cylindrical member 47. The cylindrical member 47 is fixed to the round hole of the outer conductor 30 by a burring process (a process of rising around the hole).

  With such a structure, the BNC coaxial connector (plug) 1a according to the second embodiment has the same effects as those of the first embodiment.

  As mentioned above, the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiment. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say. Further, the first to third embodiments may be appropriately combined.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the external contact is provided on the plug side. However, an external contact having an elastic part curved inward may be provided on the inner peripheral surface of the receptacle.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the BNC coaxial connector has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to other electrical connectors.

  The present invention is applicable to electrical connectors for measurement, communication, video signal, and medical equipment.

1 Plug (BNC coaxial connector)
2 Receptacle (mating connector)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Center conductor 20 Insulator 21 Outer conductor 22 Inner peripheral surface 23 Center conductor 24 Center hole 25a, 25b Protrusion 30 External conductor 31 Groove 32 Protrusion 33a, 33b, 33c Hole 34 Opening part 35 Large diameter part 40 External contact 41 Elastic part 42 First connecting portion 43 Second connecting portion 44 Locking portion 45 Cut 46 Locking piece 47 Cylindrical member 50 Connection sleeve 51 Cut groove 52 Rotating operation portion

Claims (13)

A central conductor;
A cylindrical outer conductor insulated from the central conductor;
An electrical connector comprising a cylindrical external contact provided on the outer peripheral surface of the external conductor,
The external contact is
A plurality of plate-like elastic portions each having a first end portion on the distal end side of the connector and a second end portion on the proximal end side of the connector, and curved between the first and second end portions in an outward direction; ,
An annular first connecting portion to which a first end of each of the plurality of elastic portions is connected;
A locking portion that extends from the connector tip side and engages with the outer conductor,
An electrical connector configured such that, when mated with a mating connector, the elastic portion of the external contact is deformed in contact with an inner peripheral surface of an external conductor of the mating connector. The outer conductor has a groove on the outer end surface of the connector tip side,
The locking portion has a locking piece extending to the connector proximal end and having a distal end bent to the inside of the external contact,
The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein a distal end portion of the locking piece engages with the groove, and movement of the external contact toward the connector proximal end side is restricted. The outer conductor has a hole on the distal end side of the connector,
The locking portion has a locking piece whose tip is bent inside the outer conductor through the hole,
The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the locking piece engages with the hole, and movement of the external contact toward the connector base end side is restricted. The outer conductor has a hole on the distal end side of the connector,
The locking portion has a cylindrical member bent inward of the outer conductor along the wall surface of the hole,
The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the external contact is fixed to the external conductor by the cylindrical member.   The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the external contact has a cut along the axial direction.   The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the number of the plurality of elastic portions is five or more.   The electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the plurality of elastic portions are arranged at substantially equal intervals along a circumferential direction of the external contact.   Each of the plurality of elastic portions has a width between the central portion between the first and second end portions and the first end portion, and between the central portion and the second end portion. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is narrower than a width of the central portion.   9. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of elastic portions has a protrusion formed at the center portion from the inside toward the outside. The outer conductor is provided on the outer peripheral surface, and has a protrusion for restricting a certain deformation of the plurality of elastic portions,
The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is located inside the plurality of elastic portions.   The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the external contact further includes a second coupling portion to which a second end of each of the plurality of elastic portions is coupled.   The electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the engaging portion of the external contact is provided in the first connecting portion.   The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is a BNC coaxial connector.

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