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EP-4738617-A1 - CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY

EP4738617A1EP 4738617 A1EP4738617 A1EP 4738617A1EP-4738617-A1

Abstract

A connector assembly (1) includes a receptacle connector (3) and a plug connector (5). The plug connector (5) is vertically inserted into the receptacle connector (3) and then horizontally moved relative to the receptacle connector (3), whereby the receptacle connector (3) and the plug connector (5) are electrically connected. Two receptacle-side auxiliary fittings (9) include at least three receptacle-side interference portions (9T) that physically interfere with the plug connector (5) when a misalignment exists between the plug connector (5) and the receptacle connector (3) in the width direction during vertical insertion.

Inventors

  • MACHIHARA, DAISUKE

Assignees

  • Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20250822

Claims (8)

  1. A connector assembly (1) comprising: a receptacle connector (3); and a plug connector (5); wherein the plug connector (5) is vertically inserted into the receptacle connector (3) and then horizontally moved relative to the receptacle connector (3), whereby the receptacle connector (3) and the plug connector (5) are electrically connected, wherein the receptacle connector (3) comprises: a plurality of first receptacle-side contacts (6); a plurality of second receptacle-side contacts (7); a receptacle-side housing (8) that retains the plurality of first receptacle-side contacts and the plurality of second receptacle-side contacts; and at least one receptacle-side auxiliary fitting (9), wherein the receptacle-side housing (8) comprises: a first receptacle-side contact beam that retains the plurality of first receptacle-side contacts; a second receptacle-side contact beam that retains the plurality of second receptacle-side contacts; and two receptacle-side connecting beams that connect the first and second receptacle-side contact beams, wherein the plug connector (5) comprises: a plurality of first plug-side contacts (16); a plurality of second plug-side contacts (17); a plug-side housing (18) that retains the plurality of first plug-side contacts and the plurality of second plug-side contacts; and at least one plug-side auxiliary fitting (19), wherein the plug-side housing (18) comprises: a first plug-side contact beam that retains the plurality of first plug-side contacts; a second plug-side contact beam that retains the plurality of second plug-side contacts; and two plug-side connecting beams that connect the first and second plug-side contact beams, wherein the plug connector (5) is vertically inserted into the receptacle connector (3) such that the plug connector is accommodated between the two receptacle-side connecting beams, and is then horizontally moved relative to the receptacle connector such that the plurality of first receptacle-side contacts respectively contact the plurality of first plug-side contacts and the plurality of second receptacle-side contacts respectively contact the plurality of second plug-side contacts, and wherein the at least one receptacle-side auxiliary fitting (9) includes at least three receptacle-side interference portions (9T) that physically interfere with the plug connector (5) when a misalignment exists between the plug connector (5) and the receptacle connector (3) in a facing direction in which the first and second receptacle-side contact beams face each other during the vertical insertion.
  2. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least three receptacle-side interference portions are configured to physically interfere with the at least one plug-side auxiliary fitting of the plug connector when the misalignment exists.
  3. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least three receptacle-side interference portions include four receptacle-side interference portions.
  4. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one receptacle-side auxiliary fitting includes an elastically deformable contact spring piece, wherein, when the plug connector is vertically inserted into the receptacle connector, the contact spring piece elastically deforms and comes into contact with the at least one plug-side auxiliary fitting, and wherein, while the plug connector is horizontally moved relative to the receptacle connector, the contact spring piece remains in contact with the at least one plug-side auxiliary fitting by elastic restoring force.
  5. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one receptacle-side auxiliary fitting includes a protrusion configured to provide tactile feedback during the vertical insertion.
  6. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one plug-side auxiliary fitting includes at least three plug-side interference portions corresponding respectively to the at least three receptacle-side interference portions, wherein each of the at least three receptacle-side interference portions is formed in a U-shape that opens downward and includes two receptacle-side U-shaped side walls, and wherein each of the at least three plug-side interference portions is formed in a U-shape that opens upward and includes two plug-side U-shaped side walls.
  7. The connector assembly according to claim 6, wherein, when the plug connector is horizontally moved relative to the receptacle connector, the two receptacle-side U-shaped side walls of at least one of the at least three receptacle-side interference portions and the two plug-side U-shaped side walls of at least one of the at least three plug-side interference portions are alternately overlapped.
  8. The connector assembly according to claim 6, wherein, when the plug connector is horizontally moved relative to the receptacle connector, the two plug-side U-shaped side walls of at least one of the at least three plug-side interference portions are inserted between the two receptacle-side U-shaped side walls of at least one of the at least three receptacle-side interference portions.

Description

BACKGROUND The present disclosure relates to a connector assembly. Patent Literature 1 discloses, as illustrated in Fig. 18 of the present application, a connector assembly 102 in which a connector 100 and a connector 101 are mated with each other by first positioning the connector 100 with respect to the connector 101 in the vertical direction and then moving the connector 100 relative to the connector 101 in the horizontal direction. Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 5530278 SUMMARY In the configuration of Patent Literature 1, there is a possibility that contacts may be damaged when mating the connector 100 with the connector 101. It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a connector assembly in which the contacts are less likely to be damaged during mating. A connector assembly comprises a receptacle connector and a plug connector. The plug connector is vertically inserted into the receptacle connector, and is then moved horizontally relative to the receptacle connector, whereby the receptacle connector and the plug connector are electrically connected. The receptacle connector includes: a plurality of first receptacle-side contacts; a plurality of second receptacle-side contacts; a receptacle-side housing that retains the plurality of first and second receptacle-side contacts; and at least one receptacle-side auxiliary fitting. The receptacle-side housing includes: a first receptacle-side contact beam that retains the plurality of first receptacle-side contacts; a second receptacle-side contact beam that retains the plurality of second receptacle-side contacts; and two receptacle-side connecting beams that connect the first and second receptacle-side contact beams. The plug connector includes: a plurality of first plug-side contacts; a plurality of second plug-side contacts; a plug-side housing that retains the plurality of first and second plug-side contacts; and at least one plug-side auxiliary fitting. The plug-side housing includes: a first plug-side contact beam that retains the plurality of first plug-side contacts; a second plug-side contact beam that retains the plurality of second plug-side contacts; and two plug-side connecting beams that connect the first and second plug-side contact beams. The plug connector is vertically inserted into the receptacle connector such that the plug connector is accommodated between the two receptacle-side connecting beams, and is then moved horizontally relative to the receptacle connector, so that the plurality of first receptacle-side contacts respectively contact the plurality of first plug-side contacts, and the plurality of second receptacle-side contacts respectively contact the plurality of second plug-side contacts. The at least one receptacle-side auxiliary fitting includes at least three receptacle-side interference portions that physically interfere with the plug connector when a misalignment exists between the plug connector and the receptacle connector in a facing direction in which the first and second receptacle-side contact beams face each other during the vertical insertion. According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector assembly in which contacts are less likely to be damaged during mating. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector assembly before mating (First embodiment);Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector assembly (First embodiment);Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a receptacle connector (First embodiment);Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing part of the configuration of the receptacle connector (First embodiment);Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a plug connector (First embodiment);Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing part of the configuration of the plug connector (First embodiment);Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which vertical insertion is completed (First embodiment);Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between a receptacle-side auxiliary fitting and a plug-side auxiliary fitting after vertical insertion (First embodiment);Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which vertical insertion is completed (First embodiment);Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which horizontal movement is completed (First embodiment);Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between the receptacle-side auxiliary fitting and the plug-side auxiliary fitting after horizontal movement (First embodiment);Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing a connector assembly before mating (Second embodiment);Fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the connector assembly (Second embodiment);Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a receptacle-side auxiliary fitting (Second embodiment);Fig. 15