Metal terminal for gas sensor, gas sensor and method for manufacturing gas sensor

A gas sensor comprising:

• a sensor element having an electrode terminal portion configured to output a detection signal indicating a result of detection of a detection target gas to the outside;
• a metal terminal electrically connected to the electrode terminal portion of the sensor element;
• and
• a signal line electrically connected to the metal terminal, and forming a signal path for outputting the detection signal to the outside, wherein
• the metal terminal includes a front-side terminal member that contacts the electrode terminal portion, and a rear-side terminal member that is connected to the signal line,
• the front-side terminal member includes a front-side connection portion via which the front-side terminal member is connected to the rear-side terminal member,
• the rear-side terminal member includes a rear-side connection portion via which the rear-side terminal member is connected to the front-side terminal member,
• the front-side connection portion is a female connection portion or a male connection portion,
• the rear-side connection portion is the male connection portion when the front-side connection portion is the female connection portion, and is the female connection portion when the front-side connection portion is the male connection portion,
• the female connection portion has an insertion port in which the male connection portion is inserted,
• the insertion port is formed in a shape that can prevent the insertion port and the male connection portion from coming into contact with each other when the male connection portion is inserted into the female connection portion through the insertion port,
• the female connection portion includes a terminal contact portion configured to bring the male connection portion and the female connection portion into contact with each other by pressing the male connection portion toward the female connection portion, when the male connection portion is inserted into the female connection portion,
• the female connection portion contains a cutout portion that is defined by an outer edge of the terminal contact portion, and
• the male connection portion and the female connection portion are welded together at a contact portion between the male connection portion and the female connection portion.

A metal terminal used for a gas sensor including:

• a sensor element having an electrode terminal portion configured to output a detection signal indicating a result of detection of a target gas to the outside;
• and a signal line forming a signal path for outputting the detection signal to the outside, the metal terminal comprising:
• a front-side terminal member that contacts the electrode terminal portion;
• and
• a rear-side terminal member that is connected to the signal line, wherein
• the metal terminal is electrically connected to the electrode terminal portion and the signal line for transmitting the detection signal from the electrode terminal portion to the signal line,
• the front-side terminal member includes a front-side connection portion via which the front-side terminal member is connected to the rear-side terminal member,
• the rear-side terminal member includes a rear-side connection portion via which the rear-side terminal member is connected to the front-side terminal member,
• the front-side connection portion is a female connection portion or a male connection portion,
• the rear-side connection portion is the male connection portion when the front-side connection portion is the female connection portion, and is the female connection portion when the front-side connection portion is the male connection portion,
• the female connection portion has an insertion port in which the male connection portion is inserted,
• the insertion port is formed in a shape that can prevent the insertion port and the male connection portion from coming into contact with each other when the male connection portion is inserted into the female connection portion through the insertion port,
• the male connection portion includes a terminal contact portion configured to bring the male connection portion and the female connection portion into contact with each other by pressing the male connection portion toward the female connection portion, when the male connection portion is inserted into the female connection portion, and
• the terminal contact portion protrudes outward in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the gas sensor.