Press contact clamping connector and its connection structure

#The present invention relates to a compression type connector and its connecting structure for use in electrical connection between an electronic circuit board and liquid crystal module, connection between multiple electronic circuit boards, connection between a certain type of IC package and an electronic circuit board and connection of an electronic circuit board with a microphone, speaker or the like of a cellular phone or a portable information terminal.

#Conventionally, there are various techniques to make electric connection of an electronic circuit board of a cellular phone with a liquid crystal module or with an electroacoustic part. Though not illustrated, as the connecting method, any of the following techniques can be used: (1) a method of using a compression type connector with a multiple number of metallic fine wires arranged in a row on the curved surface of an elastomer piece having an approximately semielliptical section or approximately U-shaped section; (2) a method of using the connector pins for electrical connection disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Hei 7-161401; and (3) a method of creating connection by soldering conductive wires between the electrodes of an electronic circuit board and an electroacoustic part.

#Conventional electrical connections are made as described above, and any of the above connecting methods can provide the connection function within limits.

#FIG. 1 is a sectional illustrative view showing a state where a compression type connector and its connecting structure according to the present invention are being used in the embodiment;

#FIG. 2 is a sectional illustrative view showing the embodiment of compression type connectors and their connecting structure according to the present invention;

#FIG. 3 is a sectional view for explaining the conducting effect in the embodiment of compression type connectors and their connecting structure according to the present invention;

#The preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A miniature compression type connector in the present embodiment includes: as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, a cap-like conductive toe-pin 1, a conductive pin 10 fitted and slidably supported within conductive toe-pin 1 and a coil spring 20 fitted on conductive pin 10 and repulsively urging the conductive pin 10 upwards or in the opposite direction to the bottom of conductive toe-pin 1. A multiple number of the compression type connectors are arranged in an insulative housing 50 interposed between electrodes 31 and 41 of an electronic circuit board 30 and an electrically joined object 40, each opposing the other, so as to provide electrical conduction between electronic circuit board 30 and electrically joined object 40.

#As shown in the same figures, conductive toe-pin 1 is formed of, for example, a cylinder with a bottom having an approximately U-shaped section, with gold-plated conductive material, specifically, copper, brass or aluminum. When conductive toe-pin 1 is arranged in housing 50, the conductive toe-pin 1 may be put into contact, at its flat bottom which is marginally projected from the undersurface (bottom side) as one side of housing 50, with electrode 31 of electronic circuit board 30, or may be appropriately fixed to electrode 31 of electronic circuit board 30 with a solder layer, ACF (anisotropic conductive film) or the like, so as to secure conduction. The projected amount of the bottom of conductive toe-pin 1 is about 0.1 to 1.5 mm, preferably 0.1 to 1.0 mm.

#As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, conductive pin 10 may be, for example, formed of conductive elastomer or conductive copper, brass or aluminum plated with gold and shaped in a cylindrical form. This conductive pin 10 is formed so that an upper part is made smaller in diameter and the head is formed of a large diametric conical or semispherical form, so that the end face of the head comes into acute or smooth contact with electrode 41 of electrically joined object 40.