Circuit member connection structure

A connection structure, comprising:

• a first panel structure having a first window;
• a plurality of first circuit members disposed in the first panel structure, the first circuit members having first connection portions exposed at the first window of the first panel structure;
• a second panel structure having a second window;
• a plurality of second circuit members disposed in the second panel structure, the second circuit members having second connection portions exposed at the second window of the second panel structure,
• wherein an arrangement of the first connection portions is different from an arrangement of the second connection portions;
• and
• a connector including a plurality of terminals that electrically connect the first connection portions with the second connection portions, respectively, and have first contact portions and second contact portions, the connector further including:
• a housing body having first and second side walls opposed to each other, the first side wall having first terminal holes formed therein, and the second side wall having second terminal holes formed therein, and
• a plurality of terminal receiving chambers into which the terminals are respectively inserted, formed in the housing body, the terminal receiving chambers communicating with the first terminal holes and the second terminal holes, respectively,
• wherein the first contact portions of the terminals are respectively received in the first terminal holes, and the second contact portions of the terminals are respectively received in the second terminal holes, wherein
• the first contact portions disposed substantially at first ends of the terminals are arranged correspondingly to the arrangements of the first connection portions, and electrically connected to the first connection portions, respectively, and
• the second contact portions disposed substantially at second ends of the terminals are arranged correspondingly to the arrangements of the second connection portions, and electrically connected to the second connection portions, respectively;
• and
• a retaining mechanism wherein the connector is retained on the first panel structure by the retaining mechanism, wherein the retaining mechanism includes:
• an upstanding lock arm formed on at least one of opposite side walls of the housing body, and extending toward the first panel structure,
• a lock projection formed on a free end of the lock arm,
• an arm groove formed in a peripheral portion of the first window so as to receive the lock arm, and
• a retaining groove which is formed in a surface of the arm groove so as to engage the lock projection.

A connection structure, comprising:

• a first panel structure;
• a plurality of first circuit members disposed in the first panel structure, the first circuit members having first connection portions exposed from the first panel structure;
• a second panel structure;
• a plurality of second circuit members disposed in the second panel structure, the second circuit members having second connection portions exposed from the second panel structure,
• wherein an arrangement of the first connection portions is different from an arrangement of the second connection portions;
• and
• a connector including a plurality of terminals that electrically connect the first connection portions with the second connection portions, respectively, and have first contact portions and second contact portions disposed substantially at each end of the terminals, wherein
• the first contact portions of the terminals are arranged correspondingly to the arrangements of the first connection portions, and electrically connected to the first connection portions, respectively, and
• the second contact portions of the terminals are arranged correspondingly to the arrangements of the second connection portions, and electrically connected to the second connection portions, respectively,
• wherein the terminals include at least one third relay terminal which has:
• a base plate portion,
• an interconnecting plate portion having an L-shape, the interconnecting plate portion being extended from one end of the base plate portion, and cooperating with the base plate portion to form a U-shape,
• a resilient contact portion extended from one of opposite sides of the base plate portion, the resilient contact portion having one of the second contact portions, and
• a pair of resilient holding portions extended from one of opposite sides of the interconnecting plate portion, the pair of resilient holding portions having one of the first contact portions, and
• wherein the terminals can have at least one of the base plate portion and the interconnecting plate portion having different lengths so that the resilient contact portion is electrically connected to corresponding one of the second connection portions, and the pair of resilient holding portions are electrically connected to corresponding one of the first connection portions.