Telephonic communications – Terminal – Housing or housing component
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-08
2004-06-15
Chiang, Jack (Department: 2642)
Telephonic communications
Terminal
Housing or housing component
Reexamination Certificate
active
06751317
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to movable terminals, coaxial connectors, and communication apparatuses incorporating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, mobile communication apparatuses such as mobile phones, incorporate surface-mount-type coaxial connectors having signal-path switching functions. In such a coaxial connector, a resin case, a fixed terminal, and a movable terminal having spring properties are integrally insert-molded.
As shown in
FIG. 12
, a conventional movable terminal
155
includes a movable portion
151
having a spring function and a lead portion
152
bent in a substantially U-shaped configuration connected to the movable portion
151
. The movable portion
151
includes an arm
151
a
extending to right and left side portions from the lead portion
152
, two spring supporting portions
151
b
provided at the ends of the arm
151
a
, a spring movable portion
151
c
extending parallel to the arms
151
a
such that the portion
151
c
straddles the spring supporting portions
151
b
, and a contact portion
151
d
protruding from the spring movable portion
151
c
. Both ends of the spring movable portion
151
c
are supported and fixed by the spring supporting portions
151
b
. The central portion of the spring movable portion
151
c
is curved in an arcuate shape to expand upwardly. With the force exerted by the spring property of the arcuate shaped spring mechanism, the contact portion
151
d
abuts against the lower surface of a contact portion
141
of a fixed terminal
140
, and thereby the fixed terminal
140
makes contact with the movable terminal
155
to connect each other.
However, the conventional movable terminal
155
includes only one arm
151
a
and only two bent portions A and B. As a result, when the conventional movable terminal
155
is repeatedly pressed into contact with the central contact of the counterpart coaxial connector, plastic deformation of the movable terminal
155
occurs, thereby deteriorating the spring property. That is, after removing the counterpart coaxial connector, the fixed terminal
140
and the movable terminal
155
do not make firm contact, and therefore the connection therebetween is inadequate. In some cases, both terminals
140
and
155
do not make contact.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To overcome the above-described problems with the prior art, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a movable terminal and a coaxial connector which are durable and which have excellent contact/connection reliability, and a communication apparatus incorporating the same.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a movable terminal including a frame-shaped portion, a spring movable portion having both ends supported by the frame-shaped portion and having a displaceable central spring portion, and a contact portion integrally provided with the spring movable portion and making contact with a fixed terminal such that the contact portion is connected to the fixed terminal, in which two arms arranged substantially parallel to the spring movable portion of the frame-shaped portion are bent such that the spring movable portion is curved in an arcuate shape.
Preferably, the contact portion is provided above the arcuate shaped spring movable portion.
Other preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a coaxial connector including an insulating case having a cavity in which an approximately central contact of a counterpart coaxial connector is inserted, the movable terminal disposed in the cavity of the insulating case such that the movable terminal protrudes in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the approximately central contact is inserted, a fixed terminal disposed in the cavity of the insulating case to make contact with a contact portion of the movable terminal such that the fixed terminal is connected to the contact portion, and an external terminal disposed on the outside of the insulating case to electrically connect an external conductor of the counterpart coaxial connector, in which the contact portion of the movable terminal and the fixed terminal are separate from each other and make contact with one another to connect each other in accordance with the installation and removal of the counterpart coaxial connector.
Since the frame-shaped portion has outstanding mechanical strength, the plastic deformation of the movable terminal does not occur when the movable terminal is repeatedly pressed into contact with the approximately central contact of the counterpart coaxial connector. As a result, the deterioration of spring property is prevented. Moreover, the spring movable portion is curved in the arcuate shape by bending a flat plate instead of by plastic deformation. Thus, plastic deformation is unlikely to occur.
In addition, other preferred embodiments of the present invention provides a communication apparatus incorporating the above coaxial connector, thereby having high reliability.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5139427 (1992-08-01), Boyd et al.
patent: 5281176 (1994-01-01), Yahagi et al.
patent: 5575690 (1996-11-01), Eaton
patent: 5625177 (1997-04-01), Yukinori et al.
patent: 6068492 (2000-05-01), Uratani et al.
patent: 6099334 (2000-08-01), Togashi
patent: 6554630 (2003-04-01), Uratani
patent: 0 929 128 (1999-07-01), None
patent: 10-188738 (1998-07-01), None
patent: 11-265761 (1999-09-01), None
patent: 11-307188 (1999-11-01), None
patent: 2001-176612 (2001-06-01), None
patent: WO 95/30258 (1995-11-01), None
Maruyama Yuichi
Shima Kazuo
Uratani Chikara
Chiang Jack
Keating & Bennett LLP
Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
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