Electrical connection structure for electronic apparatus

Details Electrical connection structure for electronic apparatus Electrical connection structure for electronic apparatus

2001-04-11

2002-12-10

Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient...

Spring actuated or resilient securing part

C361S785000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06491552

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrical connection structure for an electronic component unit that is applied to computers and electronic equipment, and more particularly to an electrical connection structure for electrically connecting a terminal portion of a Compression type connector, equipped in an electronic component unit, to an electrode portion on a circuit board mounted on electronic equipment when installing the electronic component unit in the electronic equipment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In general, electronic equipment employs a connector to electrically interconnect a circuit board, an electronic component, an electronic device, etc. When assembling such electronic equipment, the connector is frequently connected by manual operation.
FIG. 10
illustrates a conventional notebook-sized personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a notebook-sized PC) in which a speaker unit is mounted on a PC main body portion and connected to a system board (main board).
In
FIG. 10
is shown the rear of the speaker unit
100
including speakers
104
disposed at the laterally opposite positions on a front face (side facing in direction of arrow FR in the drawing) of a frame
102
constituting the speaker unit
100
, respectively. The lead wires (harnesses)
108
connected to the speakers
104
through the interior of the frame
102
protrude from the lower portion of a mounting portion
106
provided on the rear of the frame
102
, and a plug-in type connector
110
is connected to the ends of the lead wires
108
.
A support block
114
for mounting the speaker unit
100
is provided on the bottom surface of a housing
112
constituting the lower portion of the housing of the PC main body portion. Furthermore, the system board
116
is installed within the housing
112
, and a connector
118
(plug-in type) which is paired with the connector
110
on the side of the speaker unit
100
is mounted on the system board
116
.
When mounting this speaker unit
100
on the notebook-sized PC, the speaker unit
100
is first fixed on the support block
114
of the housing
112
by means of screws
120
. Then, the connector
110
is plugged into the connector
118
on the system board
116
thereby effecting mechanical and electrical connection.
In the notebook-sized PC market, pricing has become ever more competitive in recent years. Because of this, it is an important consideration to reduce manufacturing costs by simplifying operation to reduce the number of assemblers. Therefore, in the aforementioned operation of installing an electronic component unit, reconsideration of the assembly efficiency has also been required. Particularly, there has been a desire to move away from the manual operation of connecting the connector, which is complicated and tends to cause connection failure such as half-locking.
On the other hand, a wide variety of connectors suitable for various uses, in addition to a general plug-in type, have been developed and put to practical use. As an example, spring connectors are known, the assembly structure being disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application Nos. 5-13115 and 5-13116.
The spring connectors are employed when constituting a high-voltage circuit. The spring connectors include a fixed resistor and are also equipped with a terminal portion consisting of a coil spring. The spring terminal portion is pressed against the contact portion of a corresponding component, whereby an electrical connection is established.
In the above-mentioned prior art, a connecting fitting, connected with a fixed resistor fitted into a coil spring and lead wires, is inserted and mounted within the housing of the connector, and furthermore, the coil spring, the lead terminals of the fixed resistor, and the connecting fitting are not firmly connected by soldering or the like, but they are connected by press fitting and elastic gripping means so that they can be electrically conductive. Also, in order to easily enhance product yield and productivity, a structure has been proposed in which the assembly can be automated. To electrically interconnect circuit boards, another technique for mounting a spring connector on one of the circuit boards and connecting it with the electrode portion of the other circuit board is disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application Nos. 11-339920 , 2000-021468 , 2000-012124 , 10-261858.
This conventional spring connector is a type in which the spring terminal portion is elastically contacted with the contact portion of the corresponding component, but since the connector is singly employed, a structure for fixing the connector housing to a corresponding component, and the installing operation of the structure, are required. Therefore, although the terminal portion is a spring type, the manner in which the spring connector is used is essentially the same as the aforementioned plug-in type connector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the aforementioned facts, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connection structure for an electronic component unit that is capable of facilitating an assembly operation in installing the electronic component unit. Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical connection structure for an electronic component unit which is capable of preventing connection failure and reducing manufacturing costs. Still another object of the invention is to provide a computer and electronic equipment to which the electrical connection structure is applied.
To achieve the above objects, according to an aspect of the present invention there is provided an electrical connection structure for electrically connecting an electronic component unit, which is to be installed in an electronic apparatus, to a circuit board mounted on the electronic apparatus, the structure comprising: an electrode portion provided on the circuit board; and a connector, which is mounted on the electronic component unit and equipped with compression type terminals, the terminals being connected to lead wires of an electronic component included in the electronic component unit, and being contacted with the electrode portion, compressed, and electrically connected thereto when the electronic component unit is mounted on the circuit board.
In the aforementioned electrical connection structure for an electronic component unit, a connector with compression type terminals is mounted integrally on an electronic component unit, and the compression type terminals of the connector are connected with the lead wires of an electronic component equipped in the electronic component unit.
With such a connector, when the electronic component unit is assembled to the circuit board, the compression type terminals of the connector are contacted with the electrode portion of the circuit board and are compressed and electrically connected. Thus, the assembly operation in installing an electronic component unit in electronic equipment is made easy. In addition, connection failure, such as half-locking, etc., is prevented because there is no manual connection of the connector. Furthermore, the number of assemblers is reduced and the manufacturing costs are reduced.
In addition, as the electronic component unit and the connector can be connected by lead wires, the connecting operation is easy, there is no need to prepare a circuit board for connecting the connector, and there are various freedoms in operation.
The electronic component unit used herein includes a unit in which an electronic component or device, such as a speaker, a microphone, an LCD display, etc., is equipped with a connector. The electronic component (portion which functions electrically), such as a speaker, etc., and the connector are connected by lead wires or cables.
In the aforementioned electrical connection structure for an electronic component unit, the connector may be provided with a first engaging portion, and the electronic component unit may be provided with a first engaged portion which is engaged by the firs

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