Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – Distinct contact secured to panel circuit
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-02
2001-08-28
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
Distinct contact secured to panel circuit
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280205
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Applications No. 11-70108 filed on Mar. 16, 1999, and No. 11-298736 filed on Oct. 20, 1999, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a surface-mounted type connector and to a method for producing a circuit device including the surface-mounted type connector, which is generally used for an automotive electronic control unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are various kinds of structures for surface-mounting connectors used for electronic control units. For example, JP-A-9-326269 discloses a structure (a) in which a connector terminal is soldered to a printed circuit board by solder paste disposed between the printed circuit board and the connector terminal. JP-A-10-172620 discloses a structure (b) in which a connector terminal holding solder balls thereon undergoes a reflow treatment and is soldered to a printed circuit board by the solder balls. JP 2792958 discloses a structure (c) in which a connector terminal is connected to a printed circuit board by soldering through a flexible member.
In the structures (a) and (b), however, the connector terminal is mounted on the printed circuit board directly by soldering. Therefore, the soldered portions directly receive stresses generated such as when an opposite connector is attached or detached and when vibrations occur. As a result, the soldered portions may be separated from each other. In the structure (c), it is difficult to accurately position the flexible member with respect to the printed circuit board, and to keep the state of the positioned flexible member for soldering due to its flexibility.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a surface-mounted type connector capable of being mounted on a printed circuit board with high mounting workability and high reliability of soldered portions. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a circuit device including the surface-mounted type connector with high mounting workability and high reliability of soldered portions.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a lead terminal protruding from a connector body is fixed to a flexible member and is electrically connected to a conductive path on the flexible member. The flexible member has a specific portion for being soldered to a member such as a printed circuit board. The specific portion has a through hole, and an extending portion protruding from the connector body is inserted into the through hole.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, a circuit device is produced as follows. Specifically, a lead terminal of a connector body is fixed to a first portion of a flexible member so that the lead terminal is electrically connected to a conductive path on the first portion. The flexible member has a second portion extending from the first portion and having a through hole, and an extending portion extending from the connector body is inserted into the through hole. Then, the connector body is fixed to a printed circuit board, and the conductive path on the flexible member is electrically connected to a wiring pattern on the printed circuit board.
Accordingly to the present invention described above, the flexible member can be positioned readily and accurately by inserting the extending portion of the connector body into the through hole of the flexible member. The mounting workability for mounting the connector body to the printed circuit board can be improved. Further, the wiring pattern on the printed circuit board and the lead terminal of the connector body is electrically connected to each other through the conductive path on the flexible member. Therefore, the soldered portions of the flexible member and the printed circuit board are not easily separated from each other by externally applied stresses, resulting in high reliability of the soldered portions. Even when the number of the lead terminal of the connector body is increased, a pitch of the conductive path on the flexible member can be increased, resulting in improved yield of soldering.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4885126 (1989-12-01), Polomio
patent: 5605477 (1997-02-01), Wu et al.
patent: 9-259955 (1997-10-01), None
patent: 9-326269 (1997-12-01), None
patent: 2-2792958 (1998-06-01), None
patent: 10-172620 (1998-06-01), None
Hozuka Minoru
Murowaki Toru
Yagura Toshiaki
Denso Corporation
Dinh Phuong K T
Nixon & Vanderhye PC
Sircus Brian
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