A holder 2 which holds a FPC 4 is coupled with a connector 1 . The connector 1 includes a female housing 3 and a terminal metal fitting 14 . The female housing 3 houses the terminal metal fitting 14 . The terminal metal fitting 14 includes a pair of contact pieces 20 a and 20 b . The holder 2 is inserted in between the pair of contact pieces 20 a and 20 b . It is assumed that a temperature change is ΔT, the linear expansion coefficient of the holder 2 is βa, and the distance between a first fixing portion C and a contact S is 1 a . It is also assumed that the linear expansion coefficient of the terminal metal fitting 14 is βb, and the distance between a second fixing portion and the contact S is 1 b . Assuming that the elastic coefficient of the contact piece 20 b is k, the static friction coefficient between the conductor 5 of FPC 4 and terminal metal fitting 14 is μ, and the elastic restoring force of the contact piece 20 b is F, Δ T×βa ×1 a−ΔT×βb ×1 b ≦2 ×(μ× F/k ) In this way, even when the terminal metal fitting is down-sized and formed with multi-poles and low insertion force of the connector is realized, the connector can be surely electrically connected to a complementary conductor.
1. A connector comprising:
a terminal metal fitting including a supporting portion and an elastic contact portion located apart therefrom within a cavity, a complementary conductor being located on the surface of said supporting portion, the complementary conductor being sandwiched between said supporting portion and said elastic contact portion under an elastic restoring force urging said complementary conductor toward said supporting portion; and
a connector housing which houses said terminal metal fitting and is coupled with a complementary insulator supporting said complementary conductor, wherein
a gap is formed between said elastic contact portion and inner face of said cavity, and assuming that the gap is A, a temperature change acting on said complementary conductor and insulator and said elastic contact portion is ΔT, a linear expansion coefficient of a union consisting of said complementary conductor and complementary insulator is βa, a distance between a first fixing portion where said complementary conductor is fixed and a contact between said complementary conductor and said elastic contact portion is 1 a , a linear expansion coefficient of a union consisting of said connector housing and said terminal metal fitting is βb, and a distance between a second fixing portion where the said terminal metal fitting is fixed and said contact is 1 b,
A≧=ΔT×βa ×1 a−ΔT×βb ×1 b,
and assuming that the elastic coefficient of said elastic contact is k, the static friction between said complementary conductor and said elastic contact portion is μ and the elastic restoring force of said elastic contact portion is F,
Δ T×βa ×1 a−ΔT×βb ×1 b ≦2×(μ× F/k ).
2. A connector according to claim 1 , wherein said conductor is inserted between said supporting member and said contact portion in a one direction and sandwiched therebetween, and said gap A in a first direction orthogonal to both said one direction and said elastic restoring force and in a second direction orthogonal to said one direction and along said elastic restoring force is expressed by
A≧=ΔT×βa ×1 a−ΔT×βb ×1 b , and
said elastic coefficient k in the respective one direction, said first direction and said second direction is expressed by
Δ T×βa ×1 a−ΔT×βb ×1 b ≦2×(μ× F/k ).
3. A connector according to claim 2 , wherein
said complementary conductor, said complementary insulator and said electric wire connected to said complementary conductor constitute a complementary member, and assuming that the acceleration which acts on said complementary member along said second direction is a 1 and the mass of said complementary member is m,
the elastic restoring force F of said elastic contact portion is expressed by
F>m×a 1.
4. A connector according to claim 2 , wherein said
said complementary conductor, said complementary insulator and said electric wire connected to said complementary conductor constitute a complementary member, and assuming that the acceleration which acts on said complementary member along a direction orthogonal to said second direction is a 2 and the mass of said complementary member is m,
the elastic restoring force F of said elastic contact portion is expressed by
F>m×a 2/μ.
5. A connector according to claim 3 , wherein said
said complementary conductor, said complementary insulator and said electric wire connected to said complementary conductor constitute a complementary member, and assuming that the acceleration which acts on said complementary member along a direction orthogonal to said second direction is a 2 and the mass of said complementary member is m,
the elastic restoring force F of said elastic contact portion is expressed by
F>m×a 2/μ.