IP Library Granted Patent US 12,658,625
Granted Patent B2
US 12,658,625 · App. 18/503,268 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Electric power converting device, and board-to-board connecting portion

Inventors: Hidetoshi Kitaura (Osaka, JP); Hiroshi Ogura (Tokyo, JP); Motohiko Fujimura (Osaka, JP); Kazuhiro Nishikawa (Osaka, JP); Yoshihiro Kawakita (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
H01R13/187H01R12/716H01R13/113
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,658,625
App. No.
18/503,268
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electric power converter includes a first board, a second board, and a first board-to-board connector that electrically and mechanically connects the first board and the second board. The first board-to-board connector includes a male fitting member and a female fitting member. Each of a first clamp portion and a second clamp portion of the female fitting member includes a first contact forming portion and a second contact forming portion that are curved in a protruding shape, and a first spring portion and a second spring portion that are connected to the first contact forming portion and the second contact portion, respectively, and that are curved in corrugated shapes. An insert clamped between the first contact forming portion and the second contact forming portion forms an electrical contact, and the first spring portion and the second spring portion are independently deformable.

Claims (52)

1 . An electric power converter comprising:

a first board;

a second board; and

a board-to-board connector interposed between the first board and the second board, the board-to-board connector electrically and mechanically connecting the first board and the second board, wherein

the board-to-board connector includes:

a male fitting member disposed on the first board;

a male-side holding member disposed on the first board in a manner surrounding the male fitting member; and

a female fitting member disposed on the second board,

the male fitting member includes an insert having a substantially flat plate shape,

the female fitting member has a first clamp portion and a second clamp portion facing each other,

the first clamp portion has a first clamp piece and a second clamp piece arranged side by side with a predetermined space therebetween,

the second clamp portion has a third clamp piece and a fourth clamp piece arranged side by side with a predetermined space therebetween,

the male fitting member is fitted into the female fitting member to form an electrical contact,

the male-side holding member is arranged to surround the male fitting member while being spatially separated,

the male-side holding member disposed on the first board includes a peripheral wall which continuously surrounds the male fitting member disposed on the first board, the peripheral wall having a quadrangular shape, and

the male-side holding member is formed separately from the female fitting member.

2 . The electric power converter according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a male-side solder layer interposed between the first board and the male-side holding member; and

a female-side solder layer interposed between the second board and a female-side holding member.

3 . The electric power converter according to claim 2 , wherein the male-side holding member has a heat resistance not deforming at a melting point of a solder material making up the male-side solder layer, and

the female-side holding member has a heat resistance not deforming at the melting point of the solder material making up the female-side solder layer.

4 . The electric power converter according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a male-side adhesive layer interposed between the first board and the male-side holding member; and

a female-side adhesive layer interposed between the second board and a female-side holding member.

5 . The electric power converter according to claim 4 , wherein the male-side adhesive layer is formed of an adhesive that cures at a temperature lower than the melting point of the solder material forming the male-side solder layer, and

the female-side adhesive layer is formed of an adhesive that cures at a temperature lower than the melting point of the solder material forming the female-side solder layer.

6 . The electric power converter according to claim 1 , wherein the male-side holding member has an opening into which the male fitting member is inserted after the male-side holding member is provided.

7 . A board-to-board connector that is interposed between a first board and a second board, and that electrically and mechanically connects the first board and the second board, the board-to-board connector comprising:

a male fitting member disposed on the first board;

a male-side holding member disposed on the first board in a manner surrounding the male fitting member; and

a female fitting member disposed on the second board, wherein

the male fitting member includes an insert having a substantially flat plate shape,

the female fitting member has a first clamp portion and a second clamp portion facing each other,

the first clamp portion has a first clamp piece and a second clamp piece arranged side by side with a predetermined space therebetween,

the second clamp portion has a third clamp piece and a fourth clamp piece arranged side by side with a predetermined space therebetween,

the male fitting member is fitted into the female fitting member to form an electrical contact,

the male-side holding member is arranged to surround the male fitting member while being spatially separated,

the male-side holding member disposed on the first board includes a peripheral wall which continuously surrounds the male fitting member disposed on the first board, the peripheral wall having a quadrangular shape, and

the male-side holding member is formed separately from the female fitting member.

8 . The electric power converter according to claim 1 , wherein the male-side holding member is formed of a resin material.

9 . The board-to-board connector according to claim 7 , further comprising:

a male-side solder layer interposed between the first board and the male-side holding member; and

a female-side solder layer interposed between the second board and a female-side holding member.

10 . The board-to-board connector according to claim 9 , wherein the male-side holding member has a heat resistance not deforming at a melting point of a solder material making up the male-side solder layer, and

the female-side holding member has a heat resistance not deforming at the melting point of the solder material making up the female-side solder layer.

11 . The board-to-board connector according to claim 7 , further comprising:

a male-side adhesive layer interposed between the first board and the male-side holding member; and

a female-side adhesive layer interposed between the second board and a female-side holding member.

12 . The board-to-board connector according to claim 11 , wherein the male-side adhesive layer is formed of an adhesive that cures at a temperature lower than the melting point of the solder material forming the male-side solder layer, and

the female-side adhesive layer is formed of an adhesive that cures at a temperature lower than the melting point of the solder material forming the female-side solder layer.

13 . The board-to-board connector according to claim 7 , wherein the male-side holding member has an opening into which the male fitting member is inserted after the male-side holding member is provided.

14 . The electric power converter according to claim 7 , wherein the male-side holding member is formed of a resin material.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 20, 2025
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 069927/0160 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2024
From: KITAURA, HIDETOSHI; OGURA, HIROSHI; FUJIMURA, MOTOHIKO; NISHIKAWA, KAZUHIRO; KAWAKITA, YOSHIHIRO
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 067200/0675 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2021-083302 · May 17, 2021 · national
JP 2021-111701 · Jul 5, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2022017531 · Apr 11, 2022
Related Publication 20240072476A1 · Feb 29, 2024
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