Arc discharge suppressive terminal, method for producing such terminal, and arc discharge suppressive connector

• US 20020064986A1
• Filed: 11/26/2001
• Published: 05/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Hirai, Hiroki, Ota, Koji, Tsuji, Yoshitsugu
• Granted Patent: US 6,537,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/181
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/035 Plated dielectric material
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/04 Pins or blades for co-operation with sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/10 Sockets for co-operation with pins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6485 Electrostatic discharge protection in general H05F1/00, for electric apparatus H05K9/0067

Abstract

Disclosed is a terminal constructed in such a manner that at least an outer portion of the terminal including a region corresponding to a last-contact part of the terminal with a counterpart terminal when the terminal is disengaged from the counterpart terminal is formed of an insulating member. A conductive layer is formed on the surface of the insulating member to be electrically connected to a conductive part of the terminal. The terminal is constructed in such a manner that the conductive layer is detached from the counterpart terminal at a final stage of disengagement of the terminals. With this arrangement, arc discharge at the disengagement of the terminals is suppressed.

Claims

1. A terminal which is rendered into an electrically connectable state with a counterpart terminal by engaging with the counterpart terminal, the terminal comprising:

an insulating section which is provided on at least an outer portion of the terminal including a region corresponding to a last contact part of the terminal which is rendered into contact with the counterpart terminal at a final stage of disengagement of the terminals; and

a conductive layer which is electrically connectable to a main body of the terminal and formed on an outer surface of the insulator at such a location as to be detached from the counterpart terminal at the final stage of disengagement.

2. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is a male terminal including a main body made of a conductive material and a lead portion which is formed at a front end of the main body, the terminal lead portion has at least a surface of a primary part thereof made of an insulating material and the conductive layer is formed on the surface of the primary part to be electrically connectable to the terminal main body.

3. The terminal according to claim 2, wherein an entirety of the primary part of the terminal lead portion is molded of an insulating material.

4. The terminal according to claim 2, wherein a resiliently deformable spring contact portion is formed on the terminal main body in such a manner as to be rendered into pressing contact with the conductive layer of the terminal lead portion in a resiliently deformed state.

5. The terminal according to claim 4, wherein the spring contact portion has a rear end thereof connected to the terminal main body and a front end thereof which is made into a resiliently deformable free end, and the front end is rendered into contact with the conductive layer of the terminal lead portion in a state that the front end is resiliently deformed.

6. The terminal according to claim 4, wherein the terminal main body is formed with an engaging portion engageable with the terminal lead portion and the spring contact portion is formed at a position independently of the engaging portion.

10. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the conductive layer is made of a thin film.

11. A pair of terminals including the terminal of claim 1 and a counterpart terminal, wherein the terminal of claim 1 is a male terminal and the counterpart terminal is a female terminal, the terminal pair is constructed in such a manner that an electric contact part of the female terminal is rendered into contact with a conductive layer non-formation area on the main body of the male terminal in a state that the male terminal and the female terminal are in a completely engaged state.

12. The terminal pair according to claim 11, wherein the female terminal is provided with a contact portion which is rendered into contact with the male terminal at a forward position from the electric contact part in a terminal disengaging direction, the contact portion being provided at such a position that the contact portion is detached from the conductive layer of the male terminal after the electric contact part is detached therefrom when the male terminal is disengaged from the female terminal to suppress arc discharge.

13. The terminal pair according to claim 12, wherein a spring contact piece is formed at a front end of the female terminal, the spring contact piece having a front end resiliently deformable, the front end of the spring contact piece is so configured as to be rendered into contact with the conductive layer of the male terminal in a state that the front end of the spring contact piece is resiliently deformed.

14. A connector comprising the terminal of claim 1 and a housing for accommodating the terminal therein.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of producing the terminal lead portion includes a step of producing the primary part of the terminal lead portion, and a step of etching the surface of the primary part which follows subjecting the primary part to a plating so as to form the conductive layer.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the primary part of the terminal lead portion is integrally molded by an insulating material.

7. A terminal which is rendered into an electrically connectable state with a counterpart terminal by engaging with the counterpart terminal, the terminal comprising:

an insulating layer which is formed on a region corresponding to a last contact part of the terminal which is rendered into contact with the counterpart terminal at a final stage of disengagement of the terminals; and

a conductive layer which is formed on the insulating layer and electrically connectable to the counterpart terminal.

8. The terminal according to claim 7, wherein at least part of a contact portion of the terminal in contact with the counterpart terminal in an engagement with the counterpart terminal includes a non-formation area of the insulating layer to render the terminal into direct contact with the counterpart terminal or indirect contact with the counterpart terminal via the conductive layer.

9. The terminal according to claim 7, wherein the terminal is a male terminal, and the male terminal is constructed in such a manner that the insulating layer is formed on a lead portion of the male terminal including a region covering from a distal end of the lead portion toward a base end of the male terminal by a certain axial length.

15. A method for manufacturing a terminal which is rendered into an electrically connectable state by engaging with a counterpart terminal, comprising the steps of:

producing a terminal main body made of a conductive member;

producing a terminal lead portion including a primary part with at least a surface thereof made of an insulating material and a conductive layer which is formed on the surface of the primary part; and

jointing the terminal lead portion to the terminal main body at a front end of the terminal main body in such a manner that the conductive layer is detached from the counterpart terminal at a final stage of disengagement of the terminal from the counterpart terminal.