CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The contents of the following Japanese patent application are incorporated herein by reference,

Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-248855 filed on Dec. 26, 2017 and

International Application No. PCT/JP2018/023217 filed on Jun. 19, 2018.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a connector for connecting a sensor to an electronic device and, in particular, to a sensor connector used for connecting, for example, a pressure sensor used in a fuel injection device of an internal combustion engine to a control device.

BACKGROUND

A fuel injection device of an internal combustion engine conventionally includes a pressure sensor in order to monitor and control a combustion pressure generated in each of cylinders or a pressure in a common rail.

As shown inFIGS. 7A and 7B, this type of pressure sensor includes: a sensor unit1having a sensor body12disposed at a joined end of a sensor housing11; and a connector9to be assembled to the sensor unit1and connected to the sensor body12. This type of pressure sensor is configured so that electrical connection between the sensor body12and a cable, for example, can be established via the connector9.

The connector9includes: a lead terminal91to be connected to a surface of the sensor body12; a connection terminal92to be connected to the lead terminal91; and a housing93for holding the connection terminal92. The connector9is configured so that electrical connection between the connection terminal92and the sensor body12can be established via the lead terminal91.

The lead terminal91is connected to the sensor body12by welding, for example, in advance. Assembling the housing93and the sensor housing11to each other brings the lead terminal91and the connection terminal92into contact with each other. In such a state, the terminals91and92are welded by utilizing a welding hole94opened in the housing93. Note that the reference numeral95in the figure denotes a sealing cover to seal the welding hole94.

Among this type of connectors, there has also been known a connector including a spring lead terminal between a sensor body and a connection terminal and configured so that the lead terminal is in elastic contact with a surface of a sensor substrate by assembling a housing to the sensor part (see Patent Literature 1, for example).

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Translation of PCT Patent Application Publication No. 2003-529070

SUMMARY

Technical Problem

In the related technique as described above, however, the sensor unit to be connected to the connector has varieties (repertoires), and each sensor unit has a different number of poles in the sensor body, a different position at which the lead terminal is in contact with the sensor body, etc.

Thus, the connectors to be connected to the respective sensor units each have a different shape and arrangement of the lead terminal as well as a different shape and arrangement of the connection terminal to be connected to that lead terminal in accordance with its corresponding sensor unit. The housing for accommodating these elements also needs to be set for each corresponding sensor unit.

That is, for such a related sensor connector, a dedicated sensor connector needs to be prepared for each sensor unit repertoire. The connectors have no commonized components and need to use their own parts. This leads to problems of a complicated production process and an increased production cost.

Moreover, when the structure in which the sensor body and the lead terminal are connected to each other in advance is employed in the related technique, the step of welding the sensor body and the lead terminal together and the step of welding the lead terminal and the connection terminal together need to be gone through. This leads to problems of complicated assembly and deteriorated operating efficiency.

Moreover, in order to weld the lead terminal and the connection terminal together, the welding hole needs to be provided in the connector housing, and the welding hole needs to be closed after the completion of the welding.

Thus, in view of such conventional problems, the present invention has been made to provide a sensor connector compatible with various sensor unit repertoires and capable of improving production efficiency.

Solution to Problem

An aspect of the invention according to claim1for solving the conventional problems as described above is characterized in that a sensor connector to be assembled to a sensor unit having a sensor body disposed at a joined end of a sensor housing and connected to the sensor body includes: a connector housing to be joined to the sensor housing; a connection terminal held by the connector housing; and a terminal module to be inserted into a module inserted portion opened through a surface of the connector housing to face the sensor body. The terminal module includes: a module base to be fixed into the module inserted portion; a movable contact movably coupled to the module base; and biasing member intervening between the module base and the movable contact. The movable contact includes a slide contact segment capable of sliding relative to the connection terminal exposed to a region closer to the module inserted portion, the movable contact is biased by the biasing member so as to protrude from the surface of the connector housing to face the sensor body, and the movable contact is in contact with the sensor body by joining the connector housing to the sensor housing.

In addition to the configuration of claim1, another aspect of the invention according to claim2is characterized in that the slide contact segment is formed in a cantilever spring shape extending in a diagonally outward direction from a side surface of the movable contact.

In addition to the configuration of claim1or2, another aspect of the invention according to claim3is characterized in that the module base includes: an end plate having a flat plate shape; and a guide side plate arranged to erect from a side edge of the end plate. The movable contact includes: a slide plate slidably overlaid on an outer side of the guide side plate; and a contact portion supported by a leading end of the slide plate and to be pressed against the sensor body. Engagement protrusions protruded from opposed surfaces of one of the slide plate and the guide side plate are inserted into long holes elongated in a slide direction and provided in opposed surfaces of the other one of the slide plate and the guide side plate, and the biasing member is supported by the end plate, thereby biasing the contact portion in a direction separating from each other.

As a result of the sensor connector of the aspect of the present invention having the configuration according to claim1, a modularized common terminal module can be used for sensor units having various repertoires, and operations of an automatic assembly machine can be unified. In addition, the efficiency of assembly operations can be improved, and cost reduction can be achieved.

Moreover, as a result of having the configuration according to claim2in the another aspect of the present invention, the movable contact can smoothly slide against the connection terminal and a suitable contact pressure can be maintained.

Furthermore, as a result of having the configuration according to claim3in the another aspect of the present invention, the terminal module can be formed with a minimum number of parts.

