Door switch connector module and home appliance including the same

Abstract

A door switch connector module includes a plug assembly disposed in an inner case of an installation target and a door switch assembly disposed outside the inner case and coupled to the plug assembly. The plug assembly has a receptacle terminal. The door switch assembly includes a main housing, a reed sensor disposed in the main housing, a tab terminal, and a cover housing coupled to the main housing and closing the main housing. The main housing has a guide boss extending in a coupling direction. The tab terminal contacts a lead of the reed sensor and extends to an outside of the main housing in parallel with the guide boss.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A door switch connector module, comprising:
 a plug assembly disposed in an inner case of an installation target, the plug assembly having a receptacle terminal; and   a door switch assembly disposed outside the inner case and coupled to the plug assembly, the door switch assembly including a main housing, a reed sensor disposed in the main housing, a tab terminal, and a cover housing coupled to the main housing and closing the main housing, the main housing has a guide boss extending in a coupling direction, the tab terminal contacts a lead of the reed sensor and extends to an outside of the main housing in parallel with the guide boss.   
     
     
         2 . The door switch connector module of  claim 1 , wherein the main housing has a reed sensor mounting portion on which the reed sensor is mounted and a first slot on which the lead of the reed sensor is mounted. 
     
     
         3 . The door switch connector module of  claim 2 , wherein the main housing has a second slot and a third slot that intersect with the first slot, the tab terminal is mounted on the second slot and the third slot. 
     
     
         4 . The door switch connector module of  claim 2 , wherein the tab terminal has a flat portion extending to the outside of the main housing. 
     
     
         5 . The door switch connector module of  claim 4 , wherein the tab terminal has a contact portion bent at 90 degrees from the flat portion and on which a lead slot is formed, the lead penetrates the lead slot when the tab terminal is inserted into the second slot. 
     
     
         6 . The door switch connector module of  claim 5 , wherein the tab terminal has a support parallel with the contact portion and inserted into the third slot. 
     
     
         7 . The door switch connector module of  claim 6 , wherein the flat portion has a lead guide opening, the lead penetrates the lead guide opening when the tab terminal is mounted on the main housing. 
     
     
         8 . The door switch connector module of  claim 6 , wherein the contact portion has a barb on an end portion of the contact portion, the barb is inserted into and fixed to the second slot. 
     
     
         9 . The door switch connector module of  claim 2 , wherein the cover housing is coupled to the main housing to close a portion of the main housing on which the reed sensor and the tab terminal are mounted, the cover housing presses the tab terminal against the main housing. 
     
     
         10 . The door switch connector module of  claim 1 , wherein the plug assembly has a plug housing with a first coupling slot and a second coupling slot on a front surface of the plug housing facing a direction in which the main housing is coupled. 
     
     
         11 . The door switch connector module of  claim 10 , wherein the guide boss is coupled to the first coupling slot and the tab terminal is inserted into the second coupling slot. 
     
     
         12 . The door switch connector module of  claim 11 , wherein the first coupling slot and the second coupling slot have a plurality of inclined surfaces guiding the guide boss into the first coupling slot and the tab terminal into the second coupling slot. 
     
     
         13 . The door switch connector module of  claim 11 , wherein the plug assembly has a terminal position assurance (TPA) coupled on a rear side of the receptacle terminal. 
     
     
         14 . The door switch connector module of  claim 13 , wherein the TPA has a wire groove through which a wire connected to the receptacle terminal penetrates. 
     
     
         15 . The door switch connector module of  claim 14 , wherein the TPA is coupled so that a center of the wire groove and a center of a cross section of the wire are biased. 
     
     
         16 . The door switch connector module of  claim 15 , wherein the TPA is one of a pair of TPAs that are coupled symmetrically to each other with respect to a center line of the wire groove. 
     
     
         17 . The door switch connector module of  claim 13 , wherein the plug housing has a first guide rib on an inner surface of a rear side of the plug housing, the first guide rib guides coupling of the TPA to the plug housing, the TPA has a second guide rib corresponding to the first guide rib. 
     
     
         18 . The door switch connector module of  claim 17 , wherein the first guide rib and the second guide rib are formed in a straight line along a coupling direction of the TPA. 
     
     
         19 . The door switch connector module of  claim 13 , wherein the TPA has a plurality of locking latches locked with the plug housing, the locking latches extending in the coupling direction from a pair of end portions of the TPA. 
     
     
         20 . A home appliance, comprising:
 the door switch connector module of  claim 1 .