1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to cable connectors such as balanced transmission cable connectors, and more particularly, to a cable connector such as a balanced transmission cable connector which is suitable for transmitting high speed signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are two data transmission methods. One is a normal transmission method and the other is a balanced transmission method. In the normal transmission method, one electric wire is used for every datum. To the contrary, in the balanced transmission method, a pair of electric wires is used for every datum. A “+” signal and a “−” signal are simultaneously transmitted in the balanced transmission method. The magnitude of the “−” signal is equal to that of the “+” signal. The direction of the “−” signal is reverse to that of the “+” signal. Use of the balanced transmission method is on the increase for data transmission because the balanced transmission method has an advantage in that it is more robust against noise than the normal transmission method. A balanced transmission cable connector has a structure where a plug is provided at an end of a balanced transmission cable and the plug is covered with a shield cover. The balanced transmission cable connector is applied to the balanced transmission method and used for connecting a computer and a server.
As shown in FIG. 3-(A), the balanced transmission cable 20 has a structure where a lot of pair electric wires 21 are arranged inside of a tube which has a double covering structure formed by a tube-shaped electrically insulating outer covering part 27 and a shielding mesh 28. As shown in FIG. 3-(B), each of the pair electric wires 21 has a structure where a pair of first and second covered signal electric wires 22-1 and 22-2 and a drain wire 26 are wound in a spiral form by a metal tape 25 so as to be bound. The first and second covered signal electric wires 22-1 and 22-2 and the drain wire 26 are extended from an end part of the pair electric wire 21 to the outside. Head end parts of the first and second covered signal electric wires 22-1 and 22-2 are processed so that first and second signal wires 23-1 and 23-2, respectively, are exposed in a naked state. The first and second covered signal electric wires 22-1 and 22-2 include electrically insulating covering parts 24-1 and 24-2, respectively. The first and second covered signal electric wires 22-1 and 22-2 form a pair wire. In addition, as shown in
Referring back to
In the balanced transmission cable connector 10, the clamp member 27 is fixed to the shield covers 31 and 32. The balanced transmission cable connector 10 has a structure where even if the balanced transmission cable connector 10 is inserted into or pulled out from a socket of the computer so that the balanced transmission cable 20 is curved, there is no influence of the curve to an inside of the balanced transmission cable connector 10, more specifically to the solder connecting part 14.
However, the pair electric wires 21 are bound by a tube and therefore not fixed to each other. Accordingly, in a case where, for example, a clamp force by the clamp member 27 is not sufficient, if the balanced transmission cable 20 is pulled and curved, a pulling force of a certain pair electric wire 21 is transferred to even the inside of the balanced transmission cable connector 10 via the clamp member 27.
The synthetic resin part 16 is situated on only the upper surface and the lower surface of the relay board 12. Therefore, the pulling force transferred via the clamp member 27 reaches to the solder connecting part 14 covered by the synthetic resin part 16, via the electric wire arranging member 15. As a result of this, a stress is applied to the solder connecting part 14.
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and useful cable connector.
Another and more specific object of the present invention is to provide a cable connector whereby the strength of a solder connecting part to a relay board of a wire is improved.
The above object of the present invention is achieved by a cable connector, including:
a contact assembly body having a structure where a contact is provided in an electric insulating block body;
a relay board connected to the contact and provided at a back surface side of the contact assembly body;
an electric wire arranging member which is provided at an end side of the relay board and which is configured to arrange a plurality of covering electric wires extended from an end of a cable in an arranging direction of the contact;
wherein a wire which is extended from an end of an electric insulating covering part of the covering electric wire is provided at an end of the cable so as to mechanically and electrically connect to the relay board,
the electric wire arranging member has a synthetic resin receiving part configured to receive molten synthetic resin,
the synthetic resin receiving part is provided at a side facing a part connected to the wire, of the electric wire arranging member,
a synthetic resin part for reinforcing is formed into the synthetic resin receiving part by solidifying the molten synthetic resin, and
the synthetic resin part for reinforcing covers a part where the wire is connected, and fixes the end of the electric insulating covering part of the covering electric wire to the relay board.
According to the above-mentioned invention, the synthetic resin part for reinforcing is formed in the synthetic resin receiving part of the electric wire arranging member so as to cover a part where the wire is connected and fix an end part of the covering part of the covering signal electric wire to the relay board. Therefore, in a case where the cable is pulled and curved, even if a pulling force is transferred to the inside of the cable connector via the covering signal electric wire, the pulling force is securely received by the synthetic resin part for reinforcing which fixes the end part of the covering part to the relay board. Hence, it is possible to prevent the part where the wire is connected from being given influence.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
A description is given below, with reference to the
As shown in
The contact assembly body 60 has an electric insulating block body 61. A pair of a first signal contact 62 and a second signal contact 63 and a ground contact 64 are inserted in the block body 61 and arranged in the X direction in turn. A signal pattern and a ground pattern (not shown in
The electric wire arranging member 80 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape external configuration. A electric wire pair arranging part 81 configured to arrange the electric wire pair 21 is provided at the Y1 side of the electric wire arranging member 80.
A first concave part 82 and a second concave part 83 configured to engage with the relay board 70 are provided at the Y2 side and ends of X1 and X2 sides of the electric wire arranging member 80.
A third concave part 85 which functions as a synthetic resin receiving part is formed between the first concave part 82 and the second concave part 83. The third concave part 85 is mainly formed by a Z1 side flange part 86 and a Z2 side flange part 87. The third concave part 85 is a space forming part surrounded by a Z1 side internal surface 85a, a Z2 side internal surface 85b, and a Y1 side bottom surface 85c. An opening forming part 85d is formed at the Y2 side of the third concave part 85.
The third concave part 85 has a size sufficient to receive the relay board 70 in a state where signal wires 23-1 and 23-2 and a drain wire 26 are soldered. The length in the Z1 direction of the third concave part 85 is longer than the surface at the Z1 side of the first concave part 82 (second concave part 83) by z1. The length in the Z2 direction of the third concave part is longer than a surface at the Z2 side of the first concave part 82 (second concave part 83) by z2. The length in the Y1 direction of the third concave part is longer than the surface at the Y1 side of the first concave part 82 (second concave part 83) by y1.
The Y1 side bottom surface 85c is an end surface at the Y2 side of the pair electric wire arranging part 81. A plurality of pairs of half arc parts facing in the Z directions are arranged in the electric wire pair arranging part 81. A pair of the half arc parts facing in the Z directions form a configuration corresponding to a cross-sectional configuration of the electric wire pair 21 so that the position of the electric wire pair 21 passing through the half arc part is restrained.
Next, a structure of the balanced transmission cable connector 50 is discussed while manufacturing processes of the balanced transmission cable connector 50 are discussed.
Processed end parts of the balanced transmission cable 20 are passed through the electric wire pair arranging part 81 of the electric wire arranging member 80 from the Y1 side so as to be arranged as shown in
First, the Y1 end side of the relay board 70 connected to the contact assembly body 60 and the Y2 end side of the electric wire arranging member 80 where the electric wire pair 21 are arranged are combined while the Y1 end side of the relay board 70 is engaged with the first and second concave parts 82 and 83. Next, the first and second signal wires 23-1 and 23-2 and the drain wire 26 are soldered to the terminal part 71 situated at the Y1 side of the relay board 70, so that provisional assembly body 100 is completed at a first step. End parts of the insulating covering parts 24-1 and 24-2 and an end part of the Y1 side of the relay board 70 are inserted into the third concave part 85. Here, a numerical reference 101 represents a solder connecting part.
Next, as shown in FIG. 7-(B), the provisional assembly body 100 is set to a jig 150 for molding a synthetic resin part 90 (not shown in FIG. 7-(B)) for reinforcing. The jig 150 includes an upper mold 151 having a fourth concave part 152 and a lower mold 155 having a fifth concave part 156. By the jig 150, the electric wire arranging member 80 of the provisional assembly body 100 and a part of the Y1 side of the relay board 70 are put between the upper mold 151 and the lower mold 155. As a result of this, cavity forming parts 160 and 161 surround parts of the first and second signal wires 23-1 and 23-2 and the drain wire 26, which are solder-connected to the relay board 12 and the solder connecting part 101. Furthermore, the cavity forming parts 160 and 161 communicate with the Z1 side and Z2 side, respectively, of the opening part 85d.
Next, as shown in FIG. 8-(C), a thermoplastic resin 159 such as polyimide, which is heated at approximately 100° C. and molten, is injected from holes of the upper mold 151 and the lower mold 155 by using syringes 157 and 158. As a result of this, insides of the cavity forming parts 160 and 161 are filled with the molten thermoplastic resin 159. Furthermore, the molten thermoplastic resin 159 enters into the opening part 85d so that the opening part 85d is filled with the molten thermoplastic resin 159. In addition, parts at end sides of the first and second covering signal electric wires 22-1 and 22-2 are surrounded by the molten thermoplastic resin 159. After the injected resin is cooled so as to have a normal temperature and be solidified, the synthetic resin part 90 for reinforcing is formed as shown in FIG. 8-(D).
After the jig 150 is opened, as shown in FIG. 8-(E), a provisional assembly body 120 at a second step where the synthetic resin part 90 for reinforcing is formed is picked up. The synthetic resin part 90 for reinforcing situated in a area 91 from a position P1 of the relay board 70 which is further to the Y2 side than a position P2 of head ends of the first and second signal wires 23-1 and 23-2 and the drain wire 26 to a position P4 which is the inner part of the opening part 85d of the electric wire arranging member 80, via the solder connecting part 101 and a position P3 of the head ends of the electrically insulating covering parts 24-1 and 24-2.
Therefore, the solder connecting part 101 is covered with the synthetic resin part 90 for reinforcing. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5-(B), the relay board 70, the electric wire arranging member 80, and the end parts of the covering parts 24-1 and 24-2 of the first and second covered electric signal wires 22-1 and 22-2 are fixed to each other. That is, the end parts of the covering parts 24-1 and 24-2 are fixed to both the relay board 70 and the electric wire arranging member 80. The electric wire arranging member 80 is fixed to the relay board 70. The electric wire arranging member 80 is fixed to the relay board 70.
Last, as shown in
In a case where the balanced transmission cable 20 is pulled and curved during the use of the cable connector 50, even if a pulling force of a certain electric wire pair 21 is transferred to even the inside of the balanced transmission cable connector 50 via the clamp member 27, the pulling force is received by head end parts of the covering parts 24-1 and 24-2 of the first and second covered electric signal wires 22-1 and 22-2, namely a front side of the solder connecting part 101. Therefore, the pulling force does not reach the solder connecting part 101. Furthermore, the arranging member 80 does not independently slide against the relay board 70. A stress to the soldering part due to the arranging member 80 independently sliding against the relay board 70 does not occur. Therefore, the balanced transmission cable connector 50 has a higher reliability regarding the solder connection part 101 than the related art connectors.
The electric wire arranging member 80A has a structure where the Z1 side flange 86 and the Z2 side flange 87 of the electric wire arranging member 80 shown in
As shown in FIG. 10-(B), the relay board 70, the electric wire arranging member 80A, the end parts of the covering parts 24-1 and 24-2 of the first and second covered electric signal wires 22-1 and 22-2 are fixed each other. That is, the end parts of the covering parts 24-1 and 24-2 are fixed to both the relay board 70 and the electric wire arranging member 80A. The electric wire arranging member 80A is fixed to the relay board 70.
Since the opening part 85Ae and 85Af are provided at the Z1 and Z2 sides, it is possible for the thermoplastic resin to enter into the electric wire arranging member 80A.
The signal wires 23-1 and 23-2 and the drain wire 26 are directly soldered to the Y1 side ends of the signal contacts 62B and 63B of the contact assembly body 60B and the ground contact 64B. A numerical reference 101B is a solder connecting part.
The electric wire arranging member 80 is engaged and connected with arm parts 61Ba situated at both sides of the block body 61B. The synthetic resin 90B for reinforcing covers the Y1 side ends of the signal contacts 62B and 63B and the ground contact 64B and the solder connecting part 101B. The synthetic resin 90B for reinforcing also fills inside of the third concave part 85 and covers end parts of the covering parts 24-1 and 24-2. As shown in FIG. 12-(B), the signal contacts 62B and 63B, the electric wire arranging member 80, and the covering parts 24-1 and 24-2 of the first and second covering signal electric wires 22-1 and 22-2 are fixed to each other by the synthetic resin 90B for reinforcing. That is, the end parts of the covering parts 24-1 and 24-2 are fixed to both the signal contacts 62B and 63B and the electric wire arranging member 80.
Therefore, in a case where the balanced transmission cable 20 is curved during the use of the cable connector 50B, even if a pulling force of a certain electric wire pair 21 is transferred to even the inside of the balanced transmission cable connector 50B via the clamp member 27, the pulling force is received by head end parts of the covering parts 24-1 and 24-2 of the first and second covered electric signal wires 22-1 and 22-2. Therefore, the pulling force does not reach the solder connecting part 101B.
Furthermore, the arranging member 80 does not independently slide against the signal contacts 62B and 63B and the ground contacts 64B. A stress to the soldering part due to the arranging member 80 independently sliding against the contacts 62B, 63B and 64B does not occur. Therefore, the balanced transmission cable connector 50B has a higher reliability regarding the solder connection part 101B than the related art connectors.
The present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, an electrical connection between the signal wires 23-1 and 23-2 and the drain wire 26 and mechanical equipment may be not related to soldering but also electrical welding. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the balanced transmission cable connector but can be applied to a cable connector where ends of normal cables are arranged for connecting.
This patent application is based on Japanese Priority Patent Application No. 2004-51973 filed on Feb. 26, 2004, and the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2004-051979 | Feb 2004 | JP | national |
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5192229 | Clark et al. | Mar 1993 | A |
5470238 | Walden | Nov 1995 | A |
5567170 | Kroeber | Oct 1996 | A |
5885108 | Gerrans, Jr. | Mar 1999 | A |
5926952 | Ito | Jul 1999 | A |
6511337 | Fandrey et al. | Jan 2003 | B1 |
6758694 | Liu | Jul 2004 | B2 |
6790087 | Ho | Sep 2004 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country |
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2003-059593 | Feb 2003 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20050191897 A1 | Sep 2005 | US |