Patent Application
20210359447
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a connector assembly. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a connector assembly for connecting high-speed cable segments that provide communication pathways for communicating signals between various electrical components inside a vehicle, particularly at high data rates.
Traditional car wiring for vehicles include a plurality of cables for communicating power signals or data signals from one end to another. These cables transmit audio data, video data, safety information, and other data. Due to the advancement of controls and the sensors being installed in vehicles, data transfer rates have exceeded the capacity of simple twisted cables (or coaxial cables). Certain applications, such as those related to driver-assist and autonomous-driving functionality require high data-rate transmission to and from devices such as video cameras, radar sensors, LIDAR sensors, or other sensors. Traditional cable designs are unable to support these high data rates. Further, traditional cables only contain enough conductors to allow for signal transmission along a single path. In addition, a connector assembly that supports the high data-rate and redundant transmissions, while sufficiently preserving signal integrity and providing necessary environmental protection, is imperative for the proper operation and maintenance of the cable and overall system. Preserving signal integrity includes minimizing signal loss to within an allowable range, eliminating crosstalk, and reducing EMI interference.
Therefore, concomitant with advancements in cable design, there is a need for a connector assembly that supplements the functioning of the cables to facilitate high-speed-signal transmission.
Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures, wherein showings therein are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure and not for purposes of limiting the same.
The present disclosure relates to connector assemblies to connect cable assemblies designed to transmit high-speed data transmission. The cable assemblies may also transmit power. High-speed data transmission rates are becoming increasingly important in automobile and other applications, including driver-assist and autonomous-driving functionalities. In embodiments, connector assemblies described herein also detect when adjacently located connector assemblies are being connected or disconnected from one another, thereby allowing devices located upstream or downstream, to be notified of such connection or disconnection being made between adjacently located connectors.
In embodiments, the connector assemblies include attachment features to facilitate a stable positioning of the cable assemblies at their connection point. Further, the attachment features also allow quick attachment and detachment at the connection point. These attachment features may be located internally or externally.
In embodiments, the connector assemblies connect directly connecting to a PCB, which may contain other devices or electronic components. In such configurations, the PCB contains internal routing, which may be printed or formed via another method, to connect multiple cable assemblies to one another or a cable assembly to other sensors of functionality. The internal routing may allow flexibility in positioning ends of the cables or cable segments a little distance away from one another. The internal routing may range from a few millimeters to a few centimeters, for example, 0.5 centimeter to 30 centimeters to provide sufficient space to connect multiple connectors, while sill minimizing the overall size. Minimizing the overall size allows for placement in small spaces, for example, sandwiched between the exterior body panel and interior trim kit.
Reference will now be made in detail to specific aspects or features, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, corresponding or similar reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or corresponding parts.
The conductors may be conductor pairs or differential pairs to transmit data or power signals. Other conductors may be bus connections, grounding conductors, or conductors for detection features as will be evident from certain embodiments of this disclosure. Although specific functions or signal types are associated with specific conductors herein, other configurations of the cable, a type of signal or function associated with each conductor of the cable can vary depending on specific requirements of an application.
With continued reference to
The body 116 is provided with one or more protruding legs 118. For instance, as shown in
The body 116 of each connector assembly 106, 108 includes multiple conductors A1-A11 and B1-B11 therein. These conductors A1-A11 and B1-B11 may be generally L-shaped but may also be tiered in shape to route communications from conductors A1-A11 and B1-B11 associated with a corresponding one of the cables 102, 104 to corresponding ones of conductive receptacle ports located on the PCB 110. As shown in
During attachment of the cable assembly 306 into the plug-connector assembly 302 or receptacle-connector assembly 304, the cable assembly 306 is stripped of a portion of its outer jacket 1302. Thereafter, other layers outside of the underlying conductors, such as a conductive shield layer 1304, and an insulating layer 1306 may be stripped to their respective pre-specified lengths to expose conductors A1-A11 from the first row 112 of the cable assembly 306.
In an embodiment, encased conductors or wires are held on a flat conveyer or with a robotic arm, and the wires are stripped using a stripping attachment so as to preserve the wire spacing. A laser tool may be used to perform the stripping. The robotic arm (or another robotic arm) may then pick up a plug-connector assembly 302, assembled or pieces thereof, and connect the plug-connector assembly 302 to the conductors by pressing down, soldering, gluing, and/or utilizing other appropriate processes or tools, as will be exemplarily described herein. Similarly, the second row 114 of the cable assembly 306 may be stripped of its outer layers (for example, insulating layer 1404 and outer jacket 1402) to expose conductors B1-B11.
As show in
The attached conductors A1-A11 and B1-B11 may be, additionally, or optionally, adhered to the secondary PCB 502 using an adhesive 1802. For example, the attached conductors may be adhered by heat curing/UV curing an epoxy resin onto the soldered portions of the attached conductors A1-A11 and B1-B11 and respective first and second conducting portions as shown in
In embodiments, the plug-connector assembly 302 includes a stop member 508, as shown in
In embodiments, the plug-connector assembly 302 also includes a latch 516, as shown in
The plug-connector assembly 302 also has a first casing 532, as shown in
The plug-connector assembly 302 includes a second casing 550, as shown in
Upon assembling the second casing 550 with the first casing 532, a recessed flexible portion 562 of the second casing 550 latches with the raised portion 528 of the latch 516. When a sufficient amount of pressure is applied by a user to bias the latch 516 into the recess 518 of the holder 512, the pressure causes the latch 516 to traverse the width W of the recess 518 of the holder 512. (or a portion thereof) and release the catch members 526 from the corresponding openings 542.
Further, referring to
In certain embodiments, although the latch 516 is shown located within the second casing 550 of the plug-connector assembly 302, a latch 1104 could be part of the outer casing of the plug-connector assembly and may be located externally as shown by way of example in the plug-connector assembly 1102 of
The first end 704 of the housing 702 has multiple first slots 710 on the top portion of the housing and multiple second slots 714 on the bottom portion of the housing. In embodiments, the receptacle-connector assembly 304 includes a separator portion 718 that is at least partially disposed in the gap 716 between the multiple first slots 710 and multiple second slots 714. In certain embodiments, the separator portion 718 is integrally formed with the housing 702.
As shown in
With continued reference to
Each pin from the first set of tiered conducting pins A1-A11 and the second set of L-shaped conducting pins B1-B11 has a second end 736 that may be connected to the PCB, for example by welding. In embodiments, each pin from the first set of tiered conducting pins A1-A11 and the second set of L-shaped conducting pins B1-B11 is separated from an adjacent conducting pin by a repeatable pitch. In embodiments, one or more conducting pins are connected to a ground conductor. In embodiments, each pin from the first set of tiered conducting pins A1-A11 and the second set of L-shaped conducting pins B1-B11 has an impedance of between 40 and 50 Ohms. In other embodiments, each of these pins may have an impedance in the range of 80 to 90 Ohms.
In embodiments, plug-connector assembly 302, has 22 pins, each of which may correspond to at least one conductor from the cable assembly 306. In the illustrated embodiment of
In certain embodiments, there are eleven conductors corresponding to pins A1 to A11 that connect to plug-connector assembly 302 and receptacle-connector assembly 304 with the pin configuration shown in
In certain embodiments, there are eleven conductors corresponding to pins B1 to B11 that connect to plug-connector assembly 302 and receptacle-connector assembly 304 with the pin configuration shown in
With respect to pins B1-B11 in this configuration, pins B2, B3, B9 and B10 of connector assemblies 302, 304 are power pins that connect to a power conductor. Pins B2 and B3 of plug-connector assembly 302 correspond to PWR_TX pins which, when mated with corresponding receptacle pins, deliver power into the cable assembly from the power source where receptacle-connector assembly 304 is seated. SBU1 and SBU2 pins B1, B4 and B8, B11 connect to two pairs of secondary bus conductors. Pins B5 and B7 are ground conductor pins. DETECT pin at B6 is defined to detect an event when plug-connector assembly 302 is fully seated into receptacle-connector assembly 304, forming electrical contacts at all pins. DETECT pin is weakly pulled up high on the receptacle side until it mates with a plug-side pin. When a plugging event occurs, it is pulled down to ground. DETECT pin typically has the smallest size compared with the rest of pins to become the last pin to engage and the first pin to disengage.
In the pin configurations shown in
In certain embodiments, each of high-speed differential pairs meet or exceed the differential insertion loss, normalized based on 90-Ohm differential as shown in
AC performances of cable assemblies are known to be de-rated at harsh environmental conditions i.e., worse losses and impedance discontinuities when exposed to extreme humidity and/or extreme temperature compared to normal conditions. In embodiments, the connector assemblies 106, 108 or 302, 304 disclosed herein meet the insertion loss requirements at nominal state. In certain embodiments, all high-speed pairs meet or exceed the following insertion loss requirements with reference normalized to 90-Ohm, differential. As shown in
In certain embodiments, all high-speed pairs meet or exceed the return loss requirements shown in
In certain embodiments, for frequencies between 2.5 GHz to 15 GHz, mode conversion is bounded to −20 dB at nominal state and −28 dB at a frequency of 0.1 GHz as shown in
In certain embodiments, each of the high-speed pairs meet or exceed the near-end crosstalk requirements shown in
In certain embodiments, each of the high-speed pairs meet or exceed the far-end crosstalk requirements shown in
In embodiments, when connector assemblies are properly mated, the connector assemblies and the cable meet IP65/IP6K9K dust and water proof compliance. In certain embodiments, the connector assemblies and the cable meet or exceed IPX4 rating in accordance with IEC standard 60529. That is, the connector assemblies and the cable can preferentially withstand accidental splash of water. In certain embodiments, the connector assemblies and the cable meet a higher rating, such as IPX7 which indicates withstanding accidental immersion in one meter of water for up to thirty minutes. A rim structure, one or more O-rings, a liquid gasket, cure-in-place, or form-in-place gasket or face seal, or another structure may be used to achieve the IPX4 or above rating. In other embodiments, the connector assemblies and the cable are IPX8 rated for continuous underwater use.
Further, in other embodiments, the cable with mated connectors, and conductor terminations preferentially tolerate profiles of thermal cycle and static thermal stress according to USCAR-21 Revision 3 specification. If transient electrical discontinuity occurs, the time duration does not exceed more than 1 μs.
Compliance limits of thermal shock resistance and vibration resistance is particularly important for automobile applications since large temperature may result from through ambient temperature fluctuations and through operation (for example, heat generated during electric vehicle battery discharge or motor operation).
In certain embodiments, the cable with mated conductors, and conductor terminations preferentially tolerate a vibration resistance according to USC AR-2 Revision 6 specification. The cable with mated conductors, and conductor terminations also tolerates mechanical shocks produced by potholes or something equivalent. The cable maintains the quality contacts during and at the end of the following two tests: 1) 400 cycles of 12 G peak half-sine accelerations for 20 ms in each of the 6 directions (i.e. positive and negative directions of x, y, and z axis's), and 2) 10 cycles of 35 G peak half-sine acceleration for 10 ms in the same 6 directions. If transient electrical discontinuity occurs during random vibrations and/or mechanical shocks, the time duration does not exceed more than 1 μs (micro-second).
In certain embodiments, the mating of each connector assembly 302/304 to the cable has a lock and key mechanism (for example, a notch in the plug-connector assembly 302 and a structure in the main cable structure that sits in the notch or vice versa) to allow only a single mating orientation between the plug-connector assembly 302 and the cable structure. In certain embodiments, a mechanical feature such as a key or notch is made on the overmold area so that mating is possible only in one (normal) orientation. The notch once properly mated with a counter structure on the receptacle side complies to IPX4 water proof requirement. In other embodiments, it should comply IP65/IP6K9K dust and water proof requirements.
The mating preferentially requires a force of 20N or less and 5N or more to be applied for the first 100 cycles and once mated, the mated plug-connector assembly 302 and main cable structure preferentially can withstand a pulling force of 200N or less and 75N or more for the first 100 cycles. However, more or less force may be required to mate the plug-connector assembly 302 with the main cable structure. The cable assembly 306 preferentially withstands a pulling force of at least 75N, such that no physical damage occurs when a pulling force of at least 75N is applied for one minute and while clamping one end of the cable assembly 306.
In certain embodiments, the DC resistance for power and ground paths meet the requirements specified in Table 1 for both stationary mode and vibrational/thermal (i.e., drive) mode to ensure that the IR drop across the cable assembly is 1400 mV or less for a 4 A power delivery. Preferentially, the DC resistance in the vibrational/thermal mode is <=5 Ohm for each of high-speed signals, and <=10 Ohm for the SBU signals.
The foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms or particular fields of use disclosed. As such, it is contemplated that various alternative embodiments and/or modifications to the present disclosure, whether explicitly described or implied herein, are possible in light of the disclosure. Having thus described embodiments of the present disclosure, a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, reference is made to “wire” or “wires,” but a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that in certain embodiments, one or more conductors (for example, metal without any insulation or outer sheathing) may be substituted. By way of another example, reference is made to “conductor” or “conductors,” but a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that in certain embodiments, one or more wires (such as, a metal conductor with insulation or an outer sheathing) may be substituted. Thus, the present disclosure is limited only by the claims.
In the foregoing specification, the disclosure has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, as one skilled in the art will appreciate, various embodiments disclosed herein can be modified or otherwise implemented in various other ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, this description is to be considered as illustrative and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the manner of making and using various embodiments of the disclosed cable assembly. it is to be understood that the forms of disclosure herein shown and described are to be taken as representative embodiments. Equivalent elements, or materials may be substituted for those representatively illustrated and described herein. Moreover, certain features of the disclosure may be utilized independently of the use of other features, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the disclosure. Expressions such as “including”, “comprising”, “incorporating”, “consisting of”, “have”, “is” used to describe and claim the present disclosure are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural.
Further, various embodiments disclosed herein are to be taken in the illustrative and explanatory sense and should in no way be construed as limiting of the present disclosure. All joinder references (e.g., attached, affixed, coupled, connected, and the like) are only used to aid the reader's understanding of the present disclosure, and may not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the systems anchor methods disclosed herein. Therefore, joinder references, if any, are to be construed broadly. Moreover, such joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected to each other.
Additionally, all numerical terms, such as, but not limited to, “first”, “second”, “third”, “primary”, “secondary”, “main” or any other ordinary and/or numerical terms, should also be taken only as identifiers, to assist the reader's understanding of the various elements, embodiments, variations and/or modifications of the present disclosure, and may not create any limitations, particularly as to the order, or preference, of any element, embodiment, variation and/or modification relative to, or over, another element, embodiment, variation and/or modification.
It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted in the drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more separated or integrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certain cases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application.
The present U.S. Utility Patent Application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/629,506, entitled “CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY”, filed Feb. 12, 2018, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility Patent Application for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62629506 | Feb 2018 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16271559 | Feb 2019 | US |
| Child | 17135842 | US |
