Patent Application
20240266790
This application is directed to a right angled coaxial electrical connector and a method of forming the right angled coaxial electrical connector.
Coaxial cable connector assemblies have been used for numerous automotive applications, such as navigation systems, infotainment systems, air bag systems, and other systems requiring electronic data transmission. Coaxial cables typically consist of an outer shield conductor, an inner center conductor, a dielectric, and an insulation jacket. The outer conductor and the inner conductor of the coaxial cable often electrically interface with a mating coaxial cable through a coaxial connector assembly.
Radio Frequency (RF) connectors most often referred to simply as RF connectors are often used to connect coaxial cables while providing a certain degree of shielding. The use of RF connectors for coaxial cable has greatly increased in automotive applications as devices requiring high speed data communication continue to proliferate.
The use of RF connectors for automotive usage has become so common that standards for signal loss and contact resistance have been devised. Some RF connectors that meet these specifications use high cost cold drawn tubular shield terminals. Lower cost stamped shield terminals are also used.
RF connectors need to be properly seated to provide adequate shielding i.e, improper seating between shield terminals can cause significant RF leakage. Thus, RF connectors use strict manufacturing tolerances to assure proper seating which drives costs up of each RF connector.
Therefore, a low cost RF connector having stamped terminal connectors which meets all performance specifications and has improved shielding remains desired.
The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions.
According to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a method of forming a shielded electrical connector configured to receive a corresponding shielded electrical connector includes:
In some aspects of the method described in the preceding paragraph, the method further includes welding the shield terminal connection segment to the shield terminal attachment segment.
In some aspects of the method described in any one of the preceding paragraphs, the method further includes arranging the second seam opposite to the first seam.
In some aspects of the method described in any one of the preceding paragraphs, the inner insulator is inserted within the shield terminal attachment segment in a direction parallel to the first axis.
In some aspects of the method described in any one of the preceding paragraphs, the inner insulator is inserted within the shield terminal attachment segment in a direction parallel to the second axis.
In some aspects of the method described in any one of the preceding paragraphs, the inner insulator defines a first cavity aligned with the first axis and a second cavity intersecting the first cavity. The second cavity is aligned with the second axis. The method further includes:
In some aspects of the method described in the preceding paragraph, the method further includes arranging shield conductor of the coaxial cable to surround the second portion; and attaching the shield conductor to the second portion.
In some aspects of the method described in any one of the preceding paragraphs, edges of the two semicircular channels define interlocking teeth extending therefrom.
According to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a shielded electrical connector is configured to be received within a corresponding shielded electrical connector. The shielded electrical connector is formed by a method including:
In some aspects of the method described in the preceding paragraph, the method further includes welding the shield terminal connection segment to the shield terminal attachment segment.
In some aspects of the method described in any one of the preceding paragraphs, the method further includes arranging the second seam opposite to the first seam.
In some aspects of the method described in any one of the preceding paragraphs, the inner insulator is inserted within the shield terminal attachment segment in a direction parallel to the first axis.
In some aspects of the method described in any one of the preceding paragraphs, the inner insulator is inserted within the shield terminal attachment segment in a direction parallel to the second axis.
In some aspects of the method described in any one of the preceding paragraphs, the inner insulator defines a first cavity aligned with the first axis and a second cavity intersecting the first cavity, wherein the second cavity is aligned with the second axis. The method further includes:
In some aspects of the method described in any one of the preceding paragraphs, the method further includes arranging shield conductor of the coaxial cable to surround the second portion; and attaching the shield conductor to the second portion.
In some aspects of the method described in any one of the preceding paragraphs, edges of the two semicircular channels define interlocking teeth extending therefrom.
According to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a shielded electrical connector configured to receive a corresponding shielded electrical connector, includes
In some aspects of the shielded electrical connector described in the preceding paragraph, the inner insulator defines a first cavity aligned with the first axis and a second cavity intersecting the first cavity, wherein the second cavity is aligned with the second axis and wherein the shielded electrical connector further includes: a first terminal disposed within the first cavity; and a second terminal attached to a central conductor of a coaxial cable, disposed within the second cavity, and interconnected to the first terminal.
In some aspects of the shielded electrical connector described in any one of the preceding paragraphs, a shield conductor of the coaxial cable surrounds the second portion and is attached to the second portion by an outer ferrule.
In some aspects of the shielded electrical connector described in any one of the preceding paragraphs, a joint between the shield terminal connection segment and shield terminal attachment segment defines a locking edge substantially perpendicular to the first axis and the third axis.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
As shown in
After the inner insulator 204 is disposed in the shield terminal attachment segment 104, the edges of the first seam 502 of the first portion 114 and the two semicircular channels 504 are brought together to enclose the inner insulator 204 in the shield terminal attachment segment 104. The shield terminal connection segment 108 is then attached to the first portion 114 of the shield terminal attachment segment 104, thereby holding the edges of the first seam 502 and the two semicircular channels 504 together. The third axis 122 of the shield terminal connection segment 108 is coaxial with the first axis 116 of the first portion 114 of the shield terminal attachment segment 104. The second seam 702 of the shield terminal connection segment 108 is preferably arranged so that it is oriented opposite to the first seam 502 of the first portion 114 of the shield terminal attachment segment 104. The shield terminal connection segment 108 is preferably welded to the shield terminal attachment segment 104 in order to secure the shield terminal connection segment 108 to the shield terminal attachment segment 104 as shown in
The shield conductor 112 of the coaxial cable 106 is then attached to the shield terminal attachment segment 104 by a U-shaped outer ferrule 110 that is crimped over the shield conductor 112 as shown in
The right angled coaxial electrical connector assembly 100 described herein provides the advantages of being adaptable to various application due to the two-piece shield terminal 102. The shape of the shield terminal connection segment 108 may be changed to interface different corresponding mating shield terminal while the shield terminal attachment segment 104 is unchanged and is common to various configurations. The shield terminal connection segment 108 may be adapted to accommodate different shield diameters of corresponding mating shield terminal. The shape of the shield terminal connection segment 108 may also be changed be a female shield terminal attachment segment 104 rather than the male shield terminal attachment segment 104 illustrated in the figures. The design of the right angled coaxial electrical connector assembly 100 also allows a male signal terminal connection segment to be used rather than the illustrated female signal terminal connection segment 202 while still retaining the common shield terminal attachment segment 104.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment(s), it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment(s), but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
As used herein, ‘one or more’ includes a function being performed by one element, a function being performed by more than one element, e.g., in a distributed fashion, several functions being performed by one element, several functions being performed by several elements, or any combination of the above.
It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. are, in some instances, used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first contact could be termed a second contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a first contact, without departing from the scope of the various described embodiments. The first contact and the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the same contact.
The terminology used in the description of the various described embodiments herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description of the various described embodiments and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
As used herein, the term “if” is, optionally, construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [a stated condition or event] is detected” is, optionally, construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [the stated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the stated condition or event],” depending on the context.
Additionally, while terms of ordinance or orientation may be used herein these elements should not be limited by these terms. All terms of ordinance or orientation, unless stated otherwise, are used for purposes distinguishing one element from another, and do not denote any particular order, order of operations, direction or orientation unless stated otherwise.
