Electrical connectors – Including or for use with tape cable – With shield – ground conductor or ground commoning means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-14
2001-06-26
Luebke, Renee (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Including or for use with tape cable
With shield, ground conductor or ground commoning means
C439S578000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250953
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to electrical connectors and, particularly, to a connector assembly for connecting a plurality of coaxial cables to electrical circuitry.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A typical coaxial cable includes a center conductor or core surrounded by a dielectric which, in turn, is surrounded by a shield such as a tubular foil or metal braid. An outer covering or sheath typically is provided about the cable. A plurality of the cables may be terminated by a connector as discrete or individual cables, or the cables may be incorporated in a generally planar or flat composite often called a “ribbon” cable. In any event, the connector must terminate and/or interconnect a plurality of discrete conductors.
With the ever-increasing miniaturization and high density of electronic circuitry, terminating coaxial cables has become quite difficult. For instance, the core conductor of a coaxial cable may be as small as 0.07 to 0.09 mm in diameter. The core conductor with its surrounding dielectric may be only on the order of 0.21 mm in diameter. These very fine conductors of very thin or small coaxial cables create considerable problems in designing connectors.
In particular, the conductor cores typically are terminated to a plurality of side-by-side terminals having very closely spaced contact portions typically in a parallel array along a slot of the connector. Problems continuously are encountered in aligning the very fine conductor cores with the closely spaced contact portions of the terminals. These problems are magnified when it is desirable to avoid completely stripping the coaxial cables down to the bare conductor core. This process, itself, is extremely tedious and time consuming. Therefore, it often is desirable to keep the dielectrics about the conductor cores. When this is done, insulation-displacement contacts or terminals must be used to pierce the insulation about the conductor cores. The present invention is directed to solving these problems whether the coaxial cables are discrete cables or a ribbon cable and whether the conductor cores are completely stripped or insulation displacement terminals are used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved connector assembly for connecting the conductors of a plurality of coaxial cables to associated electrical circuitry.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the assembly includes a fixed connector having a dielectric housing mounted on a substrate on which the electrical circuitry is disposed. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing and are connected to the electrical circuitry. The terminals have contact arms in a side-by-side array at regularly spaced intervals. A movable connector is removably attached to the fixed connector and includes first and second assemblies. The first assembly has a plurality of rigid support members in a side-by-side array at regularly spaced intervals corresponding to the spacing of the contact arms of the fixed connector. The second assembly has a plurality of terminals in a side-by-side array at regularly spaced intervals corresponding to the spacing of the contact arms and the support members. The first and second assemblies are interengageable to sandwich the conductors of the cables between the support members of the first assembly and the terminals of the second assembly. Therefore, attaching the movable connector to the fixed connector is effective to connect the conductors of the cables to the electrical circuitry through the terminals of the first assembly of the movable connector and the contact arms of the fixed connector.
Generally, complementary interengaging pivot attachment means are provided between the fixed and movable connectors. Complementary interengaging latch means also are provided between the fixed and movable connectors. As disclosed herein, the first assembly of the movable connector overlies the second assembly and includes a shield over a substantial portion of the assemblies. The shield substantially covers the fixed connector. The pivot attachment means and the latch means are provided between the shield and the fixed connector.
According to one feature of the invention, the first assembly of the movable connector is movable relative to the second connector from a preliminary position whereat the conductors of the cables can be positioned between the support members of the first assembly and the terminals of the second assembly, to a terminating position clamping the conductors between the support members and the terminals. The terminals of the second assembly include insulation displacement means for piercing through insulation about the conductors. The second assembly also includes a housing for receiving portions of the support members of the first assembly when the first assembly is in the terminating position.
Another feature of the invention is a ground strip mounted on the fixed connector and connected to appropriate ground circuitry on the substrate. A pair of ground plates sandwich the coaxial cables therebetween in an area of shielded sections of the cables. One of the ground plates is engageable with the ground strip on the fixed connector.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3188601 (1965-06-01), DeTar
patent: 4209219 (1980-06-01), Proietto
patent: 4640562 (1987-02-01), Shoemaker
patent: 4735582 (1988-04-01), Fusselman et al.
patent: 5632640 (1997-05-01), Noda
patent: 5716229 (1998-02-01), Loder et al.
Luebke Renee
Molex Incorporated
Weiss Stephen Z.
LandOfFree
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