Electrical connectors – With circuit component or comprising connector which fully... – Termination circuit
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-02
2001-01-16
Nguyen, Khiem (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With circuit component or comprising connector which fully...
Termination circuit
C439S038000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06174203
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector provided with a magnetic element for removing noise and to a method for producing such connectors.
2. Description of the Related Art
Noise transmitted along an electric conductive path can be removed by passing a part of the electric conductive path through an annular magnetic element. A prior art connector that takes advantage of this known technique is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-325835. This prior connector is shown in
FIG. 7
, and is provided with a housing
1
. A magnetic element
2
of ferrite is provided at the front surface of the housing
1
, and terminal fittings
3
are arranged at the back of through holes
2
A formed in the magnetic element
2
. The magnetic element
2
has its outer surface covered by a resin coating
4
. The terminal fittings
3
are connected with mating terminal fittings inserted into the housing
1
through the through holes
2
A of the magnetic element
2
. Thus electric conductive paths continuous with the connector penetrate through the magnetic element
2
. Accordingly, the noise transmitted along the electric conductive paths is removed by the magnetic element
2
.
Magnetic elements used for the above purpose generally are obtained by sintering a ferrite powder. These magnetic elements disadvantageously are likely to be cracked by a shock or the like. If a closed loop of the magnetic element
2
enclosing an electric conductive path L is made open by a crack S, as shown in
FIG. 8
, the noise removing function cannot be obtained. However, the outer surface of the magnetic element
2
is covered by the resin coating
4
in the connector disclosed in the above publication. Consequently, the crack S that opens the closed loop of the magnetic element
2
cannot be found. Therefore, the reliability of the noise removing function of the prior art connector is low.
The present invention was developed in view of the above problem and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector having a highly reliable noise removing function.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided a connector having an annular or toroidal magnetic element provided in a connector housing to remove noise transmitted along the electric conductive path that penetrates through the magnetic element. The connector housing comprises a magnetic element receptacle for accommodating the magnetic element. The receptacle substantially encloses the outer circumferential surface of the magnetic element and substantially exposes one end surface of the magnetic element to the outside.
Accordingly, since the magnetic element has its outer circumferential surface enclosed by the magnetic element receptacle in the connector, it can be protected from contact with other parts and prevented from being cracked. If the magnetic element should be cracked, the crack can be found easily since one end surface of the magnetic element is exposed from the magnetic element receptacle, and can be dealt with by the exchange of the magnetic element or the exchange of the connector. Therefore, the reliability of the noise removing function can be improved.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the magnetic element is formed or inserted by insert-molding while being substantially accommodated in the magnetic element receptacle. Accordingly, since the magnetic element is formed by insert-molding while being accommodated in the magnetic element receptacle, an operation step of mounting the magnetic element in the housing can be omitted.
Preferably, the magnetic element is provided with one or more fixing holes for fixing the magnetic element to the connector housing by means of one or more holding members formed by molding. The one or more fixing holes may be stepped to widen at least at one of its opposite opening ends so that one or both of the opposite opening ends have a larger diameter than an intermediate portion of the fixing hole. Accordingly, the magnetic element can be held fixedly on the connector housing.
Still further preferably, the magnetic element is fixed to the connector housing by insert molding acting on a part of the outer surface of the magnetic element.
Most preferably, an outer surface of the magnetic element is formed at least partially with one or more recesses and/or one or more projections.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the magnetic element is provided with one or more openings for arranging therethrough the electric conductive path(s). Preferably, the one or more openings are provided such that one or more tabs project at least partially into a receptacle of the housing for connection with a mating connector extend therethrough.
According to the invention, there is further provided a method for producing a connector having an annular or toroidal magnetic element provided in a connector housing to remove a noise transmitted to an electric conductive path penetrating through the magnetic element. The method comprises the steps of accommodating the magnetic element in a magnetic element receptacle of the connector housing, substantially enclosing the outer circumferential surface of the magnetic element and substantially exposing one end surface of the magnetic element to the outside.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises the step of insert-molding the magnetic element while being substantially accommodated in the magnetic element receptacle.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5213522 (1993-05-01), Kojima
patent: 5219305 (1993-06-01), Kawaguchi et al.
patent: 5246387 (1993-09-01), Liebich et al.
patent: 5401175 (1995-03-01), Guimond et al.
patent: 5456619 (1995-10-01), Belopolsky et al.
patent: 5660551 (1997-08-01), Sakurai
patent: 6059608 (2000-05-01), Benes
patent: 0 682 386 (1995-05-01), None
patent: 6-325835 (1994-11-01), None
patent: WO 96/07219 (1996-03-01), None
Casella Anthony J.
Hespos Gerald E.
Hyeon Hae Moon
Nguyen Khiem
Porco Michael J.
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