Abstract:
A cable assembly ( 100 ) includes at least one connector ( 1 ) for transmitting power signal or optical signal; a cover ( 3 ) holding the connector; a cable electrically or optically connected with the connector; and a switch device ( 5 ) located inside the cover, the switch device includes a switch member, a LED, and a button partially exposed outward of the cover; wherein when the button is pressed to actuate the switch member and the LED is lighted to emit light through the button.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a cable assembly, especially to a cable assembly adapted for power and signal transmitting. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    CN patent No. 200820303305.X issued on Oct. 28, 2009 to Su et al. discloses a cable assembly which comprises a first cable connector, a circuit board installed inside the first cable connector, a shielding shell surrounded outside the circuit board and an insulating shell positioned outside the shielding shell; wherein, the end of the circuit board is connected with two cables penetrating out of the shielding shell, the other ends of the two cables are respectively connected with a second cable connector being in accordance with the displayport standard and a third cable connector being in accordance with the USB standard. The cable assembly has the improved structure and is provided with an additional USB connector for supplying power source. 
         [0005]    However, there is no switch device applied to the cable assembly to control power or signal transmitting. Therefore, it is inconvenient for using the cable assembly, sometimes. 
         [0006]    Hence, a cable assembly with control means is required to overcome the problems of the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An object of the present invention is to provide a cable assembly with switch device. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, to achieve above-mentioned object, a cable assembly comprises at least one connector for transmitting power signal or optical signal; a cover holding the connector; a cable electrically or optically connected with the connector; and a switch device located inside the cover, the switch device includes a switch member, a LED, and a button partially exposed outward of the cover; wherein when the button is pressed to actuate the switch member and the LED is lighted to emit light through the button. 
         [0009]    The detailed features of the present invention will be apparent in the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cable assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , with a dustproof cap mounted to a port of the cable assembly; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an exploded, perspective view of the cable assembly; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from other aspect; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a partially assembled view of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a cross-section view of the  FIG. 2  taken along a line  6 - 6 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an exploded, perspective view of a first connector in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a cross-section view of the first connector taken along a line  8 - 8 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is an exploded, perspective view of a second connector in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is similar to  FIG. 9 , but viewed from other aspect; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is an exploded, perspective view of a switch device in FIG.  3 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a receptacle connector assembly for mating with the cable assembly; 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is an exploded, perspective view of the receptacle connector assembly; 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  is an exploded, perspective view of a second receptacle connector in  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 15  is a front side view of the cable assembly; 
           [0025]      FIG. 16  is a front side view of the receptacle connector assembly; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 17  shows the cable assembly and the receptacle connector assembly aligning with each other for mating. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-11  and  15 , a cable assembly  100  in accordance with the present invention comprises a first connector  1 , a second connector  2 , a cover  3 , a cable  4 , a switch device  5  and a dustproof cap  6 . The first connector  1  and the second connector  2  are arranged in juxtaposed manner and held by the cover  3 . 
         [0029]    The first connector  1  is a power connector, and it transmits DC power in the present invention. The first connector  1  includes an elongated cylindrical shaped body portion  111  with a circular mating port  112  located at a front segment thereof and a hexagonal shaped flange  114  located at a back segment thereof. The body portion  111  has a cylindrical shape insulative layer  1102 , a positive contact  1101  attached to an inner of the body portion  111  and a negative contact  1103  attached to a peripheral of the body portion  111 . Thus, the positive contact  1101  and the negative contact  1103  are coaxially disposed and insulated from each other by an insulative layer  1102  therebetween. In addition, there is detective contact  1106  arranged in a center of the body portion  111  and extends along an axial direction. 
         [0030]    The first connector  1  further has a ferrule  12  mounted to the back segment of the body portion  111 . The ferrule  12  includes a circular shaped main portion  121  enclosing a hollow  124  therein. The hollow  124  is larger than the body portion  111  but smaller than the flange  114 . Therefore, the body portion  111  may active or floatable inside the hollow  124  along a radial direction, but not escape from the hollow  124  along an axial direction by stopping of the flange  112 . There are two pairs of retaining tabs  122  respectively formed at a front and a back edges of the main portion  121  and oppositely arranged regarding to the axial direction. In addition, there are several spring tabs  123  formed on the main portion  121  and extending into the hollow  124 . In present embodiment, there are three spring tabs  123  symmetrically arranged along circumferential direction of the hollow  124 . The ferrule  12  is assembled to the body portion  111 , with the spring tabs  123  pressing onto the body portion  111 . Furthermore, the body portion  111  and the ferrule  112  are coaxially disposed and a distance or gap along the radial direction therebetween is about 0.3 mm. 
         [0031]    The second connector  2  is adapted for transmitting signal. The second connector  2  includes an insulative housing  21 , a set of first pins  22  mounted to the insulative housing  21 , a set of second pins  23  combined with a contact seat  25  and assembled to the insulative housing  21 ; in addition, a positioning member  251  is attached to a back segment of the contact seat  25  to secure the second pins  23 . The insulative housing  21  defines a mounting cavity  212  in a back segment thereof to accommodate the contact seat  25 . The first pins  22  and the second pins  23  arranged offset from each other along a front-to-back direction. 
         [0032]    The second connector  2  further includes an optical module  24  accommodated in a cavity  211  located in a front segment of the insulative housing  21 . The optical module  24  has a number of lenses  241  arranged in a row and enclosed in a retainer  242 . The cable  4  has several fibers  43  which pass through corresponding grooves  214  in the insulative housing  21  and extend into the cavity  211  to couple with the lenses  241 . A retaining board  26  is positioned in a depression  216  of the insulative housing  21  so as to confine the optical module  24  and the fibers  43 . 
         [0033]    The cover  3  includes a top cover  31  and a bottom cover  32  assembled together. 
         [0034]    The top cover  31  defines a first receiving space  310  which communicates with an exterior via a first semicircular shaped opening  312  and a first rectangular shaped opening  311  in a front side of the top cover  31  and a first semicircular shaped outlet  313  in a lateral side of the top cover  31 . There is a first upper positioning portion  3121  located adjacent to and behind the first semicircular shaped opening  312 . The first upper positioning portion  3121  defines a semicircular shaped mounting recess  3120  aligning with and communicating with the first semicircular opening  312 . There is a slot  3122  located in a back segment of the mounting recess  3120 . Two pairs of slits  3124  are located in lateral sides of the mounting recess  3120 , one pair of the slits  3124  are disposed in front of and adjacent to the slot  3122 , and the other pair of slits  3124  are disposed behind and proximate the first semicircular shaped opening  312 . The ferrule  12  is accommodated in the mounting recess  3120 , with the retaining tabs  122  engaged with the slits  3124 . The flange  114  is accommodated in the slot  3122 . There is a second upper positioning portion  3111  located in the receiving space  310  and behind the first rectangular shaped opening  311 . There is a window  3100  defined in a top wall of the top cover  31  and the window  3100  further communicates with the receiving space  310 . In addition, there are a number positioning holes  316  located in the receiving space  310  and adjacent to the lateral sides of the top cover  31 . 
         [0035]    The bottom cover  32  defines a second receiving space  320  which communicates with exterior via a second semicircular shaped opening  322  and a second rectangular shaped opening  321  in a front side of the bottom cover  32  and a semicircular shaped outlet  323  in a lateral side of the bottom cover  32 . There is a first lower positioning portion  3221  located adjacent to and behind the second semicircular shaped opening  322 . The first lower positioning portion  3221  defines a semicircular shaped mounting recess  3220  aligning with and communicating with the second semicircular opening  322 . There is a slot  3222  located in a back segment of the mounting recess  3220 . Two pairs of slits  3224  are located in lateral sides of the mounting recess  3220 , one pair of the slits  3224  are disposed in front of and adjacent to the slot  3222 , and the other pair of slits  3224  are disposed behind and proximate the second semicircular shaped opening  322 . The ferrule  12  is accommodated in the mounting recess  3220 , with the retaining tabs  122  engaged with the slits  3224 . The flange  114  is accommodated in the slot  3222 . There is a second lower positioning portion  3211  located in the second receiving space  320  and behind the second rectangular shaped opening  321 . In addition, there are a number positioning posts  326  located in the receiving space  320  and adjacent to the lateral sides of the bottom cover  32 . 
         [0036]    The switch device  5  includes a button  51 , a spring  52 , a supporting member  53  and a PCBA (printed circuit board assembly)  54 . 
         [0037]    The button  51  includes a main portion  510  and head portion  511  formed on a top side of the main portion  510 . The main portion  510  includes a platform  512 , two legs  513  extending downwardly from lateral sides of the platform  512  and a post  514  projecting downwardly from a middle of a bottom surface of the platform  512 . The post  514  is disposed between the two legs  513  and longer than the two legs  513  along a up-to-down direction. The button  51  is made of transparent material and therefore light may emit or pass therethrough. The spring  52  is a coil spring and mounted to the post  514 . 
         [0038]    The supporting member  53  includes a board  531 , two latching arms  532  extending downwardly from the board  531  and spaced apart from each other. There is a blind positioning cavity  533  located in the board  531  and a through hole  534  further defined in the positioning cavity  533 . The positioning cavity  533  and the through hole  534  are circular shape, and the positioning cavity  533  is larger than the through hole  534 . A lower end of the spring  52  is accommodated in the positioning cavity  533 . The post  514  can pass through the through hole  534 . There is a slot  5325  defined in the latching arm  532  to separate it into two deformable sub-arms  5321 . Each sub-arm  5321  has an enlarged free end  5323 . 
         [0039]    The PCBA  54  includes a circuit substrate  540 , a switch member  541  mounted to the circuit substrate  540 , two LEDs (Light emitting diode)  542  mounted to the circuit substrate  540  and disposed at opposite sides of the switch member  541 . Three conductive pads  543  are formed on a lateral segment of the circuit substrate  540 . There is circuit protective element  544  mounted to the circuit substrate  540 . Two first positioning holes  5401  located in the circuit substrate  540  and disposed in front of and behind the switch member  541 . Four second positioning holes  5402  are located in four corners of the circuit substrate  540 . 
         [0040]    The circuit substrate  540  is accommodated in the second receiving space  320  of the bottom cover  32 , with four standoffs  328  of the bottom cover  32  respectively inserted into the four second positioning holes  5402  of the circuit substrate  540 . The supporting member  53  is assembled to the circuit substrate  540 , with the latching arms  532  inserted into the first positioning holes  5401 , the enlarged free end  5323  abutting a bottom surface of the circuit substrate  540 , the board  531  disposed above the a switch member  541  and the through hole  534  aligning with the switch member  541 . The button  51  is assembled to the spring member  53 , with the platform  512  disposed above and crossing with the board  531 , the two legs  513  disposed at opposite sides of the board  531  and located above and proximate to the two LEDs  542 . The spring  52  is arranged between the button  51  and the supporting member  53 , the post  514  through the spring  52  and entering the through hole  534  so as to actuate or touch the switch member  541 . The top cover  31  is assembled to the bottom cover  32 , with the head portion  511  exposed outward via the window  3100  and the main portion  510  against a bottom surface of the top wall of the top cover  31 . 
         [0041]    The cable  4  also includes two first wires  41 , three second wires  42 , besides the fibers  43 . The first wires  41  are electrically connected to the positive contact  1101  and a negative contact  1103  of the first connector  1  and used for transmitting electricity. The second wires  42  are respectively connected to the conductive pads  543  of the PCBA  54  and further electrically connected with the switch member  541  by the circuit substrate  540 . In addition, the cable  4  may includes other wires (not shown) connected with first pins  22  and the second pins  23 . 
         [0042]    The button  51  is pressed and the post  514  moves towards and actuates the switch member  541  so as to switch on a corresponding circuit of the PCBA  54  so as to start transmitting of the cable assembly  100 , and the LEDs  542  is lighted and light emits or passes through the button  51 , and user may observe working status of the cable assembly  100 . 
         [0043]    The first connector  1  and the second connector  2  are mounted to the cover  3 . The ferrule  12  is fixed to the mounting recess  3120  of the first upper positioning portion  3121  and the mounting recess  3220  of the first lower positioning portion  3221 , while the back segment of the body portion  111  is floatably mounted to the ferrule  12 , and the flange  114  is received in the slots  3122 ,  3222 ; therefore, the first connector  1  are movably or floatably with regarding to the cover  3  along the radial direction which perpendicular to a mating direction. The second connector  2  is securely positioned between the second upper positioning portion  3111  and the second lower positioning portion  3211 . 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIGS. 12 ,  13 ,  14  and  16 , a receptacle connector assembly  200  includes a first receptacle connector  201 , a second receptacle connector  202  mounted to a printed circuit board  206 . 
         [0045]    The first receptacle connector  201  is used for transmitting electricity and has a circular shaped port  2010  for mating with the first connector  1 . The first receptacle connector  201  includes a cylindrical shaped inner insulator  2012  and a cylindrical shaped outer insulator  2014  arranged in coaxial manner. The inner insulator  2012  is enclosed in the outer insulator  2014 . There is a positive terminal  2011  attached to an external surface of the inner insulator  2012  and a negative terminal  2013  combined with the outer insulator  2014  and further extending into the port  2010 . In addition, there is a detective terminal  2016  located in the inner insulator  2012 . 
         [0046]    The second receptacle connector  202  is adapted for transmitting signal. The second receptacle connector  202  includes an insulated housing  2021 , a set of first contacting pins  2022  and a set of second contacting pins  2023  mounted to the insulated housing  2021 . There is an insulative spacer  2025  disposed between the first contacting pins  2022  and the second contacting pins  2023 . The second receptacle connector  202  further includes an optical module  2024  accommodated in a recess  2026  located in a back segment of the insulated housing  2021 . There is a metallic shell  2027  enclosing the insulated housing  2021 . The metallic shell  2027  has several board locking portions  2028  formed at lateral sides thereof. 
         [0047]    The printed circuit board  206  defines a first cutout  2061  and a second cutout  2062  arranged in juxtaposed manner. The first receptacle connector  201  is mounted to the first cutout  2061 , and the second receptacle connector  202  is mounted to the second cutout  2062 . 
         [0048]    While a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention has been shown and described, equivalent modifications and changes known to persons skilled in the art according to the spirit of the present invention are considered within the scope of the present invention as described in the appended claims.