Abstract:
A miniaturized connector is provided. The connector comprises a plug and a receptacle, where the receptacle is adapted for being assembled into a device, e.g. ear piece, ear monitor or other parts, and the plug is via a cable connected to a source for electrical power. Contact springs may be formed to protrude through the receptacle housing opening in straight lines to engage a plug recess to secure the plug.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2012/060251, having an international filling date of May. 31, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     The invention relates to a miniaturized connector mainly for the audio industry. The connector comprises a plug and a receptacle, where the receptacle is adapted for being assembled into a device, e.g. ear piece, ear monitor or other parts, and the plug is via a cable connected to a source for electrical power. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electrical connectors are used almost in every possible industry, where two objects need to be electrically connected. In applications, e.g. hearing aids, ear monitors used in the security, TV, and music industry and similar, where space and appearance are of big importance and the size of the electrical connectors needs to be small in order to fit into e.g. electrical devices. 
     Examples of such connectors are the commonly known micro jack connectors, which are used in e.g. cell phones, mp3 players or the like for connecting earphones with the device. The micro jack connectors comprise a plug with a set of contact points, typically three contact points, and a receptacle (mounted in e.g. the cell phone or the mp3 player) having a matching set of contact points each being in electrical contact with one corresponding electrical contact point on the plug, when the plug is inserted in the receptacle. 
     The outer diameter of the plug in micro jack connectors is often on the order of 2-3 mm and the length of the plug is on the order of 1-3 cm. 
     The construction of these commonly known micro jack connectors makes it rather difficult to reduce their size further. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Disclosed herein is a receptacle for a miniaturized connector for use in an audio device, a hearing device or a similar device, wherein the receptacle comprises a first female receptacle part comprising a first contact spring and a housing part, the housing part having a first recess adapted to contain the first contact spring; and a first male receptacle part situated inside the first female receptacle part. 
     Provision of the male receptacle part inside the female receptacle as compared to the known micro-jack connectors, which have no inner contacts, allows for a reduction in size of the receptacle with a factor of 2-3 times. This is significant when incorporating a receptacle in an audio device, a hearing device or a similar device, where size is a major factor, and a reduction of just 50% in size makes a large difference. 
     Further, the contact spring of the invention is simple and provides both an electrical contact function between the receptacle and a plug and further has a locking function, as it secures a plug part in the receptacle. 
     In one or more embodiments, the receptacle according to the invention further comprises a second contact spring, wherein the housing part comprises a second recess adapted to contain the second contact spring. The second spring has a similar function as the first contact spring. 
     In one or more embodiments, the first contact spring and/or the second contact spring have at least one bend. 
     In one or more embodiments, the first contact spring and/or the second contact spring only have one bend. This provides for a very simple and inexpensively producible contact spring. 
     Disclosed herein is further a plug for a miniaturized connector for use in an audio device, a hearing device or a similar device, wherein the plug comprises a first male plug part; and a first female plug part situated inside the first male plug part, the first male plug part comprising a recess adapted to secure the plug inside a corresponding receptacle. 
     Provision of the female plug part inside the male plug part as compared to the known micro-jack connectors, which only have male part plug parts, allows for a reduction in size of the plug with a factor of 2-3 times. This is significant when incorporating a plug in an audio device, a hearing device or a similar device, where size is a major factor, and a reduction of just 50% in size makes a large difference. 
     Further, the recess allows for a contact spring in a receptacle to make an electrical contact between the receptacle and a plug and further has the function of providing a location for a contact spring of a receptacle to lock the plug inside the receptacle. 
     In one or more embodiments, the plug further comprises a first insulator placed between the first female plug part and the first male plug part thereby preventing electrical contact between the two plug parts. 
     In one or more embodiments, the plug further comprises a cable with at least a first wire and a second wire, wherein the first wire is connected to the first female plug part and a second wire connected to the first male plug part. 
     In one or more embodiments, the first wire and the second wire are litz wires. 
     In one or more embodiments, the cable further comprises a strength member and a jacket, wherein the jacket surrounds the at least first and second wires and the strength member. 
     In one or more embodiments, the plug further comprises a second male plug part and a second insulator placed between the first male plug part and the second male plug part preventing electrical contact between the two male plug parts. 
     In one or more embodiments, the cable further comprises a third wire, wherein the first wire is connected to the second male plug part. 
     Disclosed herein is also a miniaturized connector suitable for use in a device, which requires connectors of a size smaller than the commonly known micro jack connectors, i.e. a device such as an audio device, a hearing device or a similar device wherein when the connector is assembled; the first female plug part is in electrical contact with the first male receptacle part situated inside the first female receptacle part; and the first male plug part is in electrical contact with the first contact spring. 
     In one or more embodiments, the plug comprises the second male plug part and the receptacle comprises the second contact spring, wherein, when the connector is assembled, the second male plug part is in electrical contact with the second contact spring. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of the connector. 
         FIG. 2  shows a second embodiment of the connector. 
         FIG. 3  shows a third embodiment of the connector. 
         FIGS. 4A-C  show the receptacle part of the connector of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , with  FIG. 4B  being an exploded view of the receptacle shown in  FIG. 4A  in a side view, and  FIG. 4C  being a front view of the receptacle. 
         FIGS. 5A-B  show the plug part of the connector of  FIG. 1  with  FIG. 5B  being an exploded view. 
         FIGS. 6A-B  show the plug in the connector of  FIG. 2  with  FIG. 6B  being an exploded view. 
         FIGS. 7A-B  show the plug in the connector of  FIG. 3  with  FIG. 7B  being an exploded view. 
         FIGS. 8A-C  show close-up views of the cable connected to the plugs of  FIGS. 5A-7B . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIGS. 1-3  show three different embodiments of the connector according to the invention. All the connectors comprise two parts: a receptacle and a plug. The number of leaders for creating an electrical contact between the receptacle and the plug gives name to the connector. A connector having two leaders is accordingly referred to as a T 2  connector, one with three leaders a T 3  connector and so forth. 
     In  FIG. 1 , a T 3  connecter comprising a receptacle  100 A and a plug  400 A is shown.  FIG. 2  shows a bended T 3  connecter comprising the receptacle  100 A being identical to that shown in  FIG. 1  and a plug  400 B, and  FIG. 3  shows the T 2  connecter comprising a receptacle  100 C and a plug  400 C. 
     The receptacle  100 A present in the two first shown embodiments ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) is shown in  FIGS. 4A-C  in more detail with  FIG. 4B  being an exploded view of the side view in  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4C  being a front view, where front refers to the side from which the plug is inserted. 
     The receptacle  100 C used in the T 2  connector is very similar with only very few differences, which is explained in the following. A close up of the receptacle  100 C is thus not shown in the figures. 
     The receptacle  100 A of the (bended) T 3  connector comprises a receptacle housing  108 , a housing opening  106 , a first contact spring  202 , a second contact spring  204  and a contact pin  300 . The receptacle housing  108  is preferably made of a non-conducting material such as e.g. a heat resistant plastic material and comprises a first receptacle recess  102  adapted to contain the first contact spring  202  and a second receptacle recess  104  adapted to contain the second contact spring  204 . In the assembled state shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4C , the first contact spring  202  thus fits into the first receptacle recess  102  in the receptacle housing  108 , and similarly the second contact spring  204  fits into the second receptacle recess  104  in the receptacle housing  108 . 
     The contact pin  300  and the two contact springs  202 ,  204  are made of a conducting material, preferably metal. In the assembled state shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4C , the contact pin  300  is pressed into the receptacle housing  108  and kept in place by a contact pin retention edge  302  locking the contact pin  300  inside the housing opening  106  as shown in  FIG. 4C . 
     The contact springs  202 ,  204  and the contact pin  300  are protruding on the rear side of the receptacle housing  108 , i.e. the side pointing away from the front where the plug  400 A,  400 B is inserted. The contact springs  202 ,  204  and the contact pin  300  may thus be easily electrically connected to electrical contact points in the device, into which the receptacle  100 A is mounted, e.g. by soldering. The placement of the rear ends  206 ,  208 ,  304  of the contact springs  202 ,  204  and the contact pin  300  on the same side of the receptacle housing  108  is advantageous if the electrical contact points in the device, into which the receptacle  100 A is mounted, are arranged side by side. The contact springs may alternatively protrude from the housing at a different point, e.g. on the side of the receptacle housing  108 , if required due to the placement of the contact points in the device, into which the receptacle  100 A is mounted. 
     The contact springs  202 ,  204  have a bend  210 ,  212  approximately in the middle of the contact springs, thus giving them an L-shaped design. The simple L-shaped design with only one bend is advantageous as contacts springs having such design can be easyly and inexpensively produced. The L-shaped design further ensures that the contact springs  202 ,  204  are secured in the recesses  102 ,  104  in the receptacle housing  108  at the same time as it allows for electrical contact to be easily made between the rear end of contact springs  206 ,  208  and the contact points in the device, into which the receptacle  100 A is mounted. 
     Alternatively, the contact springs  202 ,  204  may have an additional bend, thus giving them a U-shaped design. This is useful if the contact springs  202 ,  204  are to protrude from the housing at a different location than on the rear side of the receptacle housing  108 . 
     The receptacle  100 A comprises a so called female receptacle part  110  for receiving a corresponding male plug part, such as e.g. the male plug part  420  of the plug  400 A,  400 B in  FIGS. 5A-B  and  6 A-B, and a so called male receptacle part for fitting into a corresponding female plug part, such as the first contact tube  500  of plug  400 A,  400 B in  FIGS. 5A-B  and  6 A-B. The female receptacle part  110  comprises the receptacle housing  108  and the contact springs  202 ,  204  and the male receptacle part comprises the contact pin  300  situated inside the female receptacle part  110 . 
     The receptacle  100 C of the T 2  connector differs from the receptacle  100 A of the (bended) T 3  connector in that it only has a first contact spring  202  and a first receptacle recess  102 . Thus, the T 2  receptacle  100 B lacks the second contact spring  204  and the second receptacle recess  104 . Apart from that, the receptacles  100 A and  100 C of  FIGS. 1-3  are identical, and the above description of contact springs and receptacle housing function, design, etc. applies to the receptacle  100 C for the T 2  connector. 
     The receptacle housing  108  has in one embodiment an outer dimension of approximately l 1 =l 2 =3 mm and l 3 =4 mm. The receptacle opening  106  has in one embodiment an inner diameter of approximately d 1 =1.9 mm. The receptacle pin  300  has in one embodiment a diameter of approximately d 2 =0.4 mm. This makes the receptacle  100 A,  100 C in the order of 2-3 times smaller than the commonly known receptacles in the technical field. 
       FIGS. 5A-B  show the plug  400 A of the T 3  connector of  FIG. 1  with  FIG. 5B  being an exploded view of the side view of the assemble plug shown in  FIG. 5A . The plug  400 A comprises a plug housing consisting of a plug housing top  402  and a plug housing bottom  404 , both parts preferably being made in a non-conducting material such as e.g. plastic. In the assembled state shown in  FIG. 5A , the plug housing top  402  and bottom  404  together form a plug housing cavity  406  wherein a plug housing groove  408  is found. The plug housing groove  408  can only be seen in  FIG. 5B  in the plug housing bottom  404 , but it should be understood that the plug housing groove  408  likewise is found in the plug housing top  402 . 
     The plug  400 A further comprises a first contact tube  500  and a first insulator  600 . The first contact tube  500  is preferably made in a conducting material such as e.g. metal. The first contact tube  500  has a first contact retention edge  502  keeping the first contact tube  500  in place inside the first insulator  600  in the assembled state. The first insulator  600  is preferably made in a non-conducting material such as e.g. heat resistant plastic or similar. 
     In the assembled state shown in  FIG. 5A , the first insulator  600  and the first contact tube  500  are pressed into a second contact tube  700 . The second contact tube  700  is preferably made in a conducting material such as e.g. metal. Also, the second contact tube  700  has a second contact tube collar  702  encircling the outer part of the second contact tube  700 . 
     In the assembled state, a second insulator  800  is pressed onto the second contact tube  700 . The second contact tube collar  702  helps to ensure that the second insulator  800  stays in position. The second insulator  800  is preferably made in a non-conducting material such as heat resistant plastic or similar and comprises a second insulator collar  802 , which is pressed against the second contact tube collar  702  in the assembled state. 
     Surrounding the second insulator  800  is a third contact tube  900  with a third contact tube collar  902  and an integrated third contact tube groove  904 . In the assembled state shown in  FIG. 5A , the third contact tube collar  902  is pressed against the second insulator collar  802  such that second insulator collar  802  is situated in between the second contact tube collar  702  and the third contact tube groove  904 . The third contact tube collar  902  fits into the plug housing groove  408  in the plug housing  402 ,  404  in the assemble state. 
     The plug  400 A further comprises a cable  1000  comprising a first wire  1002 , a second wire  1004 , a third wire  1006  and a strength member  1008  enclosed in a jacket  1010 , the latter being made of a non-conducting material such as plastic. The wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  can be litz wires or similar as described in connection with  FIG. 8A-C . 
     The first wire  1002  is attached to the first contact tube  500 , the second wire  1004  is attached to the second contact tube  700 , and the third wire  1006  is attached to the third contact tube  900  when the plug is assembled. The attachment of the wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  is preferably done by way of soldering. 
     In the assembled state, the plug assembly comprising the contact tubes  500 ,  700 ,  900 , the insulators  600 ,  800 , and the cable  1000  is placed into the plug housing bottom  404  such that the third contact tube collar  902  is placed into the plug housing groove  408 . The plug housing top  402  is placed on top of the plug assembly inserted in the plug housing bottom  404  such that the plug housing groove  408  in the plug housing top  402  is aligned with the third contact tube collar  902  and the plug housing groove  408  in the plug housing bottom  404 . 
     After the plug housing top  402  and bottom parts  404  have been assembled, the plug housing cavity  406  can advantageously—through a plug housing opening  410 —be filled with an adhesive. This secures the strength member  1008  into the plug  400 A and prevents the cable  1000  from being pulled out. The adhesive further protects the wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  from moisture and corrosion. 
     At the cable exit end  422 ,  424  (where the cable  1000  exist the housing  402 ,  404 ), the plug housing  402 ,  404  has a rounded edge. The rounded edge form functions as a strain relief ensuring that the cable  1000  does not easily break at the exit point out of the plug housing  402 ,  404 . 
     An assembly ring  1100  is pressed onto and over the assemble plug housing top  402  and bottom  404 , thereby keeping the plug  400 A together. The assembly ring  1100  is preferably made from metal, but could also be made in plastic depending on the requirements to strength, appearance, etc. 
       FIGS. 6A-B  show the plug  400 B of the bended T 3  connector shown in  FIG. 2  with  FIG. 6B  being an exploded view of the side view shown in  FIG. 6A . The bended T 3  connector  400 B contains the same elements as the straight T 3  connector shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5A -B with the only difference being the design of the plug housing, which in this embodiment has a bended shape. 
     In the bended T 3  connector  400 B, the housing part contains a bended plug housing front  412  and a bended plug housing back  414 . The assembled bended plug housing front  412  and back  414  together form a bended plug housing cavity  416  having a bended shape mimicking the shape of the bended housing as seen from the outside. Inside the bended plug housing back  414  is a bended plug housing groove  418  (not visible in the figure). 
     The plugs  400 A,  400 B comprise a so called male plug part  420  for fitting into a corresponding female receptacle part such as the female receptacle part  110  of the receptacle  100 A in  FIGS. 4A-C . The plugs  400 A,  400 B further comprise a so called female plug part for accepting a corresponding male receptacle part such as the contact pin  300  of the receptacle  100 A in  FIGS. 4A-C . The male plug part  420  comprises the second and third contact tubes  700 ,  900  and the insulators  600 ,  800 , whereas the female plug part is the first contact tube  500 . 
     The T 3  connector of  FIG. 1  and/or the bended T 3  connector of  FIG. 2  are assembled by inserting the plug  400 A,  400 B into the receptacle  100 A. The front part  704  of the second contact tube  700  and the second contact tube collar  702  help to guide the plug  400 A into the receptacle opening  106 . When the plug  400 A,  400 B is inserted into the receptacle  100 A, the first contact spring  202  is pushed in a direction away from the second contact spring  204  until the first contact spring  202  can snap into the third contact tube groove  904 , thereby retaining its original shape at the same time as it secures the plug  400 A,  400 B in the receptacle  100 A. This ensures that the plug  400 A and receptacle  100 A assembly is locked together. In order to unplug the plug  400 A and receptacle  100 A, a certain force is thus needed. 
     When the plug  400 A,  400 B and the receptacle  100 A are assembled, the contact pin  300  mounted into the receptacle  100 A fits inside the first contact tube  500  of the plug  400 A, whereby the two parts are in electrical contact. Likewise, the first contact spring  202  is in electrical contact with the third contact tube  900  as it fits into the third contact tube groove  904 , and the second contact spring  204  is in electrical contact with the collar  702  on the second contact tube  700 . 
     The first insulator  600  ensures that there is no electrical connection between the first contact tube  500  and the second contact tube  700 . Likewise, the second insulator  800  ensures that there is no electrical contact between the second contact tube  700  and the third contact tube  900 . 
       FIGS. 7A-B  show the plug  400 C in the T 2  connector of  FIG. 3  with  FIG. 7B  being an exploded view of the assembled T 2  plug in  FIG. 7A . The plug  400 C of the T 2  connector differs from the plug  400 A,  400 B of the (bended) T 3  connector in that it only comprises two contact tubes  500 ,  900 , two wires  1002 ,  1006  in the cable  1000  and one insulator  600  separating the two contact tubes  500 ,  900 . Otherwise, the individual parts of the T 2  plug  400 C are assembled and functions in the same way as described above for the (bended) T 3  plug  400 A,  400 B in  FIGS. 5A-B  and  6 A-B. 
     The T 2  plug  400 C can also be in the shape of a bended T 2  plug constructed in a similar manner as the bended T 3  plug  400 B in  FIGS. 6A-B . 
     The cable  1000  of the plug  400 A,  400 B,  400 C is not limited to either two or three connecting wires. It could also comprise more wires such as e.g. four, five, six or more wires. These additional wires would in such a case be soldered to additional contacts tubes in the plug thus connecting to corresponding contact parts in the receptacle in a similar way as the wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  connect to the contact tubes  500 ,  700 ,  900  which again are in electrical contact with the contact springs  202 ,  204  and the contact pin  300  in the receptacle, when the connector is assembled. 
     The additional contact tubes in the plug can be male contact tubes or female contact tubes having a similar design as described in connection with the plugs of  FIGS. 5A-7B . Likewise, the receptacle may comprise more contacts springs and/or contact pins as described in  FIGS. 4A-C  for being in contact with the contact tubes of the plug. 
     The male part  420  of the plugs  400 A,  400 B,  400 C has in one embodiment an outer diameter of approximately 1.9 mm matching the inner diameter of the receptacle opening  106 . The plugs  400 A,  400 B,  400 C have in one embodiment a length of approximately 6.6 mm. This makes the plugs  400 A,  400 B,  400 C 2-3 times smaller in size than commonly known 2.5 mm and 3.5 mm micro jack plug part connectors. 
       FIG. 8A  shows the cable  1000  in a close up view comprising the three wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  and the strength member  1008  together constituting a core part  1012 , which is surrounded by the outer isolating jacket  1010 . The conducting wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  can be lacquered and twisted together with the strength member  1008  as shown in  FIG. 8B  showing the core part  1012  in a close up view. 
     In  FIG. 8A , the cable  1000  is shown with the outer isolating jacket  1010  stripped off the wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  in both ends with the wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  also being separated in both ends. The ends of the wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  can therefore be connected to electrical means, and electrical signals can then be transmitted through each of the wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006 . 
     The wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  are preferably lacquered conducting wires, which are isolated from each other due to a lacquer that covers the conducting part of the conducting wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006 . The consequence is that the conducting wires can be isolated from each other without having an outer isolating jacket made of an isolating material such as nylon, silicone, polyethylene, PVC, Polyamid, polyester, Pebax, etc. around each conducting wire. The outer diameters of the conducting wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  are hereby reduced dramatically, and as a result, the outer diameter of the isolating wire  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  is reduced even more. 
     The flexibility and softness of the isolated wire  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  are further improved as the relatively inflexible and hard outer isolating jackets often used around conducting wires are omitted. The strength member  1008  improves the strength of the cable, and the strength of the cable can be designed to specific specifications by choosing the material of the strength member  1008 , by regulating the dimensions of the strength member  1008  or by choosing to have more than one strength member  1008  integrated into the cable  1000 . Alternatively, if a very soft and flexible cable is needed, strength members can be omitted. 
     The cable used in this invention is further less sensitive to noise such as electro mechanical (EM) noise, because the lacquered conducting wires are twisted. Thus, the cable  1000  according to the present invention combines flexibility, softness and strength. 
       FIG. 8B  illustrates one end of the cable  1000  shown in  FIG. 8A  without the outer isolating jacket  1010 . It can be seen that the lacquered conducting wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  and the flexible strength member  1008  are twisted together such that they form a helix. The stiffness, softness and strength of the cable  1000  can be modified to fit different customer specifications by varying the materials and dimensions of the cable  1000  and/or the strength member  1008 . The strength of the cable  1000  could for instance be increased by adding more strength members  1008 , by choosing strength member(s)  1008  made of a strong material and/or by increasing the dimensions of the strength member(s)  1008  and/or the conducting wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006 . The strength member(s)  1008  could for instance be made of heat-resistant and strong synthetic fibers which do not extend in length when stretched. Such fibers could for instance be aramid fibers. 
     Depending on the stiffness, softness and strength of the cable, it may be suited for applications, where it is placed near skin or near cloth depending on the static electricity created by the different environment it is near. 
     The thin conducting magnet wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  shown in  FIGS. 8A-B  could e.g. be magnet wires, which are lacquered individually before they are twisted together thus forming a helix. The consequence is that the lacquered conducting wire is very flexible and strong as each magnet wire provides strength to the lacquered conducting wire, and since the magnet wires are lacquered individually they can be displaced relatively to each other which results in a flexible conducting wire. 
     One or more of the wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  shown in  FIGS. 8A-B  could be colored e.g. by using a colored lacquer and thereby forming a tracer for easy identification of the conducting wire  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006 . The wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  could for instance be magnetic and/or lacquered. The lacquering could be obtained by pulling the wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  through a bath comprising the lacquerer, by covering the wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  with electrostatic powder which melts when heated or by spray painting the wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006 . The lacquer layer could for instance be polyamide, polyurethane or the like. The lacquered conducting wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  thereby form litz wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  where each magnet wire  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  is lacquered individually. 
       FIG. 8C  illustrates another embodiment of a cable  1000  according to the present invention illustrating one end of the cable  1000 . The twisted wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  and the strength member  1008  have been secured to the outer isolating jacket  1010  by an adhesive  1014 . The cable  1000  is hereby made tight because the adhesive  1014  prevents air, moist and dirt from entering the outer jacket  1010 . This improves the cable  1000  against corrosion and excludes further sounds from travelling inside the outer isolating jacket  1010 . 
     The adhesive  1014  is further used to secure the cable  1000  in the plug  400 A,  400 B,  400 C e.g. by securing the strength member  1008  to the plug. The wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  can as shown in this embodiment be tinned at their ends  1022 ,  1024 ,  1026  such that it is ensured, in embodiments where each wire  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  comprises a number of individually lacquered magnet wires (which again are twisted together as described in  FIGS. 8A-B ), that there is an electrical connection between each lacquered magnet wire in the same litz wire. Alternatively, the electrical connection between the lacquered magnet wires could be established by using conducting adhesive or by melting the magnet wires together. The tinned ends  1022 ,  1024 ,  1026  further ensures that each lacquered wire can easily be brazed to the plug  400 A,  400 B,  400 C and thereby create a very good contact between the plug  400 A,  400 B,  400 C and the cable  1000 . 
     The individual wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  shown in  FIGS. 8A-C  could for instance be manufactured by lacquering a number of magnet wires and collecting them in a bundle. Some of the lacquered magnet wires could optionally be colored. The bundle of lacquered magnet wires could then be twisted, thus forming a lacquered conducting wire  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006 , which optionally comprises colored magnet wires for identification purposes. Seven magnet wires are in one embodiment twisted together with two of these magnet wires being colored. However, any number of magnet wires and/or colored magnet wires could in other embodiments be twisted together. 
     After manufacturing the individual wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006 , a number of them and a strength member  1008  could be twisted together and an outer jacket extruded around the twisted conducting wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006  and strength member  1008 . In one embodiment of the cable  1000  shown in  FIGS. 8A-B , three conducting wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006 —each comprising different colored magnet wires—are twisted together with an aramid fiber acting as the strength member  1008 . The cable  1000  thus comprises three lead wires  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006 , which can easily be identified by their color. 
     REFERENCES 
     
         
           100 A T 3  receptacle 
           100 C T 2  receptacle 
           102  first receptacle recess 
           104  second receptacle recess 
           106  housing opening 
           108  receptacle housing 
           110  female receptacle part 
           202  first contact spring 
           204  second contact spring 
           206  rear end of the first contact spring 
           208  rear end of the second contact spring 
           210  bend on the second contact spring 
           300  contact pin/male receptacle part 
           302  contact pin retention edge 
           400 A T 3  plug 
           400 B bended T 3  plug 
           400 C T 2  plug 
           402  plug housing top 
           404  plug housing bottom 
           406  plug housing cavity 
           408  plug housing groove 
           410  plug housing opening 
           412  bended plug housing front 
           414  bended plug housing back 
           416  bended plug housing cavity 
           418  bended plug housing groove 
           420  male plug part 
           422  cable exit end (housing top  402 /housing front  412 ) 
           424  cable exit end (housing bottom  404 /housing back  414 ) 
           500  first contact tube/female plug part 
           502  first contact tube retention edge 
           600  first insulator 
           700  second contact tube 
           702  second contact tube collar 
           704  front part of the second contact tube 
           800  second insulator 
           802  second insulator collar 
           900  third contact tube 
           902  third contact tube collar 
           904  third contact tube groove 
           1000  cable 
           1002  first wire 
           1004  second wire 
           1006  third wire 
           1008  strength member 
           1010  jacket 
           1012  core part 
           1014  adhesive 
           1022  end of first wire 
           1024  end of second wire 
           1026  end of third wire 
           1100  assembly ring