Connector assembly having insulating material with different dielectric constant

A connector assembly (1) includes a connector (10) including contact terminals (11), a cable (20) having conductors (221), and a wiring board (30) which electrically connects the connector (10) and the cable (20). The wiring board (30) includes first connecting portions (32) which are arranged at a first pitch (P1) and to which the contact terminals (11) are electrically connected, second connecting portions (33) which are arranged at a second pitch (P2) and to which the conductors (221) of the cable (20) are electrically connected, and wiring lines (34) which electrically connect the first connecting portions (32) and the second connecting portions (33). The first pitch (P1) is smaller than the second pitch (P2).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a connector assembly in which a cable and a connector are electrically connected via a wiring board.

The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-043835 filed on Mar. 1, 2010 and International Application PCT/JP2011/50317 filed on Jan. 12, 2011. The contents described and/or illustrated in the documents relevant to the Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-043835 and International Application PCT/JP2011/50317 will be incorporated herein by reference as a part of the description and/or drawings of the present application.

BACKGROUND ART

An electrical connector in which connection terminals disposed in a connector housing and conductors of a cable are directly connected is known (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1).

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

In the electrical connector described above, since the connection between the connection terminals and the conductors is realized by soldering or spot welding, it is necessary to secure a sufficient pitch between connection terminals in order to suppress short-circuiting between adjacent connection terminals. As a result, the electrical connector has a large size.

An object of the present invention is to provide a connector assembly capable of decreasing the size of a connector.

Means for Solving Problem

A connector assembly according to the present invention is a connector assembly comprising: a connector including contact terminals; a cable including conductors; and a wiring board which electrically connects the connector and the cable, wherein the wiring board includes: first connecting portions which are arranged at a first pitch and to which the contact terminals are electrically connected; second connecting portions which are arranged at a second pitch and to which the conductors of the cable are electrically connected; and wiring lines which electrically connect the first connecting portions and the second connecting portions, and the first pitch is smaller than the second pitch.

In the above-mentioned invention, the cable may include a cable exposed portion in which insulating wires including the conductors are exposed from a cable shielding layer and the conductors are exposed from the insulating wires, the connector assembly may further comprise: a connector shielding layer which is provided around the wiring board and the cable exposed portion; and an insulating material which is interposed between the connector shielding layer and the wiring board and which is interposed between the connector shielding layer and the cable exposed portion, a dielectric constant of a first portion of the insulating material may be different from a dielectric constant of a second portion of the insulation material, the first portion may surround the first connecting portions in the insulating material, and the second portion may surrounds the second connecting portions in the insulating material.

In the above-mentioned invention, the first portion of the insulating material may comprise a hot melt and a foam, and the second portion of the insulating material may comprise the hot melt.

In the above-mentioned invention, the first portion of the insulating material may comprise a first hot melt, and the second portion of the insulating material may comprise a second hot melt which has a dielectric constant different from that of the first hot melt.

In the above-mentioned invention, the second portion may include: a third portion which surrounds the second connecting portions; and a fourth portion which is adjacent to the third portion and which surrounds the cable exposed portion, and a dielectric constant of the third portion of the insulating material may be different from a dielectric constant of the fourth portion of the insulating material.

In the above-mentioned invention, the insulating material may include a solid insulating material and a gaseous insulating material, the gaseous insulating material may be interposed between the solid insulating material and the connector shielding layer, or the gaseous insulating material may be interposed between the solid insulating material and the wiring board and is interposed between the solid insulating material and the cable exposed portion, and a thickness of the first portion of the solid insulating material may be different from a thickness of the second portion of the solid insulating material.

In the above-mentioned invention, the second portion may include: a third portion which surrounds the second connecting portions; and a fourth portion which is adjacent to the third portion and which surrounds the cable exposed portion, and a thickness of the third portion of the solid insulating material may be different from a thickness of the fourth portion of the solid insulating material.

A connector assembly according to the present invention is a connector assembly comprising: a connector; a cable including a cable exposed portion in which insulating wires including conductors is exposed from a cable shielding layer and the conductors are exposed from the insulating wires; a wiring board which electrically connects the connector and the cable; a connector shielding layer which is provided around the wiring board and the cable exposed portion; and an insulating material which is interposed between the connector shielding layer and the wiring board and which is interposed between the connector shielding layer and the cable exposed portion, wherein the wiring board includes: first connecting portions to which the connector is electrically connected; second connecting portions to which the conductors of the cable are electrically connected, and wiring lines which electrically connect the first connecting portions and the second connecting portions, and a distance from the connector shielding layer to the first connecting portions is different from a distance from the connector shielding layer to the second connecting portions and the cable exposed portion.

In the above-mentioned invention, a distance from the connector shielding layer to the second connecting portions may be different from a distance from the connector shielding layer to the cable exposed portion.

Effect of Invention

According to the present invention, since the first pitch of the first connecting portions of the wiring board, to which the contact terminals are electrically connected, is smaller than the second pitch of the second connecting portions to which the conductors are electrically connected, it is possible to decrease the size of the connector.

BEST MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a connector assembly in the present embodiment,FIG. 2is a cross-sectional view along the line II-II ofFIG. 1,FIG. 3is a cross-sectional view along the line III-III ofFIG. 2, andFIGS. 4 and 5are cross-sectional views illustrating the modification examples of the connector assembly in the present embodiment.

The connector assembly1of the present embodiment has a configuration in which a transmission cable compliant with the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI: registered trademark) standards, for example, is connected to a connector. The connector assembly1is used when electrically connecting electronic apparatuses such as a television and a PC. The connector assembly1may be applied to Universal Serial Bus (USB) 3.0 connectors and Display Port connectors.

The connector assembly1of the present embodiment comprises a connector10, a cable20, a wiring board30, an insulating material40, a connector shielding layer50, and an insulating cover layer60, as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2.

The connector10is fitted to another connector (for example, a HDMI terminal) corresponding to the connector assembly1to thereby electrically connect the other connector and the cable20. The connector10is provided with a plurality of contact terminals11(seeFIGS. 2 and 3) which serves as electrical contact points with the other connector. Although nineteen contact terminals11are provided in the connector10of the present embodiment, the number of contact terminals11is not particularly limited. The number of contact terminals11can be appropriately set in accordance with the number of terminals of the other connector. InFIG. 3, only five contact terminals11of the nineteen contact terminals are illustrated, and the remaining fourteen contact terminals11are not illustrated.

The cable20includes a cable unit21in which two insulating wires22are covered together by a cable shielding layer23as illustrated inFIG. 2. Within the cable unit21, the insulating wires22are electromagnetically shielded from the outside by the cable shielding layer23. In the drawing, one insulating wire22of the two insulating wires22is not illustrated. The insulating wire22has a configuration in which a conductor221transmitting electrical signals is covered by a cable insulating layer222as illustrated in the drawing.

Although not particularly illustrated, a drain line for electrically connecting the cable shielding layer23and the ground (GND) is provided in the cable unit21.

The cable20of the present embodiment includes four such cable units21in total. Moreover, the cable20includes seven insulating wires in addition to the four cable units21. Thus, nineteen insulating wires22and drain lines in total are provided in the cable20, and these nineteen insulating wires22and drain lines are electrically connected to nineteen contact terminals11of the connector10via the wiring board30.

Here, as illustrated inFIG. 2, the insulating wire22is covered by the cable shielding layer23in a cable body portion20aof the cable20. In a cable exposed portion20bpositioned at the end portion of the cable body portion20a, the insulating wire22is exposed from the cable shielding layer23, and the conductor221is exposed from the insulating wire22. Moreover, in the cable exposed portion20b, the conductor221is connected by soldering to a second connecting portion33described later, of the wiring board30. As above, the impedance of the cable exposed portion20bexposed from the cable shielding layer23is likely to be affected by the external environment.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, the wiring board30includes an insulating substrate31, first connecting portions32, second connecting portions33, and wiring lines34.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, the insulating substrate31is a substrate composed of a glass epoxy-based resin, for example, and is disposed between the connector10and the cable20.

The first connecting portions32are configured to electrically connect the contact terminals11of the connector10and the wiring lines34. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the first connecting portions32are connected by soldering to the contact terminals11by solders32ain a state where the first connecting portions32are exposed from the insulating substrate31. In the present embodiment, since the first connecting portions32are exposed from the insulating substrate31, the impedance of the first connecting portions32is likely to be affected by the external environment.

Here, nineteen first connecting portions32are provided on the wiring board30so as to correspond to the nineteen contact terminals11of the connector10. In the present embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 3, nine first connecting portions32are disposed on one main surface31aof the insulating substrate31(five of the nine first connecting portions32are not illustrated). Ten first connecting portions (not illustrated) are disposed on the another main surface of the insulating substrate31. The number of first connecting portions32is not limited to19, and the number can be appropriately set in accordance with the number of contact terminals11.

Moreover, these first connecting portions32are arranged at a relatively small first pitch P1in the plan view illustrated inFIG. 3.

The second connecting portions33are configured to electrically connect the conductors221of the cable20and the wiring lines34. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the second connecting portions33are connected by soldering to the conductors221by solders33ain a state where the second connecting portions33are exposed from the insulating substrate31. Since the second connecting portions33are exposed from the insulating substrate31, the impedance of the second connecting portions33is likely to be affected by the external environment.

Here, nineteen second connecting portions33are provided on the wiring board30so as to correspond to the nineteen insulating wires22and drain lines of the cable20. In the present embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 3, nine second connecting portions33are disposed on one main surface31aof the insulating substrate31(five of the nine second connecting portions33are not illustrated). Ten second connecting portions (not illustrated) are disposed on the another main surface of the insulating substrate31. The number of second connecting portions33is not limited to19, and the number can be appropriately set in accordance with the number of insulating wires22or drain lines of the cable20.

Moreover, these second connecting portions33are arranged at a second pitch P2in the plan view illustrated inFIG. 3. As illustrated in the drawing, the second pitch P2of the second connecting portions33is relatively larger than the first pitch P1of the first connecting portions32(P1<P2). As above, by arranging the second connecting portions33at the relatively large second pitch P2, it is possible to suppress the short-circuiting of the conductors221when connecting the conductors221and the second connecting portions33.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, the wiring lines34are configured to electrically connect the first connecting portions32and the second connecting portions33. In the wiring board30of the present embodiment, nineteen wiring lines34are provided so as to correspond to the nineteen first connecting portions32and the nineteen second connecting portions33. The number of wiring lines34is not limited to19, and the number can be appropriately set in accordance with the number of first connecting portions32and second connecting portions33.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the wiring lines34are embedded in the insulating substrate31. One end of the wiring line34is exposed from the insulating substrate31and connected to the lower portion of the first connecting portion32, and the another end thereof is exposed from the insulating substrate31and connected to the lower portion of the second connecting portion33.

As above, in the present embodiment, since the wiring lines34are embedded in the insulating substrate31, the impedance of the wiring lines34is unlikely to be affected by the external environment.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the pitch of the wiring lines34changes continuously between the first pitch P1of the first connecting portions32and the second pitch P2of the second connecting portions33as in the plan view illustrated inFIG. 3. That is, these wiring lines34electrically connect the first connecting portions32and the second connecting portions33while switching the pitch thereof between the first pitch P1of the first connecting portions32and the second pitch P2of the second connecting portions33.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the insulating material40surrounds the end portion of the cable20and the wiring board30to protect the end portion of the cable20and the wiring board30.

The insulating material40includes a first portion A configured to surround the first connecting portions32of the wiring board30and a second portion B configured to surround the wiring lines34and the cable exposed portion20b. The second portion B of the insulating material40may be configured to surround at least the second connecting portions33of the wiring board30and the cable exposed portion20b.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the first portion A of the insulating material40comprises a foam41and a hot melt42. On the other hand, as illustrated in the drawing, the second portion B of the insulating material40comprises only the hot melt42.

As illustrated in the drawing, the foam41is stacked on the first connecting portions32. An expanded polypropylene (PP) tape may be used as the foam41. The foam41may be one obtained by expanding polyethylene (PE), polytetrafluorotthylene (PTFE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), acrylic resin, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or the like.

Since the foam41contains air therein, the foam has a smaller dielectric constant (a dielectric constant close to that of air) than a hot melt42(described later). Specifically, the dielectric constant (εeff) of the foam41is preferably smaller than 3 (εeff<3), or the dielectric tangent tanδ of the foam41is preferably smaller than 0.01 (tanδ<0.01).

In the present embodiment, although the foam41is stacked on the solders32athat connect the first connecting portions32and the contact terminals11, the present invention is not particularly limited to this. For example, the foam41may be stacked on portion of the connector shielding layer50facing the first connecting portions32, and the hot melt42may be interposed between the foam41and the first connecting portions32.

The hot melt42is configured to surround the wiring board30and the cable exposed portion20bso as to fix the wiring board30and the cable20. As described above, since the foam41is stacked on the first connecting portions32, the hot melt42in the first portion A surrounds the wiring board30(the first connecting portions32) via the foam41. On the other hand, the hot melt42in the second portion B directly surrounds the wiring board30and the cable exposed portion20b. The hot melt42may be one which has excellent heat resistance and mechanical strength, and the hot melt42may be composed of polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like, for example. Instead of the hot melt42, another insulating material may be used so as to surround the wiring board30and the cable exposed portion20b.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the foam41(air) is contained in only the first portion A of the insulating material40, a first dielectric constant E1of the first portion A of the insulating material40is relatively smaller than a second dielectric constant E2of the second portion B of the insulating material40(the first dielectric constant is close to the dielectric constant of the air).

In such an insulating material40, the wiring board30and the cable exposed portion20bare surrounded (disposed) by the following method. First, the tape-shaped foam41is disposed in the first connecting portions32. Subsequently, the wiring board30and the cable exposed portion20bare set on a die (not illustrated in particular), and the molten hot melt42is flowed therein. Subsequently, the hot melt42is cooled and solidified, whereby the insulating material40is disposed.

In the present embodiment, although the foam41(air) is contained in the first portion A of the insulating material40so that the first dielectric constant E1of the first portion A is smaller than the second dielectric constant E2of the second portion B, the present invention is not particularly limited to this. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 4, the first portion A of the insulating material40may comprise a first hot melt42a, and the second portion B of the insulating material40may comprise a second hot melt42b. In this case, the dielectric constant of the first hot melt42ais different from the dielectric constant of the second hot melt42b. For example, the dielectric constant of the first hot melt42ais made relatively smaller than the dielectric constant of the second hot melt42bso that the first dielectric constant E1of the first portion A is smaller than the second dielectric constant E2of the second portion B.

Returning toFIG. 2, the connector shielding layer50surrounds the insulating material40, and the wiring board30and the cable exposed portion20bare electromagnetically shielded from the outside via the insulating material40. Although not illustrated in particular, one end of the connector shielding layer50is soldered to the metal shell of the connector10and is electrically connected to the ground (GND) via the metal shell.

Such a connector shielding layer50is formed of tape-shaped copper (Cu), for example. The material of the connector shielding layer50is not particularly limited as long as it has conductive properties.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the insulating cover layer60is configured to surround the connector shielding layer50and protect the connector shielding layer50, the wiring board30, and the cable exposed portion20b. The insulating cover layer60is composed of a polypropylene-based resin or an olefin-based resin, for example.

Next, the effect of the present embodiment will be described.

In the present embodiment, the contact terminals11and the conductors221are connected via the wiring board30so that the pitch (first pitch P1) of the contact terminals11is made relatively smaller than the pitch (second pitch P2) of the conductors221. Thus, it is possible to decrease the size of the connector10.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, matching between the impedance of the first connecting portions32, the impedance of the second connecting portions33, and the impedance of the cable exposed portion20bis promoted so that the transmission characteristics of the connector assembly1are improved.

Specifically, as illustrated inFIG. 2, the first portion A of the insulating material40comprises the foam41and the hot melt42, and the second portion B of the insulating material40comprises the hot melt42so that the first dielectric constant E1is made relatively smaller than the second dielectric constant E2(E1<E2). In this way, the decrease of the impedance of the first connecting portions32is suppressed, and the matching between the impedance of the first connecting portions32, the impedance of the second connecting portions33, and the impedance of the cable exposed portion20bis promoted.

Furthermore, the second portion B may be configured to include: a third portion C that surrounds the wiring lines34and the second connecting portions33; and a fourth portion D that is adjacent to the third portion C so as to surround a portion of the cable exposed portion20b. The third portion C of the insulating material40and the fourth portion D of the insulating material40may be composed of materials having different dielectric constants. The third portion C of the insulating material40may be a portion which is configured to surround at least the second connecting portions33of the wiring board30. Moreover, “a portion of the cable exposed portion20b” as mentioned herein is a portion of the cable exposed portion20bwhich is not in contact with the second connecting portions33.

For example, as illustrated inFIG. 5, the first portion A of the insulating material40may comprise the foam41and the first hot melt42a. The third portion C of the insulating material40may comprise only the first hot melt42a. The fourth portion D of the insulating material40may comprise the second hot melt42bhaving a dielectric constant different from that of the first hot melt42a. In this way, since the matching between the impedance of three portions of the first connecting portions32, the second connecting portions33, and the cable exposed portion20bcan be promoted, it is possible to further improve the transmission characteristics of the connector assembly1.

In the present embodiment, although the insulating material40is configured so that the first dielectric constant E1is relatively smaller than the second dielectric constant E2, the present invention is not particularly limited to this. For example, if the pitch P1of the first connecting portions32decreases, since the impedance relation may be reversed, the insulating material may be configured so that the first dielectric constant E1is relatively larger than the second dielectric constant E2depending on the structure of the first connecting portions32, the second connecting portions33and the cable exposed portion20betc. and the impedance matching in the connector assembly is promoted.

Next, a second embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6is a cross-sectional view of a connector assembly in the present embodiment,FIG. 7is a perspective view illustrating a connector shielding layer of the connector assembly in the present embodiment,FIG. 8is a cross-sectional view along the line VIII-VIII line ofFIG. 6, andFIG. 9andFIG. 10are cross-sectional views illustrating modification examples of the connector assembly in the present embodiment.

A connector assembly1a of the present embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment in terms of the configuration of an insulating material70and the configuration of a connector shielding layer80, and the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. In the following description, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described, and the same configurations as those of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be provided.

As illustrated inFIG. 7, the connector shielding layer80of the present embodiment comprises a metal shell81.

The metal shell81includes: shell body portions81aand81bin which the wiring board30and the cable exposed portion20bare accommodated; a shell fixing portion81cthat is bent inward so as to fix the cable20; and a shell connecting portion81dthat connects the shell body portion81aand the shell fixing portion81c. The metal shell81is formed by bending a plate composed of stainless, for example.

In the present embodiment, since the connector shielding layer80comprises the metal shell81, it is possible to fix the cable20without via the insulating material70as described above. Moreover, it is possible to fix the connector10and the wiring board30by connecting the shell body portions81aand81bto the connector10. In this way, even when a gaseous insulating material72described later is contained in the insulating material70, the wiring board30and the cable20are fixed inside the connector assembly1a.

As illustrated inFIG. 8, the insulating material70of the present embodiment includes a solid insulating material71and a gaseous insulating material72.

The solid insulating material71is formed of a hot melt made from polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like, for example, and forms a solid insulating layer73.

As illustrated in the drawing, the solid insulating layer73directly surrounds the wiring board30and the cable exposed portion20b. In the present embodiment, a first thickness H1of the solid insulating layer73in the first portion A is relatively smaller than a second thickness H2of the solid insulating layer73in the second portion B (H1<H2).

The gaseous insulating material72is formed of air, for example, and is interposed between the solid insulating material71and the connector shielding layer80to form a gaseous insulating layer74. Moreover, the gaseous insulating material72is not particularly limited to air as long as it is formed of gas.

The thickness relation of the gaseous insulating layer74is reverse to that of the solid insulating layer73, and a third thickness H3of the first portion A is relatively larger than a fourth thickness H4of the second portion B.

As above, in the present embodiment, the first portion A of the insulating material70contains a larger amount of air (gas) than the second portion B of the insulating material70, and the first dielectric constant E1of the first portion A is relatively smaller than the second dielectric constant E2of the second portion B (E1<E2). Thus, the decrease of the impedance of the first connecting portions32is suppressed, and the matching between the impedance of the first connecting portions32, the impedance of the second connecting portions33, and the impedance of the cable exposed portion20bis promoted. In this way, it is possible to improve the transmission characteristics of the connector assembly1a.

In the present embodiment, although the gaseous insulating material72is interposed between the solid insulating material71and the connector shielding layer80, the gaseous insulating material72may be interposed between the wiring board30and the solid insulating material71and may be interposed between the cable exposed portion20band the solid insulating material71, as illustrated inFIG. 9.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, although the first thickness H1is relatively smaller than the second thickness H2, the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and the solid insulating layer73may be formed so that the first thickness H1is larger than the second thickness H2.

Moreover, as illustrated inFIG. 10, the second portion B of the insulating material70may be configured to include: a third portion C that surrounds the wiring lines34and the second connecting portions33; and a fourth portion D that is adjacent to the third portion C so as to surround the cable exposed portion20b. A fifth thickness H5of the third portion C of the solid insulating layer73may be different from a sixth thickness H6of the fourth portion D of the solid insulating layer73. For example, the solid insulating layer73may be formed so that the fifth thickness H5is smaller than the sixth thickness H6(H5<H6). The third portion C may be a portion which is configured to surround at least the second connecting portions33of the wiring board30. Moreover, “a portion of the cable exposed portion20b” as mentioned herein is a portion of the cable exposed portion20bwhich is not in contact with the second connecting portions33.

As above, in the solid insulating layer73, the first thickness H1of the first portion A, the fifth thickness H5of the third portion C, and the sixth thickness H6of the fourth portion D may be made different from each other so that the matching between the impedance of three portions of the first connecting portions32, the second connecting portions33, and the cable exposed portion20bis promoted. In this way, it is possible to further improve the transmission characteristics of the connector assembly1a.

Next, a third embodiment will be described.

FIG. 11is a cross-sectional view of a connector assembly in the present embodiment, andFIG. 12is a cross-sectional view illustrating a modification example of the connector assembly in the present embodiment.

A connector assembly1bof the present embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment in terms of the configuration of an insulating material90and the configuration of a connector shielding layer80, and the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. In the following description, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described, and the same configurations as those of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be provided.

The insulating material90of the present embodiment comprises only one kind of hot melt91.

The connector shielding layer80comprises the metal shell81similarly to the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, in the shell body portion81bin which the wiring board30and the cable exposed portion20bare accommodated, a shield plate82is stacked in a portion (inner surface) corresponding to the second connecting portions33of the wiring board30and the cable exposed portion20b. The shield plate82is formed of tape-shaped copper, for example.

In the connector assembly1bof the present embodiment, an eighth thickness H8of a portion of the connector shielding layer80corresponding to the second connecting portions33and the cable exposed portion20bis relatively larger than a seventh thickness H7of a portion of the connector shielding layer80corresponding to the first connecting portions32(H7<H8).

That is, in the connector assembly1bof the present embodiment, the distance L1from the connector shielding layer80to the first connecting portions32is relatively smaller than the distance L2from the connector shielding layer80to the second connecting portions33and the cable exposed portion20b(L1>L2). The impedance of the second connecting portions33and the impedance of the cable exposed portion20bare decreased. In this way, it is possible to promote the matching between the impedance of the first connecting portions32, the impedance of the second connecting portions33, and the impedance of the cable exposed portion20band to improve the transmission characteristics of the connector assembly1b.

In the present embodiment, although the shield plate82is stacked on the metal shell81, the present invention is not particularly limited to this. For example, the metal shell81may be formed integrally so that the eighth thickness H8of the portion of the connector shielding layer80corresponding to the second connecting portions33and the cable exposed portion20bis relatively larger than the seventh thickness H7of the portion of the connector shielding layer80corresponding to the first connecting portions32.

Alternatively, the metal shell81may be formed so that the portion of the connector shielding layer80corresponding to the second connecting portions33and the cable exposed portion20bprotrude inward in a convex shape more than the portion of the connector shielding layer80corresponding to the first connecting portions32.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, although the eighth thickness H8is relatively larger than the seventh thickness H7, the present invention is not particularly limited to this. The eighth thickness H8may be made relatively smaller than the seventh thickness H7, and the distance L2from the connector shielding layer80to the second connecting portions33and the cable exposed portion20bmay be made relatively larger than the distance L1from the connector shielding layer80to the first connecting portions32.

Moreover, the connector shielding layer80may be configured so that a distance L3from the connector shielding layer80to the second connecting portions33is different from a distance L4from the connector shielding layer80to the cable exposed portion20b. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 12, a shield plate82amay be further stacked on a portion (inner surface) of the shell body portion81bcorresponding to the cable exposed portion20b, and the distance L4from the connector shielding layer80to the cable exposed portion20bmay be made relatively smaller than the distance L3from the connector shielding layer80to the second connecting portions33(L3>L4).

As above, the distance L1from the connector shielding layer80to the first connecting portions32, the distance L3from the connector shielding layer80to the second connecting portions32, and the distance L4from the connector shielding layer80to the cable exposed portion20bmay be made different from each other so that the matching between the impedance of three portions of the first connecting portions32, the second connecting portions33, and the cable exposed portion20bcan be promoted. In this way, it is possible to further improve the transmission characteristics of the connector assembly1b.

The embodiments described herein above are presented in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not presented to limit the present invention. Thus, the respective elements disclosed in the above embodiments are intended to cover all design alterations belonging to the technical scope of the present invention and equivalents thereof.

Moreover, in the connector assembly1baccording to the third embodiment, foam may be stacked on the first connecting portions32similarly to the first embodiment. In this way, the impedance matching of the connector assembly1bcan be further improved.

EXAMPLES

The advantageous effects of the present invention were verified through examples which further substantiate the present invention and comparative examples thereof. The following examples and comparative examples are presented in order to verify the advantageous effects of improving the transmission characteristics of the connector assembly of the embodiments described above.

FIG. 13is a graph illustrating the impedance of Example and Comparative Example for comparison.

In Example 1, a sample having the same structure as the first embodiment described above was prepared. In this sample, a polypropylene tape expanded to have a dielectric constant of about 2.0 was used as foam, polyamide having a dielectric constant of 3.3 to 3.6 was used as a hot melt, and a copper tape was used as a connector shielding layer.

The impedance from the connector to the cable was measured for the sample of Example. For the impedance measurement, a sampling oscilloscope (TDS8000, product of Japan Tektronix INC.) was used. The measurement results of Example are illustrated inFIG. 13. The vertical axis ofFIG. 13represents impedance (Ω). Moreover, the horizontal axis ofFIG. 13represents signal transmission time (nano seconds) which signifies a portion of the connector assembly. 41.0 nano seconds signifies the connector, about 41.2 nano seconds signifies the first connecting portion, and 41.4 to 41.5 nano seconds signifies a portion between the second connecting portion and the cable exposed portion.

Comparative Example 1

In Comparative Example 1, a sample having the same structure as Example 1 was prepared except that the insulating material comprises only a hot melt. The impedance was measured for the sample of Comparative Example by the same method as Example 1. The measurement results of Comparative Example are illustrated inFIG. 13.

In Comparative Example 1, as illustrated inFIG. 13, the impedance is extremely low in the first connecting portion. This is considered to be attributable to the fact that only the hot melt having a larger dielectric constant than air is stacked on the first connecting portion.

On the other hand, in Example 1, as illustrated inFIG. 13, the decrease of the impedance in the first connecting portion is suppressed as compared to Comparative Example 1. This is considered to be attributable to the fact that since the foam and the hot melt surrounded the first connecting portion in Example 1, the first dielectric constant E1in the first portion of the insulating material decreases, and the decrease of the impedance in the first connecting portion is suppressed.

As above, it can be understood that since the first portion of the insulating material comprises the foam and the hot melt, and the second portion of the insulating material comprises the hot melt so that the first dielectric constant E1is made relatively smaller than the second dielectric constant E2, the matching between the impedance of the first connecting portion, and the second connecting portion and the cable exposed portion is promoted.

EXPLANATIONS OF LETTERS OR NUMERALS

1,1a,1b: connector assembly

222: cable insulating layer

30: wiring board

32: first connecting portion

33: second connecting portion

34: wiring line

42: hot melt

50,80: connector shielding layer

81: metal shell

60: insulating cover layer