Cable connection structure and cable arranging part

A cable arranging part of the present invention has a fixed shape and comprises a position determining portion, a plurality of cable through holes, and an opening. In a state in which the position determining portion is secured to a position reference portion, the cable arranging part is in a predetermined position on a substrate. The cable through holes become perpendicular to a line of the electrodes and parallel to the substrate in the predetermined position. The opening is provided somewhere midway through the cable through holes and a ground cable through hole. As for the sizes of the cable through holes in a perpendicular direction to the substrate in the predetermined position, the size of the cable through hole on the side where the electrodes are located relative to the opening is greater than the size of the cable through hole on the side opposite to the electrodes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a cable connection structure and a cable arranging part which are used in connecting a plurality of coaxial cables to a substrate.

BACKGROUND ART

As a method of arranging a plurality of coaxial cables, the techniques, for example, described in Japanese Patent Applications Laid Open Nos. 2011-86460 (hereinafter referred to as “Patent Literature 1”), 2014-103130 (hereinafter referred to as “Patent Literature 2”), and 2008-166251 (hereinafter referred to as “Patent Literature 3”) are known. InFIG. 1, FIG. 1 of Patent Literature 1 is depicted. The abstract of Patent Literature 1 states that “A terminal processed cable array according to the present invention is a terminal processed cable array including a plurality of cables and a terminal holding member formed of molded thermoset resin which is not thermally hardened, in which the cables are arranged at particular pitch intervals with the terminals thereof being aligned, terminal-side conductors forming the cables are exposed, and the exposed conductors are fixed at the particular pitch intervals by the terminal holding member”.

InFIG. 2, FIG. 1 of Patent Literature 2 is depicted. The abstract of Patent Literature 2 states that “A cable connection structure includes a positioning unit11for positioning central conductors3in a state in which internal insulators4of multi-conductor coaxial cables2are fixed between signal electrodes8and a ground electrode9of a substrate7having the signal electrodes8to which the central conductors3of the multi-conductor coaxial cable2are connected and the ground electrode9to which external conductors5of the multi-conductor coaxial cable2are connected. The positioning unit11is formed of an adhesive nonconducting material which is hardened after placing the positions of the internal insulators4fixed to the positioning unit11in alignment”.

FIG. 1(A) of Patent Literature 3 is depicted inFIG. 3A, and FIG. 1(B) of Patent Literature 3 is depicted inFIG. 3B. The abstract of Patent Literature 3 states that “In a multi-conductor cable harness10, coaxial cables11for signal transmission, cables11A for power supply, and a ground cable40having a central conductor44, an external conductor42placed on the outer periphery of the central conductor44, and an outer sheath41placed on the outer periphery of the external conductor42are arranged in parallel, the outside diameter of an outer sheath12of each coaxial cable11and the outside diameter of an outer sheath41of the ground cable40are approximately equal to each other, the outside diameter of an external conductor13of each coaxial cable11, the outside diameter of an external conductor13A of each cable11A, and the outside diameter of the external conductor42of the ground cable40are approximately equal to one another, and the external conductors13of the coaxial cables11, the external conductors13A of the cables11A, and the external conductor42of the ground cable40are conductively connected to common ground bars20and30”.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The techniques described in Patent Literatures 1 and 2 are techniques of arranging a plurality of cables covered with coatings in a plane (performing the arrangement of cables) and performing terminal processing collectively thereon. However, since a sheet-like object (a polyimide sheet in Patent Literature 1 and a laminated tape in Patent Literature 2) is used in arranging the cables, the above techniques have the drawbacks of, for example, difficulty in determining a cable arrangement pitch (a space between one cable and another) accurately and difficulty in handling the sheet-like object while maintaining the planar state because of the flexibility of the sheet-like object. The techniques described in Patent Literature 3 are not techniques of arranging a plurality of cables in a plane (performing the arrangement of cables) and performing terminal processing collectively thereon, but a technique of connecting external conductors of coaxial cables individually subjected to terminal processing and a ground cable and a technique of positioning central conductors.

In view of the circumstances described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a cable connection structure and a cable arranging part which facilitate processing from a process of arranging a plurality of cables covered with coatings in a plane to a process of connecting the cables to electrodes on a substrate.

A first cable connection structure of the present invention is a cable connection structure comprising a cable arranging part for connecting a ground cable and N (N is an integer greater than or equal to 2) coaxial cables to electrodes on a substrate in a state in which the ground cable and the N coaxial cables are arranged in a plane parallel to the substrate. The substrate comprises N electrodes, a ground electrode, and a position reference portion. The N electrodes are arranged in a line. The ground electrode is placed in parallel to the line of the electrodes and has a band-like shape. The position reference portion is a portion serving as the reference with respect to which the positional relationship on the substrate is determined.

The cable arranging part has a fixed shape and comprises a position determining portion, N cable through holes, a ground cable through hole, and an opening. In a state in which the position determining portion is secured to the position reference portion, the cable arranging part is in a predetermined position on the substrate. The N cable through holes become perpendicular to the line of the electrodes and parallel to the substrate in the predetermined position and are holes into and through which the coaxial cables are to be inserted and passed. The ground cable through hole becomes perpendicular to the line of the electrodes and parallel to the substrate in the predetermined position and is a hole into and through which the ground cable is to be inserted and passed. The opening is provided somewhere midway through the N cable through holes and the ground cable through hole.

As for the sizes of the cable through holes in a perpendicular direction to the substrate in the predetermined position, the size of the cable through hole on the side where the electrodes are located relative to the opening is greater than the size of the cable through hole on the side opposite to the electrodes. The N coaxial cables are in a state in which the N coaxial cables are fixed with an adhesive injected from the opening in a state in which the N coaxial cables are inserted into the cable through holes from the side opposite to the electrodes in the predetermined position and passed therethrough. The ground cable is in a state in which the ground cable is fixed with the adhesive injected from the opening in a state in which the ground cable is inserted into the ground cable through hole from the side opposite to the ground electrode in the predetermined position and passed therethrough. In a state in which the cable arranging part is placed in the predetermined position, external conductors of the coaxial cables are connected to the ground electrode, each of central conductors of the coaxial cables is connected to any one of the N electrodes, and a conductor wire of the ground cable is connected to the ground electrode.

A second cable connection structure of the present invention is a cable connection structure comprising a cable arranging part for connecting M (M is an integer greater than or equal to 2) signal cables, each being a coated single-core conductor wire, to electrodes on a substrate by arranging the M signal cables in a plane parallel to the substrate. The substrate comprises M electrodes and a position reference portion. The M electrodes are arranged in a line with a space left therebetween, the space previously set for each of the M electrodes. The position reference portion is a portion serving as the reference with respect to which the positional relationship on the substrate is determined.

The cable arranging part has a fixed shape and comprises a position determining portion, M cable through holes, and an opening. In a state in which the position determining portion is secured to the position reference portion, the cable arranging part is in a predetermined position on the substrate. The M cable through holes are holes into and through which the signal cables are to be inserted and passed, and the M cable through holes become perpendicular to the line of the electrodes and parallel to the substrate in the predetermined position. The opening is provided somewhere midway through the M cable through holes.

As for the sizes of the cable through holes in a perpendicular direction to the substrate in the predetermined position, the size of the cable through hole on the side where the electrodes are located relative to the opening is greater than the size of the cable through hole on the side opposite to the electrodes. The M signal cables are in a state in which the M signal cables are fixed with an adhesive injected from the opening in a state in which the M signal cables are inserted into the cable through holes from the side opposite to the electrodes in the predetermined position and passed therethrough. In a state in which the cable arranging part is placed in the predetermined position, each of the conductor wires of the signal cables is connected to any one of the M electrodes.

With the cable connection structure and the cable arranging part of the present invention, since the cable arranging part has a fixed shape, it is possible to perform terminal processing operations such as inserting and passing the coaxial cables or the signal cables into and through the cable arranging part and removing coatings with ease. Moreover, by securing the position determining portion to the position reference portion, it is possible to determine the position of the cable arranging part on the substrate. Furthermore, as for the sizes of the cable through holes in a perpendicular direction to the substrate in the predetermined position, the size of the cable through hole on the side where the electrodes are located relative to the opening is greater than the size of the cable through hole on the side opposite to the electrodes, which makes it easy to perform insertion of the coaxial cables or the signal cables even when the opening is provided. Therefore, processing from a process of arranging a plurality of cables covered with coatings in a plane to a process of connecting the cables to the electrodes on the substrate becomes easier than the existing processing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. Incidentally, component elements having the same function will be identified with the same numeral and overlapping explanations will be omitted.

First Embodiment

InFIG. 4, a perspective view of a cable arranging part of a first embodiment is depicted.FIGS. 5A to 5Eare diagrams depicting the structure of the cable arranging part of the first embodiment in detail.FIGS. 6A and 6Bare diagrams for depicting the shapes of cable through holes of the cable arranging part and a position in which an opening is formed.FIG. 6Ais a diagram depicting a first example of the shapes of the cable through holes, andFIG. 6Bis a diagram depicting a second example of the shapes of the cable through holes.FIG. 7is a diagram depicting the procedures of a cable connecting method.FIGS. 8A to 8Eare diagrams depicting a state in which coaxial cables and ground cables are attached to the cable arranging part and coatings, external conductors, and internal insulating layers are removed.FIG. 9is a perspective view depicting a state in which the coaxial cables and the ground cables are attached to the cable arranging part and subjected to terminal processing.FIG. 10is a perspective view depicting a state in which the cable arranging part in the state depicted inFIG. 9is attached to a substrate, andFIGS. 11A to 11Dare diagrams depicting the state in which the cable arranging part in the state depicted inFIG. 9is attached to the substrate.FIGS. 12A and 12Bare diagrams depicting how a position determining portion is secured to a position reference portion when the cable arranging part is attached to the substrate.FIG. 12Ais a diagram depicting a state before the attachment of the cable arranging part to the substrate, andFIG. 12Bis a diagram depicting a state after the attachment of the cable arranging part to the substrate. In order to explain the orientation of the drawings depicted inFIGS. 5A to 5E,FIGS. 8A to 8E, andFIGS. 11A to 11D, a face of the cable arranging part close to the ends of the coaxial cables and the ground cables (a face close to electrodes when the cable arranging part is attached to the substrate) is regarded as a front face. In this case,FIG. 5Ais a rear view,FIG. 5Bis a plan view,FIG. 5Cis a front view,FIG. 5Dis a bottom view, andFIG. 5Eis a left-side view.FIG. 8Ais a rear view,FIG. 8Bis a plan view,FIG. 8Cis a front view,FIG. 8Dis a bottom view, andFIG. 8Eis a left-side view.FIG. 11Ais a plan view,FIG. 11Bis a rear view,FIG. 11Cis a bottom view, andFIG. 11Dis a right-side view.

A cable connection structure of the first embodiment is a cable connection structure having a cable arranging part100for connecting ground cables2401and2402and N (N is an integer greater than or equal to 2 and n is an integer greater than or equal to 1 but smaller than or equal to N) coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nto electrodes3201, . . . ,320Nand340on a substrate310in a state in which the ground cables2401and2402and the N coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nare arranged in a plane parallel to the substrate310. The substrate310comprises the N electrodes3201, . . . ,320N, the ground electrode340, and position reference portions3161and3162. The N electrodes3201, . . . ,320Nare arranged in a line with spaces left therebetween, each of the spaces previously set. The space left between the electrodes is determined by the characteristics of circuits to be formed on the substrate with consideration given to the type of a signal, for example, and the electrodes do not have to be spaced uniformly. The ground electrode340is placed in parallel to the line of the electrodes3201, . . . ,320Nand has a band-like shape. The position reference portions3161and3162are portions serving as the reference with respect to which the positional relationship on the substrate310is determined. In the example depicted inFIGS. 11A to 11DandFIGS. 12A and 12B, the position reference portions3161and3162are holes provided in the substrate310.

The cable arranging part100has a fixed shape and comprises position determining portions1601and1602, N cable through holes (1101,1201), . . . , (110N,120N), ground cable through holes (1301,1401) and (1302,1402), and an opening150. Having “the fixed shape” means that the cable arranging part100maintains a fixed shape in a series of processes of attaching the coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nand the ground cables2401and2402without being deformed by gravity when the orientation of the cable arranging part100is changed. In a state in which the position determining portions1601and1602are secured to the position reference portions3161and3162, the cable arranging part100is in a predetermined position on the substrate310. In the example depicted inFIGS. 5A to 5E,FIGS. 8A to 8E,FIGS. 11A to 11D, andFIGS. 12A and 12B, the position determining portions1601and1602are protrusions which are inserted into the position reference portions3161and3162and the height of the protrusions is lower than the thickness of the substrate310. As depicted inFIGS. 12A and 12B, as a result of the position determining portions1601and1602being inserted into the position reference portions3161and3162, the cable arranging part100is in the predetermined position on the substrate310.

The N cable through holes (1101,1201), . . . , (110N,120N) are holes into and through which the coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nare to be inserted and passed, and the N cable through holes (1101,1201), . . . , (110N,120N) become perpendicular to the line of the electrodes3201, . . . ,320Nand parallel to the substrate310in the predetermined position. “In the predetermined position” means being in a state in which the position determining portions1601and1602are secured to the position reference portions3161and3162. The N cable through holes (1101,1201), . . . , (110N,120N) are formed with spaces left therebetween, the spaces previously set for each of the spaces, in such a way as to correspond to the N electrodes3201, . . . ,320N. The cable through holes (110n,120n) each have a diameter which is slightly greater than the diameter of the coaxial cable220nsuch that the coaxial cable220ncan be inserted into and passed through the cable through holes (110n,120n), and, as depicted inFIGS. 4, 5A, and 5C, for example, the cable through holes (110n,120n) may be joined to the adjacent cable through holes (110n−1,120n−1) and (110n+1,120n+1).

The ground cable through holes (1301,1401) and (1302,1402) become perpendicular to the line of the electrodes3201, . . . ,320Nand parallel to the substrate310in the predetermined position and are holes into and through which the ground cables2401and2402are to be inserted and passed. The opening150is provided somewhere midway through the N cable through holes (1101,1201), (110N,120N) and the ground cable through holes (1301,1401) and (1302,1402).

As for the sizes of the cable through holes (1101,1201), . . . , (110N,120N) in a perpendicular direction to the substrate310in the predetermined position, the size of the cable through hole on the side where the electrodes3201, . . . ,320Nare located relative to the opening150is greater than the size of the cable through hole on the side opposite to the electrodes3201, . . . ,320N. InFIGS. 4 and 5A to 5E, in the predetermined position, the cable through hole120nis on the side where the electrode320nis located relative to the opening150and the cable through hole110nis on the side opposite to the electrode320n.FIGS. 6A and 6Bare diagrams for depicting the shapes of the cable through holes of the cable arranging part and a position in which the opening is formed.FIGS. 6A and 6Bare diagrams of the cable through holes (110n,120n) viewed from the side (the side where the cable through hole110nis located) opposite to the electrode320nrelative to the opening150, and a lower side is a side close to the substrate310. In these drawings, the adjacent cable through holes (110n−1,120n−1) and (110n+1,120n+1) are omitted.FIG. 6Ais a diagram depicting a first example of the shapes of the cable through holes (110n,120n). In the predetermined position, the distances between the inner surfaces of the cable through holes (110n,120n), the inner surfaces (the lower side in the drawing) close to the substrate310, and the substrate310are fixed (equal), and, as for the inner surface (an upper side in the drawing) away from the substrate310, the inner surface of the cable through hole120non the side where the electrode320nis located relative to the opening150is farther away from the substrate310than the inner surface of the cable through hole110non the side opposite to the electrode320n. That is, the cable through hole120nis longer than the cable through hole110nin a perpendicular direction (with respect to the substrate310).

Moreover,FIG. 6Bis a diagram depicting a second example of the shapes of the cable through holes (110n,120n). In this example, the size in a horizontal direction with respect to the substrate310is changed from the size inFIG. 6A. In the example ofFIG. 6B, in the predetermined position, the size of the cable through hole120nin a parallel direction to the substrate310nthe cable through hole120non the side where the electrode320nis located relative to the opening150, is smaller than the size of the cable through hole110non the side opposite to the electrode320n. In both ofFIGS. 6A and 6B, insertion of the coaxial cable220nis performed in such a way that the coaxial cable220nis first inserted into the cable through hole110nand, since the opening150is present somewhere midway through the cable through holes (110n,120n), when the coaxial cable220nis inserted into the cable through hole120nafter being passed through the opening150, it is impossible to insert the coaxial cable220nsmoothly by holding the end thereof. This makes it more difficult to perform insertion into the cable through hole120nthan insertion into the cable through hole110n. Furthermore, in an attaching step (S140) which will be described later, a high degree of accuracy of vertical positioning of the substrate310is not particularly required because press is performed to solder a central conductor221nto the electrode320n. On the other hand, horizontal positioning of the substrate310is required to be performed with accuracy. Therefore, the shapes depicted inFIGS. 6A and 6Bare suitable in order to make it easy to perform insertion into the cable through hole120nwhile maintaining the accuracy of horizontal positioning.

The cable arranging part100is placed in the position of an arranging part attaching portion317of the substrate310. Thus, it is necessary simply to provide a recessed portion170in a part of the cable arranging part100in which the cable arranging part100makes contact with the arranging part attaching portion317and adjust the distance between the cable through holes (1101,1201), . . . , (110N,120N) and the ground cable through holes1401and1402and the substrate310. This adjustment of the distance makes it possible to adjust clearance between external conductors2231, . . . ,223Nof the coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nand conductor wires2411and2412of the ground cables2401and2402and the ground electrode340in the predetermined position. This clearance simply has to be set to clearance suitable to soldering.

A method of forming the cable connection structure has, as depicted inFIG. 7, a cable inserting and passing step (S110), a bonding step (S120), a terminal processing step (S130), and an attaching step (S140). In the cable inserting and passing step (S110), the coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nare inserted into and passed through the cable through holes (1101,1201), . . . , (110N,120N) of the cable arranging part100from the side where the cable through holes1101, . . . ,110Nare located. Moreover, the ground cables2401and2402are inserted into and passed through the ground cable through holes (1301,1401) and (1302,1402) from the side where the ground cable through holes1301and1302are located.

In the bonding step (S120), an adhesive is injected from the opening150in a state in which the ground cables2401and2402and the N coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nare passed through the ground cable through holes (1301,1401) and (1302,1402) and the cable through holes (1101,1201), . . . , (110N,120N), respectively, whereby the ground cables2401and2402and the N coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nare fixed. Incidentally, since the ground cables2401and2402and the N coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nare held by a housing or the like which houses the substrate310, fixation by the adhesive only has to have strength which is required during an assembly process. Thus, the area of a plane in which the adhesive makes contact with the ground cables2401and2402and the N coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nonly has to be an area with which strength which is required during an assembly process can be maintained. For example, the depth of the opening150, which is formed from the upper side ofFIGS. 6A and 6B, may be a depth to a line a (the inner surfaces of the cable through holes110nand120n, the inner surfaces close to the substrate310) ofFIGS. 6A and 6B, a depth to a line b (about ⅓ from the inner surface of the cable through hole110n, the inner surface close to the substrate310), or a depth to a line c (half of the cable through hole110n). In other words, the opening150is formed in a direction of the cable through holes110nand120nfrom the side away from the substrate310in the predetermined position and is not formed in a position closer to the substrate310than the inner surfaces of the cable through holes110nand120n, the inner surfaces close to the substrate310. As a result, the effect of preventing a reduction in the strength of the cable arranging part100as a result of the side of the cable arranging part100closer to the substrate310than the cable through holes110nand120nbecoming too thin is also obtained.

In the terminal processing step (S130), terminal processing of the ground cables2401and2402and the coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nis performed by irradiation with laser, for example.FIGS. 8A to 8Eare diagrams depicting a state in which the coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nand the ground cables2401and2402are attached to the cable arranging part100and coatings2241, . . . ,224Nand2421and2422of the coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nand the ground cables2401and2402, the external conductors2231, . . . ,223Nof the coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220N, and internal insulating layers2221, . . . ,222Nof the coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nare removed. In the state depicted inFIGS. 8A to 8E, central conductors2211, . . . ,221Nof the coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nare in a straight state. In the terminal processing step (S130), as depicted inFIG. 9, the central conductors2211, . . . ,221Nare curved so as to be closer to the substrate310to the same extent as the external conductors2231, . . . ,223N. As a result of the central conductors2211, . . . ,221Nbeing curved in this way, the conductor wires2411and2412of the ground cables2401and2402and the external conductors2231, . . . ,223Nand the central conductors2211, . . . ,221Nof the coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nare in a state in which the conductor wires2411and2412of the ground cables2401and2402and the external conductors2231, . . . ,223Nand the central conductors2211, . . . ,221Nof the coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nare in contact with almost the same plane.

In the attaching step (S140), the position determining portions1601and1602are secured to the position reference portions3161and3162. Then, soldering of the conductor wires2411and2412of the ground cables2401and2402and the external conductors2231, . . . ,223Nand the central conductors2211, . . . ,221Nof the coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nis performed. More specifically, the conductor wires2411and2412of the ground cables2401and2402and the external conductors2231, . . . ,223Nof the coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nare soldered to the ground electrode340, and the central conductor221n, of the coaxial cable220n, is soldered to the electrode320n. As a result of such processing, in a state in which the cable arranging part100is placed in the predetermined position, the external conductors2231, . . . ,223Nof the coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nare connected to the ground electrode340, each of the central conductors2211, . . . ,221Nof the coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nis connected to any one of the N electrodes3201, . . . ,320N, and the conductor wires2411and2412of the ground cables2401and2402are connected to the ground electrode340.

With the cable connection structure of the first embodiment, since the cable arranging part100has a fixed shape, it is possible to perform terminal processing operations such as inserting and passing the coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Ninto and through the cable arranging part100and removing the coatings2241, . . . ,224Nwith ease. Moreover, by securing the position determining portions1601and1602to the position reference portions3161and3162, it is possible to determine the position of the cable arranging part100on the substrate310. Furthermore, as for the sizes of the cable through holes (110n,120n) in a perpendicular direction to the substrate310in the predetermined position, the size of the cable through hole120non the side where the electrode320nis located relative to the opening150is greater than the size of the cable through hole110non the side opposite to the electrode320n, which makes it easy to perform insertion of the coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Neven when the opening150is provided. Therefore, processing from a process of arranging the plurality of coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Ncovered with the coatings2241, . . . ,224Nin a plane to a process of connecting the coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nto the electrodes3201, . . . ,320Non the substrate310becomes easier than the existing processing.

Second Embodiment

The first embodiment deals with a coaxial cable. In a second embodiment, a cable connection structure having a cable arranging part for arranging M (M is an integer greater than or equal to 2 and m is an integer greater than or equal to 1 but smaller than or equal to M) signal cables, each being a coated single-core conductor wire, in a plane parallel to a substrate and connecting the signal cables to electrodes on the substrate will be described.FIGS. 13A to 13Care diagrams depicting the structure of the cable arranging part of the second embodiment in detail.FIGS. 14A and 14Bare diagrams depicting a state in which the signal cables and power-supply cables (which are coated single-core conductor wires) are fixed with an adhesive in a state in which the signal cables and the power-supply cables are inserted into and passed through the cable arranging part and the signal cables and the power-supply cables are attached to the substrate after being subjected to terminal processing. Incidentally, the power-supply cables may not be provided or any one of the signal cables may be used as a power or grounding cable. In order to explain the orientation of the drawings depicted inFIGS. 13A to 13CandFIGS. 14A and 14B, a face of the cable arranging part close to the ends of the signal cables and the power-supply cables (a face close to the electrodes when the cable arranging part is attached to the substrate) is regarded as a front face. In this case,FIG. 13Ais a rear view,FIG. 13Bis a plan view, andFIG. 13Cis a front view.FIG. 14Ais a left-side view andFIG. 14Bis a plan view. Incidentally, a signal cable420mis a conductor wire421mcoated with a coating422m. Power-supply cables4401are a conductor wire4411coated with a coating4421. Power-supply cables4402are also a conductor wire coated with a coating.

A substrate310comprises M electrodes3251, . . . ,325M, a power-supply electrode345, and position reference portions3181and3182. The M electrodes3251, . . . ,325Mand the power-supply electrode345are arranged in a line with spaces left therebetween, the spaces previously set for each of the spaces. The position reference portions3181and3182are portions serving as the reference with respect to which the positional relationship on the substrate310is determined.

A cable arranging part500has a fixed shape and comprises position determining portions5601and5602, M cable through holes (5101,5201), . . . , (510m,520M), power-supply cable through holes5301and5302, and an opening550. In a state in which the position determining portions5601and5602are secured to the position reference portions3181and3182, the cable arranging part500is in a predetermined position on the substrate310. Incidentally, as in the case of the first embodiment, it is necessary simply to provide the position reference portions3181and3182as holes provided in the substrate310, provide the position determining portions5601and5602as protrusions which are inserted into the position reference portions3181and3182, and make the height of the protrusions lower than the thickness of the substrate310.

The M cable through holes (5101,5201), . . . , (510m,520M) are holes into and through which the signal cables4201, . . . ,420Mare to be inserted and passed, and the M cable through holes (5101,5201), . . . , (510M,520M) become perpendicular to the line of the electrodes3251, . . . ,325Mand parallel to the substrate310in the predetermined position. The power-supply cable through holes5301and5302are holes into and through which the power-supply cables4401and4402are to be inserted and passed. The opening550is provided somewhere midway through the M cable through holes (5101,5201), . . . , (510M,520M).

As for the sizes of the cable through holes (510m,520m) in a perpendicular direction to the substrate310in the predetermined position, the size of the cable through hole520mon the side where the electrode325mis located relative to the opening550is greater than the size of the cable through hole510mon the side opposite to the electrode325m. Incidentally, as described in the first embodiment by usingFIGS. 6A and 6B, a configuration only has to be adopted in which, in the predetermined position, the distances between the inner surfaces of the cable through holes (510m,520m), the inner surfaces close to the substrate310, and the substrate310are fixed, and, as for the inner surface away from the substrate310, the inner surface of the cable through hole520mon the side where the electrode325mis located relative to the opening550is farther away from the substrate310than the inner surface of the cable through hole510mon the side opposite to the electrode325m. Furthermore, as for the sizes of the cable through holes (510m,520m) in a parallel direction to the substrate310in the predetermined position, the size of the cable through hole520mon the side where the electrode325mis located relative to the opening550may be made smaller than the size of the cable through hole510mon the side opposite to the electrode325m. The reason why such a shape is suitable is the same as that described in the first embodiment. Moreover, the description given in the first embodiment about the depth of the opening150which is adopted in the formation thereof applies to the depth of the opening550which is adopted in the formation thereof.

The procedures of the cable connecting method are the same as the procedures of the first embodiment (FIG. 7). Therefore, the M signal cables4201, . . . ,420Mare in a state in which the M signal cables4201, . . . ,420Mare fixed with an adhesive injected from the opening550in a state in which the M signal cables4201, . . . ,420Mare inserted into the cable through holes5101, . . . ,510Mon the side opposite to the electrodes3251, . . . ,325Mand passed therethrough in the predetermined position. In a state in which the cable arranging part500is placed in the predetermined position, the conductor wires421mof the signal cables420mare connected to the electrode325m.

A recessed portion570plays the same role as the recessed portion170of the first embodiment. A portion of the cable connection structure of the second embodiment, the portion which has not been described above, is the same as that of the counterpart of the first embodiment. Since the cable connection structure of the second embodiment has the above-described configuration, as in the case of the first embodiment, processing from a process of arranging the plurality of signal cables4201, . . . ,420Mcovered with the coatings4221, . . . ,422Min a plane to a process of connecting the signal cables4201, . . . ,420Mto the electrodes3251, . . . ,325Mon the substrate310becomes easier than the existing processing.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment is an embodiment obtained by combining the first embodiment and the second embodiment. InFIGS. 15A to 15D, the structure of a cable arranging part of the third embodiment is depicted.FIGS. 16A and 16Bare diagrams depicting how an attaching step (S140) which is performed in forming the cable arranging structure of the third embodiment is performed.FIG. 16Ais a diagram depicting a state before the cable arranging parts100and500are attached to the substrate310, andFIG. 16Bis a diagram depicting a state after the cable arranging parts100and500are attached to the substrate310. In order to explain the orientation of the drawings depicted inFIGS. 15A to 15D, a face of the cable arranging part close to the ends of the coaxial cables and the ground cables (a face close to the electrodes when the cable arranging part is attached to the substrate) is regarded as a rear face (it is to be noted that a front face and a rear face are opposite in direction to the front face and the rear face in the description of the first and second embodiments).FIG. 15Ais a plan view,FIG. 15Bis a front view,FIG. 15Cis a bottom view, andFIG. 15Dis a left-side view.

The third embodiment differs from the first and second embodiments in that fitting holes1801and1802are also formed in the cable arranging part100and fitting protrusions1811and1812are also formed in the cable arranging part500. The cable arranging parts100and500, the coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220N, the ground cables2401and2402, the signal cables4201, . . . ,420M, and the power-supply cables4401and4402are the same as those of the first and second embodiments.

In the substrate310, position reference portions3161and3162and position reference portions3181and3182are formed, and the cable arranging part100and the cable arranging part500are placed on different surfaces of the substrate310. A surface on which electrodes3201, . . . ,320Nand340are formed is different from a surface on which electrodes3251, . . . ,325Mand a power-supply electrode345are formed. In the example ofFIGS. 16A and 16B, the position reference portions3161,3162,3181, and3182are holes formed in the substrate310. Position determining portions1601,1602,5601, and5602are protrusions which are inserted into the position reference portions3161,3162,3181, and3182, respectively, and the height of the protrusions is lower than the thickness of the substrate310. Therefore, the position determining portions1601,1602,5601, and5602do not become hindrances when the substrate310is sandwiched between the cable arranging part100and the cable arranging part500. Moreover, sandwiching the substrate310between the cable arranging part100and the cable arranging part500causes not only the position determining portions1601,1602,5601, and5602to be inserted into the position reference portions3161,3162,3181, and3182, but also the fitting holes1801and1802and the fitting protrusions1811and1812to fit together, and fixation is completed. Then, soldering is performed, whereby a cable connection structure of the third embodiment is formed.

A portion of the cable connection structure of the third embodiment, the portion which has not been described above, is the same as that of the counterparts of the first and second embodiments. Since the cable connection structure of the third embodiment has the above-described configuration, as in the case of the first and second embodiments, processing from a process of arranging the plurality of coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Ncovered with the coatings2241, . . . ,224Nin a plane and a process of arranging the plurality of signal cables4201, . . . ,420Mcovered with the coatings4221, . . . ,422Min a plane to a process of connecting the coaxial cables2201, . . . ,220Nand the signal cables4201, . . . ,420Mto the electrodes3201, . . . ,320Nand the electrodes3251, . . . ,325M, respectively, on the substrate310becomes easier than the existing processing.