Cable connector assembly with simple arrangement of core wires

A cable connector assembly for mating with a mating connector in two directions includes a PCB, a cable, and a housing. The PCB includes a front end portion, a rear end portion, and a middle portion. The front end portion includes some front conductive pads, while the rear end portion includes some rear conductive pads. The PCB includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The cable includes some coaxial wires and single wires. All the coaxial wires are soldered on one surface, and all the single wires are soldered on another surface of the PCB. Part of the rear conductive pads soldered with the coaxial wires are electrically connected to the front conductive pads on the upper surface through a layer of conductive path, while the other rear conductive pads are electrically connected to the front conductive pads on the lower surface through another layer of conductive path.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cable connector assembly, and more particularly to an arrangement of core wires thereof.

2. Description of Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 8,133,071, issued on Mar. 13, 2012, shows a cable connector assembly including a cable and a flexible printed circuit. The cable defines a row of core wires and an insulative layer enclosing the core wires. The core wires comprise a plurality of coaxial cables and a plurality of single wires. The flexible printed circuit comprises a plurality of pads arranged in a line and a lengthwise grounding portion separated from the pads. Each coaxial cable comprises an inner conductor connected to a corresponding pad and an outer conductor connected to the grounding portion. The single wires comprise a plurality of power wires connected to corresponding pads and a plurality of grounding wires connected to the grounding portion. However, the coaxial cables and the single wires are arranged in one row and need be handled separately, causing inconvenience to production process.

An improved cable connector assembly is desired to offer advantages over the related art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a cable connector assembly with simple arrangement of core wires to improve production efficiency.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, a cable connector assembly for mating with a mating connector in two directions includes a PCB, a cable, and a housing. The PCB includes a front end portion, a rear end portion, and a middle portion. The front end portion includes some front conductive pads, while the rear end portion includes some rear conductive pads. The PCB includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The cable includes some coaxial wires and single wires. All the coaxial wires are soldered on one surface, and all the single wires are soldered on another surface of the PCB. Part of the rear conductive pads soldered with the coaxial wires are electrically connected to the corresponding front conductive pads on the upper surface through a layer of conductive path, while the other rear conductive pads are electrically connected to the corresponding front conductive pads on the lower surface through another layer of conductive path.

According to the present invention, all the coaxial wires are soldered on one surface of the PCB, and all the single wires are soldered on another surface of the PCB. It thus simplifies the process and saves the cost of producing the cable connector assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 8, a cable connector assembly100in accordance with the present invention for mating with a mating connector (not shown) comprises a mating member1, a printed circuit board (PCB)2connected to the mating member1, a cable3electrically connected with the PCB2, a spacer4limiting the cable3, an inner member5enclosing part of the cable3and the mating member1, a strain relief6molded out of the cable3and the inner member5, and a housing7disposed outside. The cable connector assembly100can be mated with the mating connector in two different directions to achieve the same function.

Referring toFIGS. 9 and 10, the mating member1comprises an insulative housing11, a plurality of conductive terminals or contacts12received in the insulative housing11and arranged in two rows spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction, a latch13disposed between the two rows of conductive terminals12for latching with the mating connector, an insulative member14disposed behind the insulative housing11, a metal shell15disposed outside of the insulative housing11and the insulative member14, and a pair of grounding members16disposed on the insulative housing11and electrically connected to the metal shell15. As well known, this embodiment refers to USB Type C connector wherein each row of terminals12includes power contacts, grounding contacts, at least one signal contact and differential-pair contacts.

The insulative housing11comprises a top wall110, a bottom wall111spaced apart from and parallel with the top wall110, a pair of side walls112connecting the top wall110and the bottom wall111, and a receiving room113surround by the top, bottom, and side walls. The receiving room113is divided into a front portion1132having a front opening1131, and a rear portion1134having a rear opening1133. The top wall110defines a top recess1100in communication with the front portion1132. The bottom wall111defines a bottom recess1110in communication with the front portion1132. Each of the side walls112defines a side recess1120extending forwardly from a rear end of the insulative housing11but not through a front end of the insulative housing11. The side recesses1120are in communication with the front portion1132and the rear portion1134of the receiving room113.

Each of the contacts12comprises a front mating portion121extending forwardly into the front portion1132of the receiving room113, a rear mating portion122extending rearwardly, and an intermediate mounting portion123secured to the insulative housing11. The front mating portion121is to be mated with the mating connector and the rear mating portion122is to be mated with the PCB2. The front mating portions121of the two rows of contacts12are arranged face to face along the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the arrangement of an upper row contacts along a left to right direction is GND, RX2+, RX2−, VBUS, RFU1, D−, D+, CC1, VBUS, TX1−, TX1+, GND. The arrangement of a lower row contacts along a left to right direction is GND, TX2−, TX2+, VBUS, CC2, RFU2, VBUS, RX1−, RX1+, GND. The lower row contacts is central symmetric to the upper row contacts except two empty position respect to the D− and D+.

The latch13comprises a base portion131extending along a transverse direction, a pair of latch beams132respectively extending forwardly from two opposite ends of the base portion131, a latch portion133extending from a front end of each latch beam132along a face to face direction. The latch13is mounted into the insulative housing11through the rear opening1133of the rear portion1134of the receiving room113. The latch beams132are received into the side recesses1120, respectively. At least a portion of each of the latch portions133projects into the front portion1132of the receiving room113. The pair of latch portions are arranged face to face along the transverse direction.

The insulative member14cooperates with the insulative housing11to fix the latch13. The insulative member14comprises an insulative base portion140, a pair of extending portions141extending rearwardly from two opposite ends of the insulative base portion140, two rows of through holes142spaced apart in the vertical direction and extending through the insulative base portion140along a front to rear direction, two rows of posts143spaced apart in the vertical direction and extending forwardly, and a projected portion144extending forwardly between the two rows of posts143. A channel145is formed between every two adjacent posts143of each row and is in communication with a corresponding one of the through holes142. Each of the extending portions141defines a mounting slot1410extending along a rear to front direction. The posts143extend forwardly beyond the projected portion144. A receiving slot146is formed between the two rows of posts143. The insulative base portion140is thicker than the insulative housing11. The insulative base portion140extends outwardly respect to the top wall110and the bottom wall111after the insulative member14being mounted to the insulative housing11along a rear to front direction. The base portion131of the latch13is received into the receiving slot146of the insulative member14, and the projected portion144is pressed against a rear side of the base portion131. The rear mating portions122of the contacts12extend through the insulative member140by passing the channels145and the through holes142, respectively.

The metal shell15has a closed circumference that has a good seal performance, a good anti-EMI performance, etc. The closed circumference of the metal shell15could be manufactured by drawing a metal piece, bending a metal piece, die casting, etc. The metal shell15comprises a first front end151for being inserted into the mating connector, a first rear end152, and a first transition portion153for connecting the first front end151and the first rear end152. A diametrical dimension of the first front end151is smaller than the diametrical dimension of the first rear end152. The first rear end152comprises a pair of latch tabs1520projecting outwardly.

One of the grounding members16is received on the top recess1110, and the other one is received on the bottom recess1110. Each of the grounding members16comprises a flat body portion160, a pair of mounting portions161extending from two opposite ends of the flat body portion160and toward the insulative housing11for being attached to the insulative housing11, a plurality of front grounding tabs162extending forwardly from a front side of the flat body portion160and entering into the front portion1132of the receiving room113, and a plurality of rear grounding tabs163extending rearwardly from a rear side of the flat body portion160. The front grounding tabs162are used for mating with the mating connector. The rear grounding tabs163are used for mating with the metal shell15. The front grounding tabs162of the pair grounding members16are disposed face to face along the vertical direction. A distance along the vertical direction between the front grounding tabs162of the pair of grounding members16is greater than a distance along the vertical direction of the front mating portions121of the two rows of contacts12.

Referring toFIGS. 7 and 8, the PCB2is disposed between the mating member1and the cable3. The cable3is electrically connected with the contacts12by the PCB2. The PCB2comprises a front end portion21, a rear end portion22, and a middle portion23connecting the front end portion21and the rear end portion22. The PCB2comprises an upper surface24and an opposite lower surface25. The upper and the lower surface of the front end portion21comprise a plurality of front conductive pads210connected with the rear mating portion122of the contacts12, while the upper and the lower surface of the rear end portion22comprise a plurality of rear conductive pads220connected to the cable3. A metal or grounding bar221is disposed behind the rear conductive pads220on the upper surface24. Part of the rear conductive pads220are electrically connected to the corresponding front conductive pads210on the upper surface24through a layer of conductive path, while the other rear conductive pads220are electrically connected to the corresponding front conductive pads210on the lower surface25through another layer of conductive path. Duo to the rear conductive pads220need be connected to the front conductive pads210on the upper and low surfaces, respectively, so an inner portion of the PCB2should be designed by through-hole.

The arrangement of the front conductive pads210on the upper surface24and the lower surface25are corresponding to the arrangement of the upper row contacts and the lower row contacts. The arrangement of the rear conductive pads220on the upper surface24is TX1+, TX1−, TX2+, TX2−, RX1+, RX1−, RX2+, RX2−. The arrangement of the rear conductive pads220on the lower surface25is VBUS, RFU1, D+, D−, CC2, CC1, RFU2, GND. Specifically, TX1+, TX1−, TX2+, TX2−, RX1+, RX1−, RX2+, RX2− are the high speed signal pairs. VBUSis used for transmitting power signal. RFU1and RFU2are spare function. D+ and D− are used for transmitting the signal of USB 2.0. CC1and CC2are used for transmitting control signal. GND are used for transmitting grounding signal.

A size of the front end portion21of the PCB2is smaller than the size of the rear end portion22along a transverse direction. A pitch between the adjacent front conductive pads210is smaller than the pitch between the adjacent rear conductive pads220. The size of the rear conductive pad220is larger than the size of the front conductive pad210, and the number of the front conductive pad210larger than the number of the rear conductive pads220. The front portion21of the PCB2is mounted between the rear mating portions122of the two rows of contacts12. The rear mating portions122of the contacts12are electrically connected with the corresponding front conductive pads210.

The cable3has a sheath33that contains a plurality of coaxial wires31and a plurality of single wires32. The coaxial wires31should be handled by cutting for more times than the single wires32. All the coaxial wires31are soldered on the upper surface24, and all the single wires32are soldered on the lower surface25of the PCB2. All the coaxial wires31also can be soldered on the lower surface25together with the metal bar221in the other embodiments. A front end of each coaxial wire31is arranged in a line in a horizontal direction, and the front end of each single wire32is arranged in a line in a horizontal direction too, so that the wires can be convenient to be processed at same time. It is convenient to cut and soldered the coaxial wires31on the upper surface at same time. And the single wires32can be cut and soldered on the lower surface at same time too. Each coaxial wire31comprises a first inner conductor311, an inner insulative layer312enclosing the first inner conductor311, a metal braided layer313enclosing the inner insulative layer312, and an outer insulative layer314enclosing the metal braided layer313. Each metal braided layer313of the coaxial wires31is soldered with the metal bar221. Each single wire32comprises a second conductor321and an outer jacket322enclosing the second conductor321. In this embodiment, there are eight single wires32and eight coaxial wires31. In the other embodiments, the number can be changed according to necessity.

In this embodiment, the spacer4comprises an upper half41limiting the coaxial wires31on the upper surface24and a lower half42mounted to the upper half41for limiting the single wires32on the lower surface25. The spacer4also can be disposed in one piece in other embodiments. Each upper half41and lower half42comprises a front wall43proximal to the PCB2, an opposite rear wall44, and an upper wall45and a lower wall46connecting the front wall43and the rear wall44. The spacer4comprises a plurality of positioning holes47passing through the front wall43and the rear wall44for locating the coaxial wires31and the single wires32. A rear end of the spacer4comprises a plurality of limiting slots48for preventing the coaxial wires31and the single wires32from moving along a transverse direction.

Referring particularly toFIGS. 3 and 4, the inner member5comprises a first member51and a second member52. The first member51has a closed circumference that has a good seal performance, a good anti-EMI performance, etc. The closed circumference of the first member51could be manufactured by drawing a metal piece, bending and forming a metal piece, die casting, etc. The first member51comprises a second front end511telescoped with a rear end of the mating member1, a second rear end512opposite to the second front end511, and a second transition portion513between the second front and rear ends. The diametrical dimension of the second front end511is larger than the diametrical dimension of the second rear end512. The second front end511defines a pair of latch holes5110latched with the latch tabs1520of the metal shell15, when the second member51is telescoped on an outer side of the first rear end152of the metal shell15. The second front end511of the first member51is interference fit with the first rear end152of the metal shell15. The second front end511of first member51and the first rear end152of the metal shell15are further connected by laser welding in some spots or full circumference to have a good strength. The second rear end512is telescoped on an outer side of the spacer4.

The second member52has a closed circumference that has a good seal performance, a good anti-EMI performance, etc. The closed circumference of the second member52could be manufactured by drawing a metal piece, bending and forming a metal piece, die casting, etc. The second member52comprises a main portion521telescoped with the second rear end512of the first member51, a ring portion522telescoped and crimped with the cable3, and a third transition portion523between the main portion521and the ring portion522. The diametrical dimension of the main portion521is larger than the diametrical dimension of the ring portion522. In assembling, firstly, the second member52is telescoped on the cable3. The second member52is moved forwardly and telescoped on the spacer4, after the wires31and32are soldered on the rear conductive pads220. Then, the second member52is forwardly moved beyond the spacer4to latch with the first member51. The main portion521of second member52and the second rear end512of the first member51are further connected by spot laser welding to have a good strength.

The strain relief6is molded on the second member52and the cable3.