FLEXIBLE CABLE CONNECTOR FIXING STRUCTURE

A flexible cable connector fixing structure is disclosed. The flexible cable connector fixing structure comprises a flexible cable. The flexible cable comprises: a plurality of conductors, configured to transfer a power signal or a data signal; and an insulator, covering the plurality of conductors. The flexible cable connector fixing structure further comprises a plurality of terminals, each of the plurality of terminals connected to a corresponding conductor of the plurality of conductors; a first shell, comprising an opening and a plurality of containing cavities, each of the containing cavities is configured to place a corresponding terminal of the plurality of terminals; an isolation part, configured to seal the opening, wherein the plurality of terminals protrude the isolation part; and a cover, covering a part of the plurality of conductors.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority of Taiwan Patent Application No. 109201441 filed on Feb. 10, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a flexible cable connector fixing structure, and more particularly, to an easily-installed flexible cable connector fixing structure.

A flex flat cable (FFC) is a new type of data cable. It is manufactured with an insulating material and a very thin flat copper wire with tin plating and is made by a lamination process of an automation equipment. Because of its orderly-arranged wires, high transmission rate, flat structure, small size, good flexibility, the FFC had been widely used in all kinds of electronic devices as a data transmission cable. Especially, the FFC could be used as a connection part between movable parts in high-frequency application because it can be easily bended. As a connection part, the FFC could be inserted into a connector or can be directly soldered on a printed circuit board.

However, because the compactness of the electronic device becomes a big design demand, the size of the cable needs to be smaller as well. This increases the assembling difficulty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One objective of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a flexible cable connector fixing structure, which has a simple structure and thus solve the above issue of assembling difficulty.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a flexible cable connector fixing structure is disclosed. The flexible cable connector fixing structure comprises a flexible cable. The flexible cable comprises: a plurality of conductors, configured to transfer a power signal or a data signal; and an insulator, covering the plurality of conductors. The flexible cable connector fixing structure further comprises a plurality of terminals, each of the plurality of terminals connected to a corresponding conductor of the plurality of conductors; a first shell, comprising an opening and a plurality of containing cavities, each of the containing cavities is configured to place a corresponding terminal of the plurality of terminals; an isolation part, configured to seal the opening, wherein the plurality of terminals protrude the isolation part; and a cover, covering a part of the plurality of conductors.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the flexible cable connector fixing structure further comprises a second shell, covering a part of the first shell.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second shell comprises an upper shell and a lower shell assembling together.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the flexible cable further comprises a metal shielding layer, configured to surround the plurality of conductors.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the metal shield layer is an aluminum foil.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a pattern is coined on a surface of the insulator.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the cover comprise a socket, and the flexible cable is inserted into the socket to allow the plurality of terminals to be connected to the plurality of conductors.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the isolation part comprises a plurality of notches, and each of the terminals extends throughout a corresponding notch of the plurality of notches.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the insulator comprises: a plurality of first insulating jackets, each of the plurality of first insulating jackets covers one of the plurality of conductors; and a second insulating jacket, surrounding the plurality of first insulating jackets.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of first insulating jackets and the second insulating jacket are manufactured by at least one of polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE), thermoplastic rubber (TPR), Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO), Polyurethane (PUR), Polypropylene (PP), Polyolefins (PO), PolyVinyliDene Fluoride (PVDF), Ethylene-chlorotrifluororthylene copolymer (ECTFE), ethylene-tetra-fluoro-ethylene (ETFE), Teflon Fluorinated ethylene propylene (Teflon FEP), Polytetrafluoroethene (PTFE), Teflon and Nylon.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a flexible cable connector fixing structure is disclosed. The flexible cable connector fixing structure comprises a flexible cable. The flexible cable comprises: a plurality of conductors, configured to transfer a power signal or a data signal; and an insulator, covering the plurality of conductors. The flexible cable connector fixing structure further comprises a plurality of terminals, each of the plurality of terminals connected to a corresponding conductor of the plurality of conductors; a first shell, comprising a plurality of containing cavities, wherein each of the plurality of containing cavities is used to place a corresponding terminal of the plurality of terminals; and a second shell, covering a part of the first shell.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second shell comprises an upper shell and a lower shell assembling together.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first shell comprises an opening, the flexible cable connector fixing structure comprises an isolation part and a cover, the isolating part is configured to seal the opening, the plurality of terminals protrude the isolation part, the cover covers a part of the plurality of conductors, and the second shell covers the cover.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the flexible cable further comprises a metal shielding layer, configured to surround the plurality of conductors.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the metal shield layer is an aluminum foil.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a pattern is coined on a surface of the insulator.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the isolation part comprises a plurality of notches, each of the plurality of terminals extends throughout a corresponding notch of the plurality of notches.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the insulator comprises: a plurality of first insulating jackets, each of the plurality of first insulating jackets covers one of the plurality of conductors; and a second insulating jacket, surrounding the plurality of first insulating jackets.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of first insulating jackets and the second insulating jacket are manufactured by at least one of polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE), thermoplastic rubber (TPR), Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO), Polyurethane (PUR), Polypropylene (PP), Polyolefins (PO), PolyVinyliDene Fluoride (PVDF), Ethylene-chlorotrifluororthylene copolymer (ECTFE), ethylene-tetra-fluoro-ethylene (ETFE), Teflon Fluorinated ethylene propylene (Teflon FEP), Polytetrafluoroethene (PTFE), Teflon and Nylon.

In contrast to the conventional art, the flexible cable connector fixing structure of an embodiment has a simple structure and thus is easy to be installed in a compacted electronic device.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

All of the terminologies containing one or more technical or scientific terminologies have the same meanings that persons skilled in the art understand ordinarily unless they are not defined otherwise. For example, “upper” or “lower” of a first characteristic and a second characteristic may include a direct touch between the first and second characteristics. The first and second characteristics are not directly touched; instead, the first and second characteristics are touched via other characteristics between the first and second characteristics. Besides, the first characteristic arranged on/above/over the second characteristic implies that the first characteristic arranged right above/obliquely above or merely means that the level of the first characteristic is higher than the level of the second characteristic. The first characteristic arranged under/below/beneath the second characteristic implies that the first characteristic arranged right under/obliquely under or merely means that the level of the first characteristic is lower than the level of the second characteristic.

Different methods or examples are introduced to elaborate different structures in the embodiments of the present disclosure. To simplify the method, only specific components and devices are elaborated by the present disclosure. These embodiments are truly exemplary instead of limiting the present disclosure. Identical numbers and/or letters for reference are used repeatedly in different examples for simplification and clearance. It does not imply that the relations between the methods and/or arrangement. The methods proposed by the present disclosure provide a variety of examples with a variety of processes and materials. However, persons skilled in the art understand ordinarily that the application of other processes and/or the use of other kinds of materials are possible.

Please refer toFIG. 1andFIG. 2.FIG. 1andFIG. 2depict explosion drawings of a flexible cable connector fixing structure100from opposite viewing angles according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The flexible cable connector fixing structure100could be inserted into a connector. The connector could be a connector complying with HDMI/USB3.0/USB3.1/Display Port/SATA, having a data rate larger than 1 Gb/s. The flexible cable connector fixing structure100comprises a flexible cable10, a plurality of terminals20, a first shell30, an isolation part40and a cover50. The flexible cable10comprises a plurality of conductors12and an insulator14. The plurality of conductors12are arranged in parallel for transmitting a power signal or a data signal. Each of the terminals20is connected to a corresponding conductor12. The first shell30comprises an opening31and a plurality of containing cavities32. Each of the containing cavities32is used to place a corresponding terminal20. The isolation part40is used to seal the opening31. The cover50covers a part of the conductors12.

Please refer toFIG. 1,FIG. 2andFIG. 3.FIG. 3is a diagram of the assembled structure of the terminals, the isolation parts, and the flexible cable ofFIG. 1. The cross-section of the conductor12is in a round shape. The surfaces of two sides of the insulator14have a coined pattern148. The conductors12of the flexible cable10protrude the insulator14.

The isolation part40comprises a plurality of notches41. When the terminals20are inserted into the containing cavities32of the first shell30and the isolation part40seals the opening31, each of the terminals20extends throughout the notch41such that the terminals20could touch the conductors12.

The terminal20comprise a connecting end201and a contacting end202. The connecting end201has a crimping part. The extension direction of the crimping part203is vertical to the extending direction of the conductor12. When the terminal20is connected to the conductor12, the crimping part203closely touches the conductor12. The contacting end202could be a protruded structure of a curved shape.

Preferably, the outer surface of the insulator14has a coined pattern148. The coined pattern148could be a pattern of multiple parallel lines, multiple curves, or multiple orderly-arranged rounds, ovals, triangles, squares, diamonds, or hexagons. Or, the coined pattern148could be a disorderly-arranged pattern, such as consecutive bumps. In this embodiment, the surface area of the flexible cable10could be increased without increasing its width. Thus, the heat dissipation capability of the flexible cable is raised and thus the current withstanding capability is also raised. Therefore, the flexible cable10could effectively shrink its size and thus solve the above-mentioned issue. The coined pattern148could be coined on the outer surface of the insulator14by an automation coining equipment.

Please refer toFIG. 4, which is a diagram of a flexible cable connector fixing structure100according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The cover50covers a part of the first shell30, a part of the insulator14of the flexible cable10, the connecting end201of the terminal and a plurality of exposed conductors12. The cover50comprises a socket51. The flexible cable10is inserted into the socket51to allow the plurality of terminals20to be connected to the plurality of conductors12. The cover50could be formed on the conductor12in an insert molding process such that the cover50could completely cover the conductors12.

Please refer toFIG. 5, which is a diagram of a flexible cable10according to an embodiment of the present invention. The insulator14of the flexible cable10comprise a metal shielding layer144, a plurality of first insulating jacket141and a second insulating jacket142. The plurality of conductors12are arranged in parallel and the cross-section of the conductor12is a round. Each of the first insulating jackets141covers one of the conductors12. The second insulating jacket142surrounds the plurality of insulating jackets141. The outer surfaces at two sides of the second insulating jackets142have a coined pattern148. The plurality of conductors12of the flexible cable10protrude the first insulating jackets141and the second insulating jacket142. The metal shielding layer144covers the first insulating jackets141and locates between the first insulating jackets141and the second insulating jacket142to form a metal shielding effect. This could reduce the interference generated by neighboring conductors12during the high-speed signal transmission. Preferably, the metal shielding layer144could be an aluminum coil.

Please refer toFIG. 6, which is a diagram of a flexible cable10according to another embodiment of the present invention. The insulator14of the flexible cable10comprises a plurality of first insulating jackets141and a second insulating jacket142. The plurality of conductors12are arranged in parallel. The cross-section of the conductor12is a round. Each of the first insulating jackets141covers one of the conductors12. The second insulating jacket142surrounds the plurality of the first insulating jackets141. The outer surfaces on both sides of the second insulating jacket142have a coined pattern148. The plurality of conductors12of the flexible cable10protrude the first insulating jackets141and the second insulating jacket142.

Please refer toFIG. 7andFIG. 8.FIG. 7andFIG. 8depict explosion drawings of a flexible cable connector fixing structure200from opposite viewing angles according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The flexible cable connector fixing structure200could be inserted into a connector. The connector could be a connect complying with HDMI/USB3.0/USB3.1/Display Port/SATA, having a data rate larger than 1 Gb/s. The flexible cable connector fixing structure200comprises a flexible cable10, a plurality of terminals20, a first shell30, an isolation part40, a cover50, and a second shell60. The second shell60comprises a top shell61a bottom shell62, which are assembled together. The flexible cable10comprises a plurality of conductors12and an insulator14. The plurality of conductors12are arranged in parallel for transmitting a power signal or a data signal. Each of the terminals20is connected to a corresponding conductor12. The first shell30comprises an opening31and a plurality of containing cavities32. Each of the containing cavities32is used to place a corresponding terminal20. The isolation part40is used to seal the opening31. The cover50covers a part of the conductors12.

Please refer toFIG. 7,FIG. 8andFIG. 9.FIG. 9is a diagram of the assembled structure of the terminals20, the isolation part40, the cover50and the flexible cable10ofFIG. 7. The cross-section of the conductors12is a round. The surfaces of two sides of the insulator14have a coined pattern148. The conductors12of the flexible cable10protrude the insulator14. The isolation part40comprises a plurality of notches41. When the terminals20are inserted into the containing cavities32of the first shell30and the isolation part40seals the opening31, each of the terminals20extends throughout the notch41such that the terminals20could touch the conductors12. The terminal20comprise a connecting end201and a contacting end202. The connecting end201has a crimping part. The extension direction of the crimping part203is vertical to the extending direction of the conductor12. When the terminal20is connected to the conductor12, the crimping part203closely touches the conductor12. The contacting end202could be a protruded structure of a curved shape.

Preferably, the outer surface of the insulator14has a coined pattern148. The coined pattern148could be a pattern of multiple parallel lines, multiple curves, or multiple orderly-arranged rounds, ovals, triangles, squares, diamonds, or hexagons. Or, the coined pattern148could be a disorderly-arranged pattern, such as consecutive bumps. In this embodiment, the surface area of the flexible cable10could be increased without increasing its width. Thus, the heat dissipation capability of the flexible cable is raised and thus the current withstanding capability is also raised. Therefore, the flexible cable10could effectively shrink its size and thus solve the above-mentioned issue. The coined pattern148could be coined on the outer surface of the insulator14by an automation coining equipment.

The cover50covers a part of the first shell30, a part of the insulator14of the flexible cable10, the connecting end201of the terminal and a plurality of exposed conductors12. The cover50comprises a socket51. The flexible cable10is inserted into the socket51to allow the plurality of terminals20to be connected to the plurality of conductors12. The cover50could be formed on the conductor12in an insert molding process such that the cover50could completely cover the conductors12.

Please refer toFIG. 10.FIG. 10is a diagram of a flexible cable connector fixing structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The top shell61and the bottom shell62are assembled together to form the second shell60such that a part of the cover50is covered by the second shell60. The second shell60could improve the protection of the cover50.

Please refer toFIG. 11andFIG. 12.FIG. 11andFIG. 12depict explosion drawings of a flexible cable connector fixing structure300from opposite viewing angles according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The flexible cable connector fixing structure300could be inserted into a connector. The connector could be a connect complying with HDMI/USB3.0/USB3.1/Display Port/SATA, having a data rate larger than 1 Gb/s. The flexible cable connector fixing structure300comprises a flexible cable10, a plurality of terminals20, a first shell30, an isolation part40, a cover70, and a second shell60. The second shell60comprises a top shell61a bottom shell62, which are assembled together. The flexible cable10comprises a plurality of conductors12and an insulator14. The plurality of conductors12are arranged in parallel for transmitting a power signal or a data signal. Each of the terminals20is connected to a corresponding conductor12. The first shell30comprises an opening31and a plurality of containing cavities32. Each of the containing cavities32is used to place a corresponding terminal20. The isolation part40is used to seal the opening31. The cover70covers a part of the conductors12.

Please refer toFIG. 11,FIG. 12andFIG. 13.FIG. 13is a diagram of the assembled structure of the terminals20, the isolation part40, the cover70and the flexible cable10ofFIG. 11. The cross-section of the conductors12is a round. The surfaces of two sides of the insulator14have a coined pattern148. The conductors12of the flexible cable10protrude the insulator14. The isolation part40comprises a plurality of notches41. When the terminals20are inserted into the containing cavities32of the first shell30and the isolation part40seals the opening31, each of the terminals20extends throughout the notch41such that the terminals20could touch the conductors12. The terminal20comprise a connecting end201and a contacting end202. The connecting end201has a crimping part. The extension direction of the crimping part203is vertical to the extending direction of the conductor12. When the terminal20is connected to the conductor12, the crimping part203closely touches the conductor12. The contacting end202could be a protruded structure of a curved shape.

Preferably, the outer surface of the insulator14has a coined pattern148. The coined pattern148could be a pattern of multiple parallel lines, multiple curves, or multiple orderly-arranged rounds, ovals, triangles, squares, diamonds, or hexagons. Or, the coined pattern148could be a disorderly-arranged pattern, such as consecutive bumps. In this embodiment, the surface area of the flexible cable10could be increased without increasing its width. Thus, the heat dissipation capability of the flexible cable is raised and thus the current withstanding capability is also raised. Therefore, the flexible cable10could effectively shrink its size and thus solve the above-mentioned issue. The coined pattern148could be coined on the outer surface of the insulator14by an automation coining equipment.

The cover70covers a part of the first shell30, a part of the insulator14of the flexible cable10, the connecting end201of the terminal and a plurality of exposed conductors12. The flexible cable10is inserted into the cover70to allow the plurality of terminals20to be connected to the plurality of conductors12. The cover70could be formed on the conductor12in an insert molding process such that the cover70could completely cover the conductors12.

Please refer toFIG. 14.FIG. 14is a diagram of a flexible cable connector fixing structure300according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The top shell61and the bottom shell62are assembled together to form the second shell60such that a part of the cover70is covered by the second shell60. The second shell60could improve the protection of the cover70.

It could be understood by one having ordinary skills in the art that the flexible cable10of the flexible cable connector fixing structure200/300could adopt the structure shown inFIG. 5orFIG. 6. These changes fall within the scope of the present invention.

In contrast to the conventional art, the flexible cable connector fixing structure of an embodiment has a simple structure and thus is easy to be installed in a compacted electronic device.