Connector of process fieldbus decentralized peripherals

A connector of a process field bus decentralized peripherals has a circuit board, two communicating cables each having two core wires and a shielding net layer, the two core wires coated by the shielding net layer, ends of the two core wires electrically connected to the circuit board, an inner shell mounted on the ends of the core wires by injection molding, a shielding layer covering the inner shell and the circuit board, the shielding layer electrically connected to the shielding net layers, and an outer shell mounted on the shielding layer by injection molding. Since the inner shell and the outer shell are formed by injection molding, the circuit board is tightly fixed in the connector. Further, the shielding layer is mounted between the inner shell and the outer shell to protect the circuit board from electromagnetic interference. Therefore, quality of the connector may be improved.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority benefit of CN application serial No. 201621325299.9, filed on Dec. 5, 2016. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a connector, and particularly to a connector of a process field bus decentralized peripherals (PROFIBUS-DP).

2. Description of the Related Art

A process Fieldbus (PROFIBUS) is a common technique in Fieldbus. The PROFIBUS comprises a technique of process field bus decentralized peripherals (PROFIBUS-DP) and a technique of process field bus process automation (PROFIBUS-PA).

Performance of the PROFIBUS-DP and the PROFIBUS-PA are better than performance of other kinds of PROFIBUS. The PROFIBUS is adapted to automation systems and communication between fieldbus signal units. The PROFIBUS may connect to a connector of a transmitter, an actuator, a transmission device, a fieldbus meter, or a fieldbus equipment, to sample and monitor fieldbus signals.

The PROFIBUS may replace common transmission cables by a pair of twisted pair wires. Therefore, construction cost of cables may be decreased, and time and cost of adjustment during construction may also be decreased. Further, maintenance time and cost may be decreased when a PROFIBUS system is operating.

With reference toFIG. 16, a topology of the PROFIBUS comprises a PROFIBUS master161, multiple PROFIBUS slaves162, and a PROFIBUS repeater163. The PROFIBUS master161connects to the PROFIBUS slaves162through connectors and cables of the PROFIBUS. The PROFIBUS master161may connect to the PROFIBUS repeater163through the connectors and cables, and may further connect to other PROFIBUS slaves162through the PROFIBUS repeater163. Then, a network of the PROFIBUS may be further expanded.

The PROFIBUS master161may cyclically read messages from the PROFIBUS slaves162through the topology of the PROFIBUS, and may transmit messages to the PROFIBUS slaves162through the topology of the PROFIBUS.

With reference toFIG. 17, the connector170of the PROFIBUS comprises a circuit board171, a connecting port172, and a plastic shell173. The circuit board171and the connecting port172are mounted in the plastic shell173. The plastic shell173is consisted of two half shells. Since one terminal of one of the two half shells is pivotally connected with one terminal of another of the two half shells, the plastic shell173is a flip shell. When the plastic shell173is covered, the circuit board171and the connecting port172are mounted inside the plastic shell173, and the connecting port172extends through the plastic shell173to connect to the PROFIBUS master161, the PROFIBUS slaves162, or the PROFIBUS repeater163. Two connectors170are connected together through the cable174, and two terminals of the cable174are respectively inserted into ends of the two connectors170.

However, as the circuit board171and the connecting port172are just mounted in the plastic shell173, the circuit board171and the connecting port172may not be tightly covered by the plastic shell173. The circuit board171and the connecting port172may be loosened, and the loosened circuit board171and the connecting port172may be disconnected from the cable174. Therefore, quality of the connector170may not be good.

Besides, since the plastic shell173may not shield the circuit board171from electromagnetic interference, a metallic shield175is mounted between the circuit board171and the plastic shell173to cover the circuit board171, and the metallic shield175may be further electrically connected with a shielding net layer of the cable174. Therefore, the metallic shield175may shield the circuit board171from electromagnetic interference.

However, since the metallic shield175may not totally cover the circuit board171, the connector170may not completely protect the circuit board171from the electromagnetic interference. Therefore, the connector170needs to be improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a connector of a process field bus decentralized peripherals (PROFIBUS-DP). The connector may protect a circuit board inside the connector from electromagnetic interference.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the connector comprises a circuit board, two communicating cables, an inner shell, a shielding layer, and an outer shell.

At least one connecting port is adapted to be mounted on the circuit board.

The two communicating cables each comprise two core wires and a shielding net layer. The two core wires are coated by the shielding net layer, such that the shielding net layer covers the two core wires. Ends of the two core wires are electrically connected to the circuit board.

The inner shell is mounted on the ends of the core wires by injection molding to cover the ends of the core wires of the two communicating cables.

The shielding layer covers the inner shell and the circuit board, and is electrically connected to the shielding net layers of the two communicating cables.

The outer shell is mounted on the shielding layer by injection molding to cover the shielding layer, and the at least one connecting port extends through the inner shell, the shielding layer, and the outer shell.

Since the inner shell and the outer shell are formed by injection molding, the circuit board may be tightly fixed in the connector. Therefore, quality of the connector may be improved. Further, since the shielding layer is mounted between the inner shell and the outer shell and the shielding layer is electrically connected to the shielding net layers of the two communicating cables, the circuit board may be completely protected from electromagnetic interference.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is a connector10of a PROFIBUS-DP. The connector10of the PROFIBUS-DP comprises a circuit board11, two communicating cables12, an inner shell13, a shielding layer14, and an outer shell15.

With reference toFIG. 4, at least one connecting port111is adapted to be mounted on the circuit board11. In a first embodiment, one connecting port111is mounted on the circuit board11. Each one of the two communicating cables12comprises two core wires121and a shielding net layer122. The two core wires121are coated by the shielding net layer122, such that the shielding net layer122covers the two core wires121. End of the two core wires121is electrically connected to the circuit board11.

The inner shell13is mounted on the ends of the core wires121by injection molding to cover the ends of the core wires121of the two communicating cables12. The shielding layer14totally covers the inner shell13and the circuit board11, and is electrically connected to the shielding net layers122of the two communicating cables12.

The outer shell15is mounted on the shielding layer14by injection molding to cover the shielding layer14. The connecting port111extends through the inner shell13, the shielding layer14, and the outer shell15.

Since the inner shell13and the outer shell15are manufactured by injection molding, the circuit board11may be tightly fixed in the connector10of the PROFIBUS-DP. Therefore, quality of the connector10may be improved. Further, since the shielding layer14is mounted between the inner shell13and the outer shell15and is electrically connected to the shielding net layers122of the two communicating cables12, the circuit board11may be completely protected from electromagnetic interference. Therefore, capability of shielding electromagnetic interference of the connector10of the PROFIBUS-DP may be increased.

With reference toFIGS. 3 to 7, a manufacture method of the first embodiment of the connector10of the PROFIBUS-DP is shown. As disclosed inFIG. 3, the circuit board11is provided. A connecting port111, a switch112, multiple conductive bars113, and any other necessary elements (not shown in the figures) are mounted on the circuit board11. The connecting port111is mounted on an end of the circuit board11.

As disclosed inFIG. 4, the ends of the two core wires121of the two communicating cables12may be welded on the conductive bars113of the circuit board11.

As disclosed inFIG. 5, the inner shell13is mounted on the circuit board11by injection molding to cover the circuit board11and the ends of the two core wires121of the two communicating cables12. Further, the inner shell13may cover the switch112, the conductive bars113, and any other necessary elements mounted on the circuit board11. In the first embodiment, the connecting port111further comprises two first through holes1111, and the inner shell13further comprises two second through holes131. The two second through holes131of the inner shell13respectively communicate with the two first through holes1111of the connecting port111. The connecting port111of the circuit board11extends through the inner shell13. The switch112controls usage status of the circuit board11.

As disclosed inFIG. 6, the shielding layer14covers the inner shell13and the circuit board11. The shielding layer14is welded on the shielding net layer122of the two core wires121to be electrically connected to the shielding net layer122. In the first embodiment, the shielding layer14is a copper foil shielding tape, and the connecting port111of the circuit board11extends through the shielding layer14.

As disclosed inFIG. 7, the outer shell15is mounted on the shielding layer14by injection molding to cover the shielding layer14, and the connecting port111of the circuit board11extends through the outer shell15. In the first embodiment, the outer shell15further comprises two third through holes151. The two third through holes151of the outer shell15are respectively formed through the two second through holes131of the inner shell13. The two third through holes151of the outer shell15respectively communicate with the two first through holes1111of the connecting port111.

The connector10of the PROFIBUS-DP further comprises two fastening elements16. The two fastening elements16are respectively mounted through the two third through holes151and the two first through holes1111to pass through the outer shell15, the inner shell13, and the connecting port111. Therefore, when the connector10of the PROFIBUS-DP is connected to a PROFIBUS device (not shown), such as a PROFIBUS master, a PROFIBUS slave, or a PROFIBUS repeater, the connecting port111may be connected to a connector port of the PROFIBUS device. Further, the two fastening elements16may be screwed into the PROFIBUS device through the two third through holes151and the two first through holes1111, and the connector10may be firmly fixed on the PROFIBUS device.

With reference toFIGS. 8 and 9, a second embodiment of the connector20of the PROFIBUS-DP comprises a circuit board21, two communicating cables22, an inner shell23, a shielding layer24, and an outer shell25.

With reference toFIG. 11, at least one connecting port211is adapted to be mounted on the circuit board21. In the second embodiment, two connecting ports211are mounted on the circuit board21, and the two connecting ports211are respectively mounted on two opposite ends of the circuit board21. Each of the two communicating cables22comprises two core wires221and a shielding net layer222. The two core wires221are coated by the shielding net layer222, such that the shielding net layer222covers the two core wires221. Ends of the two core wires221are electrically connected to the circuit board21.

The inner shell23is mounted on the ends of the core wires221by injection molding to cover the ends of the core wires221of the two communicating cables22. The shielding layer24covers the inner shell23and the circuit board21, and is electrically connected to the shielding net layers222of the two communicating cables22.

The outer shell25is mounted on the shielding layer24by injection molding to cover the shielding layer24. The two connecting ports211extend through the inner shell23, the shielding layer24, and the outer shell25.

A difference between the first embodiment and the second embodiment is that the second embodiment of the connector20comprises two connecting ports211. One of the two connecting ports211may be connected to the connecting port of the PROFIBUS-DP device, and the other one of the two connecting ports211may be connected to another connector20or another connecting port of other PROFIBUS-DP device. Therefore, a topology of the PROFIBUS may be more easily constructed.

With reference toFIGS. 10 to 14, a manufacture method of the second embodiment of the connector20of the PROFIBUS-DP is shown. As disclosed inFIG. 10, the circuit board21is provided. Two connecting ports211, a switch212, multiple conductive bars213, two connecting tubes214, and any other necessary elements (not shown in the figures) are mounted on the circuit board21. The two connecting ports211are respectively mounted on two opposite ends of the circuit board21, and each of the two connecting ports211comprises two first through holes2111. The two connecting tubes214are mounted between the two connecting ports211, and two of the first through holes2111that are of the two different connecting ports211communicate with each other through one of the two connecting tubes214. As disclosed inFIG. 9, the inner shell23comprises two second through holes231, and the two connecting tubes214are respectively mounted in the two second through holes231of the inner shell23.

As disclosed inFIG. 11, the ends of the two core wires221of the two communicating cables22may be welded on the conductive bars213of the circuit board21.

As disclosed inFIG. 12, the inner shell23is mounted on the ends of the core wires221by injection molding to cover the circuit board21and the ends of the two core wires221of the two communicating cables22, and further to cover the switch212, the conductive bars213, the two connecting tubes214, and any other necessary elements mounted on the circuit board21. In the second embodiment, the two connecting ports211of the circuit board21are respectively extended through the inner shell23. The switch212controls usage status of the circuit board21.

As disclosed inFIG. 13, the shielding layer24covers the inner shell23and the circuit board21, and the shielding layer24is welded on the shielding net layer222of the two core wires221to be electrically connected to the shielding net layer222. In the second embodiment, the shielding layer24is a copper foil shielding tape, and the two connecting ports211of the circuit board21extend through the shielding layer24.

As disclosed inFIG. 14, the outer shell25is mounted on the shielding layer24by injection molding to cover the shielding layer24, and each of the two connecting ports211of the circuit board21extends through the outer shell25. In the second embodiment, the connector20of the PROFIBUS-DP further comprises two fastening elements26. The two fastening elements26are respectively mounted through the first through holes2111of the connecting ports211and the two connecting tubes214to pass through the two connecting ports211, the outer shell25, and the inner shell23. Therefore, when the connector20is connected to a PROFIBUS device (not shown), such as a PROFIBUS master, a PROFIBUS slave, or a PROFIBUS repeater, one of the two connecting ports211may be connected to a connector port of the PROFIBUS device. Further, the two fastening elements26may be screwed into the PROFIBUS device, and the connector20may be firmly fixed on the PROFIBUS device.

With reference toFIG. 15, the first embodiment of the connector10and the second embodiment of the connector20may be connected through the two communicating cables12,22. The first embodiment of the connector10and the second embodiment of the connector20may be respectively connected to two PROFIBUS devices. Therefore, the two PROFIBUS devices may communicate with each other to transmit data, and then, the topology of the PROFIBUS may be constructed.