Cable connector including rising portions for cable connection and electrical connector apparatus using the same

For example, a cable connector including rising portions for cable connection is provided in which transmission characteristics are excellent and connection work can be easily conducted. Two pairs of signal terminals (11B-11E) and a ground terminal (11A) placed between the pairs of signal terminals are included. These terminals (11A-11E) include rising portions (11Ab-11Eb) exposed from a terminal support member, the rising portions rising from a principal surface, which has a terminal-to-terminal direction and a length direction, of the terminal support member toward a cable connection side in a height direction. At least part of the rising portion (11Ab) of the ground terminal is positioned within an area of an intersection region of a first virtual portion (1a) positioned in the terminal-to-terminal direction between the rising portion (11B) of the signal terminal that is adjacent to the ground terminal (11A) and included in one of the pairs and the rising portion (11C) of the signal terminal included in the other pair, and a second virtual portion (a2) positioned between the same rising portions in the length direction, within at least one plane that is orthogonal to the height direction and spreads parallel to the principal surface of the terminal support member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a cable connector, or more specifically a cable connector including rising portions for cable connection and an electrical connector apparatus using the same.

BACKGROUND ART

For example, Japanese Patent No. 4623584 (Patent Literature 1) discloses an example of a cable connector. An object of the cable connector disclosed therein is to provide a cable connector that solves a problem occurring due to adjacently placing signal pairs, for example, a crosstalk problem, in which transmission characteristics are excellent and connection work can be easily conducted.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

The connection work is conducted by soldering in many cases, and is also conducted manually in many cases. As a result, the connection state tends to become unstable, which may adversely affect the signal characteristics depending on, for example, the amount of solder used or the connection direction of wires. The soldering work needs considerable experience.

In order to simplify the work, the connection work may be conducted using pressure welding. In this case, a rising portion is used which is exposed from a housing that supports a terminal by, for example, causing part of the terminal to rise from a principal surface of the housing toward a cable connection side. A tip of the rising portion is provided with a gap that allows cutting a jacket of the cable. It is configured in such a manner that the cable is simply pressed into the clearance to easily cut the jacket and allow connecting an exposed core to the rising portion.

However, if such rising portions are provided, the rising portions exposed from the housing are directly close to each other not via the housing. As a result, there occurs a problem that the transmission characteristics are deteriorated.

The present invention is made to solve such a problem in the known technology, and an object thereof is especially to provide a cable connector including rising portions for cable connection, in which transmission characteristics are excellent and connection work can be easily conducted, and an electrical connector apparatus using the same.

Solutions to the Problems

In order to solve the above problem, a cable connector according to an aspect of the present invention is a cable connector including: a plurality of terminals; and a terminal support member configured to support the plurality of terminals, in which the plurality of terminals includes at least two pairs of signal terminals placed away from each other in a terminal-to-terminal direction, and at least one ground terminal placed in the terminal-to-terminal direction between one of the two pairs of signal terminals and the other pair of signal terminals, each of the plurality of terminals includes a support portion configured to be supported by the terminal support member, a contact portion configured to be brought into contact with a counterpart terminal, and a rising portion exposed from the terminal support member, the rising portion rising from a principal surface, which has the terminal-to-terminal direction and a length direction of the terminal orthogonal to the terminal-to-terminal direction (β), of the terminal support member toward a cable connection side in a height direction orthogonal to both of the terminal-to-terminal direction and the length direction, the ground terminal includes a first rising portion, the signal terminal placed on a side near the ground terminal in the terminal-to-terminal direction among the signal terminals included in the one of the pairs of signal terminals includes a second rising portion, the signal terminal placed on a side near the ground terminal in the terminal-to-terminal direction among the signal terminals included in the other pair of signal terminals includes a third rising portion, and the second and third rising portions are connectable to the cable, and at least part of the first rising portion is positioned within an area of an intersection region of a first virtual portion positioned in the terminal-to-terminal direction between the second and third rising portions and a second virtual portion positioned in the length direction between the second and third rising portions within at least one plane that is orthogonal to the height direction and spreads parallel to the principal surface.

According to the cable connector of the aspect, it is possible to provide a cable connector including rising portions for cable connection, in which transmission characteristics are excellent and connection work can be easily conducted, and an electrical connector apparatus using the same.

In the cable connector of the above aspect, in order to reduce noise more effectively, one of the second and third rising portions may be positioned in the length direction on a side nearer to a contact side with the counterpart terminal, or on a side farther from the contact side with the counterpart terminal, than the first rising portion, and the other may be positioned correspondingly in the length direction on the side farther from the contact side with the counterpart terminal, or the side nearer to the contact side with the counterpart terminal, than the first rising portion.

In the cable connector of the above aspect, in order to reduce the size of the apparatus, the second and third rising portions may be positioned at the same position in the length direction. Furthermore, the first, second, and third rising portions may be positioned at the same position in the length direction.

Moreover, in the cable connector of the above aspect, in order to reduce noise more effectively, the signal terminal placed in the terminal-to-terminal direction on a side far from the ground terminal among the signal terminals included in the one of the pairs of signal terminals may include a fourth rising portion, the signal terminal placed in the terminal-to-terminal direction on a side far from the ground terminal among the signal terminals included in the other pair of signal terminals may include a fifth rising portion, and the fourth and fifth rising portions may be connectable to the cable, and the fourth rising portion may be positioned in the length direction on a side nearer to a contact side with the counterpart terminal, or on a side farther from the contact side with the counterpart terminal, than the first rising portion, and the fifth rising portion may be positioned correspondingly in the length direction on the side farther away from the contact point with the counterpart terminal, or on the side nearer to the contact side with the counterpart terminal, than the first rising portion.

In the cable connector of the above aspect, in order to reduce the size of the apparatus, the signal terminal placed in the terminal-to-terminal direction on a side far from the ground terminal among the signal terminals included in the one of the pairs of signal terminals may include a fourth rising portion, the signal terminal placed in the terminal-to-terminal direction on a side far from the ground terminal among the signal terminals included in the other pair of signal terminals may include a fifth rising portion, and the fourth and fifth rising portions may be connectable to the cable, and the fourth and fifth rising portions may be positioned at the same position in the length direction.

Furthermore, the first, fourth, and fifth rising portions may be positioned at the same position in the length direction.

Furthermore, in the cable connector of the above aspect, considering both of noise reduction and a reduction in the size of the apparatus, it is preferable that the first, second, and fourth rising portions form an isosceles triangle with the second rising portion as the apex. Moreover, it is preferable that the first, third, and fifth rising portions form an isosceles triangle with the third rising portion as the apex.

In the cable connector of the above aspect, the rising portion may include a portion extending in the terminal-to-terminal direction, and may include a portion extending in the length direction.

Moreover, in the cable connector of the above aspect, the rising portion may include a groove for cutting along the height direction, the rising portion being configured to be capable of cutting part of the cable.

Moreover, in the cable connector of the above aspect, it is preferable that between the plurality of terminals, at least the support portions and the contact portions of the terminals have the same lengths in the length direction, and be positioned at the same heights in the height direction.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cable connector including rising portions for cable connection, in which transmission characteristics are excellent and connection work can be easily conducted, and an electrical connector apparatus using the same.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A cable connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. Only the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated here, but naturally is not intended to limit the present invention.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of an electrical connector apparatus1using a cable connector10according to the present invention. The electrical connector apparatus1includes a pair of the cable connector10and a counterpart connector90. The counterpart connector90may be, for example, a board-mounted type of connector connected to a board3. However, as in the cable connector10, the counterpart connector90may also be of a cable connection type. The cable connector10can be mated with and removed from the board connector90.

The mating of the cable connector10and the board connector90can be locked using their shells. When the cable connector10and the board connector90are mated, a tapered mated portion50aprovided to the shell of the cable connector10is inserted into a substantially rectangular mating hole97provided in a front surface of the board connector90. Lock portions protruding elastically from upper and lower sides of the tip portion50aof the cable connector10, for example, lock protruding portions35protruding elastically from shell holes53, are fitted into locked portions provided on a ceiling portion and a base plate portion of a shell98of the board connector90, for example, through-holes99. As a result, the mating of the cable connector10and the board connector90is locked. The lock can be released using, for example, a lock lug manipulation unit13provided to the cable connector10.

The board connector90mainly includes an insulating housing92and terminals96held by the insulating housing92in a state of being partially exposed, and further includes the conductive shell98that covers an outer peripheral surface of the insulating housing92.

The mating hole97with which part of the connector10can be mated is provided in a front surface of the insulating housing92. A mating protruding portion97athat is fitted into a mating recess28formed by a housing20of the connector10is further provided to the mating hole97. One end sides96aof the terminals96are arranged on the mating protruding portion97ain a state of being exposed. On the other hand, the other end sides96bof the terminals96are soldered to the board3. A part98aof the shell98is fixed at a predetermined position of the board3. Consequently, the shell98is grounded to earth.

FIG. 2illustrates a perspective view of the cable connector10from which a hood12(refer toFIG. 1) has been removed.FIG. 3illustrates a perspective view of the state illustrated inFIG. 2from which a shell30and a jacket of an electrical cable4have been removed.

The cable connector10mainly includes the housing20including an insulating member such as resin, cable holders60that hold a plurality of twisted pair cables5included in the electrical cable4, terminal support members70that support terminals11, and the conductive shell30that covers outer peripheral surfaces of the housing20and the cable holders60, and further includes the insulating hood12(refer toFIG. 1) that covers the outside of the shell30. The cable holders60and the terminal support members70are used in a state of being integrated into the housing20, and configure part of the housing20together with the housing. Accordingly, in a broad sense, the cable holders60and the terminal support members70can be recognized as the housing. Four twisted pair cables5in total are provided here.

As well illustrated inFIG. 2, the shell30includes a main body shell31, a plate-shaped shell40, and a tubular shell50. The plate-shaped shell40and the main body shell31mainly cover outer peripheral surfaces of side portions of, for example, a housing body29. The plate-shaped shell40mainly covers outer peripheral surfaces of the side portions of, for example, the housing body29that are not covered by the main body shell31. The tubular shell50mainly covers outer peripheral surfaces of side portions of an inserted portion25with a slightly small diameter protruding from the housing body29.

The main body shell31is formed by blanking one metal plate and performing a bending process thereon. The main body shell31as a whole has a substantially U-shaped cross-section, and mainly includes a base36, an elastic piece33extending frontward of the base36, and a swaged portion36aof the electrical cable4extending to the rear of the base36. The base36and the elastic piece33are elastically connected at a rear end portion of the base36via a support portion32formed as a substantially U-shaped folded portion in cross-section. The elastic piece33includes a free end on the side mating with the board connector90. Furthermore, the free end is provided with the lock protruding portions35used to be locked to the board connector90.

FIG. 4illustrates a rear perspective view of a state where the cable holders60(60aand60b) have been removed from the state ofFIG. 3, together with the removed cable holders60aand60b. Moreover,FIG. 5illustrates a front perspective view of the state where the cable holders60aand60bhave been removed from the state ofFIG. 3.

The housing20includes the housing body29, and the inserted portion25protruding from the housing body29on the mating side with the board connector90(refer toFIG. 1). The inserted portion25is a portion that is inserted into the mating hole97(refer toFIG. 1) of the board connector90. In the inserted portion25, the mating recess28into which the mating protruding portion97aof the board connector90is inserted is formed.

The housing body29includes a thick base21and two opposed plate-shaped side walls26extending rearward of the base21, that is, to a side opposite to the inserted portion25. The terminal support members70aand70b, which are paired, and the cable holders60aand60b, which are similarly paired, are installed in a space26fformed between the side walls26. The housing body29is formed into a substantially cuboid shape by being complemented by the terminal support members70aand70band the cable holders60.

It is preferable that the paired cable holders60aand60bhave the same size and shape as each other. Similarly, it is preferable that the paired terminal support members70aand70bhave the same size and shape as each other. They are formed in the same sizes and shapes to facilitate the parts management, which also simplifies the manufacturing process.

Each of the cable holders60aand60bincludes a substantially cuboid main body67, and a cantilevered arm portion61extending from the main body67along a mounding direction “γ” of the cable holder60on the housing20. The arm portion61is coupled to the main body67on one end side opposite to the free end side. The arm portion61is provided in such a manner as to be elastically displaceable in a thickness direction. The main body67is provided with a plurality of through-holes63through which the cables5are inserted along a length direction “α” of the cables5. These through-holes63are used to mount one end sides of the twisted pair cables5in the cable holders60. The mounted one end side of the twisted pair cable leads from a rear surface67fside to near a front surface67eside of the main body67. The inner diameter of the through-hole63is set to be substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the cable5. Consequently, an outer peripheral surface of the cable5is caught on an inner peripheral surface of the through-hole63, which makes it possible to prevent the cable5from accidentally coming out of the through-hole63.

Side surfaces67cand67don the left and right sides of the main body67are each provided with a latch protruding portion62that latches in a latch hole26a(refer toFIG. 3toFIG. 5) provided in the side wall26of the housing20. Moreover, latch protruding portions61athat are latched to latch protruding portions83(refer toFIGS. 4 to 6) provided on vertically arranged portions75aand75bof the terminal support members70aand70bare provided near the free ends of the arms61. The latch protruding portions62of these cable holders60aand60band the latch holes26aon the housing side20, and the latch protruding portions61aof the cable holders60aand60band the latch protruding portions83of the terminal support members70aand70bare provided along the mounting direction “γ” of the cable holders60on the housing20. These latch means are used to enable latching of the cable holders60to the housing20. In this manner, in the embodiment, the latching between the latch protruding portions62of the cable holders60aand60band the latch holes26aon the housing20side, and the latching between the latch protruding portions61aof the cable holders60aand60band the latch protruding portions83of the terminal support members70aand70bcauses the cable holders60to be latched at different points to the housing20and the terminal support members70. Accordingly, the fixing between the housing20, the terminal support members70, and the cable holders60can be strengthened. A side surface on each of the left and right sides of the vertically arranged portions75aand75bis provided with a latch protruding portion81that is latched using a groove provided on an inner surface of the side wall26of the housing body29.

Insertion holes64through which rising portions (11b) protruding from principal surfaces72(72aand72b) of the terminal support members70aand70bare later inserted are provided in undersurfaces67bof the main bodies67. The insertion hole64communicates with the through-hole63through which the twisted pair cable5is inserted. It is configured in such a manner that an insulating sheath5a(refer toFIG. 4) of the twisted pair cable5inserted through the through-hole63can be cut by a groove11kfor cutting provided in the rising portion11bwhen the cable holders60aand60bare mounted on the housing20. As a result, an internal core5b(refer toFIG. 4) is caught in the groove to establish electrical continuity between the cable5and the terminal11.

Moreover, protruding portions66aand66bthat are fitted into notches76aand76bprovided in the terminal support members70aand70bare provided on the undersurfaces67bof the main bodies67. The protruding portions66aand66bare vertically arranged on surfaces of the cable holders60aand60bon the mounting sides on the housing20, that is, the undersurfaces67b, in the mounting direction “γ” of the cable holders60aand60bon the housing20, that is, in the same direction as the arm portions61.

FIG. 6illustrates a perspective view of the terminal support members70aand70btogether with the terminals11.FIG. 7illustrates a side view of the configuration illustrated inFIG. 6. Furthermore,FIG. 8illustrates a perspective view of the arranged state of the terminals11supported by the terminal support member70.FIG. 9illustrates a side view of the configuration illustrated inFIG. 8.

The cable connector10is provided with a plurality of, for example, five terminals11A to11E so as to be adaptable to Category 6a based on IEEE 802.3 here. These terminals11A to11E include two pairs of the signal terminals (11B and11D) and (11C and11E) placed away from each other in a terminal-to-terminal direction “β”, and the ground terminal11A placed in the terminal-to-terminal direction “β” between one (11B and11D) of the two pairs of the signal terminals (11B and11D) and (11C and11E) and the other pair of the signal terminals (11C and11E). From the viewpoint of reducing, for example, crosstalk, it is preferable that the terminals11A to11E be placed the same terminal-to-terminal distance away from each other. Furthermore, the one signal terminal pair (11B and11D) includes the signal terminal11B placed on a side near the ground terminal11A in the terminal-to-terminal direction “β”, and the signal terminal11D placed on a side far from the ground terminal11A in the terminal-to-terminal direction “β”. Moreover, the other signal terminal pair (11C and11E) includes the signal terminal11C placed on a side near the ground terminal11A in the terminal-to-terminal direction “β”, and the signal terminal11E placed on a side far from the ground terminal11A in the terminal-to-terminal direction “β”.

Each of the terminals11A to11E is formed by blanking a sheet of metal and bending the blank, and includes a contact portion11dprovided on a tip side11fthat is brought into contact with a counterpart terminal (the terminal “96” inFIG. 1), a latch portion11afor being press-fitted in and latched to the housing20, a support portion11gsupported by the terminal support member70, and cable connection portions (11band11c) that are connected to the cable5(refer to, for example,FIG. 4).

The contact portion11dis a portion that is brought into contact with the counterpart terminal, and includes, for example, a contact provided near the tip11fof the terminal. However, the contact portion11dis not limited to the contact; the contact portion11dalso includes the portion that is brought into contact with the counterpart terminal widely.

The support portion11gis a portion supported by the terminal support member70, and is formed integrally with the terminal support member70, but may be of a type that is press-fitted in the terminal support member70. The support portion11gmay be formed as a bend portion formed into a substantially “S” shape. The support portions11gcan also be supported by the vertically arranged portions75aand75bof the terminal support members70.

It is preferable that between the terminals11A to11E, the support portions11gand the contact portions11dhave the same lengths in a length direction “α” of the terminals11A to11E (corresponding to the length direction “α” of the cable5) orthogonal to the terminal-to-terminal direction “β”, and be positioned at the same heights in a height direction “γ” (corresponding to the above-mentioned mounting direction “γ”) orthogonal to both of the terminal-to-terminal direction “β” and the length direction “α”. Moreover, it is preferable that between the terminals11A to11E, the vertically arranged portions75aand75bbe positioned at the same height in the height direction “γ”, and have the same length in the height direction “γ” as in the support portions11gand the contact portions11d. Consequently, it is possible to prevent crosstalk more effectively. Moreover, in this case, it is also possible to use the ground terminal11A as a signal terminal. Accordingly, this apparatus can also be used as not only a standard product of Category 6 of IEEE but also a standard product of, for example, Category 5.

The cable connection portion includes the flat portion11cand the rising portion11b. The flat portion11cmay have, for example, a substantially triangular shape in top view, and is designed to form part of the principal surface72(72aand72b), which has the terminal-to-terminal direction “β” and the length direction “α”, of the terminal support member70(70aand70b), or more specifically part of a main surface of the terminal support member70(70aand70b) supporting the vicinity of the flat surface11c. The flat surface11cis provided to each of the terminals11A to11E. The ground terminal11A includes a ground-specific flat portion11Ac. The signal terminals11B to11E include signal-specific flat portions11Bc to11Ec, respectively.

The rising portion11brises from the principal surface72of the terminal support member70toward the cable connection side in the height direction “γ” in a state of being exposed from the terminal support member70.

Terminal-to-terminal distance changing portions11Ae to11Ee may be provided between the rising portions11Ab to11Eb and the support portions11Ag to11Eg to change the spacing between the terminals11A to11E in the terminal-to-terminal direction “β” (refer toFIG. 8). These terminal-to-terminal distance changing portions11Ae to11Ee are provided. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the distance between the rising portions11Ab to11Eb in the terminal-to-terminal direction “β” as compared to the distance between the tips11Af to11Ef, and to facilitate conducting pressure-welding work. These terminal-to-terminal distance changing portions11Ae to11Ee also play an important role in reducing crosstalk.

The terminal support members70aand70bsupport the terminals11A to11E in cantilever fashion. The terminals11A to11E may be integrated at their respective support portions11Ag to Eg by integral molding at the time of manufacture to be supported by the terminal support members, or may be integrated with the terminal support members70aand70bfrom the rear or above, using press-fitting or the like to be supported there. In this example, a description is given assuming integral molding. Part of the terminal11is exposed to the outside even after being integrated. For example, front parts of the terminals11A to11E, in other words, the vicinities of the tips11Af to11Ef of the terminals11A to11E extending toward the base21side of the housing20, and rear parts of the terminals11, in other words, for example, the rising portions11Ab to Eb where the twisted pair cables5are pressure welded, are exposed to the outside. The tips Af to11Ef side of the terminals11A to11E can be elastically displaced along the height direction “γ”.

The terminal support members70aand70binclude plate-shaped main bodies77aand77bforming the principal surfaces72aand72b, respectively. The vertically arranged portions75aand75bare provided on top surfaces of the main bodies77aand77b, lock projections71aprotruding outward are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the main bodies77aand77b, and notches76aand76bof a U-shape in plan view cut out inward are provided in rear edges of the main bodies77aand7b.

At the time of assembly, the paired terminal support members70aand70bare abutted against each other on their flat undersurfaces78aand78bin the height direction “γ”. These abutment surfaces are designed to be flat surfaces. With such surfaces, the abutment is made in a more stable state.

When the paired terminal support members70aand70bare abutted against each other, the terminals11supported by the terminal support members70aand70bform a gap “G” (refer toFIG. 7) into which a contacted object, for example, the mating protruding portion97aof the board connector90(refer toFIG. 1), is inserted, between the contacts11dof the terminals11. The gap “G” is formed along the height direction “γ” along the abutment direction of the paired terminal support members70.

It is preferable to provide extending portions74extending from the vertically arranged portions75aand75b, on the terminal support members70aand70b, to prevent, for example, parts of the cores exposed from the tips (distal ends) of the cables5held by the cable holders60from being short-circuited with their adjacent terminals. The extending portions74extend from the vertically arranged portions75aand75btoward the rising portions11bside within the top surfaces of the terminal support members70aand70b, and cover at least parts of support portions11gof the terminals11. It is preferable that a taper74afor preventing a collision with the cable holder60be formed at a tip of the extending portion74.

The terminal arrangement in the cable connector10is described with reference toFIGS. 10 and 11in addition toFIGS. 8 and 9.FIG. 10is a plan view of the configuration illustrated inFIG. 5.FIG. 11is a rear view of the configuration illustrated inFIG. 5.

As illustrated inFIG. 10, at least part of the ground rising portion11Ab of the ground terminal11A is positioned within an area of an intersection region “a” of a first virtual portion “a1” positioned in the terminal-to-terminal direction “β” between the signal rising portions11Bb and11Cb and a second virtual portion “a2” positioned in the length direction “α” between the signal rising portions11Bb and11Cb within at least one plane that is orthogonal to the height direction “γ” and spreads parallel to the principal surface72a/72bof the terminal support member70, for example, within a plane73(73aand73b) illustrated inFIGS. 8, 9, and 11.

The terminals are placed in this manner. Accordingly, the ground rising portion11Ab faces the signal rising portions11Bb and11Eb within a plane in the same height direction. As a result, noise generated between the signal rising portions11Bb and11Db included in the one signal terminal pair (11B and11D) and the signal rising portions11Cb and11Eb included in the other signal terminal pair (11C and11E) (the occurrence of crosstalk) can be effectively reduced or be destroyed by the ground rising portion11Ab provided between them.

In other words, lines of force generated between the signal rising portions11Bb and11Cb, between the signal rising portions11Bb and11Eb, between the signal rising portions11Db and11Cb, and between the signal rising portions11Db and11Eb can be effectively coupled to the ground rising portion11Ab. Crosstalk can be effectively reduced or destroyed.

The “entire part” of the ground rising portion11Ab in the height direction “γ” is not required to be positioned within the area of the intersection region “a” within the “entire” plane that is orthogonal to the height direction “γ” and spreads parallel to the principal surface72aor72b. Moreover, the “entire part” of the ground rising portion11Ab is not required to be positioned within the area of the intersection region “a” within at least one plane. At least part of the ground rising portion11Ab in the height direction “γ” is simply required to be positioned within the area of the intersection region “a” within at least one plane. This is because even in such a case, a line of force can be effectively coupled to the ground rising portion11Ab.

It is preferable that as illustrated inFIG. 10, the ground rising portion11Ab be placed on a straight line “k” linking the center of the signal rising portion11Bb included in the one signal terminal pair (11B and11D) and the center of the signal rising portion11Cb included in the other signal terminal pair (11C and11E), in other words, on the straight line “k” forming the shortest distance between the center of the signal rising portion11Bb and the center of the signal rising portion11Cb. Noise is most likely to occur at such a position. Accordingly, the ground rising portion11Ab is placed at this position. Therefore, noise can be more effectively reduced. However, the placement is not limited to this position, but the ground rising portion11Ab is simply required to be positioned within the above-mentioned area of the intersection region “a”. This is because noise reaches not only on the straight line “k”, but also a space existing between the signal terminal pairs three-dimensionally. Here, the straight line “k” is expressed as the line forming the shortest distance between the center of the signal rising portion11Bb and the center of the signal rising portion11Cb, but is not limited to this; the straight line “k” can also be regarded as, for example, a straight line forming the shortest distance between the signal rising portions (11Bb and11Db) included in the one signal terminal pair (11B and11D) and the signal rising portions (11Cb and11Eb) included in the other signal terminal pair (11C and11E).

Furthermore, in order to separate the signal rising portion11Bb included in the one signal terminal pair (11B and11D) and the signal rising portion11Cb included in the other signal terminal pair (11C and11E) as much as possible, one of the signal rising portions11Bb and11Cb may be positioned in the length direction “α” on a side nearer to or farther from a contact side with a counterpart terminal than the ground rising portion11Ab, and the other may be positioned correspondingly on the side farther from or nearer to the contact side with the counterpart terminal than the ground rising portion11Ab. For example, in the examples illustrated inFIG. 10and the like, the signal rising portion11Bb is positioned in the length direction “α” on the side nearer to the contact side with the counterpart terminal than the ground rising portion11Ab, and the signal rising portion11Cb is positioned correspondingly on the side farther from the contact side with the counterpart terminal than the ground rising portion11Ab.

However, it is not necessarily required to perform positioning in this manner. From the viewpoint of the size of the apparatus, the signal rising portions11Bb and11Cb may be positioned at the same position in the length direction “α”. For example, the signal rising portions11Bb and11Cb may be positioned at the same position as the ground rising portion11Ab.

Similarly, in order to separate the signal rising portion11Db included in the one signal terminal pair (11B and11D) and the signal rising portion11Eb included in the other signal terminal pair (11C and11E) as much as possible, one of the signal rising portions11Db and11Eb may be positioned in the length direction “α” on a side nearer to or farther from a contact side with a counterpart terminal than the ground rising portion11Ab, and the other may be positioned correspondingly on the side farther from or nearer to the contact side with the counterpart terminal than the ground rising portion11Ab.

However, it is not necessarily required to perform positioning in this manner. From the viewpoint of the size of the apparatus, the signal rising portions11Db and11Eb may be positioned at the same position in the length direction “α”. For example, in the examples illustrated inFIG. 10and the like, the signal rising portions11Db and11Eb are positioned at the same position as the ground rising portion11Ab in the length direction “α”.

When both of noise reduction and a reduction in the size of the apparatus are taken into consideration, it is preferable that the ground rising portion11Ab and the signal rising portions11Bb and11Db form an isosceles triangle with the signal rising portion11Bb as the apex as illustrated inFIG. 10and the like. Moreover, it is preferable that the ground rising portion11Ab and the signal rising portions11Cb and11Eb form an isosceles triangle with the signal rising portion11Cb as the apex. Furthermore, in this case, it is preferable that the signal rising portions11Bb and11Cb forming the apexes be positioned on opposite sides across the ground rising portion11Ab in the length direction “α” as illustrated inFIG. 10and the like.

FIGS. 12 to 14illustrate a modification.FIG. 12is a diagram corresponding to, for example,FIG. 5, and illustrates a state where the cable holders60aand60bhave been removed from the state ofFIG. 3in rear perspective view.FIG. 13is a plan view of the configuration illustrated inFIG. 12.FIG. 14is a rear view of the configuration illustrated inFIG. 12. In the embodiment illustrated in, for example,FIG. 1, the ground rising portion11Ab extends substantially in the terminal-to-terminal direction “β”, but may be extend in the length direction “α” as illustrated inFIGS. 12 to 14. Also in the case of extending in the length direction “α”, if at least part of a ground rising portion15is positioned within the area of the intersection region “a” of the first virtual portion “a1” positioned in the terminal-to-terminal direction “β” between the signal rising portions11Bb and11Cb and the second virtual portion “a2” positioned in the length direction “α” between the signal rising portions11Bb and11Cb within at least one plane that is orthogonal to the height direction “γ” and spreads parallel to the principal surface72a/72bof the terminal support member70as in the connector described with reference to, for example,FIG. 1, noise can be effectively reduced.

FIG. 15illustrates another modification. In this modification, the signal rising portions11Bb and11Cb are positioned at the same position in the length direction “α”. As a result, the second virtual portion “a2” is linear, and the intersection region “a” where the first virtual portion “a1” and the second virtual portion (virtual line) intersect is also linear. Also in such a case, noise can be reduced by positioning the ground rising portion15A within the area of the intersection region (linear region). However, as illustrated in this modification, if the signal rising portions11Bb and11Cb are positioned at the same position in the length direction “α”, it is preferable that the ground rising portion15A extend in the length direction “α” beyond the second virtual portion “a2” to, for example, a side far from a contact side with a counterpart terminal as illustrated to enhance the noise prevention effect.

The crosstalk reduction effect obtained by the embodiment is described with reference toFIG. 16.FIG. 16is a graph illustrating simulation results obtained by simulating insertion loss obtained by a conventional general connector configuration, or more specifically, such a configuration without the rising portion as disclosed in, for example, Patent Literature 1, the configuration illustrated in, for example,FIG. 1of the embodiment, and the configuration in the first modification illustrated in, for example,FIG. 13, and comparing the simulation results with a standard value of insertion loss for Category 6a based on IEEE 802.3. The horizontal axis indicates frequency (GHz), and the vertical axis indicates insertion loss (dB). “ANSYS HFSS” made by ANSYS, Inc. was used for the simulations. It was assumed that PBT (polybutyleneterephtalate) is used for the housing portion of the cable connector10, that is, the housing20, the cable holders60, and the terminal support members70, and the insulating housing92of the board connector90as the condition. As is clear fromFIG. 16, the conventional general connector configuration also clears the standard value. However, according to this configuration, it is obvious that the value was further improved. In this manner, according to the present invention, a cable connector including rising portions for cable connection is provided in which transmission characteristics are excellent and connection work can be easily conducted.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and other various modifications can be made thereto. For example, in the embodiment, the contact used for a typical four twisted pair cable has been described as an example. However, the number of cores used for the connector varies depending on the standard of a LAN cable. It can be thought that a connector used for a twisted pair cable other than the four pair can also be easily developed by applying the technical idea illustrated in the embodiment. In this manner, the present invention can also include other and different embodiments, and many of the details can be modified from various clear viewpoints without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the drawings and descriptions are simply illustrations and are not limited to them.

LIST OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

11A Ground terminal

a Intersection region

a1First virtual portion

a2Second virtual portion

70Terminal support member