Abstract:
A cable assembly ( 100 ) includes an insulative housing ( 2 ) having a base portion ( 21 ) and a tongue portion ( 22 ) extending forwardly from the base portion, said tongue portion defining a top side and a bottom side opposite to the top side, at least a mounting cavity ( 2212 ) and a slot ( 2213 ) defined in a bottom side of the insulated housing, said slot located behind and communicated to the mounting cavity; a plurality of contacts ( 3 ) supported by the base portion, each contact having a mating portion arranged proximate to the top side of the tongue portion, and a tail portion supported by the base portion; an optical module ( 6 ) floatably accommodated in the mounting cavity and capable of moving in the mounting cavity along a front-to-back direction, said optical module including at least one lens member and a holder member enclosing the lens member; an optical fiber extending through the slot and connected to the optical module; and a metal shell ( 8 ) having a mating frame enclosing the tongue portion and the optical module therein.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is continuation application (CA) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/317,653, filed on Dec. 23, 2008 and entitled “CABLE ASSEMBLY HAVING FLOATABLE TERMINATION”. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a cable assembly, more particularly to a cable assembly with a floatable termination capable of movement with respect to a connector thereof. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Recently, personal computers (PC) are used of a variety of techniques for providing input and output. Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a serial bus standard to the PC architecture with a focus on computer telephony interface, consumer and productivity applications. The design of USB is standardized by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), an industry standard body incorporating leading companies from the computer and electronic industries. USB can connect peripherals such as mouse devices, keyboards, PDAs, gamepads and joysticks, scanners, digital cameras, printers, external storage, networking components, etc. For many devices such as scanners and digital cameras, USB has become the standard connection method. 
         [0006]    USB supports three data rates: 1) A Low Speed rate of up to 1.5 Mbit/s (187.5 KB/s) that is mostly used for Human Interface Devices (HID) such as keyboards, mice, and joysticks; 2) A Full Speed rate of up to 12 Mbit/s (1.5 MB/s). Full Speed was the fastest rate before the USB 2.0 specification and many devices fall back to Full Speed. Full Speed devices divide the USB bandwidth between them in a first-come first-served basis and it is not uncommon to run out of bandwidth with several isochronous devices. All USB Hubs support Full Speed; 3) A Hi-Speed rate of up to 480 Mbit/s (60 MB/s). Though Hi-Speed devices are advertised as “up to 480 Mbit/s”, not all USB 2.0 devices are Hi-Speed. Hi-Speed devices typically only operate at half of the full theoretical (60 MB/s) data throughput rate. Most Hi-Speed USB devices typically operate at much slower speeds, often about 3 MB/s overall, sometimes up to 10-20 MB/s. A data transmission rate at 20 MB/s is sufficient for some but not all applications. However, under a circumstance transmitting an audio or video file, which is always up to hundreds MB, even to 1 or 2 GB, currently transmission rate of USB is not sufficient. As a consequence, faster serial-bus interfaces are being introduced to address different requirements. PCI Express, at 2.5 GB/s, and SATA, at 1.5 GB/s and 3.0 GB/s, are two examples of High-Speed serial bus interfaces. 
         [0007]    From an electrical standpoint, the higher data transfer rates of the non-USB protocols discussed above are highly desirable for certain applications. However, these non-USB protocols are not used as broadly as USB protocols. Many portable devices are equipped with USB connectors other than these non-USB connectors. One important reason is that these non-USB connectors contain a greater number of signal pins than an existing USB connector and are physically larger as well. For example, while the PCI Express is useful for its higher possible data rates, a 26-pin connectors and wider card-like form factor limit the use of Express Cards. For another example, SATA uses two connectors, one 7-pin connector for signals and another 15-pin connector for power. Due to its clumsiness, SATA is more useful for internal storage expansion than for external peripherals. 
         [0008]    The existing USB connectors have a small size but low transmission rate, while other non-USB connectors (PCI Express, SATA, et al) have a high transmission rate but large size. Neither of them is desirable to implement modern high-speed, miniaturized electronic devices and peripherals. To provide a kind of connector with a small size and a high transmission rate for portability and high data transmitting efficiency is much desirable. 
         [0009]    In recent years, more and more electronic devices are adopted for optical transmitter. It may be good idea to design a connector which is capable of transmitting an electrical signal and an optical signal. Someone has begun to conceive such kind of connector which is compatible of electrical and optical signals transmitting. The connector includes metallic contacts assembled to an insulated housing and several optical lenses bundled together and mounted to the housing too. A kind of hybrid cable includes wires and optical fibers are respectively attached to the metallic contacts and the optical lenses. 
         [0010]    However, the optical lenses are fixed to the insulated housing of the connector and have no floatable function. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cable assembly has floatable termination(s). 
         [0012]    In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a cable assembly in accordance with present invention comprises an insulative housing having a base portion and a tongue portion extending forwardly from the base portion, said tongue portion defining a top side and a bottom side opposite to the top side, at least a mounting cavity and a slot defined in a bottom side of the insulated housing, said slot located behind and communicated to the mounting cavity; a plurality of contacts supported by the base portion, each contact having a mating portion arranged proximate to the top side of the tongue portion, and a tail portion supported by the base portion; an optical module floatably accommodated in the mounting cavity and capable of moving in the mounting cavity along a front-to-back direction, said optical module including at least one lens member and a holder member enclosing the lens member; an optical fiber extending through the slot and connected to the optical module; and a metal shell having a mating frame enclosing the tongue portion and the optical module therein. 
         [0013]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is an assembled, perspective view of a cable assembly in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, perspective view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but viewed from another aspect; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a partially assembled view of the cable assembly; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is other partially assembly view of the cable assembly; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is another partially assembly view of the cable assembly; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a partially assembled view of the cable assembly in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known circuits have been shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail. For the most part, details concerning timing considerations and the like have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention and are within the skills of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art. 
         [0023]    Reference will be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail, wherein depicted elements are not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by same or similar reference numeral through the several views and same or similar terminology. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , a cable assembly  100  according to the first embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The cable assembly  100  comprises an insulative housing  2 , a set of first contacts  3 , a set of second contacts  4  and two optical modules  6  supported by the insulative housing  2 , and a cable  5  connected to the first, second contacts  3 ,  4  and the optical module  6 . The cable assembly  1  further comprises a metal shell  8 . Detail description of these elements and their relationship and other elements formed thereon will be detailed below. 
         [0025]    The insulative housing  2  includes a base portion  21  and a tongue portion  22  extending forwardly from the base portion  21 . A cavity  211  is recessed downward from an up surface (not numbered) of the base portion  21 , and four grooves  2111  are defined in a bottom portion of the cavity  211  and spaced apart one another along a transversal direction. Four supplemental grooves  2211  are recessed downward from an up surface (not numbered) of the tongue portion  22  and located in front of the four grooves  2111 . The supplemental grooves  2211  are shorter than the four grooves  2111 . Further, the four supplemental grooves  2211  are arranged higher than the four grooves  2111  along a vertical direction. Four slots  2112  are defined in a rear section of the base portion  21  and through a bottom surface (not numbered) of the base portion  21 . The four slots  2112  are located behind of the four grooves  2111  and in communication thereto. Two mounting cavities  2212  are located in a lower segment of a front part of the tongue portion  22 . A poisoning slot  2214  is defined in a rear side of the mounting cavity  2212 . Furthermore, a concave (not numbered) may be defined in a bottom side of the mounting cavity  2212  for inhibiting the optical module  6  moving forwardly excessively and sliding out of the mounting cavity  2212 . Two curved slots  2213  are defined in a lower section of the insulative housing  2  and in communication to the two mounting cavities  2212 , respectively. A distance of front parts of the two slots  2213  is narrow than rear parts thereof. 
         [0026]    The set of first contacts  3  has four contact members arranged in a row along the transversal direction and each first contact  3  substantially includes a planar retention portion  32  accommodated in the corresponding groove  2111 , a mating portion  34  raised upwardly and extending forwardly from the retention portion  32  and accommodated in the corresponding supplemental groove  2211 , and a tail portion  36  extending rearward from the retention portion  32  and accommodated in the slots  2112 . Two of the first contacts  3  located in a second and third positions of the first contacts row have same structure, and substantially same as those of other two first contacts  3  disposed laterally, expect for a distance between the retention portions  32  of the two of the first contacts  3  are more smaller than a distance between mating portions  34  or tail portions  36  of the two of the first contacts  3 . 
         [0027]    The set of second contacts  4  has five contact members arranged in a row along the transversal direction and combined with an insulator  23  by inserted-mold process. The set of second contacts  4  are separated into two pair of signal contacts  40  for transmitting differential signals and a grounding contact  41  disposed between the two pair of signal contacts  40 . Each signal contact  4  includes a planar retention portion (not shown) received in the insulator  23 , a curved mating portion  42  extending forward from the retention portion and disposed beyond a front surface of the insulator  23 , and a tail portion  44  extending rearward from the retention portion and disposed behind a back surface of the insulator  23 . The grounding contact  41  is similar to the signal contacts  40 , except that the tail portions  44 ′ thereof is much broader than the tail portion  44  of the signal contact  40 . A V-shaped slot  441 ′ is recessed downward from an up surface of the tail portion  44 ′ of the grounding contact  41 . 
         [0028]    The insulator  23  is mounted to the cavity  211  of the base portion  21 , with mating portions  42  of the second contacts  4  located behind the mating portions  34  of the first contacts  3  and above the up surface of the tongue portion  22 , the tail portions  44 ,  44 ′ of the signal contacts  40  and the grounding contact  41  disposed in a rear segment of the cavity portion  211  and higher than the tail portions  36  of the first contacts  3 . 
         [0029]    Each optical module  6  includes two lens members  61  arranged in juxtaposed manner and enclosed by a holder member  62  and retained in the corresponding mounting cavity  2212 . Furthermore, a coil spring member  63  is engaged with the holder member  62 , with a protrusion portion  64  of the holder member  62  extending into an interior of a front segment of the spring member  63 . The optical module  6  is mounted to the mounting cavity  2212 , with a rear end of the spring member  63  accommodated in the poisoning slot  2214 . Therefore, the optical module  6  is capable of moving backwardly and forwardly within the mounting cavity  2212 . 
         [0030]    The cable  5  includes a set of first wires  51 , a set of second wires  52 , a set of third wires (optical fibers)  53  and an insulative jacket  54  enclosed outside of the first wires  51 , the second wires  52  and the third wires  53 . 
         [0031]    Each first wire  51  has an inner conductor  511  and an insulative shielding portion  512  enclosing the inner conductor  511 . A length of front segment of the insulative shielding portion  512  is deprived away to have the corresponding inner conductor  511  exposed outside. The inner conductor  511  is put into the slot  2112  and supported by the tail portion  36 , and then soldered to the tail portion  36 . 
         [0032]    Each second wire  52  has two sub-wires  521  to form differential pairs and a grounding wire  522  enclosed within a shielding member  5213 . Each sub-wire  521  has an inner conductor  5211  and an insulative shielding portion  5212  enclosing thereon. A length of front segment of the insulative shielding portion  5212  is deprived away to have the corresponding inner conductor  5211  exposed outside. The inner conductor  5211  is supported by the tail portion  44  of the signal contacts  40  and soldered thereto. The grounding wires  522  are located in the V-shaped slot  441 ′ of the tail portion  44 ′ of the grounding contacts  41  and soldered thereto. 
         [0033]    The third wires (optical fibers)  53  are through the curved slots  2213  of the insulative housing  2  and coupled to optical modules  6 . 
         [0034]    The metal shell  8  comprises a first shield part  81  and a second shield part  82 . The first shield part  81  includes a front tube-shaped mating frame  811 , a rear U-shaped body section  812  connected to a bottom side and lateral sides of the mating frame  811 , and a cable holder member  813  attached to a bottom side of the body section  812 . The second shield part  82  is of inverted U-shaped and assembled to the body portion  812  along a vertical direction. The cable holder member  813  is crimped to the insulative jacket  54  the cable  5 . A connection member  83  includes a sleeve-shaped first engaging portion  831  and a planar second engaging portion  832  connected to the first engaging portion  831  via an inclined neck portion  833 . The first engaging portion  831  is disposed in a top side of the mating frame  811  and attached thereto via soldering process or mechanical method. The second engaging portion  831  is used for gripping strength members (not shown) inside the cable  5 . The strength members may be kevlar members, fiberglass members, and the like. The connection member  83  is shield by the second shield part  82 . 
         [0035]    The cable assembly  100  further comprises an insulative cover  10  enclosing the metal shell  8  and partial of insulative jacket  54  of the cable  5 . 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 7  in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-6 , a cable assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. Compared with the cable assembly  100  of the first embodiment, the differences therebetween are as follows: two additional curved slots  2213 ′ are defined in lateral sides of the lower section of the insulative housing  2  and in communication to the two mounting cavities  2212 , and two additional optical fibers  53 ′ are provided and extend into the two additional curved slots  2213 ′ for connecting to the optical modules  6 , respectively. Two cap members  24  are arranged behind the mounting cavities  2212  and shield the two additional optical fibers  53 ′. Two attachment members  531 ′ are combined with the two optical fibers  53 ′ and inserted into rear sections of the additional curved slots  2213 ′, respectively. Description of other identical elements members and structures is omitted hereby. 
         [0037]    The two optical modules (terminations)  6  have floatable function relative to the insulative housing  2 , furthermore, the two optical modules  6  are capable of movement with respect to one another. Thus, the optical modules  6  can manufactured easily and mating with terminations of complementary reliably. 
         [0038]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. For example, the tongue portion is extended in its length or is arranged on a reverse side thereof opposite to the supporting side with other contacts but still holding the contacts with an arrangement indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.