Patent Publication Number: US-7223120-B2

Title: Cable assembly with flat flexible cable

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a cable assembly, and particularly to a cable assembly having an Flat Flexible Cable (FFC). 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Flat Flexible Cables (FFC) are widely used to connect components arranged in a confined space inside an electronic device, such as a notebook computer, for deducing the overall size of the electronic device. A conventional FFC connector assembly usually comprises an insualtive housing, a plurality of contacts received in the insualtive housing and an FFC assembled to the insulative housing and electrically connecting with the contacts. 
   Normally, each Flat Flexible Cable consists of a plurality of separated flat conductive members, each having a rectangular section and a pair of insulative layers covering the opposite faces of the conductive members. The conductive members extending beyond the front ends of the insulative layers form contacting portions. The FFC is light and thin. As above reason, during the contacting portions are inserted into the insualtive housing and then soldered to the corresponding contacts, FFC is hard to be positioned and the solder with the contacts is also hard to realize. Further, after solder, the solder joints achieved do not have good quality, and thus, influence the signal transmission. 
   Hence, an improved FFC cable assembly is desired to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a FFC cable assembly, which the FFC can be easily and precisely soldered to the contacts so that the good quality solder joints can be achieved. 
   In order to implement the main object and overcome the above-identified deficiencies in the prior art, a cable assembly comprises an electrical connector, an insert and a Flat Flexible Cable. he electrical connector comprises an insulative housing and a plurality of terminals. The insert is inserted into the insulative housing and comprises a plurality of holes formed in a front face thereof, and a depressing portion forming a plurality of slits, and a plurality of slots aligned with corresponding holes and slits. The FFC comprises a plurality of separated conductive members, the front ends of the separated conductive members are disposed in the slits and the slots. Each terminal comprises a connecting portion disposed in the slot of the insert, and soldered with corresponding conductive member of FFC. 
   Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective, assembled view of a cable connector assembly according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded, perspective view of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is another view of the  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a partially assembled of  FIG. 3 , with bare conductive members of a cable to show detail structures more clearly; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective, assembled view of an electrical connector of the cable assembly of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the area shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the cable assembly along a line  7 — 7  of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of the area shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in  FIG. 1 , the cable assembly  1  comprises an electrical connector  200  adapted for electrically connecting with a complementary connector (not shown), and a cable  300  electrically connected with the electrical connector  200 . The connector  200  is a FFC connector due to its low profile, stable electrical properties and excellent preventing EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) function. 
   A structural description of the cable assembly  1  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1–3 . The connector  200  comprises an insulative housing  21 , a contact set  22  having an insulative insert  23  and a plurality of terminals  24  for transmitting signals and power, a shield member  25  comprising a first metallic shield  251 , a second metallic shield  252 , and a pair of latch members  26 . 
   The insulative housing  21  comprises an elongate base portion  211 , a tongue portion  212  extending forwardly from middle region of the base portion  211 , a termination portion  213  formed at a rear end of the base portion  211 , and a pair of retention portions  214  respectively formed on lateral ends of the base portion  211 . The base portion  211  and the tongue portion  212  together define a plurality of grooves  215  extending from the rear end of the base portion  211  to a front end of the tongue portion  212 . The termination portion  213  comprises an elongated plate  2131  extending rearwardly from bottom edge of the base portion  211 , a pair of U-shaped receiving sections  2132  formed on lateral ends of the elongated plate  2131 . Each receiving section  2132  defines a receiving channel  2133  recessed outwardly from an inner side thereof. Each receiving section  2132  and a corresponding retention portion  214  define a gap  216  therebetween. Each retention portion  214  defines a depression  2141  in an outer wall thereof and a guiding portion  2142  extending forwardly therefrom. The guiding portion  2142  has an upright front end  2143  along a lengthwise direction and an upright lateral end  2144  extending from an inner side thereof along a lateral direction. The front end  2143  and the lateral end  2144  define an exit  2145  therebetween. The guiding portions  2142  are respectively spaced from the tongue portion  212  by a pair of cavities  217 . Additionally, two pairs of first and second wedgy protrusions  2111  and  2134  are respectively formed on an upper surface of the base portion  211  and upper surfaces of the receiving sections  2132  of the termination portion  213 . Two pairs of first and second slits  2112 ,  2135  are respectively defined in opposite sides of the base portion  211  and the receiving sections  2132  of the termination portion  213  adjacent to corresponding protrusions  2111 ,  2134 . A pair of bolts  218  are defined at the opposite sides of the base portion  211  of the insulative housing  21 . 
   Join with the  FIG. 6 , the insulative insert  23  of the contact set  22  comprises an elongated main portion  231 . The main portion  231  has a front face  232 , a pair of end portions  233  and a depressing portion  234  behind the front face  232 . The insulative insert  23  defines a plurality of holes  235  recessed rearwardly from the front face  232  thereof and arranged in a lateral direction. The depressing portion  234  forms a plurality of projections  236  in a middle thereof. Adjacent two projections  236  define a slit  237  therebetween. A plurality of slots  238  are defined behind corresponding holes  235  in a front-to-back direction perpendicular to the lateral direction. Each slot  238  is aligned with the corresponding hole  235  and the slit  237 . The bottom surface of each slot  238  is higher than that of the slit  237 , thus, forming a step  239  (shown in  FIG. 7 ) therebetween. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , the terminals  24  are respectively received in the insulative insert  23  and have the same configuration and dimensions. Each of the terminals  24  comprises a retention section  242  at middle thereof, a mating section  241  extending forwardly from the retention section  242 , and a connecting section  243  extending rearwardly from the retention section  242 . Furthermore, each retention section  242  has a pair of spines  244  protruding vertically from opposite sides thereof for locking with the housing  21 . 
   The first metallic shield  251  and the second metallic shield  252  engage with each other and together define a space for receiving the housing  21  therein. The first shield  251  comprises a pair of side tabs  2511  extending downwardly from opposite lateral sides thereof and a pair of first flanges  2512  extending downwardly from a rear edge thereof. Each first flange  2512  forms a resilient bulge  2513  thereon. A pair of front apertures  2514  and a pair of side apertures  2515  are respectively defined in front and rear portions of the first shield  251  and respectively spaced from each other for respectively fitted with the first and the second protrusions  2111 ,  2134  of the housing  21 . The second shield  252  comprises two pairs of side bars  2521  spaced arranged at opposite lateral edges thereof in the front-to-back direction to insert into the first and the second slits  2112 ,  2135  of the housing  21  and a pair of lower flanges  2522  which define pinholes  2523  for receiving the resilient bulges  2513  of the first flanges  2512 . 
   The latch members  26  are respectively assembled to the retention portions  214  of the housing  21  and each comprises a substantially L-shaped main body  261  and a hook portion  262  in a configuration of a claw extending forwardly from the main body  261 . The main body  261  comprises a top portion  2611 , a bottom portion  2612  opposite to the top portion  2611  and a side portion  2613  connecting side edges of the top and bottom portions  2611 ,  2612 . The top portion  2611 , the bottom portion  2612 , and the side portion  2613  together define a receiving space  2614 . Each hook portion  262  extends through a corresponding cavity  217  of the housing  21 . Two retention holes  2615  are defined through the top and bottom portions  2611 ,  2612  of the main body  261 . A spring tab  264  extends rearwardly from a rear end of the side portion  2613  and in a direction away from an inner surface of the side portion  2613 . An engaging tab  263  is formed with the side portion  2613  and extends inwardly for locking in the depression  2141  defined in the outer wall of the corresponding retention portion  214 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , a structural description of the cable  300  will be given hereinafter. 
   The cable  300  comprises a plurality of separated conductive members  301  and a pair of insulative layers  302  respectively attaching to opposite surfaces of the conductive members  301 . The contacting portion of each conductive member  301  being disposed out of the layers  302  forms a contacting portion  303 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–8  together, the terminals  24  of the electrical connector  200  are respectively inserted into the holes  235  formed in the insert  23  The connecting sections  243  extend through the corresponding holes  235  until rear edges thereof abut against the steps  239 . Therefore, the connecting section  243  of the terminal  24  is partially received in corresponding hole  235  and partially received in corresponding slot  238  at the depressing portion  234 . The bottom surface of the connecting section  243  of the terminal  24  flushes with the bottom surface of corresponding slit  237 , slots  235 . The front portion  303  of the cable  300  is positioned at the depressing portion  234  with the contacting portions  303  extending into the corresponding slits  237  and positioned below the connecting portions  243  of the terminals  24 , respectively. The contacting portions  303  are soldered onto the corresponding connecting portions  243  of the terminals  24  in the slot area. 
   The assembled insert  23  and the terminals  24  are assembled to the elongate plate  2131  of the termination portion  213  of the housing  21  with the end portions  233  received in the receiving channels  2133  of the receiving sections  2132 , and the retention sections  242  and the mating sections  241  of the terminals  24  inserted into the grooves  215  of the tongue portion  212 . The spines  244  have an interferential fit with the housing  21 . Next, the shield member  25  is assembled to the housing  21 . The first shield  251  is assembled to the housing  21  with the first and second protrusions  2111 ,  2134  fitted into the apertures  2514 ,  2515 , and the side tabs  2511  engagingly received in the gaps  216 . The second shield  252  is assembled to the housing  21  with the side bars  2521  inserted into the first and second slits  2112 ,  2135 . The first shield  251  and the second shield  252  are fixed together by the resilient bulges  2513  on the upper flanges  2512  engaging with the pinholes  2523  defined in the second flanges  2522 . Next, the latch members  26  are assembled to the housing  21  in a position where the body portions  261  warp the retention portions  214 , and the hook portions  262  locate on the guiding portions  2142  with free end thereof extending into the exit  2145  of the guiding portions  2142 . The bolts  28  are fitted into the retaining holes  2615  so that the latch members  26  are pivotally mounted on the second housing  21 . The engaging tabs  263  extend into the gaps  216  and resiliently abut against the side tabs  2511  of the first shield  251 . The engaging tabs  264  are engagingly received in the depressions  2141 . 
   During the cable  300  is soldered to the corresponding terminals  24 , the conductive members  301  are located on the co-surface of the slits  237  and the connecting portions  243  of the terminals  24  with adjacent projections  236  restricting the movement of the conductive members  301  in the lateral direction. So that, the cable  300  is more easily and precisely soldered to the terminals  24 . 
   It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous, characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set fourth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosed 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.