Patent Publication Number: US-6910914-B1

Title: Shielded cable end connector assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a cable end connector assembly, and particularly to a shielded cable end connector assembly. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Serial ATA is an evolutionary replacement of the parallel ATA storage interface in the desktop as well as the cost-sensitive server and network storage market segments. The specification of Serial ATA allows for thinner, more flexible cables and lower pin counts. A conventional Serial ATA connector assembly comprises an insulative housing defining an L-shaped receiving space, a plurality of contacts received in the housing with tail portions exposed beyond the housing, a cable having a plurality of signal conductors and grounding drain wires respectively soldered with the tail portions of the contacts, and an insulative cover over-molded with a rear end of the housing. The cable for signal transmission comprises twin axial or parallel pair subassemblies. Each subassembly includes a pair of insulated signal conductors and a pair of non-insulated grounding drain wires besides the two signal conductors. A layer of conductive shielding is wrapped around the pair of signal conductors and the drain wires so that it is in electrical contact with the drain wires. An optional jacket is covered over the pair of conductive shieldings. Serial ATA cable connector assembly is often used to transmit high speed signals, therefore, shielding demand is relatively high. However, current structure of a Serial ATA cable connector assembly has no shielding protection to the housing portion. 
   Hence, a cable end connector assembly with a quick assembled shielding member for better shielding protection is highly desired. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a cable end connector assembly having quick-assembled shielding member for providing better shielding protection to the signal transmission. 
   To achieve the above object, a cable end connector assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts assembled to the insulative housing in a back-to-front direction of the insulative housing, a shielding member assembled to the insulative housing, a cable comprising a plurality of signal conductors and drain wires respectively soldered with the contacts and an insulative cover over-molded with rear portions of the insulative housing and the shielding member and a front end of the cable. The shielding member comprises a first and a second shielding halves respectively attached to an upper and a lower walls of the insulative housing and over-molded by the insulative cover. 
   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 an exploded, perspective view of a cable end connector assembly of a first embodiment in accordance with the present invention, without a cover-molded thereon; 
       FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , but taken from a different aspect; 
       FIG. 3  is a partially assembled view of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , but taken from a different aspect; 
       FIG. 5  is an assembled view of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5 , but taken from a different aspect; 
       FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  with the cover over-molded thereon; 
       FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 7 , but taken from a different aspect; 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  9 — 9  of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a partially exploded, perspective view of a cable end or assembly of a second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 10 , but taken from a different aspect; 
       FIG. 12  is an assembled view of  FIG. 10 ; and 
       FIG. 13  is an assembled view of  FIG. 11 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–2  in conjunction with  FIGS. 7–9 , a cable end connector assembly  1  in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing  2 , a plurality of contacts  3 , a spacer  4 , a shielding member  5 , a cable  6  and an insulative cover  7 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–2 , the insulative housing  2  comprises a relatively thicker upper wall  21 , a relatively thinner lower wall  22  opposite to the upper wall  21  and a pair of sidewalls  23  connecting with the upper and the lower walls  21 ,  22 . A rectangular receiving space  20  is circumscribed by the upper wall  21 , the lower wall  22  and the sidewalls  23 . A plurality of passageways  24  is defined forwardly from a rear face of the housing  2  and extends in the upper wall  21 . A rectangular depression  210  is defined in a front middle portion of the upper wall  21  and a rectangular cutout  220  is defined in a front middle portion of the lower walls  22  corresponding to the depression  210 . Each of the upper and the lower walls  21 ,  22  define a pair of elongate channels  25  extending rearwardly from a front face to the rear face of the housing  2  and respectively located at opposite sides of the depression  210  and the cutout  220 . Each channel  25  is formed with a first projection  26  adjacent to the rear face of the housing  2 . A plurality of second projections  27  are respectively formed on the upper and the lower walls  21 ,  22  adjacent to the rear face of the housing  2 . The second projections  27  are respectively formed at opposite ends of the housing  2  and between the pair of the first projections  26 . Each of the upper and the lower walls  21 ,  22  is also formed with a plurality of third projections  28  adjacent to the front face of the housing  2  and located at opposite sides of the channels  25 . Each sidewall  23  forms a guiding portion  230  thereon with a tapered end extending beyond the front face of the housing  2 . 
   Each contact  3  comprises a curved contacting portion  30 , a tail portion  32  and a retention portion  31  interconnecting the contacting portion  30  and the tail portion  32 . 
   The spacer  4  is a rectangular bar and forms a plurality of blocks  40  on a front surface thereof. 
   The shielding member  5  comprises a first shielding half  51  and a second shielding half  52  having the same structure as that of the first shielding half  51 . Each shielding half  51 ,  52  is a flat sheet member and forms a curved tongue portion  53  in a front middle portion thereof and a pair of wing portions  54  bending vertically from opposite sides of a rear portion thereof. A pair of first notches  55  is defined in the rear portion of the shielding half  51 ,  52  corresponding to the first projections  26  of the insulative housing  2 . A pair of second notches  56  is defined in the front portion of the shielding half  51 ,  52  and substantially aligns with the first notches  55  along a front-to-back direction. A plurality of openings  57  are respectively defined in the rear portion of the shielding half  51 ,  52  corresponding to the second projections  27  of the insulative housing  2 . 
   In conjunction with  FIG. 3 , the cable  6  for signal transmission comprises a pair of parallel subassemblies  60 , an inner insulative jacket  63  covering the pair of subassemblies  60 , a grounding braid  68  wrapping the inner insulative jacket  63  and an outer insulative jacket  61  surrounding the grounding braid  68 . Each subassembly  60  includes a pair of insulated signal conductors  62 , a pair of non-insulated grounding drain wires  64  beside the two signal conductors  62  and a layer of conductive shielding  66  wrapping around the signal conductors  62  and the drain wires  64 . Front ends of the signal conductors  62  and the drain wires  64  are respectively exposed beyond the cable  6  for electrically connecting with the contacts  3 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3–4 , in assembly, the contacts  3  are respectively assembled to the insulative housing  2  in a back-to-front direction. The contacts  3  are respectively received in the passageways  24  with the tail portions  32  exposed beyond the rear face of the housing  2  and the curved contacting portion  31  partially exposed in the receiving space  20 . The shielding halves  51 ,  52  are respectively assembled to the upper and the lower walls  21 ,  22  of the insulative housing  2  in an up-to-down direction of the housing  2 . The first and the second projections  26 ,  27  of the upper and the lower walls  21 ,  22  of the housing  2  are respectively received in the first notches  55  and the openings  57  with a front edge  58  of the shielding half  51 ,  52  abutting against the third projections  28 . The tongue portions  53  of the shielding halves  51 ,  52  are respectively received in the depression  210  of the upper wall  21  and the cutout  220  of the lower wall  22 . The wing portions  54  of the first and the second shielding halves  51 ,  52  are exposed beyond the rear face of the insulative housing  2  and together form a substantially close space  540 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the spacer  4  is assembled to the insulative housing  2  in the back-to-front direction with the blocks  40  thereof received in corresponding passageways  24  (referring to  FIG. 9 ) for retaining the spacer  4  to the housing  2 . The front ends of the signal conductors  62  and the drain wires  64  of the cable  6  are respectively soldered to the tail portions  32  of the contacts  3  exposing in the close space  540 . Especially, the adjacent drain wires  64  of the pair of parallel subassemblies  60  are soldered to a common contact  3 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7–9 , the insulative cover  7  is over-molding the rear portions of the shielding halves  51 ,  52 , a rear portion of the insulative housing  2  and a front end of the cable  6 . The second projections  27  of the insulative housing  2  increase the retaining force between the housing  2  and the cover  7 . 
   A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 10–13 . The main difference between the first and the second embodiments is that the shielding member  5 ′ of the second embodiment is a unitary piece. 
   An insulative housing  2 ′ of the second embodiment comprises a relatively thicker upper wall  21 ′, a relatively thinner lower wall  22  and a pair of sidewalls  23 ′ connecting with the upper and the lower walls  21 ′,  22 ′. A pair of depressions  25 ′ is defined in a rear portion of each of the upper and the lower walls  21 ′,  22 ′. Each of the upper and the lower walls  21 ′,  22 ′ is provided with a blocking portion  28 ′ extending vertically from a front edge thereof. A pair of rectangular blocks  24 ′ respectively extend rearwardly from rear edges of the upper and the lower walls  21 ′,  22 ′ and together define a cavity  26 ′. The block  24 ′ extending from the lower wall  22 ′ is partially cutout for assembling the spacer  4 ′ conveniently. 
   The spacer  4 ′ comprises a rectangular body  40 ′ and a pair of bars  42 ′ extending vertically from opposite sides of the body  40 ′. A surface of the body  40 ′ is slotted with a plurality of slots  400 ′. The body  40 ′ is also provided with a plurality of blocks  42 ′ extending forwardly from a front surface thereof. 
   The shielding member  5 ′ comprises a first shielding half  51 ′, a second shielding half  52 ′ having the same structure as that of the first shielding half  51 ′, a pair of sidewalls  57 ′ vertically connecting rear edges of the first and the second shielding halves  51 ′,  52 ′, and a U-shaped extension portion  55 ′ extending rearwardly from the second shielding half  52 ′ and the pair of sidewalls  57 ′. Each shielding half  51 ′,  52 ′ have the substantial same structure as that of the shielding half  51 ,  52  and defines a pair of notches  56 ′ in a front portion thereof. A pair of spring fingers  54 ′ is formed in a rear portion of the shielding half  51 ′  52 ′ and are respectively in alignment with the pair of notches  56 ′ in a front-to-back direction. A curved tongue portion  53 ′ is formed in a middle portion of the shielding half  51 ′;  52 ′. The extension portion  55 ′ comprises a flat main portion  550 ′ extending rearwardly from the second shielding half  52 ′ and a pair of vertical portions  552 ′ respectively extending rearwardly from the pair of sidewalls  57 ′. Each vertical portion  552 ′ forms a pair of spring tabs  554 ′ bending outwardly therefrom. 
   In assembly, referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13  in conjunction with  FIGS. 1–2 , the contacts  3  are assembled to the insulative housing  2 ′ with the tail portions  32  thereof exposed in the cavity  26 ′. The spacer  4 ′ is then assembled to the insulative housing  2 ′ with the pair of bars  42 ′ sandwiched between the pair of blocks  24 ′ and with the body  40 ′ received in the cavity  26 ′ and located on one of the blocks  24 ′. The tail portions  32  of the contacts  3  are respectively received in the slots  400 ′ for being soldered with the conductors  62 ,  64  of the cable  6 . The shielding member  5 ′ is assembled to the insulative housing  5 ′ in a front-to-back direction. The spring fingers  54 ′ of the first and the second shielding halves  51 ′,  52 ′ respectively snap into the depressions  25 ′ of the housing  2 ′. Front edges of the first and the second shielding halves  51 ′,  52 ′ abut against the blocking portions  28 ′ of the housing  2 ′ for preventing the shielding member  5 ′ from moving forwardly. The extension portion  55 ′ extends beyond the housing  2 ′ for engaging with a strain relief (not shown) to shield the electrical connection between the conductors  62 ,  64  and the contacts  3 . Therefore, the conductors  62 ,  64  of the cable  6  and the tail portions  32  of the contacts  3  are supported by the extension portion  55 ′ of the shielding member  5 ′. The insulative cover  7  is then over-molded with a rear portion of the housing  2 ′, the strain relief, the extension portion  55 ′, and the tail portions  32  and the conductors  62 ,  64 . 
   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.