Patent Publication Number: US-2022216651-A1

Title: Connector

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a connector. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally, some connectors include a housing in which a shielded cable is held while being partially inserted, and are configured such that a core of the shielded cable is electrically connected to a terminal of a mating connector by connecting the housing to a mating connector (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this connector, the housing has a two-layer structure including an inner housing and an outer housing, in particular, a multi-layer structure in which a shield shell is arranged outside the inner housing and the outer housing is further arranged outside the shield shell, and the radiation of electromagnetic waves (noise) from the connector is suppressed by the shield shell. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     
         
         Patent Document 1: JP 2018-055833 A 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved 
     However, the connector as described above had a problem of being complicated in configuration and enlarged by the multi-layer structure of the inner housing, the shield shell and the outer housing. 
     The present invention was developed to solve the above problem and aims to provide a connector enabling a size reduction by simplifying a configuration. 
     Means to Solve the Problem 
     The present disclosure is directed to a connector with a housing, shielded cables being held in the housing while being partially inserted, cores of the shielded cables being connected to terminals of a mating member by connecting the housing to the mating member, an electromagnetic shielding shell for covering an outer surface of the housing, and a shield terminal to be provided between the plurality of shielded cables in the housing, the shield terminal being connected to shield members of the shielded cables, the shield terminal being connected to a ground terminal of the mating member by connecting the housing to the mating member. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     According to the connector of the present disclosure, a configuration can be simplified and a size reduction can be realized. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector and a mating member in one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the connector and the mating member in the one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a section of the connector and the mating member in the one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a section of the connector and the mating member in the one embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the connector and the mating member in the one embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of the connector in the one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO EXECUTE THE INVENTION 
     Description of Embodiments of Present Disclosure 
     First, embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and described. 
     [1] The connector of the present disclosure includes a housing, a plurality of shielded cables being held in the housing while being partially inserted, cores of the plurality of shielded cables being connected to a plurality of terminals of a mating member by connecting the housing to the mating member, an electromagnetic shielding shell for covering an outer surface of the housing, and a shield terminal to be provided between the plurality of shielded cables in the housing, the shield terminal being connected to shield members of the plurality of shielded cables, the shield terminal being connected to a ground terminal of the mating member by connecting the housing to the mating member. 
     According to this configuration, since the electromagnetic shielding shell for covering the outer surface of the housing is provided, the radiation of electromagnetic waves from the connector can be suppressed. Further, since the shield terminal is provided which is connected to the shield members of the shielded cables and connected to the ground terminal of the mating member by connecting the housing to the mating member, the shield members of the shielded cables can be easily connected to the ground terminal to suppress the radiation of electromagnetic waves from the shielded cables. Such as due to the shield terminal provided between the plurality of shielded cables in the housing, a configuration can be simplified and a size reduction can be realized, for example, as compared to a multi-layer structure in which a shield shell is arranged outside an inner housing and an outer housing is further arranged outside the shield shell as before. 
     [2] Preferably, the electromagnetic shielding shell is set to electrically contact a conductive member of the mating member at three or more points. 
     According to this configuration, since the electromagnetic shielding shell is set to electrically contact the conductive member of the mating member at three or more points, the radiation of electromagnetic waves can be satisfactorily suppressed. 
     [3] Preferably, the electromagnetic shielding shell includes a grounding projection projecting to contact the conductive member. 
     According to this configuration, since the electromagnetic shielding shell includes the grounding projection projecting to contact the conductive member, the electromagnetic shielding shell can be brought into contact with the conductive member at an effective position while having a simple configuration. That is, the electromagnetic shielding shell may be lifted due to component accuracy or the like and may not contact at an effective position even if an attempt is made to bring the electromagnetic shielding shell into surface contact with the conductive member in a wide range. However, by avoiding this, the electromagnetic shielding shell can be brought into contact with the conductive member at the effective position. 
     [4] Preferably, the electromagnetic shielding shell is set to electrically contact the conductive member at least at three points by a pair of the grounding projections and a screw threadably engaged with the conductive member through the electromagnetic shielding shell. 
     According to this configuration, since the electromagnetic shielding shell is set to electrically contact the conductive member at least at three points by the pair of grounding projections and the screw threadably engaged with the conductive member through the electromagnetic shielding shell, the electromagnetic shielding shell can be stably fixed to the mating member by being electrically brought into contact with the conductive member at three effective points while having a simple configuration. 
     [5] Preferably, the shield terminal is made of a bent conductive plate material and includes a pair of parallel portions, a coupling portion coupling one ends of the pair of parallel portions and connecting portions respectively provided on the other ends of the pair of parallel portions to be connected to the shield members, and the ground terminal is inserted between the pair of parallel portions and connected to the pair of parallel portions when the housing is connected to the mating member. 
     According to this configuration, since being made of the bent conductive plate material, the shield terminal can be easily manufactured. Further, since the ground terminal is inserted between the pair of parallel portions and connected to the pair of parallel portions when the housing is connected to the mating member, the shield terminal and the ground terminal can be connected with high reliability, for example, as compared to the case where the shield terminal and the ground terminal are connected only by a contact piece configured to contact in a single direction. 
     Details of Embodiment of Present Disclosure 
     A specific example of a connector of the present disclosure is described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these illustrations and is intended to be represented by claims and include all changes in the scope of claims and in the meaning and scope of equivalents. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a connector  11  is, for example, fixed to a part of a casing  12  of an electrical device such as an inverter to be installed in a vehicle. 
     In particular, as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 , the connector  11  is connected and fixed in a height direction to a mating connector  13  fixed to the casing  12  serving as a conductive member by screws N. The casing  12  is made of a metal material, and the mating connector  13  is made of a resin material. Note that, in this embodiment, the casing  12  and the mating connector  13  constitute a mating member. In a shown example, the height direction may be called a mounting direction of the connector  11  and the mating connector  13 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the mating connector  13  is provided with a pair of terminals  13   a  projecting upward in the height direction. The terminals  13   a  are non-ground terminals and may be, for example, power terminals. Further, the mating connector  13  is provided with a ground terminal  13   b  projecting upward in the height direction between the pair of terminals  13   a . The ground terminal  13   b  is made of a conductive plate material such as a bent metal plate. The mating connector  13  includes a support column  13   c  for supporting the ground terminal  13   b . The support column  13   c  is, for example, arranged between the pair of terminals  13   a . The ground terminal  13   b  is assembled to cover surfaces of the support column  13   c  facing the terminals  13   a . The ground terminal  13   b  includes folded grounding pieces  13   d  in a lower end part. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the grounding pieces  13   d  are located in a fixing hole  12   a  of the casing  12  and pressed into contact with a hole surface of the fixing hole  12   a  with the mating connector  13  fixed to the casing  12 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the connector  11  includes a housing  21  and an electromagnetic shielding shell  22  for covering the outer surface of the housing  21 . A pair of shielded cables  14  are partially inserted into the housing  21  and held in the housing  21 . The housing  21  is made of a resin material, and the electromagnetic shielding shell  22  is made of a metal material. 
     The housing  21  includes a body portion  21   a  having an opening in a lower part and a wire inserting portion  21   b  extending from the body portion  21   a  in a direction (wire draw-out direction) orthogonal to the height direction. The wire inserting portion  21   b  is substantially in the form of a rectangular tube and open in the direction (wire draw-out direction) orthogonal to the height direction, and tip parts of the pair of shielded cables  14  are held inserted therein. The wire inserting portion  21   b  is provided with a rubber seal  23  to be interposed between the inner surface of the wire inserting portion  21   b  and the outer surfaces of the shielded cables  14  and a retainer  24  for restricting the escape of the rubber seal  23  from the wire inserting portion  21   b  by being fixed to the wire inserting portion  21   b  while being interposed between the inner surface of the wire inserting portion  21   b  and the outer surfaces of the shielded cables  14 . 
     The electromagnetic shielding shell  22  is shaped to cover the outer surface of the housing  21  except the lower surface of the housing  21  and parts corresponding to the shielded cables  14  to be inserted into the wire inserting portion  21   b . The electromagnetic shielding shell  22  is assembled with and locked to the housing  21  from above. In particular, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the electromagnetic shielding shell  22  is locked to the housing  21  by locking claws  21   c  formed on the housing  21  being locked into locking holes  22   a  formed in the electromagnetic shielding shell  22 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , each shielded cable  14  includes a core  14   a  such as a conductive metal wire, an inner insulation coating  14   b  for covering the outer periphery of the core  14   a , a shield member  14   c  for covering the outer periphery of the inner insulation coating  14   b  and an outer insulation coating  14   d  for covering the outer periphery of the shield member  14   c . The shield member  14   c  is, for example, a braided wire formed by braiding conductive strands of aluminum alloy or the like into a tubular shape, and is flexible. A female terminal  25  is fixed to a tip part of the core  14   a  exposed to outside. The female terminal  25  is arranged at a position to be electrically connected to the terminal  13   a  of the mating connector  13  inserted thereinto when the housing  21  is connected to the mating connector  13 . A lower housing  26  to be fit to a part of the mating connector  13  while restricting the escape of the shielded cables  14  including the female terminals  25  by being engaged with the female terminals  25  is fixed to the lower opening in the body portion  21   a  of the housing  21 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the connector  11  includes a shield terminal  27  provided between the pair of shielded cables  14  in the housing  21  and held in contact with the shield members  14   c  of the pair of shielded cables  14 . The shield terminal  27  of the connector  11  is connected to the ground terminal  13   b  by connecting the housing  21  to the mating connector  13 . In this way, the shield members  14   c  of the shielded cables  14  are made conductive to (grounded to) the casing  12  via the shield terminal  27  of the connector  11  and the ground terminal  13   b  of the mating connector  13 . 
     In particular, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the shield terminal  27  may be a single bent conductive plate member and includes, for example, a pair of parallel portions  27   a , a coupling portion  27   b  coupling one ends of the pair of parallel portions  27   a  and connecting portions  27   c  provided on the other ends of the pair of parallel portions  27   a . The connecting portions  27   c  are connected to the shield members  14   c  via tubular shield sleeves  28 . That is, the connecting portion  27   c  is formed to surround the outer surface of the shield sleeve  28  and includes a contact piece  27   d  to be pressed into contact with the outer surface of the shield sleeve  28 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the shield member  14   c  is folded outwardly of the outer insulation coating  14   d  and connected to the inner surface of the shield sleeve  28 . In this way, the connecting portion  27   c  is electrically connected to the shield member  14   c.    
     The shield terminal  27  is configured such that the ground terminal  13   b  of the mating connector  13  is connected to the pair of parallel portions  27   a  while being inserted between the parallel portions  27   a  when the housing  21  is connected to the mating connector  13 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the pair of parallel portions  27   a  are provided with contact pieces  27   e  projecting toward each other, and the contact pieces  27   e  are pressed into contact with the ground terminal  13   b  when the housing  21  is connected to the mating connector  13 . An interval between the parallel portions  27   a  of the shield terminal  27  is held by a holding member  29  interposed between the inner surface of the wire inserting portion  21   b  and the outer surfaces of the shielded cables  14 . 
     The electromagnetic shielding shell  22  is set to electrically contact the casing  12  at three or more points. 
     In particular, as shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the electromagnetic shielding shell  22  includes grounding projections  22   b  projecting to contact the casing  12 . A pair of the grounding projections  22   b  are provided on both ends on a side corresponding to an end part of the wire inserting portion  21   b  where the shielded cables  14  are exposed to outside. The electromagnetic shielding shell  22  electrically contacts the casing  12  at three points by the pair of grounding projections  22   b  and a screw  30  (see  FIGS. 1 and 4 ) threadably engaged with the casing  12  through a screw through hole  22   c  of the electromagnetic shielding shell  22 . The screw through hole  22   c  is formed in a center on a side opposite to the pair of grounding projections  22   b . A cap  31  is put on a head part of the screw  30 . 
     Next, functions of the connector  11  configured as described above are described. 
     With the connector  11  fixed to the casing  12 , the outer surface of the housing  21  is surrounded by the electromagnetic shielding shell  22  and the casing  12 , which is a conductive member. Further, the shield members  14   c  of the shielded cables  14  are connected to the casing  12  via the shield sleeves  28 , the shield terminal  27  and the ground terminal  13   b . In this way, the radiation of electromagnetic waves from the connector  11  and the shielded cables  14  is suppressed. 
     Next, effects off the above embodiment are described below. 
     (1) Since the connector  11  includes the electromagnetic shielding shell  22  for covering the outer surface of the housing  21 , the radiation of electromagnetic waves from the connector  11  can be suppressed. Further, since the connector  11  includes the shield terminal  27  to be connected to the shield members  14   c  of the shielded cables  14  and connected to the ground terminal  13   b  of the mating connector  13  by connecting the housing  21  to the mating connector  13 , the shield members  14   c  can be easily connected to the ground terminal  13   b  to suppress the radiation of electromagnetic waves from the shielded cables  14 . Such as due to the shield terminal  27  provided between the plurality shielded cables  14  in the housing  21 , a configuration can be simplified and a size reduction can be realized, for example, as compared to a multi-layer structure in which a shield shell is arranged outside an inner housing and an outer housing is further arranged outside the shield shell as before. 
     (2) Since the electromagnetic shielding shell  22  is set to electrically contact the casing  12 , which is a conductive member, at three or more points, the radiation of electromagnetic waves can be satisfactorily suppressed. 
     (3) Since the electromagnetic shielding shell  22  includes the grounding projections  22   b  projecting to contact the casing  12 , which is a conductive member, the electromagnetic shielding shell  22  can be brought into contact with the casing  12  at an effective position while having a simple configuration. That is, the electromagnetic shielding shell  22  may be lifted due to component accuracy or the like and may not contact at the effective position even if an attempt is made to bring the electromagnetic shielding shell  22  into surface contact with the casing  12  in a wide range. However, by avoiding this, the electromagnetic shielding shell  22  can be brought into contact with the casing  12  at the effective position. 
     (4) The electromagnetic shielding shell  22  is set to electrically contact the casing  12  at least at three points by the pair of grounding projections  22   b  and the screw  30  threadably engaged with the casing  12  through the electromagnetic shielding shell  22 . Thus, the electromagnetic shielding shell  22  can be stably fixed to the casing  12  by being electrically brought into contact with the casing  12  at three effective points while having a simple configuration. 
     (5) Since being made of the bent conductive plate material, the shield terminal  27  can be easily manufactured. Further, since the ground terminal  13   b  is connected to the parallel portions  27   a  while being inserted between the pair of parallel portions  27   a  when the housing  21  is connected to the mating connector  13 , the shield terminal  27  and the ground terminal  13   b  can be connected with high reliability, for example, as compared to the case where the shield terminal  27  and the ground terminal  13   b  are connected only by a contact piece configured to contact in a single direction. 
     This embodiment can be modified and carried out as follows. This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other and carried out without technically contradicting each other.
         Although the electromagnetic shielding shell  22  is set to electrically contact the casing  12 , which is a conductive member, at three or more points in the above embodiment, there is no limitation to this and the electromagnetic shielding shell  22  may contact the casing  12  at two or less points.   Although the electromagnetic shielding shell  22  includes the grounding projections  22   b  projecting to contact the casing  12 , which is a conductive member, in the above embodiment, there is no limitation to this and the grounding projections  22   b  may not be provided. Further, the casing  12  may be provided with projection(s) projecting toward the electromagnetic shielding shell  22  and the electromagnetic shielding shell  22  and the case  12  may be brought into contact at an effective position.   Although the electromagnetic shielding shell  22  is configured to electrically contact the casing  12  by the pair of grounding projections  22   b  and the screw  30  threadably engaged with the casing  12  through the electromagnetic shielding shell  22  in the above embodiment, there is no limitation to this and the electromagnetic shielding shell  22  may be fixed, for example, by a configuration other than the screw  30 . In such a case, the electromagnetic shielding shell  22  and the casing  12  may be brought into contact by another configuration.   Although the shield terminal  27  is configured such that the ground terminal  13   b  is connected to the parallel portions  27   a  while being inserted between the pair of parallel portions  27   a  when the housing  21  is connected to the mating connector  13  in the above embodiment, there is no limitation to this and the shield terminal  27  may be, for example, connected to the ground terminal  13   b  only by a contact piece configured to contact in a single direction.       

     The connector  11  of the embodiment may be called a wiring side connector. The mating connector  13  of the embodiment may be called a connector receiver. The mating connector  13 , the terminals  13   a  and the ground terminal  13   b  of the embodiment may be called an electrical device side connector. A combination of the connector  11  and the mating connector  13  of the embodiment may be called a coupling structure. The body portion  21   a  of the housing  21  of the embodiment may be called a terminal accommodation chamber. The wire inserting portion  21   b  of the embodiment may be called a wire draw-out port configured to draw out the shielded cables  14  in a wire draw-out direction. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the lower housing  26  of the embodiment includes an opening, into which the terminals  13   a  and the ground terminal  13   b  of the mating connector  13  are inserted in the mounting direction, and this opening may be called a terminal port. The terminal port of the lower housing  26  is configured to enable the sliding contact of the terminals  13   a  and the female terminals  25  in the mounting direction and the sliding contact of the ground terminal  13   b  and the shield terminal  27  in the mounting direction. A combination of the housing  21  and the lower housing  26  of the embodiment may be called a wiring side connector housing. 
     The present disclosure includes the following implementation examples. Reference numerals of several constituent elements of illustrative embodiments are given not for limitation, but for understanding assistance. Matters described in the following implementation examples may be partly omitted or several of the matters described in the implementation examples may be selected or extracted and combined. 
     [Addendum 1] Several implementation examples of the present disclosure provide a coupling structure including an electrical device side connector ( 13 ,  13   a ,  13   b ) configured to be mounted on a metal casing ( 12 ) of an electrical device and a wiring side connector ( 11 ) configured to be mounted to the electrical device side connector ( 13 ,  13   a ,  13   b ) in a mounting direction and mechanically and electrically connected to the electrical device side connector ( 13 ,  13   a ,  13   b ), wherein: 
     the electrical device side connector ( 13 ,  13   a ,  13   b ) may include:
         an insulating connector receiver ( 13 ) configured to be mechanically fixed to the metal casing ( 12 );   a plurality of electrical device side first metal terminals ( 13   a ) supported in or integrated with the insulating connector receiver ( 13 ); and   an electrical device side ground terminal ( 13   b ) supported in or integrated with the insulating connector receiver ( 13 ) and configured to be conductive to the metal casing ( 12 ),       

     the wiring side connector ( 11 ) may include:
         a plurality of shielded cables ( 14 ) each having a conductive core ( 14   a ), an insulation coating ( 14   b ) for concentrically covering the conductive core ( 14   a ) and a tubular shield member ( 14   c ) for concentrically covering the insulation coating ( 14   b );   a plurality of wiring side first metal terminals ( 25 ) fixedly connected to the conductive cores ( 14   a ) of the plurality of shielded cables ( 14 );   a wiring side ground terminal ( 27 ) electrically connected to the tubular shield members ( 14   c ) of the plurality of shielded cables ( 14 );   a wire draw-out port ( 21   b ) configured to draw out a bundle of the plurality of shielded cables ( 14 ) in a wire draw-out direction intersecting or orthogonal to the mounting direction and a terminal accommodation chamber ( 21   a ) for accommodating the plurality of wiring side first metal terminals ( 25 ); and   a wiring side connector housing ( 21 ,  26 ) having a terminal port open in the mounting direction to enable the sliding contact of the plurality of electrical device side first metal terminals ( 13   a ) and the plurality of wiring side first metal terminals ( 25 ) in the mounting direction and the sliding contact of the electrical device side ground terminal ( 13   b ) and the wiring side ground terminal ( 27 ) in the mounting direction, and       

     the wiring side ground terminal ( 27 ) may be arranged between the plurality of shielded cables ( 14 ) arranged side by side on a virtual plane orthogonal to or intersecting the mounting direction in the wiring side connector housing ( 21 ,  26 ). 
     [Addendum 2] In several implementation examples, the plurality of wiring side first metal terminals ( 25 ) and the plurality of electrical device side first metal terminals ( 13   a ) may be aligned at a first position in the wire draw-out direction and electrically connected at the first position in the wiring side connector housing ( 21 ,  26 ), and the wiring side ground terminal ( 27 ) and the electrical device side ground terminal ( 13   b ) may be electrically connected at the first position in the wire draw-out direction in the wiring side connector housing ( 21 ,  26 ). 
     [Addendum 3] In several implementation examples, the wiring side ground terminal ( 27 ) may include a first leaf spring ( 27   e ) configured to contact the electrical device side ground terminal ( 13   b ) and resiliently press the electrical device side ground terminal ( 13   b ) in a direction orthogonal to or intersecting the mounting direction. 
     [Addendum 4] In several implementation examples, the plurality of shielded cables ( 14 ) can include shield sleeves ( 28 ) configured to respectively directly contact the tubular shield members ( 14   c ) of the plurality of shielded cables ( 14 ). 
     [Addendum 5] In several implementation examples, the shield sleeves ( 28 ) may be arranged at a second position different from the first position in the wire draw-out direction in the wiring side connector housing ( 21 ,  26 ). 
     [Addendum 6] In several implementation examples, the wiring side ground terminal ( 27 ) may include second leaf springs ( 27   d ) configured to contact the shield sleeves ( 28 ) at the second position and resiliently press the shield sleeves ( 28 ) in radial directions of the shielded cables ( 14 ) in the wiring side connector housing ( 21 ,  26 ). 
     [Addendum 7] In several implementation examples, the electrical device side ground terminal ( 13   b ) may include a leaf spring ( 13   d ) configured to contact the metal casing ( 12 ) and resiliently press the metal casing ( 12 ). 
     [Addendum 8] In several implementation examples, the electrical device side ground terminal ( 13   b ) may be arranged between the plurality of electrical device side first metal terminals ( 13   a ) in the insulating connector receiver ( 13 ). 
     [Addendum 9] In several implementation examples, the wiring side connector ( 11 ) may be provided on one end part of a vehicle wiring harness. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
             N screw 
               11  connector 
               12  casing constituting part of mating member 
               12   a  fixing hole 
               13  mating connector constituting part of mating member 
               13   a  terminal 
               13   b  ground terminal 
               13   c  support column 
               13   d  grounding piece 
               14  shielded cable 
               14   a  core 
               14   b  inner insulation coating 
               14   c  shield member 
               14   d  outer insulation coating 
               21  housing 
               21   a  body portion 
               21   b  wire inserting portion 
               21   c  locking claw 
               22  electromagnetic shielding shell 
               22   a  locking hole 
               22   b  grounding projection 
               22   c  screw through hole 
               23  rubber seal 
               24  retainer 
               25  female terminal 
               26  lower housing 
               27  shield terminal 
               27   a  parallel portion 
               27   b  coupling portion 
               27   c  connecting portion 
               27   d  contact piece 
               27   e  contact piece 
               28  shield sleeve 
               29  holding member 
               30  screw 
               31  cap