Patent Publication Number: US-6705893-B1

Title: Low profile cable connector assembly with multi-pitch contacts

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a cable connector assembly, and more particularly to a micro coaxial cable connector assembly having a relatively low profile and multi-pitch contacts. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A micro coaxial cable connector is widely used in the high frequency communication connector field and is required to terminate a coaxial multiconductor cable. U.S. Pat. No. 6,123,582 discloses such a cable connector assembly. The micro coaxial cable connector assembly includes first and second housing members, a cable set with a plurality of wires, upper and lower shield members, and a plurality of contacts. The first housing member has a tongue plate protruding forwardly from a middle portion of the front surface thereof. The upper and lower shield members attached onto the first housing member are engagingly jointed with each other and electrically contact with a shield of a mating connector. The cable set consists of the wires each having a signal segment and grounding segment, and a grounding bar soldered with the grounding segments of the wires. The cable set and the contacts are assembled in the second housing member. The second housing member together with the cable set and the contacts are then assembled to the first housing member. Plural pairs of spring fingers of the upper shield member, electrically engage with the grounding bar of the cable set to establish a grounding path. 
     The above-mentioned micro coaxial cable connector assembly achieves perfect electrical performance in normal use. However, there still remains room for decrease in the height of such a cable connector assembly and simplicity in the structure thereof. 
     Hence, it is desired to have an improved cable connector assembly that addresses the problems encountered in the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a cable connector assembly having a relatively low profile and a relatively simple structure. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a cable connector assembly having multi-pitch contacts. 
     To achieve the above objects, a cable connector assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a dielectric housing defining a plurality of passageways therein, a plurality of contacts with multi pitches for transmitting power and signals, a cable set, and a conductive shield attached to the dielectric housing for establishing a grounding path. Each contact comprises a mating portion at a free end for electrically contacting with a corresponding contact of a complementary connector, and a tail portion at an opposite end thereof. The cable set consists of a plurality of juxtaposed power and signal wires and a conductive grounding bar. Each wire has a conductive signal segment, and a grounding segment insulated from the signal segment and firmly jointed with the grounding bar. The wires are arranged at multi pitches for being soldered to the tail portions of corresponding power and signal contacts. The dielectric housing comprises a mating surface and a jointing surface opposite to the mating surface. A tongue plate protrudes forwardly from mating surface of the housing for mating with the complementary connector. A receiving space is defined in the rear of the housing for receiving the grounding bar of the cable set therein. The passageways defined through the dielectric housing are arranged at multi pitches for receiving the power and signal contacts and the signal segments of the power and signal wires which are soldered together. 
    
    
     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 view of a cable connector assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a dielectric housing of the cable connector assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but viewed from a rear aspect; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of contacts of the cable connector assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is an assembled view of the housing, the contacts and a cable set of the cable connector assembly shown in FIG  1 ; 
     FIG. 6 is an assembled view of the cable connector assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the cable connector assembly taken along line  7 - 7  of FIG. 6, illustrating a signal contact connecting with a corresponding signal wire of the cable set; and 
     FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the cable connector assembly taken along line  8 - 8  of FIG. 6, illustrating a power contact connecting with a corresponding power wire of the cable set. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a cable connector assembly  1  in accordance with the present invention comprises a dielectric housing  2 , a plurality of contacts  3 , a cable set  4 , and a metal conductive shield  5 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 in conjunction with FIGS. 7 and 8, the dielectric housing  2  includes a rod  21  and a main portion  23  extending rearwardly from the rod  21 . The housing  2  further includes a mating surface  210  and a jointing surface  230  opposite the mating surface  210 . A tongue plate  22  projects forwardly from a lower portion of the mating surface  210  for inserting into a complementary connector (not shown). An ear portion  28  protrudes outwardly from each lateral side of the main portion  23 . A receiving space  27  is defined in a rear portion of the main portion  23  and between the pair of ear portions  28  for receiving a corresponding portion of the cable set  4  therein. A plurality of passageways are defined through the dielectric housing  2  and comprises a plurality of wire-receiving passageways  26   a ,  26   b  defined in the main portion  23 , a plurality of middle passageways  25   a ,  25   b  defined through the rod  21  in communication with the wire-receiving passageways  26   a ,  26   b , and a plurality of contact-receiving slots  24   a ,  24   b  defined in the tongue plate  22  and communicating with corresponding middle passageways  25   a ,  25   b  defined in the rod  21 . The wire-receiving passageways  26   a  are spaced from each other at a relatively large interval for receiving corresponding contacts  3  for power transmission. The wire-receiving passageways  26   b  are spaced from each other at a relatively small interval for receiving corresponding contacts  3  for signal transmission. So do the middle passageways  25   a ,  25   b  and the contact-receiving slots  24   a ,  24   b . A front portion of each wire-receiving passageways  26   a ,  26   b  is relatively wide and deep for receiving a portion of a corresponding contact  3  therein. A pair of first recesses  211  and a pair of second recesses  231  are respectively defined in opposite lateral sides of the rod  21  and the main portion  23 , and opposite lateral sides of the ear portions  28  for engaging with the shield  5 . 
     Now referring to FIG. 4, a detailed description of the contacts  3  will be provided. The contacts  3  comprise a plurality of power contacts  3   a  spaced from each other at a relatively large pitch P for power transmission, and a plurality of signal contacts  3   b  spaced from each other at a relatively small pitch P 1  for signal transmission. Each contact  3  includes a retention portion  32 , a mating portion  31  extending forwardly from a lower portion of a front side of the retention portion  32  for mating with a corresponding contact of the complementary connector, and a tail portion  33  extending rearwardly from a lower portion of a rear side of the retention portion  32  for being soldered to the cable set  4 . A plurality of barbs  320  is formed on upper and lower sides of the retention portion  32  for engaging with a corresponding middle passageway  25   a ,  25   b  defined in the rod  21 . 
     The cable set  4  as shown in FIG. 1 includes a cable consisting of a row of juxtaposed round wires  40  and a conductive grounding bar  41 . The wires  40  comprise a plurality of power wires  40   a  spaced from each other at a relatively large pitch for power transmission, and a plurality of signal wires  40   b  spaced from each other at a relatively small pitch for signal transmission. Each wire  40  is composed of a jacket  401  at the outmost thereof, a grounding layer  402  formed below the jacket  401 , an insulative layer  404  formed below the grounding layer  402 , and a conductive core  403  at the innermost thereof. The grounding bar  41  is defined with upper and lower metal plates  410  fixedly joined at opposite ends thereof and a crack  43  separating both metal plates  410  from each other. Each wire  40  extends through the crack  43  of the grounding bar  41  and is clamped between the plates  410 . The outmost jacket  401  of each wire  40  is stripped off at a front end thereof to expose the grounding layer  402  as being a grounding segment of the wire  40 . The grounding segment of each wire  40  is then respectively soldered with opposite inner surfaces of the upper and lower plates  410 . The wire  40  in part is further stripped off to expose the conductive core  403  as being a signal segment or a power segment which extends outside the grounding bar  41  and is insulated from the grounding segment by the insulative layer  404 . 
     Now referring to FIG. 1, the metal conductive shield  5  for providing grounding protection consists of upper and lower shells  51 ,  52 . Each shell  51 ,  52  forms a plate portion  510 ,  520  with opposite bent flanges  511 ,  521 . A pair of arms  512 ,  522  laterally extends from rear side edges of the plate portions  510 ,  520 . A pair of claws  513 ,  523  is formed adjacent to corresponding bent flanges  511 ,  521 . Each claw  513 ,  523  extends vertically from a front edge of a corresponding arm  512 ,  522  and is then bent rearwardly for engaging with the second recess  231  defined in the housing  2 . Plural pairs of spring fingers  514  are bent downwardly and inwardly at a specific angle at a rear edge of the plate portion  510 . A pair of tabs  515 ,  525  extends outwardly from the plate portion  510 ,  520  for electrical connection with a shield means of the complementary connector. 
     A subassembly of the housing  2 , the contacts  3  and the cable set  4  is shown in FIG. 5 in conjunction with FIGS. 7 and 8. The power and signal contacts  3   a ,  3   b  are inserted into the dielectric housing  2  along a front-to-rear direction. The tail portions  33  and the retention portions  32  of the power and signal contacts  3   a ,  3   b  protrude through the contact-receiving slots  24  and are respectively received in the enlarged front portions of the wire-receiving passageways  26   a ,  26   b  and the middle passageways  25   a ,  25   b  defined in the rod  21 . The barbs  320  of each retention portion  32  bite into upper and lower walls of a corresponding middle passageway  25   a ,  25   b . The mating portions  31  of the power and signal contacts  3   a ,  3   b  are received in corresponding contact-receiving slots  24   a ,  24   b  and an upper surface of each mating portion  31  is slightly higher than that of the tongue plate  22  for electrically connecting with a corresponding contact of the complementary connector. The cable set  4  is then assembled to the housing  2  in a rear-to-front direction. The grounding bar  41  is received in the receiving space  27  defined in the rear of the main portion  23 . The cable extends rearwardly out of the grounding bar  41  to link with a specific electrical device (not shown). The conductive cores  403  of the power and signal wires  40   a ,  40   b  horizontally enter into the front portions of corresponding wire-receiving passageways  26   a ,  26   b  and are soldered to upper surfaces of the tail portions  33  of corresponding power and signal contacts  3   a ,  3   b  for enhancement of the electrical and mechanical connection therebetween. 
     In assembly of the shield  5  with the housing  2 , as shown in FIGS. 6,  7  and  8 , the upper and lower shells  51 ,  52  are separately attached onto the housing  2  along a front-to-rear direction, thereby covering the housing  2  except the surfaces  210 ,  230 . The bent flanges  511 ,  521  of the upper and lower shells  51 ,  52  hook inwardly within the first recesses  211  and abut against each other. Likewise, the claws  513 ,  523  of the upper and lower shells  51 ,  52  hook rearwardly with the second recesses  231  defined in the opposite lateral sides of the ear portions  28 . In the second recesses  231 , the claws  513 ,  523  abut against each other. Therefore, an electrical engagement between both claws  513 ,  523  is established. Meanwhile, the spring fingers  514  of the upper shell  51  downwardly protrude into the receiving space  27  and are engagingly deflected upwardly by the upper plate  410  of the grounding bar  41 . As a result, a ground path is built from the grounding layer  402  of each wire  40 , through the grounding bar  41 , the upper and lower shells  51 ,  52  contacting with each other by the claws  513 ,  523  and the bent flanges  511 ,  521 , and the tabs  515 ,  525 , to the shield means of the complementary connector. 
     The tongue plate  22  has a horizontal central plane vertically offset from a horizontal midline of the mating surface  210 , and the mating portion  31  of each contact also has a horizontal central plane vertically offset from a horizontal midline of the front side of the retention portion  32 . This decreases the height of the whole cable connector assembly  1 . Multi pitches of the contacts  3  satisfy the need of transmitting power and signal together. Furthermore, the grounding bar  41  of the cable set  4  is received in the receiving space  27  of the housing  2 , and the conductive cores  403  of the power and signal wires  40   a ,  40   b  are received in the corresponding wire-receiving passageways  26   a ,  26   b  defined in the main portion  23 . Therefore, an additional rear housing member is not needed, which simplifies the structure of the connector assembly  1  and decreases the manufacturing cost thereof. 
     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.