Patent Publication Number: US-2022231433-A1

Title: Cable connector for decreasing signal return loss

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority benefit of TW application serial No. 110200711 filed on Jan. 20, 2021. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of specification. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a cable connector, and more particularly a cable connector for decreasing signal return loss. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Electronics of all kinds are widely available in our modern daily lives. Between different kinds of electronics, a corresponding connector is needed to transmit signals between the electronics. As electronic devices improve in quality, so should connectors to ensure high quality signal transmission between the electronic devices. With reference to  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 , a conventional cable connector  50  connecting a conventional cable connector head  60  is illustrated, and the conventional cable connector  50  can be found using in conjecture with a signal divider for devices such as a television. 
     The conventional cable connector  50  includes a connecting terminal  51 , a base  52 , and a front cap  53 . The front cap  53  is connected with a front side of the base  52 . The connecting terminal  51  further includes a body  511 , a first elastic piece  512 , and a second elastic piece  513 . One side of the body  511  is mounted inside the base  52 , and another side of the body  511  pierces through the front side of the base  52 , piercing through and combining with the front cap  53 . A front side of the first elastic piece  512  and a front side of the second elastic piece  513  are connected and mounted with a back side of the body  511 , and the first elastic piece  512  and the second elastic piece  513  are located opposite to each other correspondingly. Furthermore, the first elastic piece  512  includes a first bending part  5121  and the second elastic piece  513  includes a second bending part  5131 , wherein the first bending part  5121  and the second bending part  5131  press on each other elastically. 
     An opening  521  is formed on a back side of the base  52 . A cable line  61  of the conventional cable connector head  60  is configured to be inserted through the base  52  via the opening  521  and inserted between the first bending part  5121  and the second bending part  5131 . The first bending part  5121  and the second bending part  5131  would clamp and fix the cable line  61  in place, making the cable line  61 , the first bending part  5121 , and the second bending part  5131  all electrically connected. This allows a signal to be transmitted from the cable line  61  to the body  511  through the first bending part  5121  and the second bending part  5131 , and then the body  511  outputs the signal. 
     However, a back-side-stretching and then front-side-bending structure of the first bending part  5121  and the second bending part  5131  creates resistance discontinuations along a signal transmission pathway, causing the first bending part  5121  and the second bending part  5131  to build up capacitance, resulting in signal return losses, and hindering effectiveness of the conventional cable connector  50 . 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To overcome the drawback, the present invention provides a cable connector for decreasing signal return loss, improving upon the drawback of a conventional cable connector, wherein inside of the conventional cable connector a bending structure is prone to cause signal return losses. The present invention improves signal return losses by minimizing resistance discontinuations along a signal transmission pathway. 
     To achieve the aforementioned improvements, the cable connector for decreasing signal return loss includes a front cap, a base, and a connecting terminal. The connecting terminal is mounted inside the base, and the front cap is mounted on the base and the connecting terminal. 
     More particularly, the front cap has a first hole, a first front side, and a first back side. The base has a second front side and a second back side, wherein the second front side is connected to the first back side, and the second back side of the base has a second hole. 
     The connecting terminal includes a clamping part, a wire connection part, and a lead part. The clamping part has a front side and a back side, wherein the clamping part is elastic and the back side of the clamping part is a free end. The wire connection part also has a front side, and the wire connection part is connected to the front side of the clamping part. The lead part has a back side, is mounted on the front side of the wire connection part to connect the wire connection part, and is inserted through the first hole to extend out of the front cap. 
     When the cable connector for decreasing signal return loss of the present invention is connected with a cable, the cable would be able to be inserted through the base through the second hole. The cable is then fixed in place by the clamping part, causing the cable and the connecting terminal to electrically connect. An electric signal is then transmitted from the cable to the clamping part, through the clamping part to the wire connection part, and through the wire connection part to the lead part respectively, until eventually outputting the electric signal from the lead part. 
     Evidently, since the back side of the clamping part is the free end in the present invention, and without the bending structure of the conventional cable connector, compared with the conventional cable connector, the present invention is able to avoid capacitance built up in the bending structure, preventing a potential capacitor from interfering with signal transmissions between electronic devices, and increasing effectiveness of signal transmissions through the cable connector for decreasing signal return loss. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a cable connector for decreasing signal return loss of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a first exploded view of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a second exploded view of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a connecting terminal of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5B  is another cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of a second back side of a base of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a first application of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view, viewed from top, of the first application of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the first application of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded view of a second application of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the second application of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the second application of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a conventional cable connector. 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of the conventional cable connector. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 3 , in a first embodiment of the present invention, a cable connector for decreasing signal return loss  1  of the present invention includes a front cap  10 , a base  20 , and a connecting terminal  30 . The connecting terminal  30  is partly mounted inside the base  20  and partly pierced through the base  20 . The front cap  10  is connected with the base  20 , and the front cap  10  covers the base  20  and the connecting terminal  30 . The cable connector for decreasing signal return loss  1  of the present invention is applicable to be used in conjecture with a signal divider for electronic devices such as a television, for transmitting electric signals between different electronic devices. 
     The front cap  10  has a first front side  11  and a first back side  12 . A first hole  13  is formed on the first front side  11  of the front cap  10 , and a first mounting recess  14  is formed on the first back side  12  of the front cap  10  for mounting the connecting terminal  30 . The first mounting recess  14  is connected with the first hole  13 . More particularly, the first hole  13  and the first mounting recess  14  extend from the first front side  11  of the front cap  10  to the first back side  12  of the front cap  10 , and the first hole  13  and the first mounting recess  14  are also formed through a front surface and a back surface of the front cap  10 . The front cap  10  can be manufactured with silicone, and in the first embodiment of the present invention the front cap  10  is in a cylindrical shape. The front cap  10  can be in other shapes in another embodiment of the present invention though. 
     The base  20  has a second front side  21  and a second back side  22 . A second mounting recess  24  is formed on the second front side  21  of the base  20  for mounting the connecting terminal  30 , and a second hole  23  is formed on the second back side  22  of the base  20 . The second hole  23  and the second mounting recess  24  extend from the second back side  22  of the base  20  to the first front side  11 , wherein the second front side  21  of the base  20  is covered by the front cap  10 , positioning the second front side  21  of the base  20  in the first mounting recess  14  of the front cap  10 , and creating a mounting space  25  as shown in  FIG. 5A  as the first mounting recess  14  and the second mounting recess  24  connect. The mounting space  25  is therefore used to enclose the connecting terminal  30  between the front cap  10  and the base  20 . The base  20  can be manufactured with Polypropylene (PP). 
     To generalize, a back side of the base  20 , designated as the second back side  22 , has the second hole  23 , and a front side of the base  20  known as the second front side  21 , is connected to a back side of the front cap  10  designated as the first back side  12 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5A , the connecting terminal  30  has a clamping part  31 , a wire connection part  32 , and a lead part  33 . The clamping part  31  further includes a first clamping piece  311 , a second clamping piece  312 , a third clamping piece  313 , and a fourth clamping piece  314 , wherein the first clamping piece  311  and the third clamping piece  313  are located opposite to each other, and the second clamping piece  312  and the fourth clamping piece  314  are also located opposite to each other. The first clamping piece  311 , the second clamping piece  312 , the third clamping piece  313 , and the fourth clamping piece  314  are separately mounted elastic pieces. Each of the first clamping piece  311 , the second clamping piece  312 , the third clamping piece  313 , and the fourth clamping piece  314  respectively has a front part  315 , a middle part  316 , and a back part  317 . The middle part  316  is connected with a back end of the front part  315 , and the back part  317  is connected with a back end of the middle part  316 ; in other words, the middle part  316  is connected between the front part  315  and the back part  317 . The middle part  316  is extendable from the front part  315  to the back part  317 . A diameter of the front part  315  is bigger than a diameter of the middle part  316  and a diameter of the back part  317  is also bigger than the diameter of the middle part  316 . More particularly, the diameter of the front part  315  gradually decreases from the wire connection part  32  towards the middle part  316 , and the diameter of the back part  317  gradually decreases from the second hole  23  towards the middle part  316 . 
     Furthermore, the front part  315  and the back part  317  are mounted at a tilting angle with respect to the middle part  316 . The front part  315  tilts toward the middle part  316  from the wire connection part  32 , narrowing towards a space surrounded by the middle parts  316  of the clamping pieces  311 ,  312 ,  313 ,  314  from a bigger space surrounded by the front parts  315  of clamping pieces  311 ,  312 ,  313 ,  314 . In other words, a front space surrounded by the front parts  315  of the clamping pieces  311 ,  312 ,  313 ,  314  expands gradually from the middle part  316  towards the wire connection part  32 . Similarly, the back part  317  tilts toward the middle part  316  from the second hole  23 , narrowing towards the space surrounded by the middle parts  316  of the clamping pieces  311 ,  312 ,  313 ,  314  from a bigger space surrounded by the back parts  317  of the clamping pieces  311 ,  312 ,  313 ,  314 . In other words, a back space surrounded by the back parts  317  of the clamping pieces  311 ,  312 ,  313 ,  314  expands gradually from the middle part  316  towards the second hole  23 . 
     The clamping part  31  has a front side and a back side, the wire connection part  32  has a front side, and the lead part  33  also has a back side as well. The wire connection part  32  is formed on the front side of the clamping part  31 , connecting with the front parts  315  of the clamping pieces  311 ,  312 ,  313 ,  314 . The back parts  317  of the clamping pieces  311 ,  312 ,  313 ,  314  are free to move, in other words, the back side of the clamping part  31  is a free end, and therefore remains without bending. The wire connection part  32  is hollow and is located corresponding to the first mounting recess  14  of the front cap  10 . When the connecting terminal  30  is mounted in the second mounting recess  24  of the base  20 , the wire connection part  32  is mounted in the first mounting recess  14  and the second mounting recess  24 , and the wire connection part  32  and the clamping part  31  are mounted inside the second mounting recess  24 . With further reference to  FIG. 5B , a locking part  321  protrudes from an edge of the front side of the wire connection part  32 , and the locking part  321  is mounted between the front cap  10  and the base  20 , creating a gap  15  between the front cap  10  and the base  20 . By having the locking part  321 , contact between the back side of the clamping part  31  and a bottom of the second mounting recess  24  is preventable, saving space for the clamping part  31  for any possible deformations. In the embodiment of the present invention, the wire connection part  32  can be in a hollow rectangular shape. The first mounting recess  14  of the front cap  10  and the second mounting recess  24  of the base  20  can also be rectangular mounting recesses, for containing the connecting terminal  30  within the first mounting recess  14  and the second mounting recess  24 . The shape of the wire connection part  32  and the shape of the first mounting recess  14  and the second mounting recess  24  are free to change from the embodiment of the present invention. In another embodiment of the present invention, the back side of the clamping part  31  is free to move without contacting an inner surface of the second mounting recess  24 . 
     The lead part  33  is mounted on the front side of the wire connection part  32 , and in  FIG. 3 , a bending part from the back side of the lead part  33  is connected to the edge of the front side of the wire connection part  32  designated as a frontal edge  322 . When the front cap  10  is covered on the connecting terminal  30 , the lead part  33  pierces through the front cap  10  via the first mounting recess  14  and the first hole  13  of the front cap  10 . The lead part  33  can be a flat piece, but can be in other shapes in other embodiments of the present invention. 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , the middle parts  316  of the clamping pieces  311 ,  312 ,  313 ,  314  correspondingly form a clamping hole  34 , wherein the first hole  13 , the first mounting recess  14 , the wire connection part  32 , the clamping hole  34 , the second mounting recess  24 , and the second hole  23  are aligned. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 8 , and  FIG. 9 , in a first application of the present invention, the cable connector for decreasing signal return loss  1  of the first embodiment of the present invention can be connected to a cable connector head  40 . The cable connector head  40  has a cable  41 , wherein the cable  41  is inserted through the cable connector for decreasing signal return loss  1  via the second hole  23  of the base  20 . More particularly, the cable  41  is inserted into the clamping hole  34  formed by the first clamping piece  311 , the second clamping piece  312 , the third clamping piece  313 , and the fourth clamping piece  314 . The cable  41  forcefully stretches the clamping hole  34  open, thereby making the cable fixed in place in the clamping hole  34 , elastically pressed by the first clamping piece  311 , the second clamping piece  312 , the third clamping piece  313 , and the fourth clamping piece  314  from four sides, hence being clamped in the middle of the clamping hole  34 . Thus the cable connector for decreasing signal return loss  1  is able to connect with the cable connector head  40 , transmitting electric signals to each other. 
     When the cable  41  is clamped in the clamping hole  34 , the cable  41  is electrically connected with the first clamping piece  311 , the second clamping piece  312 , the third clamping piece  313 , and the fourth clamping piece  314 . An electric signal from the cable  41  would be able to flow through the first clamping piece  311 , the second clamping piece  312 , the third clamping piece  313 , and the fourth clamping piece  314  to the wire connection part  32 . The electric signal then is able to flow from the wire connection part  32  to the lead part  33  through a linking part  331 . The linking part  331  links the wire connection part  32  and the lead part  33  together. 
     The following compares and contrasts the cable connector for decreasing signal return loss  1  before and after connecting the cable connector head  40 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 7 , before the cable  41  enters the clamping hole  34 , a gap  26  is formed between the back parts  317  of the clamping pieces  311 ,  312 ,  313 ,  314  and the bottom of the second mounting recess  24 , creating a gap distance R 1  between the back parts  317  and the bottom of the second mounting recess  24 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 8 , a diameter of the clamping hole  34  can be smaller than a diameter of the cable  41 . When the cable  41  is getting clamped in the clamping hole  34 , the cable  41  stretches the clamping hole  34  open, the back parts  317  contact and roll along an inner surface of the second mounting recess  24  of the base  20 , and the back parts  317  tilt less with respect to the middle parts  316 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 9 , when the cable  41  is getting clamped in the clamping hole  34 , a gap distance R 2  is created between the back parts  317  of the clamping pieces  311 ,  312 ,  313 ,  314  and the bottom of the second mounting recess  24 . The gap distance R 2  is less than the gap distance R 1 , meaning the gap distance R 1  in  FIG. 5A  symbolizes an elastic deformation that the first clamping piece  311 , the second clamping piece  312 , the third clamping piece  313 , and the fourth clamping piece  314  would be able to bear. When the cable  41  is clamped in the clamping hole  34 , the gap distance R 2  in  FIG. 9  would change according to the diameter of the cable  41 . The bigger the diameter of the cable  41  is, the more the first clamping piece  311 , the second clamping piece  312 , the third clamping piece  313 , and the fourth clamping piece  314  would deform, decreasing the gap distance R 2 , enabling the cable connector for decreasing signal return loss  1  to adapt to the cable  41  of different dimensions better. Additionally, by having the first clamping piece  311 , the second clamping piece  312 , the third clamping piece  313 , and the fourth clamping piece  314  clamping the cable  41  together, the cable  41  can be better fixed in place connecting to the present invention, better stabilizing a cable connection, and improving connection quality. 
     With reference to  FIG. 10 , in a second embodiment of the present invention, a groove  318  is respectively formed between the front parts  315  of each of the clamping pieces  311 ,  312 ,  313 ,  314 . The groove  318  extends from the wire connection part  32  towards the middle parts  316  of each of the clamping pieces  311 ,  312 ,  313 ,  314 . The groove  318  allows more deformation from the first clamping piece  311 , the second clamping piece  312 , the third clamping piece  313 , and the fourth clamping piece  314 . In the second embodiment of the present invention, such deformations can form on an outer surface of the first clamping piece  311 , the second clamping piece  312 , the third clamping piece  313 , and the fourth clamping piece  314 . Alternatively, the deformations can form on an inner surface of the first clamping piece  311 , the second clamping piece  312 , the third clamping piece  313 , and the fourth clamping piece  314  as well in another embodiment of the present invention. 
     With reference to  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 , in an exploded view of a second application of the first embodiment of the present invention, the cable connector for decreasing signal return loss  1  is applied to a signal divider  60  of a television. The signal divider  60  has multiple signal ports  61 . Each of the signal ports  61  has an opening  62 , and inside the opening  62  each of the signal ports  61  has some threads  611 . 
     The cable connector for decreasing signal return loss  1  is mounted in the opening  62  of the signal divider  60 . Once mounted, the lead part  33  as a flat piece would be able to reach an internal space  63  of the signal divider  60  for transmitting electric signals between different electronic devices. The connecting terminal  30  as a whole can be manufactured with metallic materials. 
     With reference to  FIG. 13 , the signal divider  60  has a circuit cap  64  to isolate the internal space  63  of the signal divider  60 . Since the signal divider  60  and the circuit cap  64  are metallic, the internal space  63  of the signal divider  60  is like an inside of a Faraday cage, allowing electric signals to be transmitted by the lead part  33  without electromagnetic influences from outside.  FIGS. 6, 7, and 8  serve as an example of how the first embodiment of the present invention can be applied to a device in practice, rather than a limitation of devices the present invention can be applied to. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , on the base  20  of the first embodiment of the present invention, multiple ribs  26  are mounted between the second front side  21  and the second back side  22 , and formed on a side surface  27  of the base  20 . Between any two adjacent ones of the ribs  26 , an isolating space is created. When the cable connector for decreasing signal return loss  1  is connected with the signal divider  60 , the isolating space would create an isolating barrier of air against conducting components. With air isolating the conducting components, the electric signals can be less affected by surrounding solid materials, ensuring better signal transmission qualities. This way regardless of what electrical conductivity and heat conductivity the surrounding solid materials have, air is always a good material for electrical isolation. 
     With reference to  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 , the cable connector for decreasing signal return loss  1  is connected with the signal divider  60  in the first application of the first embodiment of the present invention, despite the side surface  27  of the base  20  has the ribs  26  rather than corresponding threads for the threads  611  inside the signal port  61 . This is possible as once the cable connector for decreasing signal return loss  1  is shoved into the signal port  61 , the circuit cap  64  would be wielded shut after the inside  63  of the signal divider  60  is correctly wired. Such wielding heat would cause the metallic signal divider  60  to expand slightly in size, and tightly fix the cable connector for decreasing signal return loss  1  in place by squeezing the cable connector for decreasing signal return loss  1  slightly as the signal port  61  expands inward, narrowing the opening  62 . 
     In conclusion, the back parts  317  of each of the first clamping piece  311 , the second clamping piece  312 , the third clamping piece  313 , and the fourth clamping piece  314  of the present invention are free to move without any bending structures. Compared to a conventional cable connector, the present invention is able to avoid potential capacitance built up in bending structures, and therefore avoids a potential capacitor from affecting signal transmissions between electronic devices. Additionally, in the present invention the first clamping piece  311 , the second clamping piece  312 , the third clamping piece  313 , and the fourth clamping piece  314  would clamp the cable  41  simultaneously, stabilizing the connection between the cable  41  and the cable connector for decreasing signal return loss  1 , and improving an overall connection quality.