Patent Description:
Conventionally, a connector cable in which a connector and a shielded cable are connected via a relay substrate is known. For example, <CIT> discloses a conventional example of a high-speed connector cable in which contacts (<NUM>) of electric connectors (<NUM>) are connected to coaxial cables (<NUM>) via relay substrates (<NUM>), as shown in <FIG>. In the high-speed connector cable disclosed in <CIT>, the coaxial cable (<NUM>) is impedance-matched by a core wire (<NUM>), an intermediate insulator (<NUM>), and a braided shield (<NUM>), and the relay substrate (<NUM>) is impedance-matched by signal patterns (<NUM>) on a front surface, and ground patterns on a front surface side (<NUM>) and ground patterns on a back surface side (<NUM>) that is the other side across an insulating portion (<NUM>).

Note that the reference numerals related to the description of the prior art document are distinguished from the embodiments of the present invention by adding parentheses.

However, a part where the braided shield (<NUM>) of the coaxial cable (<NUM>) is removed to expose the core wire (<NUM>) and the intermediate insulator (<NUM>) (see <FIG>) is far from both the ground pattern on the front surface side (<NUM>) and the ground pattern on the back surface side (<NUM>). Therefore, this part has increase in impedance. Then, a countermeasure to reduce the increase in impedance might be removing the braided shield (<NUM>) to expose the core wire (<NUM>) and the intermediate insulator (<NUM>), and extending the ground pattern on the front surface side (<NUM>) to directly under the exposed part. However, this countermeasure would have difficulty in extending the ground pattern on the front surface side (<NUM>) because the extended ground pattern on the front surface side (<NUM>) may be short-circuited with the core wire (<NUM>) soldered to the adjacent signal pattern (<NUM>). In other words, the prior art represented by the high-speed connector cable disclosed in <CIT> has a problem in which the art cannot prevent both increase in impedance and a short circuit in the part where the braided shield (<NUM>: shield member) of the coaxial cable (<NUM>: shielded cable) is removed to expose the core wire (<NUM>: inner conductor) and the intermediate insulator (<NUM>: dielectric).

<CIT> discloses a connector cable comprising a connector, a shielded cable and a relay substrate, the connector and the shielded cable being connected via the relay substrate; wherein the shielded cable includes at least an inner conductor, a dielectric covering the inner conductor, and a shield member covering the dielectric; wherein the inner conductor includes a connection part at a part where the shield member and the dielectric are removed to expose the inner conductor, the connection part directly contacting a contact of the connector to be electrically connected to the connector.

<CIT> discloses a coaxial cable connected to a substrate.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connector cable that prevents both increase in impedance and a short circuit in a connector cable that connects a connector and a shielded cable via a relay substrate.

A connector cable of the present invention is a connector cable including a connector, a shielded cable, and a relay substrate, the connector and the shielded cable being connected via the relay substrate, wherein: the shielded cable includes at least an inner conductor, a dielectric covering the inner conductor, and a shield member covering the dielectric; the inner conductor includes a connection part at a part where the shield member and the dielectric are removed to expose the inner conductor, the connection part directly contacting a contact of the connector to be electrically connected to the connector; at least directly under a part where the shield member is removed to expose the dielectric, a ground (GND) conductor layer on a front surface of the relay substrate is arranged; and the GND conductor layer on the front surface of the relay substrate, which is arranged directly under the part where the shield member is removed, is covered with an insulating member.

In other words, the connector cable of the present invention has the insulating member and the GND conductor layer on the front surface of the relay substrate directly under the part where the shield member of the shielded cable is removed. This effectively prevents increase in impedance. In addition, in the connector cable of the present invention, the contact of the connector is directly connected to the inner conductor of the shielded cable. Therefore, the present invention does not need process of bending (forming) the inner conductor to the front surface of the substrate. Further, the GND conductor layer on the front surface of the wiring substrate, arranged directly under the part where the shield member is removed, is not adjacent to the inner conductor of the shielded cable. Specifically, the GND conductor layer is separated from the inner conductor in the vertical direction, and an insulating member is interposed between them, so that it is hard to short-circuit.

Further, the connector cable of the present invention may be configured such that the insulating member is a resist coated to the front surface of the GND conductor layer.

Further, the connector cable of the present invention may be configured such that: a connection part between the contact of the connector and the exposed inner conductor of the shielded cable is connected by soldering; the GND conductor layer on the front surface of the relay substrate is extended to directly under the contact of the connector and the connection part; and the GND conductor layer directly under the connection part is cut out.

Further, the connector cable of the present invention may be configured such that: the connection part between the contact of the connector and the exposed inner conductor of the shielded cable is connected by soldering; and the relay substrate is cut out at a part directly under the contact of the connector and the exposed inner conductor of the shielded cable.

Further, the connector cable of the present invention may be configured such that: the contact of the connector is held in an insulation connector mold; the connection part between the contact of the connector and the exposed inner conductor of the shielded cable is connected by soldering; and the connector mold extends to directly under the contact of the connector and the connection part.

In other words, the connector cable of the present invention has the connection part between the contact of the connector and the exposed inner conductor of the shielded cable. At the connection part, the impedance decreases locally due to soldering. However, the present invention has a configuration in which the part directly under the connection part does not have the GND conductor layer, which allows the local decrease in impedance to be smaller. This leads to an advantage of better impedance matching.

Further, the connector cable of the present invention may be configured such that: one or more unshielded cables are connected to the connector; and at least one of the unshielded cables is connected to the contact of the connector via a conductor of the relay substrate.

Further, the connector cable of the present invention may be configured such that: the relay substrate also has a GND conductor layer on a back surface side; and the contact of the connector, the shielded cable, and the GND conductor layer are arranged so as to be mirror image symmetric with the front surface side.

According to the present invention, there can be provided a connector cable that prevents both increase in impedance and a short circuit in a connector cable that connects a connector and a shielded cable via a relay substrate.

The following describes suitable embodiments for carrying out the present invention with reference to drawings. Note that: the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to each claim; and not all combinations of characteristics described in the embodiments are essential to the solution of the invention.

The following describes a first embodiment, which is one possible embodiment of a connector cable of the present invention with reference to <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, a connector cable <NUM> of the first embodiment includes a connector <NUM>, a shielded cable <NUM>, and a relay substrate <NUM>. The connector cable <NUM> has a configuration in which the connector <NUM> and the shielded cable <NUM> are connected via the relay substrate <NUM>.

The connector <NUM> has a fitting portion (not shown) on a front side, and has a conductive metal contact <NUM> on a rear side, which is a connection portion. In the connector <NUM> of the first embodiment, the fitting portion (not shown) is fitted with a mating connector, and this can make a connection including telecommunications or optical communications between the connector <NUM> and the mating connector. Further, the connector <NUM> of the first embodiment has four contacts <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, in the four contacts <NUM>, the two contacts <NUM> arranged in the center are used as connection portions for high-speed signals, and two contacts <NUM> arranged at both left and right ends are used as connection portions for ground (GND).

The shielded cable <NUM> includes an inner conductor <NUM>, a dielectric <NUM> that covers the inner conductor <NUM>, and a shield member <NUM> that covers the dielectric <NUM>. The inner conductor <NUM> of the first embodiment is used as a conductor for transmitting high-speed signals. The dielectric <NUM> of the first embodiment is made of an insulating material such as polyethylene, and covers the entire circumference of the inner conductor <NUM> to protect the inner conductor <NUM>. The shield member <NUM> of the first embodiment is a member that further covers the entire circumference of the dielectric <NUM>, and is formed of, for example, a braided wire formed of a braided copper wire or an aluminum strip. The shield member <NUM> serves as an electromagnetic shield to protect the inner conductor <NUM> that transmits high-speed signals, from the influence of electromagnetic waves etc. arriving from the outside.

Note that, in the shielded cable <NUM> of the first embodiment shown in <FIG>, a configuration is illustrated in which two inner conductors <NUM> are respectively covered with two dielectrics <NUM>, and the two dielectrics <NUM> covering the inner conductors <NUM> are covered with one shield member <NUM>. However, the form of the shielded cable applicable to the present invention is not limited to that shown in <FIG>. Examples of shielded cable of the present invention to be used may include: a coaxial cable in which one inner conductor is covered with a dielectric and a shield member; a micro coaxial cable; as well as a high-speed signal cable of a type called STP (shielded twisted pair) cable or SPP (shielded parallel pair) cable. Further, the shielded cable of the present invention includes: a cable having a wire, called a drain wire, built-in over the entire length of the cable; and a cable having no built-in wire.

As shown in <FIG>, on the bottom surface part of the relay substrate <NUM>, there is formed a substrate layer <NUM> having two substrates attached therein, and on the front surface of the substrate layer <NUM>, there is formed a GND conductor layer <NUM>. Further, on the upper surface of the GND conductor layer <NUM>, which is formed on the front surface of the substrate layer <NUM>, there is formed an insulating member <NUM> made of an insulating material.

For the substrate layer <NUM> of the first embodiment, any conventionally known substrate material can be used. The substrate material includes, for example, a material using a phenol resin-based resin material, an epoxy resin-based resin material, a glass non-woven fabric impregnated with an epoxy resin, and an aluminum-based plate material. Further, the insulating member <NUM> of the first embodiment to be used includes a resist coated to the front surface of the GND conductor layer <NUM>. The resist, which is the insulating member <NUM> of the first embodiment, is a coating material also called a solder resist. The resist demonstrates a function to prevent solder from adhering to unnecessary parts during soldering, and at the same time, protect the relay substrate <NUM> from dust, heat, moisture, etc. as a permanent protective film to maintain insulation.

The connector cable <NUM> of the first embodiment includes the above-described connector <NUM>, the shielded cable <NUM>, and the relay substrate <NUM>. The connector <NUM> and the shielded cable <NUM> are connected via the relay substrate <NUM>. Then, in the connector cable <NUM> of the first embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the shield member <NUM> and the dielectric <NUM> of the shielded cable <NUM> are removed to expose the inner conductor <NUM>. With this state, the exposed inner conductor <NUM> is directly connected to the contact <NUM> for high-speed signals of the connector <NUM>. Here, the connection between the inner conductor <NUM> and the contact <NUM> for high-speed signals uses soldering. Thus directly connecting the inner conductor <NUM> and the contact <NUM> for high-speed signals can significantly reduce the substrate wiring loss as compared with the conventional connection via the substrate.

Further, as shown in <FIG>, the GND contact <NUM> provided in the connector <NUM> can be connected to the GND conductor layer <NUM> by means of: providing a GND conductor layer exposed portion <NUM>, where no insulating member <NUM> made of a resist is coated, in a part of the GND conductor layer <NUM> on the front surface of the relay substrate <NUM>; and placing the GND contact <NUM> at the position of the GND conductor layer exposed portion <NUM> and soldering it there.

As shown in <FIG>, the first embodiment has a configuration such that: the GND conductor layer <NUM> on the front surface of the relay substrate <NUM> is arranged directly under a position where the shield member <NUM> is removed to expose the dielectric <NUM>; and the GND conductor layer <NUM> on the front surface of the relay substrate <NUM>, arranged directly under the part where the shield member <NUM> is removed, is covered with the insulating member <NUM> made of a resist. Further, as shown in <FIG>, the first embodiment has a configuration such that: the GND conductor layer <NUM> on the front surface of the relay substrate <NUM> extends to a position directly under the contact <NUM> for high-speed signals of the connector <NUM> and the exposed inner conductor <NUM> of the shielded cable <NUM>; and the GND conductor layer <NUM> on the front surface of the relay substrate <NUM>, which extends to the positions directly under the contact <NUM> for high-speed signals of the connector <NUM> and the exposed inner conductor <NUM> of the shielded cable <NUM>, is also covered with the insulating member <NUM> made of a resist.

Further, as shown in <FIG>, the first embodiment has a configuration such that: the GND conductor layer <NUM> on the front surface of the relay substrate <NUM> is exposed at the position directly under the shield member <NUM> of the shielded cable <NUM>. With this state, the GND conductor layer <NUM> is not covered with the insulating member <NUM> made of a resist. Then the shield member <NUM> of the shielded cable <NUM> and the GND conductor layer <NUM> on the front surface of the relay substrate <NUM> are fixedly connected by the solder <NUM>.

The following describes the detailed structure of the connector cable <NUM> of the first embodiment with reference to <FIG>. Thus soldering the shield member <NUM> of the shielded cable <NUM> to the GND conductor layer <NUM> on the front surface of the relay substrate <NUM> brings about effects such as noise prevention. In other words, the GND conductor layer <NUM> on the front surface of the relay substrate <NUM> is arranged at a position directly under the shield member <NUM> in a state in which the GND conductor layer <NUM> is not covered with the insulating member <NUM> made of a resist.

On the other hand, at the part where the shield member <NUM> of the shielded cable <NUM> is removed and the dielectric <NUM> is exposed, the impedance increases because the dielectric <NUM> has no covering. The countermeasure is arranging the GND conductor layer <NUM> on the front surface of the relay substrate <NUM> in a state of being covered with an insulating member <NUM> made of a resist at a position directly under the exposed dielectric <NUM>, to obtain the effect of lowering impedance.

In other words, the GND conductor layer <NUM> on the front surface of the relay substrate <NUM> has a boundary at a position indicated by reference character C in <FIG>. The one side of the boundary, where the connector <NUM> is arranged, is coated with an insulating member <NUM> made of a resist, and the other side thereof, where the shield member <NUM> of the shielded cable <NUM> is located, is not coated with an insulating member <NUM> made of a resist. This countermeasure achieves impedance matching in the connector cable <NUM> of the first embodiment.

In other words, the connector cable <NUM> of the first embodiment has the insulating member <NUM> and the GND conductor layer <NUM> on the front surface of the relay substrate <NUM>, directly under the part where the shield member <NUM> of the shielded cable <NUM> has been removed. This effectively prevents increase in impedance. Additionally, in the connector cable <NUM> of the first embodiment, the contact <NUM> for high-speed signals of the connector <NUM> and the inner conductor <NUM> of the shielded cable <NUM> are connected directly by soldering. This eliminates, for example, need for process of bending (forming) the inner conductor <NUM> to the front surface of the substrate. Further, GND conductor layer <NUM> on the front surface of the relay substrate <NUM>, arranged directly under the part where the shield member <NUM> is removed, is not adjacent to the inner conductor <NUM> of the shielded cable <NUM>. Specifically, the GND conductor layer <NUM> is separated from the inner conductor <NUM> in the vertical direction, and the insulating member <NUM> is interposed between the two members. As a result, there is no short circuit. Thus, the connector cable <NUM> of the first embodiment can bring the effects described above. From the above, according to the connector cable <NUM> of the first embodiment, there can be provided a connector cable that prevents both increase in impedance and a short circuit.

The above has described the first embodiment, which is one possible embodiment of the connector cable of the present invention, with reference to <FIG>. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the first embodiment. Various modifications or improvements can be made to the first embodiment. Then, the following describes various possible embodiments of the connector cable of the present invention. In each of the embodiments described below, the same or similar members as those in the above-described first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and characters, and the description thereof is to be omitted.

The following describes a connector cable <NUM> of a second embodiment with reference to <FIG>.

In the connector cable <NUM> of the second embodiment, the connection part between the contact <NUM> for high-speed signals of the connector <NUM> and the exposed inner conductor <NUM> of the shielded cable <NUM> is connected by soldering, as in the case of the first embodiment described above. Additionally, as shown in more detail in <FIG>, the connector cable <NUM> of the second embodiment has the GND conductor layer <NUM> on the front surface of the relay substrate <NUM>. The GND conductor layer <NUM> located directly under the connection part between the contact <NUM> for high-speed signals and the inner conductor <NUM> is cut out in the range of arrow indicated by reference character E in <FIG>. Thus, the connector cable <NUM> has a structural feature in which there is formed a GND cut-out region <NUM> where the GND conductor layer <NUM> is absent.

Here, the connection part between the contact <NUM> for high-speed signals and the inner conductor <NUM> is connected by soldering, so that a problem arises in which the impedance decreases only at this part. To solve this problem, in the second embodiment, the GND conductor layer <NUM> on the front surface of the relay substrate <NUM> is cut out directly under the connection part between the contact <NUM> for high-speed signals and the inner conductor <NUM>. This forms a GND cut-out region <NUM> where the GND conductor layer <NUM> is absent, to increase the impedance. As a result, the second embodiment can achieve impedance matching of the connector cable <NUM> as a whole. In other words, according to the connector cable <NUM> of the second embodiment, there can be provided a connector cable that prevents both increase in impedance and a short circuit, and achieves more suitable impedance matching.

The following describes a connector cable <NUM> of a third embodiment with reference to <FIG>.

In the connector cable <NUM> of the third embodiment, the connection part between the contact <NUM> for high-speed signals of the connector <NUM> and the exposed inner conductor <NUM> of the shielded cable <NUM> is connected by soldering, as in the case of the first embodiment described above. Additionally, in the connector cable <NUM> of the third embodiment, the relay substrate <NUM> itself located directly under the connection part between the contact <NUM> for high-speed signals and the inner conductor <NUM> is cut out, as shown in <FIG>. Thus, the connector cable <NUM> has a structural feature in which there is formed a substrate cut-out region <NUM> where the relay substrate <NUM> itself is absent.

Here, the connection part between the contact <NUM> for high-speed signals and the inner conductor <NUM> is connected by soldering, so that a problem arises in which the impedance decreases only at this part. To solve this problem, the relay substrate <NUM> itself is cut out directly under the connection part between the contact <NUM> for high-speed signals and the inner conductor <NUM> in the third embodiment. This forms a substrate cut-out region <NUM> where the substrate including the GND conductor layer <NUM> is absent to increase the impedance. As a result, the third embodiment can achieve the impedance matching of the connector cable <NUM> as a whole. In other words, according to the connector cable <NUM> of the third embodiment, there can be provided a connector cable that prevents both increase in impedance and a short circuit, and achieves more suitable impedance matching, as in the second embodiment described above.

The following describes a connector cable <NUM> of a fourth embodiment with reference to <FIG>.

In the connector cable <NUM> of the fourth embodiment, the connection part between the contact <NUM> for high-speed signals of the connector <NUM> and the exposed inner conductor <NUM> of the shielded cable <NUM> is connected by soldering, as in the case of the first embodiment described above. Additionally, in the connector cable <NUM> of a fourth embodiment, the connector mold <NUM> that configures the connector <NUM> by installation of the contact <NUM> includes a contact <NUM> of the connector <NUM> and a connector mold extension portion <NUM> extending to directly under the connection part, as shown in <FIG>.

Then, the connection part between the contact <NUM> for high-speed signals and the inner conductor <NUM> is connected by soldering, so that a problem arises in which the impedance decreases only at this part. To solve this problem, in the fourth embodiment, a connector mold extension portion <NUM>, which is a part of the connector mold <NUM>, is formed up to a position directly under the connection part between the contact <NUM> for high-speed signals and the inner conductor <NUM>. This forms a region where the substrate including the GND conductor layer <NUM> is absent, to increase the impedance. As a result, the fourth embodiment can achieve the impedance matching of the connector cable <NUM> as a whole. In other words, according to the connector cable <NUM> of the fourth embodiment, there can be provided a connector cable that prevents both increase in impedance and a short circuit, and achieves more suitable impedance matching, as in the case of the second and third embodiments described above.

Therefore, the connector cable <NUM> of the second embodiment, the connector cable <NUM> of the third embodiment, and the connector cable <NUM> of the fourth embodiment can have the advantage of preventing local impedance reduction and providing more suitable impedance matching.

The following describes a connector cable <NUM> of a fifth embodiment with reference to <FIG>.

The connector cable <NUM> of the fifth embodiment shows a configuration example in which types of the contact <NUM> of the connector <NUM> are various, and a plurality of types of the contact <NUM> are mixed as compared to the case of the first embodiment described above.

Specifically, the connector <NUM> of the fifth embodiment has five contacts <NUM> installed therein. As shown in <FIG>, the five contacts <NUM> include one contact <NUM> for one GND (ground), two contacts <NUM> for high-speed signals, one contact <NUM> for one GND (ground), and one contact <NUM> for the power supply (or for low-speed signals), which are arranged in this order from the left end to the right end.

On the other hand, the shielded cable <NUM> is installed in the same arrangement as in the first to third embodiments described above, which achieves appropriate impedance matching. However, the connector cable <NUM> of the fifth embodiment includes unshielded cables <NUM> such as cables for power supply or cables for low-speed signals. Therefore, it is necessary to connect the unshielded cable <NUM> to the contact <NUM> for power supply (or for low-speed signals). However, the specifications and usage conditions of the connector cable <NUM> may arrange the unshielded cable <NUM> and the contact <NUM> for power supply (or for low-speed signals) at separate positions, as shown in <FIG> etc..

A countermeasure for this case in the connector cable <NUM> of the fifth embodiment is forming two vias <NUM>, <NUM> on the relay substrate <NUM>, and providing a substrate inner conductor <NUM> connecting these two vias <NUM>, <NUM> inside the relay substrate <NUM>. Such a configuration allows the unshielded cable <NUM> to connect to the contact <NUM> for power supply (or low-speed signals) of the connector <NUM> via the substrate inner conductor <NUM> provided inside the relay substrate <NUM>. In other words, the connector cable <NUM> of the fifth embodiment does not disturb the impedance matched connection between the contact <NUM> for high-speed signals and the exposed inner conductor <NUM> of the shielded cable <NUM>, and can connect an unshielded cable <NUM> to the contact <NUM> for power supply (or for low-speed signals) of the connector <NUM>. Therefore, according to the fifth embodiment, there can be provided a connector cable <NUM> in which cable routing is easy.

Note that the vias <NUM>, <NUM> and the substrate inner conductor <NUM> of the fifth embodiment configures the conductor of the present invention provided inside the relay substrate <NUM>. In addition, the vias <NUM>, <NUM>, which are the conductors of the present invention, includes any of the through holes, blind holes, embedded holes, etc. within the scope of the present invention if it connects between different circuit layers.

The following describes a connector cable <NUM> of a sixth embodiment with reference to <FIG>.

The connector cable <NUM> of the sixth embodiment shown in <FIG> is configured such that: there are prepared two connector cables <NUM> of the first embodiment described above; the two connector cables <NUM> are attached to each other at their bottom surfaces of the relay substrates <NUM>; and the connector cable <NUM> on the back surface side and the connector cable <NUM> on the front surface side are arranged so as to be mirror image symmetric.

In other words, the connector cable <NUM> of the sixth embodiment is configured such that: the relay substrate <NUM> also has the GND conductor layer <NUM> provided on the back surface side; and the contact <NUM> of the connector <NUM>, the shielded cable <NUM>, and the GND conductor layer <NUM> are arranged on the back surface side and the front surface side so as to be mirror image symmetric. Also according to the connector cable <NUM> of the sixth embodiment having such an arrangement configuration, there can be provided a connector cable that prevent both increase in impedance and a short circuit.

With reference to <FIG>, the above has described various possible embodiments of the present invention including the connector cables <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the first to sixth embodiments. Making various combinations of these embodiments can expand the scope of application of the connector cable of the present invention. Such specific examples are shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. Note that various electronic components may be mounted on the relay substrate of the present invention, and in such a case, the unshielded cable and the contact may be connected via the various electronic components.

The example shown in <FIG> is an example in which the connector cable <NUM> of the second embodiment and the connector cable <NUM> of the fifth embodiment are combined. The connector cable of this example allows easy cable routing if types of contacts <NUM> of the connector <NUM> are various and a plurality of types of contacts <NUM> are mixed. This can make the connector cable highly expandable. In addition, direct connection of the inner conductor <NUM> of the shielded cable <NUM> to the contact <NUM> for high-speed signals of the connector <NUM> can reduce transmission loss on the relay substrate <NUM>. At the same time, making the relay substrate <NUM> smaller in the depth direction can bring about an effect of expanding the applicable range and reducing the cost.

The example shown in <FIG> is an example in which the connector cable <NUM> of the third embodiment and the connector cable <NUM> of the fifth embodiment are combined. The connector cable of this example can obtain the same effect as that of the example shown in <FIG>. Additionally, if the contact <NUM> of the connector <NUM> is displaced in the vertical direction, for example, the substrate cut-out region <NUM> facilitates correcting the position of the contact <NUM> for high-speed signals and the inner conductor <NUM>, which leads to an advantage of high degree of freedom in connection. Further, adjusting the shape of the contact <NUM> for high-speed signals and the substrate cut-out region <NUM> can adjust impedance matching.

Claim 1:
A connector cable (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a connector (<NUM>);
a shielded cable (<NUM>); and
a relay substrate (<NUM>), the connector (<NUM>) and the shielded cable (<NUM>) being connected via the relay substrate (<NUM>),
wherein: the shielded cable (<NUM>) includes at least an inner conductor (<NUM>), a dielectric (<NUM>) covering the inner conductor (<NUM>), and a shield member (<NUM>) covering the dielectric (<NUM>);
the inner conductor (<NUM>) includes a connection part at a part where the shield member (<NUM>) and the dielectric (<NUM>) are removed to expose the inner conductor (<NUM>), the connection part directly contacting a contact (<NUM>) of the connector (<NUM>) to be electrically connected to the connector (<NUM>);
at least directly under a part where the shield member (<NUM>) is removed to expose the dielectric (<NUM>), a ground conductor layer (<NUM>) on a front surface of the relay substrate (<NUM>) is arranged; and
the ground conductor layer (<NUM>) on the front surface of the relay substrate (<NUM>), which is arranged directly under the part where the shield member (<NUM>) is removed, is covered with an insulating member (<NUM>),
wherein the connection part between the contact (<NUM>) of the connector (<NUM>) and the exposed inner conductor (<NUM>) of the shielded cable (<NUM>) is connected by soldering, and
the relay substrate (<NUM>) is cut out at a part directly under the contact (<NUM>) of the connector (<NUM>) and the exposed inner conductor (<NUM>) of the shielded cable (<NUM>) for forming a cut-out region where the relay substrate (<NUM>) including the ground conductor layer (<NUM>) is absent.