Patent ID: 12261398

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.

Description of Embodiments of Present Disclosure

First, embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and described.

(1) The shield connector of the present disclosure is provided with a dielectric including a plurality of accommodation chambers defined in a width direction by a separation wall portion, and a plurality of inner conductors having a shape elongated in a front-rear direction, the plurality of inner conductors being individually accommodated in parallel in the plurality of accommodation chambers, the separation wall portion being formed with an opening for interposing an air layer between the accommodation chambers adjacent via the separation wall portion. According to the configuration of the present disclosure, impedance is increased by the air layer in the opening in a region where the opening is formed in a length direction of the inner conductor, out of a transmission line constituted by the inner conductor. Impedance mismatching in the transmission line constituted by the inner conductor can be reduced by arranging the opening in accordance with a region of the inner conductor where metal parts are concentrated.

(2) Preferably, the inner conductor is made of a metal plate material, a rectangular tube portion is formed in a front end part of the inner conductor in a length direction, a tab of a mating inner conductor being inserted into the rectangular tube portion, a resilient contact piece to be resiliently brought into contact with the tab is accommodated in the rectangular tube portion, and a formation region of the opening includes at least a part of a formation region of the resilient contact piece in the length direction of the inner conductor. According to this configuration, since four plate portions made of metal and the tab made of metal are arranged in a concentrated manner in addition to the resilient contact piece made of metal in the region where the resilient contact piece is accommodated, there is a concern that impedance is reduced. However, in the length direction of the inner conductor, the air layer in the opening is present in the formation region of the resilient contact piece and this air layer is arranged adjacent to the formation region of the resilient contact piece. In this way, impedance in the formation region of the resilient contact piece, out of the transmission line constituted by the inner conductor, can be increased.

(3) Preferably, the inner conductor is made of a metal plate material, a crimping portion to be crimped to a core wire of a wire is formed in a rear end part of the inner conductor in a length direction, and a formation region of the opening includes at least a part of a formation region of the crimping portion in the length direction of the inner conductor. According to this configuration, since the core wire having a diameter larger than a plate thickness of the crimping portion is arranged in a concentrated manner in addition to the crimping portion made of metal in a region where the crimping portion is formed, there is a concern that impedance is reduced. However, in the length direction of the inner conductor, the air layer in the opening is present in the formation region of the crimping portion and this air layer is arranged adjacent to the crimping portion. In this way, impedance in the crimping portion, out of the transmission line constituted by the inner conductor, can be increased.

(4) Preferably, the dielectric includes a pair of cases united in a direction orthogonal to both a parallel direction of the inner conductors and the length direction of the inner conductors, the pair of cases are formed with a pair of wall constituting portions constituting the separation wall portion by projecting to face each other, and the opening is formed between the wall constituting portion formed on one of the cases and the wall constituting portion formed on the other case. According to this configuration, even if the opening is not open in the outer surface of the dielectric, the opening can be molded.

(5) Preferably, the opening is open in an outer surface of the dielectric. According to this configuration, since a large volume of the opening is secured as compared to the case where an opening region of the opening is limited within a range facing the accommodation chambers, an effect of increasing impedance is excellent.

(6) Preferably, the opening is open over an entire region of the accommodation chambers in a height direction, and parts of the separation wall portion in front of and behind the opening are present over the entire region of the accommodation chambers in the height direction. According to this configuration, a displacement of the separation wall portion in the width direction can be restricted and the inner conductors accommodated in the accommodation chambers can be positioned in the width direction on both front and rear sides of the opening.

Details of Embodiment of Present Disclosure

Embodiment

A specific embodiment of the present disclosure is described below with reference toFIGS.1to6. 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. In this embodiment, a left side inFIGS.1and2, an oblique left upper side inFIG.5and an oblique left lower side inFIG.6are defined as a front side concerning a front-rear direction. Upper and lower sides shown inFIGS.1to6are directly defined as upper and lower sides concerning a vertical direction. Left and right sides shown inFIGS.3and4are directly defined as left and right sides concerning a lateral direction.

A shield connector of this embodiment is, as shown inFIG.1, provided with a housing10and a shield terminal20fixed to a front end part of a shielded cable11. The shield terminal20is accommodated in the housing10made of synthetic resin. The shielded cable11is a STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) cable and includes two coated wires12, a shield layer15formed by a braided wire, and a sheath16. Front end parts of the two coated wires12extend forward from the front end of the sheath16. A front end part of the shield layer15is folded rearward to surround the outer peripheral surface of the sheath16.

The shield terminal20is configured by assembling a pair of inner conductors21, a dielectric40for accommodating the pair of inner conductors21and an outer conductor35for surrounding the dielectric40. The inner conductor21is formed into a shape elongated in the front-rear direction by applying bending and the like to a metal plate material. A rectangular tube portion22is formed in a part from the front end of the inner conductor21to a central part in the front-rear direction of the inner conductor21. As shown inFIGS.2and3, the rectangular tube portion22includes a lower plate portion23, a pair of left and right side plate portions24extending upward from both left and right side edges of the lower plate portion23and an upper plate portion25. The upper plate portion25is composed of an inner plate portion26extending from the upper end edge of one side plate portion24and an outer plate portion27extending from the upper end edge of the other side plate portion24and laid on the outer surface of the inner plate portion26.

A resilient contact piece28is accommodated in the rectangular tube portion22. The resilient contact piece28is formed by folding a strip-like part extending from the front end edge of the inner plate portion26rearward. The resilient contact piece28has a chevron shape in a side view. As shown inFIG.2, a tab65of a mating inner conductor (not shown) is inserted into the rectangular tube portion22. The resilient contact piece28resiliently contacts the inserted tab65.

A crimping portion29of the inner conductor21extends rearward from the rear end of the rectangular tube portion22. The crimping portion29includes a wire barrel portion30in the form of an open barrel and an insulation barrel portion31in the form of an open barrel. The wire barrel portion30is crimped to the outer peripheral surface of a core wire13of the coated wire12. The insulation barrel portion31is crimped to the outer peripheral surface of an insulation coating14of the coated wire12.

The outer conductor35is formed by assembling a crimping member37with a shield member36in the form of a rectangular tube. The shield member36is assembled with the dielectric40while surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the dielectric40over an entire periphery. The crimping member37is connected to the front end part of the shield layer15by crimping.

The front end part of the shielded cable11and a rear end part of the shield terminal20are connected by fixing the coated wires12and the inner conductors21and fixing the outer conductor35and the shield layer15. The shielded cable11and the shield terminal20constitute a differential transmission line for high speed communication.

The dielectric40is made of synthetic resin and, as shown inFIGS.1to4, configured by vertically uniting the upper case41and the lower case42. As shown inFIGS.3and4, with the upper case41and the lower case42united, a pair of left and right accommodation chambers44defined by a separation wall portion43are formed inside the dielectric40. The inner conductors21are accommodated in the accommodation chambers44.

As shown inFIG.5, the upper case41is a single component including an upper wall portion45, a front wall portion46, a pair of left and right upper front side wall portions47, a pair of left and right upper rear side wall portions48and an upper wall constituting portion49. The front wall portion46is formed with a pair of left and right insertion holes50. The upper front side wall portions47project downward from front end parts of both left and right side edges of the upper wall portion45. The upper front side wall portions47are connected to the front wall portion46. The upper rear side wall portions48project downward from positions near rear ends on the both left and right side edges of the upper wall portion45.

The upper wall constituting portion49includes a front partitioning portion51and a rear partitioning portion52extending in the front-rear direction. The front partitioning portion51projects downward from a front end part in a laterally central part of the upper wall portion45. The front partitioning portion51is connected to the front wall portion46. The rear partitioning portion52is arranged behind the front partitioning portion51and projects downward from the laterally central part of the upper wall portion45. A space between the rear end edge of the front partitioning portion51and the front end edge of the rear partitioning portion52functions as a front opening53. The upper end of the front opening53is open in the upper surface (outer surface) of the upper wall portion45. The rear partitioning portion52is formed with a trapezoidal cut portion54by recessing a lower end edge part of the rear partitioning portion52upward. Positioning recesses55are formed in the lower end surface of the front partitioning portion51and the lower end surface of a front end part of the rear partitioning portion52.

As shown inFIG.6, the lower case42is a single component including a bottom wall portion56, a pair of left and right lower side wall portions57, a positioning rib58and a lower wall constituting portion59. The pair of lower side wall portions57are arranged at positions behind a center in the front-rear direction of the bottom wall portion56and project upward from both left and right side edges of the bottom wall portion56. The positioning rib58is shaped to project upward from a laterally central part of the bottom wall portion56and be elongated in the front-rear direction. A formation range of the positioning rib58in the front-rear direction is a region from the front end of the bottom wall portion56to a central part in the front-rear direction of the bottom wall portion56.

The lower wall constituting portion59is elongated in the front-rear direction and rises upward from the laterally central part of the bottom wall portion56. The front end of the lower wall constituting portion59and the rear end of the positioning rib58are connected. A formation range of the lower wall constituting portion59in the front-rear direction is a region from the central part in the front-rear direction of the bottom wall portion56to a position in front of the rear end of the bottom wall portion56. In the front-rear direction, the formation range of the lower wall constituting portion59is the same as that of the cut portion54of the upper wall constituting portion49. In the lateral direction, a formation range of the lower wall constituting portion59is the same as that of the cut portion54of the upper wall constituting portion49. In a side view of the dielectric40viewed in parallel to an arrangement direction of the accommodation chambers44, the lower wall constituting portion59has a trapezoidal shape, similarly to the cut portion54.

With the upper case41and the lower case42united and the dielectric40assembled, the upper wall portion45and the bottom wall portion56are facing in parallel to each other, and both left and right outer wall portions of the dielectric40are constituted by the upper front side wall portions47, the upper rear side wall portions48and the lower side wall portions57. The lower end surface of the front partitioning portion51is facing in proximity to or in contact with the upper surface of the bottom wall portion56. The lower end surfaces of parts in front of and behind the cut portion54, out of the rear partitioning portion52, are facing in proximity to or in contact with the upper surface of the bottom wall portion56. The lower wall constituting portion59is accommodated in the cut portion54of the upper wall constituting portion49. The positioning recesses55of the front and rear partitioning portions51,52are fit to the positioning rib58.

The separation wall portion43for defining the pair of accommodation chambers44are constituted by the upper wall constituting portion49and the lower wall constituting portion59. A formation range of the separation wall portion43is a region from the front end of the front partitioning portion51to the rear end of the rear partitioning portion52. In the formation range of the separation wall portion43, the front opening53and a rear opening60for allowing communication between the pair of accommodation chambers44are provided. The rear opening60is arranged at a position behind the front opening53. The front and rear openings53,60are spaces for securing air layers between the pair of accommodation chambers44.

The front opening53is a space formed in the upper wall constituting portion49. In a side view of the shield terminal20viewed from the arrangement direction of the pair of accommodation chambers44, the front opening53has a rectangular opening shape. An opening range of the front opening53in a height direction in the accommodation chambers44is a range larger than total height regions of the separation wall portion43and the accommodation chambers44. Since the upper end of the front opening53is open in the outer surface of the dielectric40, a height of the air layer constituted by the front opening53is higher than an opening height of the front opening53in the accommodation chambers44.

As shown inFIG.2, an opening range (presence range of the air layer) in the front-rear direction of the front opening53includes a part of a region where the rectangular tube portions22and the resilient contact pieces28of the inner conductors21and the tabs65inserted in the rectangular tube portions22are present. An opening range (presence range of the air layer) in the height direction of the front opening53is a region expanded further in both upward and downward directions than the total height range of the rectangular tube portions22.

Since the region where the resilient contact piece28and the tab65are accommodated in the rectangular tube portion22, out of a transmission line constituted by the inner conductor21, is a metal concentrated region where a plurality of metal members are proximately arranged, there is a concern that impedance is reduced. However, since the air layer secured by the front opening53is interposed between two metal concentrated regions, impedance is not excessively reduced.

The rear opening60is a slit-like space formed between the trapezoidal cut portion54of the upper wall constituting portion49and a trapezoidal upper edge part of the lower wall constituting portion59. In a side view, the rear opening60has a shape bent along an upper base and a pair of legs of a trapezoid. An opening area of the rear opening60in the accommodation chambers44is smaller than that of the front opening53in the accommodation chambers44.

As shown inFIG.2, an opening range (presence range of the air layer) in the front-rear direction of the rear opening60is set as a region including a part where the wire barrel portions30of the crimping portions29and the core wires13of the shielded cable11are connected by crimping. An opening range (presence range of the air layer) in the height direction of the rear opening60is set as a region including connected parts of the wire barrel portions30and the core wires13.

Since a region where the wire barrel portion30and the core wire13are connected, out of the transmission line constituted by the inner conductor21, is a metal concentrated region where a plurality of metal members are proximately arranged, there is a concern that impedance is reduced. However, since the air layer secured by the rear opening60is interposed between two metal concentrated regions, impedance is not excessively reduced.

Since a metal amount is less in the connection region of the wire barrel portion30and the core wire13than in the region where the resilient contact piece28and the tab65are accommodated in the rectangular tube portion22, the opening area of the rear opening60is set smaller than that of the front opening53. As just described, impedance is increased by the air layers secured by the front and rear openings53,60in the regions with a high metal concentration. In this way, an impedance difference between the regions with a low metal concentration and the regions with a high metal concentration is suppressed low and impedance matching is achieved.

The shield connector of this embodiment includes the dielectric40and a plurality of the inner conductors21. The dielectric40includes a plurality of the accommodation chambers44defined in the width direction by the separation wall portion43. The inner conductor21has a shape elongated in the front-rear direction. The plurality of inner conductors21are individually accommodated in parallel in the plurality of accommodation chambers44. The separation wall portion43is formed with the front and rear openings53,60. The front and rear openings53,60are spaces for interposing the air layers between the accommodation chambers44adjacent via the separation wall portion43.

According to this configuration, impedance is increased by the air layers in the front and rear openings53,60in the region where the front opening53is formed and the region where the rear opening60is formed in a length direction of the inner conductor21, out of the transmission line constituted by the inner conductor21. Since the front and rear openings53,60are arranged in accordance with the concentrated regions of the metal parts in the inner conductor21, impedance mismatching of the transmission line constituted by the inner conductor21can be reduced.

The inner conductor21is made of a metal plate material. A front end part of the inner conductor21in the length direction is formed with the rectangular tube portion22, into which the tab65of the mating inner conductor (not shown) is inserted. The resilient contact piece28to be resiliently brought into contact with the tab65is accommodated in the rectangular tube portion22. Since the four plate portions23to27made of metal and the tab65made of metal are arranged in a concentrated manner in addition to the resilient contact piece28made of metal in the region where the resilient contact piece28is accommodated, there is a concern that impedance is reduced. As a countermeasure against this, a formation region of the front opening53is set to include at least a part of a formation region of the resilient contact piece28in the length direction of the inner conductor21. In the length direction of the inner conductor21, the air layer in the front opening53is present in the formation region of the resilient contact piece28and this air layer is arranged adjacent to the formation region of the resilient contact piece28. In this way, impedance in the formation region of the resilient contact piece28, out of the transmission line constituted by the inner conductor21, can be increased.

The crimping portion29to be crimped to the core wire13of the coated wire12is formed in a rear end part of the inner conductor21in the length direction. Since the core wire13having the diameter larger than the plate thickness of the crimping portion29is arranged in a concentrated manner in addition to the crimping portion29made of metal in the region where the crimping portion29is formed, there is a concern that impedance is reduced. As a countermeasure against this, a formation region of the rear opening60is set to include at least a part of a formation region of the crimping portion29in the length direction of the inner conductor21. In the length direction of the inner conductor21, the air layer in the rear opening60is present in the formation region of the crimping portion29and this air layer is arranged adjacent to the crimping portion29. In this way, impedance in the crimping portion29, out of the transmission line constituted by the inner conductor21, can be increased.

The dielectric40includes the upper case41and the lower case42united in the vertical direction. A uniting direction of the upper case41and the lower case42is a direction orthogonal to both a parallel direction of the pair of inner conductors21and the length direction of the inner conductors21. The upper case41is formed with the upper wall constituting portion49, and the lower case42is formed with the lower wall constituting portion59. The upper and lower wall constituting portions49,59project to face each other and constitute the separation wall portion43. The rear opening60is formed between the upper wall constituting portion49formed on the upper case41and the lower wall constituting portion59formed on the lower case42. The rear opening60is not open in the outer surface of the dielectric40, but can be molded.

The front opening53is open in the outer surface of the dielectric40. According to this configuration, a large volume of the front opening53is secured as compared to the case where the opening region of the front opening53is limited within a range facing the accommodation chambers44. Thus, an effect of increasing impedance is excellent.

The front opening53is open over an entire region of the accommodation chambers44in the height direction. Parts of the separation wall portions43in front of and behind the front opening53, i.e. the front end part of the rear partitioning portion52and the front partitioning portion51, are present over the entire region of the accommodation chambers44in the height direction. According to this configuration, a displacement of the separation wall portion43in the width direction can be restricted and the inner conductors21accommodated in the accommodation chambers44can be positioned in the width direction on both front and rear sides of the front opening53.

Other Embodiments

Although the dielectric is configured by uniting the pair of cases in the above embodiment, the dielectric may be a single component. In this case, if an opening is open in the outer surface of the dielectric, the opening can be molded.

Although two openings are formed in one separation wall portion in the above embodiment, the number of opening(s) may be one, three or more.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.