[0001] The present invention relates to providing a method as well as a pin and socket connector
capable of providing a connector in a daisy chain configuration on a cable and, in
particular, to a method as well as a pin and socket connector capable of terminating
either conductors of a multiconductor flat cable, or conductors of a multiple conductor
round cable, to the pin and socket type connector in a daisy chain configuration.
[0002] Connectors for terminating a flat ribbon cable in a daisy chain configuration are
known. Typical connectors for terminating a ribbon style cable in a daisy chain configuration
are shown in U.S. Patents 4,068,912, 4,410,229 and 4,668,039. These connectors are
designed to terminate ribbon cable to a connector having receptacle contacts for reception
on a corresponding array of square posts.
[0003] A pin and socket connector is disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,062,616, 4,241,970
and RE 32,439 capable of terminating a flat ribbon cable in a daisy chain configuration.
These patents disclose connectors having contacts that terminate to a single array
of conductors which permits a ribbon cable to be terminated to contacts secured in
the connector, then pass through the connector to continue in the daisy chain configuration.
High density connectors, such as the AMPLIMITE .050 Series connector sold by the assignee,
typically have contacts with insulation displacement cable terminating sections in
two, oppositely-facing arrays which do not permit terminating a ribbon cable in the
manner of the connectors disclosed in the above patents.
[0004] There is disclosed in Japanese patent application 61-074100 a cable for a daisy chain
connector.
[0005] A ribbon cable may be folded over with the conductors of the cable terminated to
two arrays of contacts. A first portion of the conductors of a cable is terminated
in staggered terminals on a first level and the remaining conductors are terminated
to spaced contacts on a second level, as taught by U.S. Patent Number 4,143,935. This
approach, however, is not suited to daisy chain applications as it does not permit
the cable to be received from a previous connector in the daisy chain configuration
at a first side of a terminating connector and pass from a second side of the terminating
connector to a subsequent connector in the daisy chain configuration. Furthermore,
another problem is introduced: the pin assignments between the cable conductor and
contacts is very limited and may not be consistent, depending upon how the conductors
of the folded cable are oriented with respect to the two levels of contacts at each
connector.
[0006] The insulation that interconnects conductors of a ribbon cable is split, parallel
to the axis of the conductors, midway between conductors for a limited length along
the cable. Alternate conductors or groups of conductors, as split out of the cable,
are formed into a first loop, with the remaining alternate conductors or groups of
conductors, as split out of the cable, formed into a second loop. A connector housing
having two arrays of insulation displacing contacts is positioned between the conductors
forming the two loops with the insulation displacing portion of the contacts oriented
to terminate to the conductors forming the loops. A cable terminating cover is inserted
through each of the first and second loops of conductors. The conductors are positioned
in respective fluted recesses in a respective cable terminating cover in accordance
with a desired conductor-to-contact relationship. The cable terminating covers are
positioned with interengaging legs facing each other. The conductors are terminated
to the insulation displacing portion of the contacts in the connector housing by pressing
the cable terminating covers together. Strain relief may be provided.
[0007] In accordance with the invention, an electrical connector assembly for terminating
conductors of a multiconductor cable in a daisy chain configuration is provided. The
connector has a dielectric housing having a mating face and an opposed rear face with
a plurality of contact receiving passages disposed in two rows extending therebetween
with first and second rows of contacts secured therein. The contacts define an axis
and have a mating portion approximate the mating face and a terminating portion extending
beyond the rear face. The terminating portion is formed to be an insulation displacing
plate having a slot therein. The connector has a pair of conductor terminating covers
each adapted to be received adjacent the rear face and to terminate conductors to
the terminating portions of respective contacts of a row of contacts. The conductor
terminating covers have means for securing the covers to the housing. The terminating
covers have a conductor receiving passage adjacent the rear face wherein the conductor
receiving passage is adapted to pass conductors between the rear face of the connector
and a respective terminating cover. The invention also provides a method of terminating
a connector having a housing and a plurality of insulation displacement contacts to
conductors of a multiple conductor cable at a midpoint of the cable. The method of
terminating includes dividing the conductors of a multiple conductor cable into a
preselected first group of conductors and a preselected second group of conductors,
contouring the first group of conductors into a first loop, terminating the first
group of conductors to a first portion of said insulation displacement contacts, contouring
the second group of conductors into a second loop and terminating the second group
of conductors to a second portion of said insulation displacement contacts.
[0008] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
FIGURE 1 is a side sectional view of a connector with backshell and backshell cover
removed in accordance with the present invention, positioned to be terminated on a
ribbon cable or round cable;
FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a ribbon cable showing how the conductors are split out
to form the loops required for daisy chain termination;
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the split cable of Figure 2 having two loops formed
therein;
FIGURE 4 is a sectional side view of the connector of Figure 1 terminated to the cable
in a daisy chain configuration;
FIGURE 5 is a side view of the connector of Figure 4 taken along lines 5-5;
FIGURE 6 is a bottom end view of the connector of Figure 1 taken along lines 6-6;
FIGURE 7 is a top end view of the connector of Figure 1 taken along lines 7-7;
FIGURE 8 shows a series of connectors, such as the connector in Figure 1, terminated
in a daisy chain configuration on a ribbon cable; and
FIGURE 9 is an alternate embodiment showing a series of connectors terminated on a
round multiple conductor cable in a daisy chain configuration.
[0009] Figure 1 depicts a side sectional view of an electrical connector 10 having two arrays
of insulation displacement contacts capable of terminating conductors of a multiple
conductor cable to a pin or socket type connector in a daisy chain configuration in
accordance with the present invention. Connector 10 is an improvement over the connector
disclosed in copending Application Serial No. 090,296 filed August 31, 1987, which
is hereby incorporated by reference. The preferred embodiment shows a shielded plug
connector, however, the invention has application to other connectors such as unshielded
connectors and receptacle connectors. Drawn shell 12 shields tabs 14 of contact 16
and engages shielding of a complementary connector when mated thereto.
[0010] Elongate housing 20 is molded of thermoplastic material having a mating face 22 and
opposing rear face 24 and a plurality of contact receiving passages 26 extending therebetween.
Mating face 22 may provide a polarization feature by having a trapezoidal or subminiature-D
shape. Shell 12 surrounds mating face 22 and conforms to the shape of housing 20.
Shell 12 extends forward of mating face 22 and provides shielding for contacts 16.
Contact receiving passages 26 are arranged in two rows 27,29 and have contacts 16
secured therein. Contacts 16 are secured in contact receiving passages 26 by barbs
28 which plow through the sidewalls of contact receiving passages 26 upon insertion
of contact 16, thereby securing contacts 16 by an interference fit.
[0011] Contact 16 includes central body portion 30 securingly received in contact receiving
passages 26, with a mating portion, shown in the preferred embodiment as tab 14, extending
from a first side thereof. A terminating portion 32 extends from another side of body
portion 30 and has on its free end a slotted insulation displacing plate 34 as is
known in the art. Due to the relatively small size of connector 10 relative to the
centerline spacing of contacts 16, adjacent contacts 16 in each row 27,29 have terminating
portions 32 of different lengths to provide space for insulation displacing plates
34 with the result that insulation displacing plates 34 form two rows 35,37 on each
side of terminal support block 36.
[0012] Terminal support block 36 extends rearward from rear face 24 between the two rows
27,29 of contact receiving passages 26 at least as far as terminating portions 32,
defining surfaces 42,44 and having apertures 38 (see Figure 6) at opposite ends thereof.
Apertures 38 have axes that are parallel with insulation displacing plates 34. Insulation
displacing plates 34 in rows 27 and 29 have conductor receiving slots 40 that are
opposed and open facing away from surfaces 42,44. During termination of conductors
48 to contacts 16, insulation displacing plates 34 bear on respective surfaces 42,44
of block 36.
[0013] An electrical connector 10 in accordance with the present invention may be terminated
to either multiple conductor ribbon cable or multiple conductor round cable. To terminate
connector 10 to a multiple conductor jacketed or shielded cable, the jacket 47 or
shielding 49 are stripped back or removed through the length of limited segment 50.
[0014] To terminate connector 10 to multiple conductor ribbon cable 46 having individual
conductors 48 on spaced centerlines, the insulation between adjacent conductors 48
is first split axially along a limited segment 50 of ribbon cable 46, as best seen
in Figure 4. Typically, a split 49 is made between all adjacent conductors 48 so that
individual conductors 48 may be terminated to specific contacts 16 thereby permitting
a specific conductor-to-contact assignment to be maintained and repeated along the
daisy chain configuration. This also permits terminating a ribbon cable 46 having
conductors 48 on a first spacing to the insulation displacing plate 34 of contacts
16, the slots 40 of which are of a second spacing that may range from greater than
to less than the first spacing.
[0015] Conductors 48 are formed into two loops as shown in Figure 3 through the limited
segment 50 of cable 46. A first loop 52 of conductors is formed of conductors 48a
between the centerline 50c and end 50a of segment 50. A second loop 54 of conductors
is formed of conductors 48b between the centerline 50c and end 50b of segment 50.
Each conductor 48 is typically formed into only one of the two loops 52,54 of conductors;
however, a conductor 48 could be formed into each of loops 52 and 54 and terminated
on a contact 16 in each row of passages 27,29, thus being terminated on both sides
of connector 10 or not terminated on a particular connector thus bypassing it to be
terminated on another connector in a daisy chain configuration.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, every other conductor 48 is formed into loop 52 with the
alternate conductors 48 formed into loop 54. The preferred embodiment thus provides
a very convenient method of terminating ribbon cable with conductors of a first spacing
to contacts having insulation displacing slots of a second spacing where the spacing
of the contacts 16 is twice as great as the spacing of conductors 48 in ribbon cable
46. Thus, as shown in Figure 4, conductors 48a are formed into loop 52 and conductors
48b are formed into loop 54. As conductors 48 are moved out of the plane of ribbon
cable 46, the non-split portions of ribbon cable 46 are pulled, axially along the
conductors, to be closer together. The end result and loops 52,54 are best seen in
Figure 1 with cable terminating covers 56,58 in a pretermination position, and in
Figure 4 with cable terminating covers 56,58 in a terminated position.
[0017] Any combination of dividing the conductors of a multiple conductor cable into a first
group of conductors to form a first loop and a second group of conductors to form
a second loop such that the conductors can continue in a daisy chain configuration
with a predetermined conductor-to-contact assignment or a dressing are contemplated
within the scope of the invention. Although the preferred embodiment discloses forming
every other conductor into a first loop and the alternate conductors into a second
loop, the invention is not limited thereto. For example, in going across a ten conductor
cable, the first, third, fourth, ninth and tenth conductors may be formed into a first
loop while the remaining conductors are formed into a second loop.
[0018] With conductors 48 of a ribbon cable split out or with the outer jacket 47 removed
from a round multiple conductor cable, conductor-to-contact assignments are very flexible
providing a wide range of possible conductor-to-contact assignments. Although in a
ribbon cable application the first conductor 48 in a transverse path across the ribbon
cable is terminated to the first contact 16 in a transverse path across the row 29
of contacts across a surface 42 of terminal support block 36, the third conductor
48 in the transverse path across the ribbon cable (second conductor 48 in loop 52)
is terminated to the second contact 16 in a transverse path across the row of contacts
across a surface 42 of terminal support block 36, the fifth conductor 48 in the transverse
path across the ribbon cable (third conductor in loop 52) is terminated to the third
contact 16 in a transverse path across the row of contacts across a surface 42 of
terminal support block 36, etc. The invention is not limited thereto. Any conductor-to-contact
assignment is contemplated within the invention. The use of a round cable with color
coded insulation on the individual conductors may have some advantage in more complex
conductor-to-contact assignments due to the ease of identifying conductors by the
color code. The conductors of a twisted pair cable can be terminated maintaining the
two conductors of a twisted pair on adjacent contacts.
[0019] With loops 52 and 54 formed, cable terminating covers 56,58 respectively are passed
axially into loops 52 and 54 of conductors 48, and positioned to terminate conductors
48, as shown in Figure 1. Conductors 48 may be fanned out into an organized configuration
that may be replicated in the daisy chain application. The conductors may be maintained
in the configuration at desired spacings by any known method such as an adhesive strip,
heat bonding or chemical bonding of the insulation, or by tooling. Alternatively,
conductors 48 of loops 52,54 may be individually positioned relative to an insulation
displacing plate 34 for termination.
[0020] Cable terminating covers 56,58 may be substantially as disclosed in copending Application
Serial No. 090,296 filed August 31, 1987. Cable terminating covers 56,58 are elongate
having sidewalls 60,62 opposed end walls 64,66, outer surface 68 and inner surface
70, a portion of which may be fluted. Leg means 72,74 extend from inner surface 70
proximate endwalls 64,66, and have aperture means 73,75 adjacent thereto. Cable terminating
covers 56,58, which may be hermaphroditic, have a recess 76 on one of sidewalls 60,62
that defines a conductor receiving passage 78 which permits conductors 48 to pass
between cable terminating covers 56,58, more specifically recess 76, and rear face
24 to continue in the daisy chain configuration. Conductors 64 turn 90 degrees from
passing along surface 70 where they are terminated to pass through passage 78 which
extends perpendicular to surface 70 and parallel to insulating displacing plates 34.
In the preferred embodiment, passage 78 takes the form of notches 80 to aid in positioning
and maintaining conductors 48 prior to, during and subsequent to termination. Passage
78 may take other forms such as a single wide recess for all conductors or a recess
with individual notches per conductor, as shown in Figure 5.
[0021] Conductors 48 are positioned in notch 80, as seen in Figure 6, for an insulation
displacement termination. Cable terminating covers 56,58 may also have channels 82
in outer surface 68 to provide a recess for conductors 48. In this manner, outer surface
68 of terminating covers 56,58 provides a bearing surface on which force is applied
to terminate conductors 48 to contacts 16. Notches 80 provide an avenue for conductors
48 to egress from between terminating covers 56,58 and terminal support block 36 as
well as from between terminating covers 56,58 and rear face 24 so that conductors
48 may continue in the daisy chain configuration. Conductors 48 passing between terminating
covers 56,58 and terminal support block 36 provide strain relief to the termination.
[0022] Leg means 72,74 provide means for securing terminating covers 56,58 to terminal support
block 36 and thus to connector 10. Complementary shaped leg means 72,74 on inner surface
70 of terminating covers 56,58 respectively are axially aligned with apertures 38
as best seen in Figure 1. Thence, terminating covers 56,58 are moved toward terminal
support block 36 in the direction of arrows 84 with legs means 72,74 passing into
apertures 38 in an interference fit, thence into aperture means 73,75 in the other
terminating cover. As the terminating covers 56,58 are pressed toward each other until
seated against respective surfaces 42,44 of terminal support block 36, conductors
48 are terminated by respective insulation displacing plates 34 in both rows of contacts
16. Leg means 72,74 engage sidewalls of apertures 38 as well as a protrusion 86 on
the walls of aperture means 73,75 in the other terminating cover to secure terminating
covers 56,58 in the terminated position.
[0023] In this manner, the interference fit between protrusion 86 and leg means 72,74 in
the terminated position engages protrusion 86 against a surface of leg means 72,74
respectively that was not previously deformed.
[0024] Figure 7 shows a series of connectors 10 terminated in a daisy chain configuration
on a ribbon cable 46. The connectors are shown without backshells and backshell covers,
but could have these features.
[0025] Figure 8 shows a series of connectors 10 terminated in a daisy chain configuration
on a round cable 46. Housing 20 may be secured and partially enclosed in backshell
members 88,90. Backshell members 88,90 may be electrically conductive with drawn shell
12 and shielding 49 as well as shielding on cable 46, if present, to provide a common
ground therebetween. Backshells 88,90 may be as disclosed in Application Serial No.
090,296 having a single cable exit 92 for the cable 46. Alternatively, there may be
a dual cable exit 92, for conductors, as shown in backshell member 88′,90′ in Figure
8. Strain relief is provided to the conductors proximate the cable exit, such as by
strain relief means 94.
1. An electrical connector assembly (10) for terminating conductors (48) of a multiconductor
cable (46) in a daisy chain configuration having a dielectric housing (20) having
a mating face (22) and an opposed rear face (24) with a plurality of contact receiving
passages (26) disposed in two rows extending therebetween with first and second rows
(27,29) of contacts (16) secured therein, said contacts (16) having an axis, a mating
portion (14) proximate said mating face (22) and a terminating portion (32) extending
beyond said rear face (24), said terminating portion (32) formed to be an insulation
displacing plate (34) having a slot (40) therein, and a pair of conductor terminating
covers (56,58), each of said conductor terminating covers (56,58) adapted to be received
adjacent said rear face (24) and to terminate conductors (48) to the terminating portion
(32) of respective contacts (16) of a row of contacts (16), each of said conductor
terminating covers (56,58) having means for securing said cover to said housing (20),
said terminating covers (56,58) characterized by a conductor receiving passage (78)
adjacent said rear face (24) adapted to pass conductors (48) between the rear face
(24) and a respective terminating cover (56,58), whereby when the conductors (48)
of a multiconductor cable (46) are terminated on the contacts (16) of the electrical
connector assembly (20) in a daisy chain configuration, the conductors (48) are received
from a first side of the connector assembly, pass over respective insulation displacing
plates (34) for termination thereto, thence through said conductor receiving passage
(78) to extend from a second side of the connector assembly to another connector in
the daisy chain configuration.
2. An electrical connector assembly (10) as recited in claim 1 further characterized
in that the conductor receiving passage (78) is profiled to align conductors (48)
of the cable (46) with the terminating portion (32) of respective contacts (16).
3. An electrical connector assembly (10) as recited in claim 2 further characterized
in that the surface of a conductor terminating cover (56,58) is fluted to assist in
positioning conductors (48) of the cable (46) at the same spacing as the respective
contacts (16).
4. An electrical connector assembly (10) as recited in claim 1 further characterized
in that the slot (40) in the insulation displacing plate (34) extends normal to the
axis of said contacts (16) with the insulation displacing plate (34) in the first
row (27 or 29) of contacts (16) extending in a first direction and the insulation
displacing plate (34) of the second row (29 or 27) of contacts (16) extending in a
second direction, said second direction opposite to said first direction.
5. An electrical connector assembly (10) as recited in claim 4 further characterized
by a terminal support block (36) extending from the rear face (24) of said housing
(20) between the rows of contacts, said conductor terminating covers (56,58) secured
to said terminal support block (36).
6. An electrical connector assembly (10) as recited in claim 5 further characterized
by a pair of spaced apertures (38) in said terminal support block (36) defining aperture
walls, said cover securing means comprising spaced first leg means (72) having first
aperture means (73) adjacent thereto on a first terminating cover (56), said first
aperture means defining first wall means, spaced second legs (74) means having second
aperture means (75) adjacent thereto on a second terminating cover (58), said second
aperture means defining second wall means, said first leg means (72) adapted to be
received in said pair of spaced apertures (38) at a predetermination position in an
interference fit between a first portion of said first leg means (72) and a first
portion of said aperture walls, said second leg means (74) adapted to be received
in said pair of spaced apertures (38) from an opposed direction from said first leg
means, said second leg means (74) adapted to be received in said pair of spaced apertures
(38) at a predetermined position in an interference fit between a first portion of
said second leg means (74) and a second portion of said aperture walls, said first
leg means (72) adapted to be secured in said spaced apertures at a termination position
with said first leg means (72) extending into said second aperture means (75) in an
interference fit between a second portion of said first leg means (72) and said second
wall means, said second leg means (74) adapted to be secured in said apertures (38)
at a termination position with said second leg means (74) extending into said first
aperture means (73) in an interference fit between a second portion of said second
leg means (74) and said first wall means, said second leg means (74) adapted to be
secured simultaneously with said first leg means (72), whereby when the first and
second terminating covers (56,58) terminate conductors (48) to the terminating portion
of contacts (32) as they move from the pretermination position to the terminated position
with the interference fit that secures the terminating covers in the terminated position
being between a wall means and an area of the respective leg means not previously
deformed by the interference fit that retains the terminating covers in the pretermination
position.
7. A method of terminating a connector having a housing (20), a plurality of insulation
displacement contacts (16) to conductors (48) of a multiple conductor cable (46) at
a midpoint thereof, said method characterized by dividing the conductors (48) of a
multiple conductor cable into a preselected first group (48a) of conductors and a
preselected second group (48b) of conductors, contouring the first group (48a) of
conductors into a first loop (52), and terminating said first group (48a) of conductors
to a first portion of said insulation displacement contacts (16).
8. A method of terminating a connector to conductors of a multiple conductor cable
as recited in claim 7, further characterized by contouring the second group (48b)
of conductors into a second loop (54), and terminating said second group (48b) of
conductors to a second portion of said insulation displacement contacts (16).
9. A method of terminating a connector to conductors of a multiple conductor cable
(46) as noted in claim 7, further characterized by the step of splitting the cable
(46) between adjacent conductors through a limited length (50) of cable (46) prior
to dividing the conductors (48) into first and second groups.
10. A method of terminating a connector to conductors of a multiple conductor cable
(46) as recited in claim 7, where the steps of dividing the conductors into a preselected
first group (48a) of conductors and a preselected second group (48b) of conductors
is characterized by selecting alternate conductors (48) to comprise said first group
(48a) of conductors, and selecting the remaining conductors to comprise said second
group (48b) of conductors.