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(11) | EP 4 391 247 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | CABLE CONNECTOR |
| (57) A cable connector has a metal housing, a cable, a receptacle, and an inner metal
shielding element accommodated in the metal housing from front to rear. Two inner
conductors, two dielectric layers, and an outer conductor are exposed from a front
section of the cable and from front to rear. The front section of the cable is mounted
in the metal housing. The inner conductors are mounted in the receptacle. The inner
metal shielding element is mounted between the outer conductor and the metal housing.
Thus, the outer conductor, the dielectric layers, and the inner metal shielding element
are fastened in the metal housing. Accordingly, the outer conductor is not folded,
is not mounted around an outer surface of the inner metal shielding element, and still
has a capability for shielding electromagnetic interference. Therefore, the manufacturing
process of the cable connector is simplified and the cost of the cable connector is
reduced.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention is related to an electrical connector, in particular to a cable connector.
2. Description of the Prior Arts
[0002] With reference to Figs. 8A and 8B, a conventional cable connector includes a metal housing 5, a receptacle 6, a cable sleeve 7, and a cable 8. The metal housing 5 includes a rear sleeve portion 50, an indentation ring portion 51, and a front sleeve portion 52 from rear to front. The receptacle 6 is mounted in the front sleeve portion 52. The cable sleeve 7 is a cylinder, is mounted in the rear sleeve portion 50, and has two clampers 70. The clampers 70 extend forward from a front end of the cable sleeve 7. The cable 8 includes an outer insulation jacket 80, an outer conductor 81, two dielectric layers 82, and two inner conductors 83 from outside to inside. A front section of the cable 8 exposes the two inner conductors 83, the two dielectric layers 82, and the outer conductor 81.
[0003] As shown in Fig. 8B, the cable sleeve 7 is first mounted around the outer conductor 81 exposed from the front section of the cable 8. Then, the outer conductor 81 is clamped by the two clampers 70 formed on the front end of the cable sleeve 7. A part of the outer conductor 81 protrudes from the cable sleeve 7 and the clampers 70 thereof. In this case, the outer conductor 81 is longer than the cable sleeve 7. Next, as shown in Fig. 8A, the part of the outer conductor 81 protruding from the cable sleeve 7 is folded outward and backward, is mounted around the cable sleeve 7, and is further mounted in the rear sleeve portion 50 of the metal housing 5. In this case, a distal end 811 of the outer conductor 81 faces toward a rear opening of the rear sleeve portion 50. Additionally, the two exposed dielectric layers 82 are mounted through and are accommodated in the indentation ring portion 51. The two exposed inner conductors 83 are mounted through the receptacle 6 and are fastened in the front sleeve portion 52 together.
[0004] With the foregoing description, to fasten the front section of the cable 8 in the rear sleeve portion 50 of the metal housing 5, the two clampers 70 need to be formed on the cable sleeve 7. Moreover, to fasten the front section of the cable 8, the outer conductor 81 needs to be folded outward and backward along an outside of the cable sleeve 7 mounted therein. Therefore, the structure of the conventional cable connector is complicated. The manufacturing process of the conventional cable connector is complicated which causes an increase of the cost of assembling. Thus, the conventional cable connector needs to be improved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] To achieve the objection mentioned above, the cable connector includes:
a metal housing including a front opening and a rear opening;
a receptacle matchingly accommodated in the metal housing and close to the front opening;
a cable mounted through the rear opening, fastened in the metal housing, and including an outer conductor, two dielectric layers, and two inner conductors from inside to outside, wherein:
the outer conductor has a distal end facing toward the front opening;
the two dielectric layers protrude from the outer conductor and extend toward the receptacle; and
the two inner conductors respectively protrude from the dielectric layers and are mounted in the receptacle; and
an inner metal shielding element accommodated in the metal housing, close to the rear opening and disposed outside the outer conductor and the two dielectric layers of the cable, wherein an outer surface of the inner metal shielding element is abutted against an inner surface of the metal housing.
[0007] With the foregoing description, the inner metal shielding element of the cable connector in accordance with the present invention is mainly matchingly accommodated in the metal housing. The inner metal shielding element is disposed outside the outer conductor and the two dielectric layers. The outer surface of the inner metal shielding element is abutted against the inner surface of the metal housing. Thus, the cable is fastened in the metal housing by the inner metal shielding element. The distal end of the outer conductor faces toward the front opening of the metal housing. Therefore, the outer conductor does not need to be folded outward and backward and is not mounted around an outside of the inner metal shielding element. The outer conductor still has the capability of shielding the electromagnetic interference for the cable fastened in the metal housing. In the manufacturing process of the present invention, the inner metal shielding element is only disposed outside the exposed front section of the cable and the inner metal shielding element. Then, the inner metal shielding element and the front section of the cable are mounted through the rear opening of the metal shell together. The inner metal shielding element is accommodated in and is fastened in the metal shell. Accordingly, the cable connector of the present invention has the advantages of that the structure is simplified, the manufacturing process is simplified, and the cost of assembling is lowered.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008]
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a cable connector in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cable connector in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the A-A line in Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a front view in a partial section of a second embodiment of a cable connector in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 5 is an enlarged top view in a partial section of a second embodiment of the cable connector in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of an inner metal shielding element of a third embodiment of a cable connector in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a side view in a partial section of a fourth embodiment of a cable connector in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 8A is a side view in a partial section of a conventional cable connector; and
Fig. 8B is an enlarged perspective view of the conventional cable connector.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0009] The technical content of the present invention is described in detail with multiple embodiments in conjunction with the drawings.
[0010] With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of the cable connector in accordance with the present invention includes a metal housing 1, a receptacle 2, a cable 3, and an inner metal shielding element 4.
[0011] As shown in Fig. 2, the metal housing 1 has a front opening 1a and a rear opening 1b and includes a sleeve end 10, a main body 11, and a plug end 12 integrally formed along a direction from the front opening 1a to the rear opening 1b. In one embodiment, the sleeve end 10 may be a cylinder but is not limited thereto. A sleeve opening of the sleeve end 10 is regarded as the rear opening 1b of the metal housing 1. In the present embodiment, the main body 11 may roughly be a long-oval cylinder but is not limited thereto. The plug end 12 includes an end body 13, a ring portion 14, and a plurality of elastic elements 15. The end body 13 includes a plurality of first through holes 131a and a plurality of second through holes 131b. In the present embodiment, the end body 13 may be a long-oval cylinder same as the main body 11 and has a top wall, a bottom wall, and two opposite sidewalls. Two first through holes 131a are respectively formed through the top wall and the bottom wall of the end body 13. Two second through holes 131b are respectively formed through the two sidewalls of the end body 13. A width of each first through hole 131a may be greater than a width of each second through hole 131b but is not limited thereto. In one embodiment, the ring portion 14 extends from the end body 13 so that a plug opening of the ring portion 14 is regarded as the front opening 1a of the metal housing 1. In the present embodiment, the ring portion 14 extends forward and inward from the end body 13. The elastic elements 15 respectively correspond to the first and second through holes 131a and 131b and extend backward from the ring portion 14. Thus, a distal end of each elastic element 15 extends away from the ring portion 14. In the present embodiment, two of the elastic elements 15 are separated from each other, correspond to the wider first through hole 131a formed through the top wall of the end body 13, and extend backward from a distal edge of a top wall of the ring portion 14. Another two of the elastic elements 15 are separated from each other, correspond to the wider first through hole 131a formed through the bottom wall of the end body 13, and extend backward from a distal edge of a bottom wall of the ring portion 14. The other two of the elastic elements 15 respectively correspond to the narrower two second through holes 131b and respectively extend backward from two distal edges of two sidewalls of the ring portion 14. The amount and the position of the elastic elements 15 are not limited to the amount and the position thereof as described above. In the present embodiment, each elastic element 15 may have a convex portion 151 extending outward from the distal end of the corresponding elastic element 15 and protruding out of the metal housing 10. The convex portion 151 may be arc-shaped.
[0012] With reference to Figs. 2 and 3, in one embodiment, the receptacle 2 is matchingly accommodated in the metal housing 1 and is close to the front opening 1a. In the present embodiment, the receptacle 2 is accommodated in the main body 11 of the metal housing 1 and the end body 13 of the plug end 12. Two inner conductor terminals 20 are mounted through the receptacle 2 from front to rear. Each inner conductor terminal 20 may be a hollow terminal. In one embodiment, the receptacle 2 may include two accommodating channels 21 formed through the first insulator 2 from front to rear and spaced apart from each other. The inner conductor terminals 20 are respectively mounted through and accommodated in the accommodating channels 21.
[0013] As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in one embodiment, a front section of the cable 3 is mounted through the rear opening 1b and is fastened in the metal housing 1. The cable 3 includes an outer insulation jacket 30, an outer conductor 31, a metal foil 32, two dielectric layers 33, and two inner conductors 34 from outside to inside. The two inner conductors 34, the two dielectric layers 33, the metal foil 32, the outer conductor 31, and the outer insulation jacket 30 are exposed from the front section of the cable 3 and from front to rear in sequence. A distance is defined between the outer insulation jacket 30 and the receptacle 2. In one embodiment, the outer conductor 31 and the metal foil 32 protrude from the outer insulation jacket 30. The outer conductor 31 has a distal end 311 faces toward the front opening 1a. The distal end 311 of the outer conductor 31 is flush with a distal end of the metal foil 32. The two dielectric layers 33 protrude from the outer conductor 31 and the metal foil 32 and extend toward the receptacle 2. The two inner conductors 34 respectively protrude from the corresponding dielectric layer 33. In the present embodiment, the front section of the cable 3 passes through the sleeve end 10 of the metal housing 1. An outer surface of the outer insulation jacket 30 is abutted against an inner surface of the sleeve end 10. The two inner conductors 34, the two dielectric layers 33, the metal foil 32, and the outer conductor 31 pass through the rear opening 1b and the sleeve end 10 and are located in the main body 11. A gap is defined between the outer conductor 31 and the first inner surface 111 of the main body 11. Thus, an interval is defined between the two dielectric layers 33 and the first inner surface 111 of the main body 11. Two parts of the two dielectric layers 33 which are wrapped by the outer conductor 31 and the metal foil 32 are arranged side by side. The two inner conductors 34 are mounted in the receptacle 2 to be respectively connected to the two inner conductor terminals 20. Furthermore, since the two accommodating channels 21 of the receptacle 2 are spaced apart from each other, the two dielectric layers 33 are gradually away from each other along the direction from the outer conductor 31 to the receptacle 2.
[0014] In one embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, the inner metal shielding element 4 is accommodated in the metal housing 1 and is disposed outside the outer conductor 31 and the two dielectric layers 33. The inner metal shielding element 4 has a second inner surface 41 and an outer surface 42. In this case, the distal end 311 of the outer conductor 31, the metal foil 32, and the two dielectric layers 33 are fastened together in the metal housing 1 by the inner metal shielding element 4. The outer surface 42 of the inner metal shielding element 4 is abutted against an inner surface of the metal housing 1. In the present embodiment, the inner metal shielding element 4 is matchingly accommodated in the main body 11 of the metal housing 1. The inner metal shielding element 4 may be sleeve-shaped to be mounted around the outer conductor 31. Thus, the inner metal shielding element 4 is located in the gap defined between the outer conductor 31 and the first inner surface 111 of the main body 11 and the interval defined between the two dielectric layers 33 and the first inner surface 111 of the main body 11. Furthermore, the second inner surface 41 of the inner metal shielding element 4 may firmly contact the outer surface of the outer conductor 31 so that the distal end 311 of the outer conductor 31 faces toward the front opening 1a of the metal housing 1. Therefore, the outer conductor 31 is not folded outward and backward and is not mounted around the outer surface 42 of the inner metal shielding element 4. Since the outer surface 42 is abutted against the first inner surface 111 of the main body 11, the main body 11 of the metal housing 1, the outer conductor 31 of the cable 3, and the inner metal shielding element 4 are electrically connected. Therefore, the noise generated from the external electromagnetic interference may be conducted away from the cable connector. In the present embodiment, the inner metal shielding element 4 may include a first end 4a and a second end 4b opposite to each other. The first end 4a of the inner metal shielding element 4 faces toward the front opening 1a of the metal housing 1 and is close to the receptacle 2. The second end 4b of the inner metal shielding element 4 faces toward the rear opening 1b of the metal housing 1 and may be further abutted against the outer insulation jacket 30. The two dielectric layers 33 protruding from the outer conductor 31 are gradually away from each other along a direction from the outer conductor 31 to the receptacle 2 and do not contact with each other. A width of a first opening 401 formed on the first end 4a is greater than a second opening 402 formed on the second end 4b. Furthermore, a thickness of a second inner surface part 411 of the inner metal shielding element 4 close to the first opening 401 of the first end 4a is gradually reduced corresponding to the two dielectric layers 33 away from each other. In one embodiment, at least one pressing sheet 110 may be formed on the main body 11 corresponding to the outer surface 42 of the inner metal shielding element 4. The as least one pressing sheet 110 is abutted against and firmly contacts with the outer surface 42 of the inner metal shielding element 4 to stabilize the electrical connection between the metal housing 1 and the inner metal shielding element 4.
[0015] With reference to Figs. 4 and 5, a second embodiment of a cable connector in accordance with the present invention is shown and similar to the cable connector shown in Fig. 3. In the second embodiment, an inner metal shielding element 4' further includes a divider 43. The divider 43 is vertically arranged between the two dielectric layers 33 in the inner metal shielding element 4' to separate the two dielectric layers 33. Furthermore, two ends of the divider 43 may be integrally connected to the inner metal shielding element 4'. In one embodiment, the divider 43 may be vertically arranged at a central position of the first end 4a near the first opening 401. The two dielectric layers 33 are gradually away from each other and are separated by the divider 43. Therefore, a thickness of the divider 43 gradually increases from rear to front.
[0016] With reference to Fig. 6, a third embodiment of a cable connector in accordance with the present invention is shown. In the third embodiment, an inner metal shielding element 4" includes two half-shielding elements 45. The half-shielding elements 45 are combined with each other and the half-shielding elements 45 have the same structure. Since the half-shielding elements 45 have the same structure, the structure of one of the half-shielding elements 45 is introduced as follows. The half-shielding element 45 includes a top plate 450 and two side plates 451. The top plate 450 has two opposite sides, and each side has a bottom surface. The two side plates 451 respectively and integrally extend downward from the two bottom surfaces of the sides of the top plate 450. Therefore, after the two half-shielding elements 45 are combined with each other, the inner metal shielding element 4" may be sleeve-shaped. In one embodiment, the inner metal shielding element 4" may further have a divider. Specifically, each top plate 450 may have a dividing element 452. Each dividing element 452 is integrally formed on the corresponding top plate 450. Each dividing element 452 extends downward from a bottom surface of a first end 4a' of the corresponding top plate 450. In one embodiment, each dividing element 452 may be formed on a central position of the bottom surface of the first end 4a' but is not limited thereto. Therefore, after the two half-shielding elements 45 are combined up and down, the two dividing elements 452 are located between the two dielectric layers 33. In the present embodiment, the two dielectric layers 33 gradually away from each other are separated by the two dividing elements 452. The front section of the cable 3 is fastened in the metal housing 1 by the inner metal shielding element 4". Furthermore, the dividing element 452 may only integrally extend downward from the central position of the bottom surface of the top plates 450 of one of the half-shielding elements 45. In this case, the two dielectric layers 33 may also be separated. In the present embodiment, to combine and fix the two half-shielding elements 45 with each other, each side plate 451 of each half-shielding element 45 may include a combining post 453 and a combining hole 454. The combining post 453 protrudes from each side plate 451 of each half-shielding element 45. The combining hole 454 is concavely formed on each side plate 451 of each half-shielding element 45. The combining posts 453 of one of the half-shielding elements 45 are combined with the corresponding combining holes 454 of another half-shielding element 45.
[0017] With further reference to Fig. 7, a fourth embodiment of a cable connector in accordance with the present invention is shown. In the fourth embodiment, an inner metal shielding element 4c is mounted between an upper side of the outer conductor 31 and the main body 11 of the metal housing 1. The inner metal shielding element 4c includes a top plate 450 and two side plates 451. The top plate 450 has two opposite sides, and each side has a bottom surface. The two side plates 451 respectively and integrally extend downward from the two bottom surfaces of the sides of the top plate 450. Specifically, the top plate 450 may have a dividing element 452. The dividing element 452 extends downward from a bottom surface of a first end 4a" of the corresponding top plate 450. The dividing element 452 is arranged between the two dielectric layers 33 gradually away from each other. The two dielectric layers 33 are separated by the dividing element 452. In another embodiment, the inner metal shielding element 4c may be mounted between a lower side of the outer conductor 31 and the main body 11 of the metal housing 1.
[0018] With the foregoing description, the inner metal shielding element is disposed outside the outer conductor and the two dielectric layers by matchingly accommodated in the metal housing. The outer surface of the inner metal shielding element is abutted against the inner surface of the metal housing. Thus, the cable is fastened in the metal housing by the inner metal shielding element. The distal end of the outer conductor faces toward the front opening of the metal housing. Namely, the outer conductor does not need to be folded outward and backward and is not mounted around an outside of the inner metal shielding element. The outer conductor still has the capability of shielding the electromagnetic interference for the cable fastened in the metal housing. In the manufacturing process of the present invention, the inner metal shielding element is only disposed outside the exposed front section of the cable and the inner metal shielding element. Then, the inner metal shielding element and the front section of the cable are mounted through the rear opening of the metal shell together. The inner metal shielding element is accommodated in and is fastened in the metal shell. Accordingly, the cable connector of the present invention has the advantages of that the structure is simplified, the manufacturing process is simplified, and the cost of assembling is lowered.
[0019] Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
a metal housing comprising a front opening and a rear opening;
a receptacle matchingly accommodated in the metal housing and close to the front opening;
a cable mounted through the rear opening, fastened in the metal housing, and comprising an outer conductor, two dielectric layers, and two inner conductors from inside to outside, wherein:
the outer conductor has a distal end facing toward the front opening;
the two dielectric layers protrude from the outer conductor and extend toward the receptacle; and
the two inner conductors respectively protrude from the dielectric layers and are mounted in the receptacle; and
an inner metal shielding element accommodated in the metal housing, close to the rear opening and disposed outside the outer conductor and the two dielectric layers of the cable, wherein an outer surface of the inner metal shielding element is abutted against an inner surface of the metal housing.
a first opening facing toward the front opening of the metal housing and close to the receptacle; and
a second opening facing toward the rear opening of the metal housing.
the two dielectric layers protruding from the outer conductor are gradually away from each other along a direction from the outer conductor to the receptacle;
a width of the first opening is greater than a width of the second opening; and
a thickness of a second inner surface part of the inner metal shielding element close to the first opening of the first end is reduced corresponding to the two dielectric layers away from each other.
a top plate having two opposite sides; and
two side plates respectively integrally extending downward from a bottom surface of the two sides of the top plate.
the first and the second shielding elements have the same structure; and
each first and second shielding element have a dividing element integrally formed and located between the two dielectric layers.
the metal housing comprises a sleeve end, a main body, and a plug end integrally formed from rear to front, wherein:
the sleeve end of the metal housing is a cylinder;
the main body of the metal housing is a long-oval cylinder, and the inner metal shielding element is matchingly accommodated in the main body of the metal housing, wherein at least one pressing sheet is formed on the main body corresponding to the outer surface of the inner metal shielding element; and
an end body of the plug end of the metal housing is a long-oval cylinder same as the main body; and
the two inner conductors, the two dielectric layers, and the outer conductor pass through the rear opening and the sleeve end of the metal housing and are located in the main body.
a ring portion extending forward from the end body and, wherein a plug opening of the ring portion is regarded as the front opening of the metal housing;
a plurality of through holes formed through the end body; and
a plurality of elastic elements respectively corresponding to the through holes and integrally extending backward from the ring portion of the end body.
the cable further comprises:
an outer insulation jacket mounted around the outer conductor, matchingly mounted in the sleeve end of the metal housing, and a distance is defined between the outer insulation jacket and the receptacle, wherein the outer conductor protrudes from the outer insulation jacket; and
a metal foil mounted between the outer conductor and the two dielectric layers and having a distal end flush with the distal end of the outer conductor, wherein the two dielectric layers protrude from the outer conductor and the metal foil; and
an end of the inner metal shielding element is abutted against the outer insulation jacket.
the ring portion of the plug end extends forward and inward from the end body; and
each elastic element has a convex portion extending outward from the distal end of the corresponding elastic element and protruding out of the metal housing.