Connector assembly for attaching a cable to an electrical device
First Claim
1. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
- (a) an electrical cable having at least one cable signal conductor, a dielectric surrounding the cable signal conductor, and a shield surrounding the dielectric;
(b) a cylindrical barrel with an axial bore, a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, a pair of opposed barrel windows, and a pair of opposed pawls extending paraxially from the proximal end, each pawl having a perpendicular pawl finger, and each barrel window having a proximal edge and a sloped edge extending distally from the proximal edge at an angle to a longitudinal edge;
(c) a cylindrical sleeve with an axial bore, a proximal end, and a distal end, sleeve knobs extending radially adjacent to the distal end, and a pair of opposed alignment fingers extending paraxially from the proximal end, the sleeve being within the barrel bore such that the alignment fingers and pawls abut each other longitudinally to form a pair of opposed alignment posts with a circular cross-section and the sleeve knobs rest on the proximal edge of the barrel windows;
(d) a cylindrical interface with a distal face and a proximal face, the interface having a compliant signal contact extending between the distal face and the proximal face for each cable signal conductor, and at least one compliant ground contact extending between the distal face and the proximal face, the interface reciprocating within the axial bore of the sleeve and the axial bore of the sleeve at the proximal end of the sleeve;
(e) an electrically-conductive, cylindrical boss having a distal face, a proximal face, and an axial through hole between the distal face and the proximal face, the cable extending into the distal face with the cable shield electrically attached to the boss and the cable signal conductor and dielectric extending to the proximal face, the boss reciprocating within the axial bore of the sleeve with the boss proximal face abutting the interface distal face so that the signal contact makes electrical contact with the cable signal conductor and the at least one ground contact makes electrical contact with the boss;
(f) a boss spring biasing the boss and interface toward the sleeve proximal end;
(g) a sleeve spring biasing the sleeve toward the barrel proximal end;
(h) a cap with a hole through which the cable extends from the boss, the cap mechanically attached to the barrel distal end to retain the sleeve, interface, boss, boss spring, and sleeve spring within the barrel;
(i) whereby, when the barrel is rotated in a predetermined direction relative to the sleeve from an unattached position to an attached position, the unattached position being when the alignment posts have a circular cross-section and the sleeve knobs rest on the proximal edges of the barrel windows for proper alignment between the barrel and the sleeve, and the attached position being when the pawl fingers no longer form a circular cross-section with the alignment fingers.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connector assembly for terminating cables to a PCB. An interface of compliant contacts within in a cylindrical disk of dielectric material and a boss with the cable attached reciprocate within a cylindrical sleeve with the interface toward the PCB. Springs bias the interface and boss toward the PCB. The sleeve, interface, boss/cable assembly, and springs are slid into a barrel that has a pair of pawls extending paraxially from the proximal end. The pawls combine with paraxial alignment fingers on the sleeve. In the unattached position, the circular alignment posts fit into round PCB holes. As the connector is pushed toward the PC, the sleeve contacts the PCB and stops, but the barrel continues until it is free to rotate to an attached position where the pawl fingers slide under the PCB. An optional locking mechanism locks the barrel in the attached position.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
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(a) an electrical cable having at least one cable signal conductor, a dielectric surrounding the cable signal conductor, and a shield surrounding the dielectric; (b) a cylindrical barrel with an axial bore, a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, a pair of opposed barrel windows, and a pair of opposed pawls extending paraxially from the proximal end, each pawl having a perpendicular pawl finger, and each barrel window having a proximal edge and a sloped edge extending distally from the proximal edge at an angle to a longitudinal edge; (c) a cylindrical sleeve with an axial bore, a proximal end, and a distal end, sleeve knobs extending radially adjacent to the distal end, and a pair of opposed alignment fingers extending paraxially from the proximal end, the sleeve being within the barrel bore such that the alignment fingers and pawls abut each other longitudinally to form a pair of opposed alignment posts with a circular cross-section and the sleeve knobs rest on the proximal edge of the barrel windows; (d) a cylindrical interface with a distal face and a proximal face, the interface having a compliant signal contact extending between the distal face and the proximal face for each cable signal conductor, and at least one compliant ground contact extending between the distal face and the proximal face, the interface reciprocating within the axial bore of the sleeve and the axial bore of the sleeve at the proximal end of the sleeve; (e) an electrically-conductive, cylindrical boss having a distal face, a proximal face, and an axial through hole between the distal face and the proximal face, the cable extending into the distal face with the cable shield electrically attached to the boss and the cable signal conductor and dielectric extending to the proximal face, the boss reciprocating within the axial bore of the sleeve with the boss proximal face abutting the interface distal face so that the signal contact makes electrical contact with the cable signal conductor and the at least one ground contact makes electrical contact with the boss; (f) a boss spring biasing the boss and interface toward the sleeve proximal end; (g) a sleeve spring biasing the sleeve toward the barrel proximal end; (h) a cap with a hole through which the cable extends from the boss, the cap mechanically attached to the barrel distal end to retain the sleeve, interface, boss, boss spring, and sleeve spring within the barrel; (i) whereby, when the barrel is rotated in a predetermined direction relative to the sleeve from an unattached position to an attached position, the unattached position being when the alignment posts have a circular cross-section and the sleeve knobs rest on the proximal edges of the barrel windows for proper alignment between the barrel and the sleeve, and the attached position being when the pawl fingers no longer form a circular cross-section with the alignment fingers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification