EMI shielded electrical connector and connection system

• US 20070243730A1
• Filed: 04/13/2006
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: George, Terry, Gladd, Joseph, Ketterer, William, Esenwein, Frederick
• Granted Patent: US 7,351,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/98
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/187 with spring member in the socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5202 Sealing means between parts of housing or between housing part and a wall, e.g. sealing rings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6583 with separate conductive resilient members between mating shield members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/65917 Connection to shield by means of resilient members

Abstract

A shielded electrical connection system has a pair of electrical connectors each comprising an inner insulator housing and an outer housing of conductive material. A shunt member of conductive material contacts conductive plug and socket portions of the respective electrical connectors when mated, to enhance electrical continuity between the outer housings. The shunt member is disposed in a shunt chamber and a connector seal seals the chamber at one end. A terminal attached to a shielded electric cable is disposed in a terminal passage in electrical connector that has a second shunt chamber at an inlet of the terminal passage. A second shunt member engages the conductive shield of the cable in the second shunt chamber and the outer housing of the connector. A cable seal seals an inlet of the second shunt chamber. The outer housing of electrical connector is adapted for connection to a conductive casing for grounding the shielded electrical connection. This outer housing carries a second connector seal for sealing an interface between the outer housing and the conductive casing.

Claims

1. A shielded electrical connection system having a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector;

the first electrical connector comprising a first inner insulator housing and a first outer housing of conductive material that has a plug portion,

the second electrical connector comprising a second inner insulator housing and a second outer housing of conductive material that has a socket portion for receiving the plug portion of the first outer housing, and

a first shunt member of conductive material contacting the plug portion and the socket portion when the plug portion is plugged into the socket portion to enhance electrical continuity between the first outer housing and the second outer housing;

wherein the plug portion and the socket portion define a first shunt chamber, in which the first shunt member is disposed; and

wherein the first inner insulator housing has a second shunt chamber, in which a second shunt member is disposed.

2. The shielded electrical connection system as defined in claim 1 wherein the first shunt member is a coiled metal spring ring.

3. The shielded electrical connection system as defined in claim 1 wherein the shunt member is a stamped metal spring contact.

4. The shielded electrical connection system as defined in claim 1 wherein the shunt member is a conductive plastic spring contact.

5. The shielded electrical connection system As defined in claim 1 wherein the shunt member is a conductive elastomeric seal.

6. The shielded electrical connection system as defined in claim 1 wherein the shielded electrical connection system includes a connector seal engaging the socket portion and the plug portion to seal the shunt chamber at one end

7. A shielded electrical connection system having a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector;

the first electrical connector comprising a first inner insulator housing and a first outer housing of conductive material that has a plug portion,

the second electrical connector comprising a second inner insulator housing and a second outer housing of conductive material that has a socket portion for receiving the plug portion of the first outer housing, and

a first shunt member of conductive material contacting the plug portion and the socket portion when the plug portion is plugged into the socket portion to enhance electrical continuity between the first outer housing and the second outer housing;

wherein the plug portion and the socket portion define a first shunt chamber, in which the first shunt member is disposed; and

wherein one inner housing of the first inner insulator housing and the second inner insulator housing has a second shunt chamber, in which a second shunt member is disposed,

wherein the one inner housing has an inner longitudinal terminal passage that extends through it from a terminal inlet to a terminal outlet, and

wherein the shielded connection system includes a shielded electric cable that has a conductive core, an inner insulation jacket, a conductive shield outward of the inner insulation jacket, and an outer insulation jacket outward of the conductive shield, and a terminal that is attached to an end portion of the shielded electric cable and that is in electrical contact with the conductive core,

the end portion of the shielded electric cable and the terminal being disposed in the terminal passage of the one inner housing with the shielded electric cable extending our of the terminal inlet of the terminal passage, and

a cable seal that engages the outer insulation jacket of the shielded electric cable and one electrical connector of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector to seal the inlet of the terminal passage.

8. The shielded electrical connection system as defined in claim 7 wherein the second shunt chamber communicates with the terminal inlet, and wherein the second shunt member engages the conductive shield of the shielded electric cable and an outer housing associated with the one inner housing.

9. The shielded electrical connection system as defined in claim 8 wherein the cable seal engages an enlarged inlet of the second shunt chamber to seal the second shunt chamber as well as the inlet of the terminal passage.

10. The shielded electrical connection system as defined in claim 9 wherein the second shunt member is a metal spring ring.

11. The shielded electrical connection system as defined in claim 9 wherein the second shunt member is a stamped metal spring contact.

12. The shielded electrical connection system as defined in claim 9 wherein the second shunt member and the cable seal are combined into a conductive sealant that is cured in place.

13. The shielded electrical connection system as defined in claim 9 wherein the second shunt member and the cable seal are combined into a conductive elastomeric seal.

14. The shielded electrical connection system of claim 9 wherein the other inner housing has a mating terminal passage that communicates with the terminal passage of the one inner housing when the first electrical connector is mated to the second electrical connector, the shielded electric connection system further comprising an annular elastomeric connector seal for sealing an interface of the inner housings.

15. The shielded electrical connection system of claim 14 wherein the other outer housing associated with the other inner housing is adapted to be grounded.

16. The shielded electrical connection system of claim 15 wherein the other outer housing associated with the other inner housing is adapted to be connected to a conductive casing and carries a second connector seal for sealing an interface between the other outer housing and the conductive casing.

17. A shielded electrical connector comprising:

an inner insulator housing and an outer housing of conductive material, the inner insulator housing having an inner longitudinal terminal passage that extends through it from a terminal inlet to a terminal outlet;

a shielded electric cable that has a conductive core, an inner insulation jacket, a conductive shield outward of the inner insulation jacket, and an outer insulation jacket outward of the conductive shield;

a terminal that is attached to an end portion of the shielded electric cable and that is in electrical contact with the conductive core, the terminal being disposed in the terminal passage of the inner insulator housing with the shielded electric cable extending out of the terminal inlet of terminal passage; and

first and second shunt members of conductive material contacting the conductive shield and the outer housing of conductive material to enhance electrical continuity between the conductive shield and the outer housing of conductive material

wherein the inner insulator housing and the outer housing define both a first shunt chamber, in which the first shunt member is disposed, and a second shunt chamber, in which a second shunt member is disposed.

18. The shielded connector as defined in claim 17 wherein at least one of the shunt members is disposed in a shunt chamber that communicates with the terminal inlet and wherein a cable seal engages the outer insulation jacket of the shielded electric cable and an inlet of the shunt chamber to seal the shunt chamber at one end.

19. The shielded electrical connector as defined in claim 17 wherein the shunt member is selected from a group consisting of a coiled metal spring, a stamped metal spring contact, a conductive elastomeric sealant that is cured in place, and a conductive elastomeric seal.

20. The shielded electrical connector as defined in claim 18 wherein the shunt member is selected from a group consisting of a coiled metal spring, a stamped metal spring contact, a conductive elastomeric sealant that is cured in place, and a conductive elastomeric seal.