Coaxial Cable Grounding Structure, Connector and Method for Connecting Cable In Said Connector

• US 20080014789A1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Matsuoka, Hiroyuki, Miya, Takuro
• Application Number:
  US11/573,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20080014789A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/579
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/592 connections to contact elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/598 Each conductor being individually surrounded by shield, e.g. multiple coaxial cables in flat structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/675 with contacts having at least a slotted plate for penetration of cable insulation, e.g. insulation displacement contacts for round conductor flat cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/053 using contact members penetrating insulation

Abstract

[Problem] A coaxial cable grounding structure using no solder exhibits a secure grounding function and a secure cable holding function in keeping with the reduction in the diameter of the cable core wire and the reduced interval between adjacent cables. [Solving Means] A coaxial cable grounding structure (10) comprises a conductive first member (12) and a conductive second member (14). The first member includes first bulges (28) in contact with outer conductors (20) of the exposed length (24) of a first group of coaxial cables (16), and the second member includes second openings (32) for receiving the first bulges and the cable exposed length supported by the first bulges. Further, the second member includes second bulges (34) in contact with the outer conductors of the exposed length of a second group of coaxial cables. The first member includes second bulges and first openings for receiving the cable exposed length supported by the second bulges. The exposed length of each coaxial cable is fixedly held by the friction force while being appropriately bent along the first and second bulges between the first bulges and the second openings one the one hand and between the first openings and the second bulges on the other hand.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable grounding structure comprising a conductive first member and a conductive second member fixedly arranged on said first member, wherein a plurality of coaxial cables are held between said first member and said second member, and said first member and said second member are electrically connected individually to outer conductors of the coaxial cables, characterized in that:

each of said coaxial cables has an exposed length with said outer conductor locally exposed;

said first member includes a first bulge for supporting exposed lengths of a first group of said coaxial cables and brought into contact with the outer conductors of said exposed lengths;

said second member includes a second opening for receiving said first bulge of said first member and said exposed lengths of said first group of said coaxial cables supported on said first bulge; and

when said first member and said second member are securely coupled to each other, said exposed lengths of said first group of said coaxial cables are fixedly held by a friction force, while being bent along said first bulge, between said first bulge of said first member and said second opening of said second member.

2. A coaxial cable grounding structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first member includes a plurality of first bulges for individually supporting said exposed lengths of said first group of said coaxial cables;

and wherein said second member includes a plurality of second openings for individually receiving said first bulges and said exposed lengths of said first group of said coaxial cables individually supported on said first bulges.

3. A coaxial cable grounding structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second opening of said second member includes an edge portion coming into local contact with said outer conductors of said exposed lengths of said first group of said coaxial cables received in said second opening.

4. A coaxial cable grounding structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first bulge of said first member includes a crest area projecting through said second opening of said second member, and supports said exposed lengths of said first group of coaxial cables with the exposed lengths being bent along said crest area, to locally press said outer conductors of said exposed lengths onto said edge portion of said second opening.

5. A coaxial cable grounding structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second opening of said second member includes an edge portion coming into local frictional engagement with said first bulge of said first member received in said second opening.

6. A coaxial cable grounding structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second member further includes a second bulge, arranged adjacent to said second opening, for supporting said exposed lengths of a second group of said coaxial cables and brought into contact with said outer conductors of said exposed lengths;

wherein said first member further includes a first opening, arranged adjacent to said first bulge, for receiving said second bulge of said second member and said exposed lengths of said second group of said coaxial cables supported on said second bulge; and

wherein said exposed lengths of said second group of said coaxial cables are bent along said second bulges and fixedly held by a friction force, while being bent along said second bulge, between said first opening of said first member and said second bulge of said second member.

7. A coaxial cable grounding structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein said second member includes a plurality of second bulges for individually supporting said exposed lengths of said second group of said coaxial cables;

and wherein said first member includes a plurality of first openings for individually receiving said second bulges and said exposed lengths of said second group of said coaxial cables individually supported on said second bulges.

8. A coaxial cable grounding structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein said first opening of said first member includes an edge portion coming into local contact with said outer conductors of said exposed lengths of said second group of coaxial cables received in said first opening.

9. A coaxial cable grounding structure as set forth in claim 8, wherein said second bulge of said second member includes a crest area projecting through said first opening of said first member, and supports said exposed lengths of said second group of coaxial cables with the exposed lengths being bent along said crest area, to locally press said outer conductors of said exposed lengths onto said edge portion of said first opening.

10. A coaxial cable grounding structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein said first opening of said first member includes an edge portion coming into local frictional engagement with said second bulge of said second member received in said first opening.

11. A coaxial cable grounding structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein said first bulge and said first opening of said first member are arranged alternately to each other;

and wherein said second bulge and said second opening of said second member are arranged alternately to each other and corresponding to an alternate arrangement of said first bulge and said first opening.

12. A coaxial cable grounding structure as set forth in claim 11, wherein a shape and a dimension of said first bulge of said first member is defined by shapes, dimensions and pitch of a pair of first openings arranged at both sides of said first bulge, wherein a shape and a dimension of said second bulge of said second member is defined by shapes, dimensions and pitch of a pair of second openings arranged at both sides of said second bulge, and wherein, when said first bulge is press-fitted into said second opening and said second bulge is press-fitted into said first opening, said first member and said second member are securely held with each other.

14. A coaxial cable grounding structure as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a packing material held between said first member and said second member and contacting with said outer conductors of said coaxial cables.

15. A coaxial cable grounding structure as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of holding elements provided on at least one of said first member and said second member for securely holding, individually and under pressure, the sheaths of said coaxial cables fixedly held between said first bulges and said second openings, at a position remote from said first bulges and said second openings.

16. A coaxial cable grounding structure as set forth in claim 15, wherein said plurality of holding elements individually cut into said sheaths of said coaxial cables fixedly held between said first bulges and said second openings, and come into contact with said outer conductors of said coaxial cables under pressure.

17. A connector comprising a coaxial cable grounding structure as set forth in claim 1.

18. A connector as set forth in claim 17, further comprising a plurality of terminals, a body supporting said terminals and said coaxial cables in corresponding arrangements, and a shield member assembled to said body, wherein said shield member is provided with said first member of said coaxial cable grounding structure and a connecting portion for electrically connecting said first member to a grounding potential of a counterpart connector.

19. A method for connecting a coaxial cable in a connector as set forth in claim 18, wherein each of said terminals of said connector includes an insulation-displacement type conductor-connecting section connectable to a core conductor of each of said coaxial cables, said method comprising the steps of:

locating said coaxial cables on said body and said shield member so as to lay said coaxial cables on said first bulge;

receiving said first bulge and said coaxial cables supported on said first bulge in said second opening, so as to secure said second member onto said first member; and

attaching said terminals under a pressing force to said body having said coaxial cables located thereon, and connecting each of said coaxial cables to said conductor-connecting section of each of said terminals in an insulation displacing manner.

13. A coaxial cable grounding structure comprising a conductive first member and a conductive second member fixedly arranged on said first member, wherein a plurality of coaxial cables are held between said first member and said second member, and said first member and said second member are electrically connected, individually, to outer conductors of the coaxial cables, characterized in that:

said first member includes a plurality of first bulges for individually supporting said coaxial cables;

said second member includes a plurality of second openings for individually receiving said first bulges of said first member and said coaxial cables individually supported on said first bulges; and

when said first member and said second member are securely coupled to each other, edge portions of said second openings respectively cut into sheaths of said coaxial cables individually received in said second openings together with said first bulges, to securely hold said coaxial cables in a form bent along said first bulges, and to come into contact with said outer conductors of said coaxial cables under pressure.