Connector assembly, receptacle type connector, and interface apparatus

• US 20080076298A1
• Filed: 08/30/2007
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advantest Corporation, Tyco Electronics Japan GK (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Japan GK (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Takemasa, Eiichiro, Hama, Hiroyuki, Izumi, Yuichiro, Matsumura, Shigeru, Osawa, Kazutaka
• Granted Patent: US 7,690,944 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/584
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

A connector assembly, for electrically connecting electrical cables 7 to a test head 4, comprises a plurality of types of cable side connectors 8 respectively attached to one end of the electrical cable 7; and a intermediate connector 6 to which the plurality of types of cable side connectors 8 are connected in a detachable manner, and the intermediate connector 6 having a first engagement part 501 having a shape with which all types of cable side connectors 8 can be engaged and an output terminal 602 able to be engaged with a test head side connector 41 electrically connected to a pin electronics board of the test head 4.

Claims

1. A connector assembly comprising:

a plurality of types of cable side connectors respectively attached to one end of electrical cable; and

an intermediate connector to which the plurality of types of cable side connectors are detachably connected, and wherein

the intermediate connector has a first engagement part having a shape with which all types of the cable side connectors can be engaged.

2. The connector assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of types of cable side connectors include

a coaxial connector attached to one end of a coaxial cable having a center conductor and a ground wire;

and

a single-wire connector attached to one end of a single wire, and

the first engagement part of the intermediate connector has a shape with which the coaxial connector can engage and the single-wire connector can engage.

3. The connector assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein the intermediate connector has a connector body at which a plurality of the first engagement parts are provided.

4. The connector assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein

the coaxial cable has a center conductor and a ground wire,

the coaxial connector has a signal terminal to which the center conductor is electrically connected and first and second ground terminals to which the ground wire is electrically connected, and

the single-wire connector has first to third single-wire terminals to which three single wires are electrically connected.

5. The connector assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein

the first engagement part has first to third output terminals,

when the coaxial connector is engaged with the first engagement part, the signal terminal is electrically connected to the first output terminal and the first and second ground terminals are electrically connected to the second and third output terminals, and,

when the single-wire connector is engaged with the first engagement part, the first to third single-wire terminals are electrically connected to the first to third output terminals.

6. The connector assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein

the first engagement part has a locking deviece which fastens the coaxial connector or the single-wire connector engaged with the first engagement part and

the coaxial connector and the single-wire connector have an engagement projection for engagement by the locking deviece.

7. The connector assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein the connector body of the intermediate connector has a second engagement part with which a board side connector electrically connected to a circuit board can be engaged.

15. An interface apparatus mounted on a test head for testing a device under test and interconnecting an electrical connection between the device under test and the test head, wherein

the interface apparatus comprises a connector assembly as set forth in claim 7,

the intermediate connector is provided at a position adjoining the test head in the interface apparatus,

the other end of the electrical cable is electrically connected to a measurement board electrically contacting the device under test, and

the board side connector is electrically connected to the test head.

8. A receptacle type connector able to receive either a coaxial cable plug type connector to which a coaxial cable is connected or a single-wire plug type connector to which a plurality of single wires are connected, wherein

the receptacle type connector comprises:

a first group of contacts, for electrical connection with the coaxial cable plug type connector, including a first signal contact and a pair of ground contacts positioned symmetrically about the first signal contact;

a second group of contacts, for electrical connection with the single-wire plug type connector, including the first signal contact and a pair of second signal contacts positioned at two points which are in an equal distance from the first signal contact; and

an insulative housing for holding the first group of contacts and the second group of contacts.

9. The receptacle type connector as set forth in claim 8, wherein the second signal contacts of the second group of contacts are arranged at either side of a line connecting the pair of ground contacts as seen from the engagement face.

10. The receptacle type connector as set forth in claim 8, wherein the pair of ground contacts are parallel plate-shaped members arranged at symmetric positions about the first signal contact.

11. The receptacle type connector as set forth in claim 8, wherein the first signal contact and the second signal contacts mutually have the same shapes.

12. The receptacle type connector as set forth in claim 8, wherein one of the pair of ground contacts and one of the pair of second signal contacts positioned at the same side from the first signal contact are integrally formed.

13. The receptacle type connector as set forth in claim 8, wherein the receptacle type connector comprises a plurality of contact units consisting of the first group of contacts and the second group of contacts.

14. A connector assembly comprising a receptacle type connector able to receive either a coaxial cable plug type connector to which a coaxial cable is connected or a single-wire plug type connector to which a plurality of single wires are connected;

and the coaxial cable plug type connector or the single-wire plug type connector electrically connected to the receptacle type connector, wherein

the receptacle type connector comprises;

a first group of contacts, for electrical connection with the coaxial cable plug type connector, including a first signal contact and a pair of ground contacts positioned symmetrically about the first signal contact;

a second group of contacts, for electrical connection with a single-wire plug type connector, including the first signal contact and a pair of second signal contacts positioned at two points which are in an equal distance from the first signal contact; and

an insulative housing for holding the first group of contacts and the second group of contacts.

16. An interface apparatus mounted on a test head for testing a device under test and interconnecting an electrical connection between the device under test and the test head, wherein

the interface apparatus comprises a connector assembly as set forth in claim 14,

the intermediate connector is provided at a position adjoining the test head in the interface apparatus,

the other end of the electrical cable is electrically connected to a measurement board electrically contacting the device under test, and

the board side connector is electrically connected to the test head.