Right-angle connector unit having signal passes equal to one another in length

• US 6,171,139 B1
• Filed: 02/18/1999
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
• Original Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
• Inventors: Yamauchi, Masahiro, Sato, Kazuomi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khiem
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYEON, HAE M
• Application Number:
  US09/252,442
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 439/502, 439/623
• US Class Current: 439/502
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/52 connecting to other rigid printed circuits or like structures
• 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 12/724 containing contact members forming a right angle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/79 connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures

Abstract

A right-angle connector unit used for electrical and removable connection between first and second printed circuit boards (600, 700), which comprises two right-angle connectors (100, 200) of printed circuit boards having base portions to be mounted to the first and the second printed circuit boards, vertical portions, and contacts of conductor patterns extending in parallel with each other between the base portions and the vertical portions and having different lengths, and a cable connector (400) having a flexible flat cable connecting between the vertical portions of the two right-angle connectors in a state where the flexible flat cable is twisted by an angle of 180 degree along a longitudinal direction thereof, the flexible flat cable having conductors which are equal to each other in length. A plurality of signal passes established between first and second printed circuit boards by contacts of the two right-angle connectors and the conductors of the flat cable connectors are equal to each other in length. The cable connector may comprise a bundle of discrete cables, a flexible printed cable, a bundle of coaxial cables, or a bundle of drained coaxial cable instead of the flexible flat cable.

Claims

1. A right-angle connector unit for making electrical and removable connections between first and second electrical devices, which comprises a first right-angle connector (100) connected to said first electrical device, a second right-angle connector (200) connected to said second electrical device, and a cable connector (400) having flexibility and being removably connected between said first and said second right-angle connectors, said first right-angle connector comprising a first base portion (101) facing a connection part of said first electrical device, a first vertical portion (102) extending substantially perpendicular to said first base portion, and first through n-th primary contacts (103-1 to 103-n) n being an integer but not smaller than 2, said contacts extending in parallel with one another between said first base and said first vertical portions, each of said first through said n-th primary contacts having one end and another end, respectively, said one end of said first through said n-th primary contacts being arranged in a first primary direction along said first base portion with spaces left between adjacent ones of said ends and being formed to be connected to said connection part of said first electrical device, the other end of each of said first through said n-th primary contacts being arranged in a second primary direction perpendicular to said first primary direction along said first vertical portion with spaces left between adjacent ones of said ends and being formed to be connected to one end of said cable connector, an i-th primary contact, i being an integer larger than 1 but not larger than n, of said first through said n-th primary contacts being longer than an (i−

1)-th primary contact, said second right-angle connector comprising a second base portion (201) facing a connection part of said second electrical device, a second vertical portion (202) extending substantially perpendicular to said second base portion, and first through n-th secondary contacts (203-1 to 203-n) extending in parallel with one another between said second base and said second vertical portions, each of said first through said n-th secondary contacts having one end and the other end, one end of each of said first through said n-th secondary contacts being arranged in a first secondary direction along said second base portion with spaces left between adjacent ones and being formed to be connected to said connection part of said second electrical device, the other end of each of said first through said n-th secondary contacts being arranged in a second secondary direction perpendicular to said first secondary direction along said second vertical portion with spaces left between adjacent ones of said ends and being formed to be connected to one end of said cable connector, an i-th secondary contact of said first through said n-th secondary contacts being longer than an (i−

1)-th secondary contact, said cable connector comprising first through n-th conductors (401-1 to 401-n) equal to one another in length, wherein;

a first contact-combination formed by said first primary contact (103-1) and said n-th secondary contact (203-n) through an n-th contact-combination formed by said n-th primary contact (103-n) and said first secondary contact (203-1) are substantially equal in length to one another;

said first through said n-th conductors (401-1 to 401-n) connect said first through said n-th primary contacts (103-1 to 103-n) of said first right-angle connector (100) with said n-th through said first secondary contacts (203-n to 203-1) of said second right-angle connectors (200), respectively,

a first signal path (P_AD) being formed by said first contact-combination (103-1 and 203-n) and said first conductor (431-1) through an n-th signal path (P_BC) formed by said n-th contact-combination (103-n and 203-1) and said n-th conductor (431-n) being substantially equal to one another in length.

2. A right-angle connector unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first through said n-th primary contacts of said first right-angle connector are equal in length to said first through said n-th secondary contacts of said second right-angle connector, respectively.

3. A right-angle connector unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cable connector comprises a first connector removably connected to said first right-angle connector, a second connector removably connected to said second right-angle connector, and a cable connected between said first and said second connectors;

said first and said second connectors comprising first through n-th contacts equal to one another in length, respectively;

said cable comprising first through n-th wires equal to one another in length;

said first through said n-th wires being connected between said first through said n-th contacts of said first connector and said n-th through said first contacts of said second connector, respectively;

said first through said n-th contacts of said first connector, said first through said n-th wires, and said n-th through said first contacts of said second connector serving in cooperation with one another as said first through said n-th conductors, respectively.

4. A right-angle connector unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein said cable connector comprises a flat ribbon cable serving as said cable, said flat ribbon cable comprising an integument sleeve covering with said first through said n-th wires.

5. A right-angle connector unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein said cable connector comprises a flexible printed cable serving as said cable, said flexible printed cable comprising a ribbon-shaped flexible board and a plurality of print-patterns printed on said flexible board;

the print-patterns serving as said first through said n-th wires.

6. A right-angle connector unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein said cable connector comprises a bundle of discrete cables serving as said cable, each of said discrete cables comprising an integument sleeve covering with one wire selected from said first through said n-th wires, respectively.

7. A right-angle connector unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein said cable connector comprises a plurality of coaxial cables serving as said cable, each of said coaxial cables comprising a core wire, a first integument sleeve covering with said core wire, a shield sleeve covering with said core wire through said first integument sleeve, and a second integument sleeve covering with said shield sleeve;

said core wire and said shield sleeve serving as one wire of said first through said n-th wires, respectively.

8. A right-angle connector unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second integument sleeves of said coaxial cables are integrally formed.

9. A right-angle connector unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein said cable connector comprises a plurality of drained coaxial cables serving as said cable, each of said drained coaxial cables comprising a core wire, a first integument sleeve covering with said core wire, a shield sleeve covering with said core wire through said first integument sleeve, a drain wire connected to said shield sleeve, and a second integument sleeve covering with said shield and said drain wires;

said core wire and said drain wire serving as one wire of said first through said n-th wires, respectively.

10. A right-angle connector unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first integument sleeves of said drained coaxial cables are integrally formed.

11. A right-angle connector unit for electrical and removable connections between first and second electrical devices, which comprises a first right-angle connector (150) connected to said first electrical device, a second right-angle connector (250) connected to said second electrical device, and a cable connector (900) having flexibility and being removably connected between said first and said second right-angle connectors, said first right-angle connector comprising a first base portion facing a connection part of said first electrical device, a first vertical portion extending substantially perpendicular to said first base portion, and first through n-th primary contacts, n being an integer which is at least 2, said contacts extending in parallel with one another between said first base and said first vertical portions, each of said first through said n-th primary contacts having one end and another end, respectively, one end of said first through said n-th primary contacts being arranged in a first primary direction along said first base portion with spaces left between adjacent ones and being formed to be connected to said connection part of said first electrical device, the other end of said first through said n-th primary contacts being arranged in a second primary direction perpendicular to said first primary direction along said first vertical portion with spaces left between adjacent ones and being formed to be connected to one end of said cable connector, an i-th primary contact, i being an integer larger than 1 but not larger than n, of said first through said n-th primary contacts being longer than an (i−

1)-th primary contact, said second right-angle connector comprising a second base portion facing a connection part of said second electrical device, a second vertical portion extending substantially perpendicular to said second base portion, and first through n-th secondary contacts extending in parallel with one another between said second base and said second vertical portions, each of said first through said n-th secondary contacts having one end and another end, said one end of said first through said n-th secondary contacts being arranged in a first secondary direction along said second base portion with spaces left between adjacent ones of said ends and being formed to be connected to said connection part of said second electrical device, the other end of each of said first through said n-th secondary contacts being arranged in a second secondary direction perpendicular to said first secondary direction along said second vertical portion with spaces left between adjacent ones of said ends and being formed to be connected to one end of said cable connector, an i-th secondary contact of said first through said n-th secondary contacts being longer than an (i−

1)-th secondary contact, said cable connector comprising first through n-th conductors (901-1 to 901-n) equal to one another in length, wherein,

said first through said n-th primary contacts of said first right-angle connector (150) are divided and arrayed into first primary contact-line consisting of first through m-th contacts, m being smaller than n and at least 1, and second primary contact-line consisting of (m+1)-th through n-th contacts;

said first through said n-th secondary contacts of said second right-angle connector (250) being divided and arrayed into first secondary contact-line consisting of first through m-th contacts and second secondary contact-line consisting of (m+1)-th through n-th contacts;

said first through said n-th conductors (901-1 to 901-n) of said cable connector (900) being divided and arrayed into first cable-line consisting of first through m-th conductors (901-1 to 901-m) and second cable-line consisting of (m+1)-th through n-th conductors (901-(m+1) to 901-n);

a first contact-combination formed by said first primary contact and said m-th secondary contact through an m-th contact-combination formed by said m-th primary contact and said first secondary contact being substantially equal in length to one another;

an (m+1)-th contact-combination formed by said (m+1)-th primary contact and said n-th secondary contact through an n-th contact-combination formed by said n-th primary contact and said (m+1)-th secondary contact being substantially equal in length to one another;

said first through said m-th conductors (901-1 to 901-m) being connected between said first through said m-th primary contacts of said first right-angle connector and said m-th through said first secondary contacts of said second right-angle connector, respectively;

said (m+1)-th through said n-th conductors (901-(m+1) to 901-n) being connected between said (m+1)-th through said n-th primary contacts of said first right-angle connector and said n-th through said (m+1)-th secondary contacts of said second right-angle connector, respectively;

a first signal path being formed by said first contact-combination and said first conductor through an m-th signal path formed by said m-th contact-combination and said m-th conductor being substantially equal to one another in length;

an (m+1)-th signal path being formed by said (m+1)-th contact-combination and said (m−

1)-th conductor through an n-th signal path formed by said n-th contact-combination and said n-th conductor being substantially equal to one another in length.

12. A right-angle connector unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first through said n-th primary contacts of said first right-angle connector are divided and arrayed into a first primary contact-line comprising first, third, through (n−

1)-th contacts and second primary contact-line comprising second, fourth, through n-th contacts;

said first through said n-th secondary contacts of said second right-angle connector being divided and arrayed into a first secondary contact-line comprising first, third, through (n−

1)-th contacts and second secondary contact-line comprising second, fourth, through n-th contacts;

said cable connector comprising a first connector removably connected to said first right-angle connector, a second connector removably connected to said second right-angle connector, and a cable connected between said first and said second connectors;

said first connector comprising a first primary contact-line comprising first, third, through (n−

1)-th contacts having lengths equal to one another and second primary contact-line comprising second, fourth, through n-th contacts having lengths equal to one another;

said second connector comprising first secondary contact-line comprising first, third, through (n−

1)-th contacts having lengths equal to one another and second secondary contact-line comprising second, fourth, through n-th contacts having lengths equal to one another;

said cable comprising first through n-th wires having lengths equal to one another;

the first, the third, through the (n−

1)-th wires of said first through said n-th wires being connected between said first, said third, through said (n−

1)-th contacts of said first connector and said (n−

1)-th through said third, said first contacts of said second connector, respectively;

the second, the fourth, through the n-th wires of said first through said n-th wires being connected between said second, said fourth, through said n-th contacts of said first connector and said n-th, through said fourth, said second contacts of said second connector, respectively;

said first, said third, through said (n−

1)-th contacts of said first connector, said first, said third, through said (n−

1)-th wires, and said (n−

1)-th, through said third, said first contacts of said second connector serving in cooperation with one another as the first, the third, through the (n−

1)-th conductors of said first through said n-th conductors, respectively;

said second, said fourth, through said n-th contacts of said first connector, said second, said fourth, through said n-th wires, and said n-th, through said fourth, said second contacts of said second connector serving in cooperation with one another as the second, the fourth, through the n-th conductors of said first through said n-th conductors, respectively.

13. A right-angle connector unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein said cable comprises a plurality of cable-lines connected between the end lines of said first connector and the end lines of said second connector, respectively.

14. A right-angle connector unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first through said n-th contacts of at least one of said first and said second right-angle connector comprises a first terminal arranged in at least one of said first and said second base portion, a second terminal arranged in at least one of said first and said second vertical portion, and a print-pattern printed on a circuit board and connected between said first and second terminals, respectively;

the circuit boards of said at least one of said first and said second right-angle connector being integrally formed and arranged perpendicularly to said connection part of said at least one of said first and said second electrical device;

said first terminal having an L-shape and being provided with first and second lines angled with respect to each other so as to form a nearly right-angle therebetween, said first line being connected to said connection part of each of said at least one of said first and said second electrical device, said second line being connected to said print-pattern;

said second terminal having an L-shape provided with first and second lines angled with respect to each other to form a nearly right-angle therebetween, said first line being removably connected to said cable connector, said second line being connected to said print-pattern.

15. A right-angle connector unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said cable connector (900) comprises a first connector (910) removably connected to said first right-angle connector (150), a second connector (920) removably connected to said second right-angle connector (250), and first and second cables (930a and 930b) connected between said first and said second connectors (910 and 920);

said first and said second connectors (910 and 920) comprising first through m-th contacts having lengths equal to one another, respectively;

said first and said second connectors (910 and 920) further comprising (m+1)-th through n-th contacts having lengths equal to one another, respectively;

said first cable (930a) comprising first through m-th wires equal to one another in length;

said second cable (930b) comprising (m+1)-th through n-th wires having lengths equal to one another;

said first through said m-th wires being connected between said first through said m-th contacts of said first connector (910) and said m-th through said first contacts of said second connector (920), respectively;

said (m+1)-th through said n-th wires being connected between said (m−

1)-th through said n-th contacts of said first connector (910) and said n-th through said (m+1)th contacts of said second connector (920), respectively;

said first through said m-th contacts of said first connector (910), said first through said m-th wires, and said m-th through said first contacts of said second connector (920) serving in cooperation with one another as said first through said m-th conductors (901-1 to 901-m), respectively;

said (m+1)-th through said n-th contacts of said first connector (910), said (m+1)-th through said n-th wires, and said n-th through said (m+1)-th contacts of said second connector (920) in cooperation with one another as said (m+1)-th through said n-th conductors (901-(m+1) to 901-n), respectively;

said first cable (930a) being twisted along a longitudinal direction thereof so that said first through said m-th wires placed at one end of said first cable (930a) and said first through said m-th wires placed at the other end of said first cable (930a) are turned over each other, respectively;

said second cable (930b) being twisted along a longitudinal direction thereof so that said (m+1)-th through said n-th wires placed at one end of said second cable (930b) and said (m+1)-th through said n-th wires placed at the other end of said second cable (930b) are inverted relative to each other, respectively.