Connector assembly with strain relief member

• US 7,329,151 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Issued: 02/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Wu, Jerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey; James
• Application Number:
  US11/476,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20080003881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 439/456, 439/459, 439/465, 439/466, 439/467, 439/490, 439/610
• US Class Current: 439/607.41
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5808 formed by a metallic element crimped around the cable H01R4/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6585 Shielding material individually surrounding or interposed between mutually spaced contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/65914 Connection of shield to additional grounding conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6592 the conductive member being a shielded cable

Abstract

A cable connector assembly (100) includes a housing (2), a signal contact (31), a ground contact (32) assembled to the housing, a circuit board (4) assembled to the housing and electrically connecting with the contacts, a cable (6) comprising a conductor (60) directly connecting with the circuit board (4) and a metal braiding layer (61) electrically with a strain relief member (5) which electrically connects with the circuit board, and a rear cover (7) assembled to the housing to enclose the electrical connection among the cable, the strain relief member, the circuit board and the contacts.

Claims

1. A cable connector assembly, comprising:

a housing;

a signal terminal and a ground terminal respectively assembled to the housing;

a cable comprising a signal conductor directly electrically connecting with the signal terminal, a metal braiding layer enclosing the signal conductor, and an outer jacket enclosing the metal braiding layer;

a strain relief member comprising a body portion defining a through hole to permit the signal conductor protruding therethrough and directly electrically connecting with the signal terminal, and a jointing portion formed with the body portion to directly connect with the ground terminal, wherein the metal braiding layer of the cable electrically connects with one of the jointing portion and body portion of the strain relief member; and

a rear cover assembled with the housing to enclose the electrical connection among the cable, the strain relief member and the signal and ground terminals.

2. The cable connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the jointing portion defines a recess area therein, and wherein the metal braiding layer of the cable is formed to be received in the recess area of the jointing portion and soldered with the jointing portion.

3. The cable connector assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the strain relief member forms a routing portion extending from the body portion and not aligning with the jointing portion along a longitudinal direction of the body portion, and wherein the metal braiding layer of the cable is firstly wrapped with the routing portion, then soldered with the jointing portion.

4. The cable connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metal braiding layer is formed as a flat sheet around the at least one signal conductor and attached to the body portion of the strain relief member.

5. The cable connector assembly as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a supporting member soldered with the metal braiding layer and attached to the body portion of the strain relief member together with the metal braiding layer.

6. The cable connector assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the body portion defines a recess having the same shape as that of the supporting member to receive the supporting member and the metal braiding layer.

7. The cable connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a circuit board, and wherein the signal terminal and the ground terminal are formed with the circuit board.

8. The cable connector assembly as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a signal contact for power transmission and a ground contact respectively connecting with the circuit board to respectively form electrical connections with the signal conductor and the metal braiding layer of the cable.

9. The assembly as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a pair of conductive elements, and wherein each conductive element comprises connecting portion electrically connecting with end portion of corresponding signal and ground contacts, and a tail portion electrically connecting with the circuit board.

10. The assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein each conductive element is of L-shape.

11. The cable connector assembly as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a detect contact assembled to the housing, and a LED electrically connecting with the detect contact and capable of being actuated to emit light for indicating normal status of the cable connector assembly and a complementary connector.

12. The cable connector assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of the signal contact, ground contact and the detect contact is of a POGO type and comprises a front contacting portion and a rear end portion, and wherein the front contacting portion is capable of being actuated to move along a mating direction when the cable connector assembly mates with the complementary connector.

13. The cable connector assembly as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a light pipe assembled to the rear cover and aligning with the LED to spread the light emitted from the LED outwardly.

14. The cable connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a front cover assembled with the housing and the rear cover.

15. The cable connector assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the front cover is made of metal material and capable of being attracted by a complementary connector.

16. The cable connector assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the housing and the front cover are secured to each other by a pin extending into the housing and the front cover.

17. An electrical connector comprising:

an insulative housing with a plurality of contacts therein;

a printed circuit board located behind the housing and electrically connected to the corresponding contacts;

at least one light pipe structure located above the printed circuit board in a vertical direction;

a strain relief located behind the printed circuit board;

a cable with an inner conductor and an outer braiding extending through the strain relief and mechanically and electrically connected to the printed circuit board.

18. The connector as claimed in claim 17, wherein a plurality of conductive elements are intermediated between the contacts and the printed circuit board.