Single Pass-Through Connector

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the field of electrical connection of cables and the like, for all industries and in particular in the aeronautic or automotive industry. A single pass-through connector for connecting first cables and second cables disposed in respective first area and second area of a vehicle, the single pass-through connector having a frame body and a plurality of first communication network connectors for receiving portions of the first cables and of the second cables, each first communication network connector has a back portion and a front portion, and wherein each first communication network connector is arranged for receiving the corresponding first cable from the back portion, and for receiving the corresponding second cable from the front portion, so as to connect the corresponding first cable and the corresponding second cable together and pass-through a separation between the two areas.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. An apparatus comprising: a frame body arranged to be fixed on a separation between a first area associated with first cables and a second area associated with second cables; and a plurality of first communication network connectors configured to receive portions of the first cables and portions of the second cables, the plurality of first communication network connectors fixed on the frame body, each first communication network connector comprising a back portion on a first side of the frame body and a front portion on a second side of the frame body, and each first communication network connector is configured to: receive a corresponding first cable of the first cables via the back portion, receive a corresponding second cable of the second cables via the front portion, and connect the corresponding first cable and the corresponding second cable together and to pass-through the separation between the first area and the second area.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the first area and the second area are associated with a vehicle.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the second side of the frame body is opposite to the first side of the frame body.

19. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein at least two of the first communication network connectors are identical.

20. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the first communication network connectors is configured to receive inside an automatable module ethernet connector.

21. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the first communication network connectors is a male insert.

22. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a connector pitch distance between each of the first communication network connectors is less than 30 mm.

23. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the frame body comprises at least one hole defined through the frame body and configured to receive fixation systems.

24. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein each back portion has a back lock portion configured to hold in position the corresponding first cable.

25. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein each first communication network connector is configured to fit a corresponding second communication network connector associated with the second cables.

26. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein each first communication network connector is configured to receive: a tip-end of one of the first cables via the back portion, and a tip-end of one of the second cables via the front portion.

27. A system comprising: a panel configured to separate a first area and a second area; a single pass-through connector fixed to the panel, the single pass-through connector comprising a plurality of first communication network connectors; first cables connected to the plurality of first communication network connectors; and second cables connected to a plurality of second communication network connectors, each first communication network connector configured to fit a corresponding second communication network connector associated with the second cables.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the panel is located on a vehicle.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the single pass-through connector further comprises: a frame body, wherein the plurality of first communication network connectors are fixed on the frame body.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein each first communication network connector has a back portion on a first side of the frame body and a front portion on a second side of the frame body.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein each first communication network connector is configured to: receive a corresponding first cable of the first cables via the back portion, receive a corresponding second cable of the second cables via the front portion, and connect the corresponding first cable and the corresponding second cable together to pass-through between the first area and the second area.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein at least two of the plurality of first communication network connectors are identical.

33. A method comprising: providing a single pass-through connector, the single pass-through connector including: a frame body arranged to be fixed on a separation between a first area associated with first cables and a second area associated with second cables; and a plurality of first communication network connectors; inserting a tip-end of one of the first cables in a back portion of a first communication network connector of the plurality of first communication network connectors; and inserting a tip-end of one of the second cables in a front portion of the first communication network connector, the insertion configured to cause a connection of the tip-end of the first cable and the tip-end of the second cable.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the second cables include second communication network connectors.

35. The method according to claim 34, further comprising: inserting a second communication network connector in the first communication network connector, and wherein the first communication network connectors are configured so that the connection of the tip-end of the first cable and the tip-end of the second cable is done before a connection of the second communication network connector with the first communication network connector.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] Other features, purposes and advantages of the disclosure will become more explicit by means of reading the detailed statement of the non-restrictive embodiments made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a single pass-through connector according to one embodiment,

[0052] FIG. 2 shows the single pass-through connector with a first cable and a second cable, in an exploded view, and

[0053] FIG. 3 shows the single pass-through connector in a partially stripped-down view with a set of first cables and second cables.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a single pass-through connector according to one embodiment.

[0055] The single pass-through connector 100 is intended for connecting first cables 1001c, 1002c, 1003c, 1004c and second cables 2001c, 2002c, 2003c, 2004c disposed in respective first area A1 and second area A2 of a vehicle. The cables are represented with in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

[0056] The single pass-through connector 100 has a frame body 300 arranged to be fixed on a separation between said areas A1, A2. The separation could be a panel of the vehicle, a wall inside the vehicle or the like.

[0057] The frame body 300 has a first side 301 and a second side 302. The frame body 300 may serve as a delimitation between the first area A1 and the second area A2, or may be installed on a delimitation between the first area A1 and the second area A2. Said delimitation could be the panel as explained above.

[0058] The first side 301 is arranged to be on the side of the first area A1 and the second side 302 is arranged to be on the side of the second area A2. Preferably, the first side 301 is opposed to the second side 302.

[0059] The frame body 300 has holes 310 in order to fix the frame body 300 on the panel or wall of the vehicle, with screws or any suitable fixation system.

[0060] The single pass-through connector 100 further has a plurality of first communication network connectors 101, 102, 103, 104.

[0061] Each first communication network connectors 101, 102, 103, 104 has a back portion 101b, 102b, 103b, 104b on the first side 301 of the frame body 300 and a front portion 101f, 102f, 103f, 104f on the second side 302 of the frame body 300.

[0062] Each first communication network connector 101, 102, 103, 104 is arranged for receiving the corresponding first cable 1001c, 1002c, 1003c, 1004c from the back portion 101b, 102b, 103b, 104b, and for receiving the corresponding second cable 2001c, 2002c, 2003c, 2004c from the front portion 101f, 102f, 103f, 104f, so as to connect the corresponding first cable 1001c, 1002c, 1003c, 1004c and the corresponding second cable 2001c, 2002c, 2003c, 2004c together and pass-through the separation between the two areas A1, A2, as in will also be explained with further details with respect to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. That is, each first communication network connector 101, 102, 103, 104 is arranged for receiving at least a portion of the corresponding first cable 1001c, 1002c, 1003c, 1004c and at least a portion of the corresponding second cable 2001c, 2002c, 2003c, 2004c.

[0063] The frame body 300 has a longitudinal axis Y. Each of the first communication network connector 101, 102, 103, 104 has a main axis X1, X2, X3, X4 respectively, preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y of the frame body 300.

[0064] FIG. 2 shows the single pass-through connector 100 with the first cable 1001c and the second cable 2001c, in an exploded view.

[0065] For sake of visibility of the drawings, only one of the first cables 1001c, 1002c, 1003c, 1004c is represented in FIG. 2, namely 1001c. It is to be understood that the explanations and features related to the first cable 1001c also applies to the other first cables 1002c, 1003c, 1004c represented in FIG. 3, unless otherwise specified.

[0066] Similarly, for sake of visibility of the drawings, only one of the second cables 2001c, 2002c, 2003c, 2004c is represented in FIG. 2, namely 2001c. It is to be understood that the explanation and features related to the second cable 2001c also applies to the other first cables 2002c, 2003c, 2004c represented in FIG. 3, unless otherwise specified.

[0067] The first cable 1001c has a tip-end, a grip portion 1001g and a seal portion 1001s. The tip-end of the first cable 1001c is a male connection 1001ma in the representation of FIG. 2. The male connection 1001ma is preferably an AMEC connector.

[0068] The back portion 101b of the first communication network connector 101 has an anchoring portion 101ba also called back lock portion 101ba, which is arranged to cooperate with the grip portion 1001g of the first cable 1001c, so as to fix the first cable 100c on the back portion 101b.

[0069] The first communication network connector 101 has the back portion 101b, arranged on the first side 301 of the frame body 300 as explained above. The first cable 1001c may be inserted in the back portion 101b from the back. That is to say, the first cable 1001c may be inserted in the back portion 101b along the main axis X1, in the back insertion direction IDB. Thereby, a portion of the first cable 1001c may be inserted in the first communication network connector 101. The portion of the first cable 1001c to be introduced in the first communication network connector 101 from the back is the tip-end of the first cable 1001c in the representation of FIG. 2.

[0070] The second cable 2001c has a tip-end, a grip portion 2001g and a seal portion 2001s. The tip-end of the second cable 2001c is a female connection 2001fe in the representation of FIG. 2. The female connection 2001fe is preferably an AMEC connector.

[0071] The first communication network connector 101 has the front portion 101f, arranged on the second side 302 of the frame body 300, as explained above. The second cable 2001c may be inserted in the front portion 101f from the front. That is to say, the second cable 2001c may be inserted in the front portion 101f along the main axis X1, in the front insertion direction IDF. Thereby, a portion of the second cable 2001c may be inserted in the first communication network connector 101. The portion of the second cable 2001c to be introduced in the first communication network connector 101 from the front is the tip-end of the second cable 2001c in the representation of FIG. 2.

[0072] It is to be noted that the female connection 2001fe may also be inserted in a second communication network connector 201 of the second cable 2001c. That is, the female connection 2001fe may be inserted, before, in the second communication network connector 201 and, then, in the first communication network connector 101.

[0073] The second cable 2001c further has the grip portion 2001g and the seal portion 2001s. The grip portion 2001g is arranged to cooperate with an anchoring portion 201fa of the second communication network connector 201, in order to fix the grip portion 2001g to the anchoring portion 201fa.

[0074] In other words, the second cable 2001c has an inside connector 2001 (comprising the female connection 2001fe) which could be introduced in the second communication network connector 201 acting as an outside connector. The outside connector is arranged to surround the inside connector 2001 when they are attached together via the grip portion 2001g and the anchoring portion 201fa. Then, the female connection 2001fe can be inserted in the first network communication connector 101 so as to be connected with the male connection 1001ma, while the first communication network connector 101 and the second communication network connector 201 can be connected together. Similarly, the first cable 1001c has an inside connector 1001 (comprising the male connection 1001ma) which could be introduced in the first communication network connector 101 acting as an outside connector. That is, when all is connected, the outside connector of the first cable 1001c is connected with the outside connector of the second cable 2001c, and the inside connector of the first cable 1001c is connected with the inside connector of the second cable 2001c.

[0075] In addition, the second communication network connector 201 may further has a hole 201h to receive the female connection 2001fe. The second communication network connector 201 may further has a front tilting attach 201ft in order to cooperate with a front anchoring portion 101fa of the first communication network connector 101, so as to attach the first communication network connector 101 and the second communication network connector 201.

[0076] In addition, the second communication network connector 201 may further have a seal 201fs in order to seal the connection between the second communication network connector 201 and the first communication network connector 101.

[0077] In addition, the first communication network connector 101 may further has lateral ridges 101r in order to cooperate with lateral grooves of the second communication network connector 201, so as to better guide the introduction of the second communication network connector 201 in the first communication network connector 101. This also allows for a better fixation of the second communication network connector 201 in the first communication network connector 101, when connected.

[0078] Still further, in a preferred embodiment, the first communication network connector 101 may have lateral projections 101p arranged to cooperate with guiding grooves of the second communication network connector 201, so as to better guide the introduction of the second communication network connector 201 in the first communication network connector 101. This also allows fora better fixation of the second communication network connector 201 in the first communication network connector 101, when connected.

[0079] The second cable 2001 may have wires 2001w, preferably two wires 2001w, so as to allow transfer of electrical signal and data. The two wires 2001w could be twisted or in parallel. The same applies for the first cables 1001c, and generally speaking to all cables 1001c, 1002c, 1003c, 1004c, 2001c, 2002c, 2003c, 2004c.

[0080] In a preferred embodiment, a connector pitch distance between each of the first communication network connectors 101, 102, 103, 104 is less than 30 mm, preferably less than 27 mm, more preferably less than 25 mm. That is, the connector pitch distance may be measured between the main axis X1, X2, X3, X4.

[0081] FIG. 3 shows the single pass-through connector in a partially stripped-down view (or peeled view).

[0082] Each of the second cables 2001c, 2002c, 2003c, 2004c has one respective second communication network connector 201, 202, 203, 204 at its end.

[0083] The male connection 1001ma may have pins 1001p in a conductive material in order to cooperate with conductive portion of the female connection 2001fe, thereby allowing a transfer of electrical signal and data. The same applies for the male connection 1002ma of the first cable 1002c, and for the other first cables 1003c and 1004c and second cables 2002c, 2003c, 2004c.

[0084] In a preferred embodiment, the first communication network connectors 101, 102, 103, 104 are identical. However, the single pass-through connector 100 may have at least two identical first communication network connectors 101, 102, 103, 104, such as two or three.

[0085] In a preferred embodiment, the first communication network connectors 101, 102, 103, 104 are automatable module ethernet connectors.

[0086] In a preferred embodiment, the first communication network connectors 101, 102, 103, 104 are AMEC connector.

[0087] AMEC means Automotive Modular Ethernet Connection.

[0088] In a preferred embodiment, the first communication network connectors 101, 102, 103, 104, the second communication network connectors 201, 202, 203, 204, the first cables 1001c, 1002c, 1003c, 1004c and the second cables 2001c, 2002c, 2003c, 2004c, and their respective tip-ends, are arranged for delivering Ethernet connection for 100 Mbps or more, preferably 1 Gbps or more.

[0089] In a preferred embodiment, the first communication network connectors 101, 102, 103, 104 are male insert to be surrounded by second communication network connectors 201, 202, 203, 204 which are female insert.

[0090] It will be understood that various modifications and/or improvements obvious to the person skilled in the art may be made to the various embodiments of the disclosure described in the present description without departing from the scope of the disclosure defined by the appended claims.

[0091] For example, it is possible to invert the gender of the male connection 1001ma and the female connection 2001fe, that it to say that the first cables 1001c, 1002c, 1003c, 1004c, have a female connection and that the second cables 2001c, 2002c, 2003c, 2004c have a male connection.

[0092] It is also possible that the first cables 1001c, 1002, 1003, 1004c have a mix of male connection or female connection, or neutral gender connection and any other suitable electrical connection.

[0093] It is possible to forecast different type of network connectors as first communication network connector 101, 102, 103, 104 and second communication network connector 201, 202, 203, 204, that is to say other type than automatable module ethernet connectors.

[0094] It is possible to provide other guiding means in order to improve the introduction of the second communication network connector 201, 202, 203, 204 in the first communication network connector 101, 102, 103, 104.

[0095] It is possible to provide other guiding means in order to improve the connection of the female connection 2001fe and the male connection 1001ma, such as internal guiding portion inside the first communication network connector 101, 102, 103, 104 and/or inside the second communication network connector 201, 202, 203, 204.

[0096] It is possible to provide other fixations means in order to improve the reliable connection of the female connection 2001fe and the male connection 1001ma, such as internal abutting portion inside the first communication network connector 101, 102, 103, 104 and/or inside the second communication network connector 201, 202, 203, 204.