Electrical connector assembly
10950979 · 2021-03-16
Assignee
Inventors
- Thomas Lödding (Traunstein, DE)
- Gunnar Armbrecht (Tittmoning, DE)
- Thomas Müller (Berchtesgaden, DE)
- Rainer Bippus (Teisendorf, DE)
- Richard Pichlmaier (Fridolfing, DE)
Cpc classification
H01R13/6471
ELECTRICITY
H01R13/518
ELECTRICITY
H01R13/6585
ELECTRICITY
International classification
H01R13/518
ELECTRICITY
H01R13/6471
ELECTRICITY
Abstract
The invention relates to an electrical connector assembly, comprising an electrical connector and a cable connected to the electrical connector, which each have at least one conductor pair for transferring a differential signal, wherein the cable has a first section and the electrical connector has a second section, in which second section the conductor pair has plug contacts, and wherein the conductors have a first mutual distance (X) in the first section and a second mutual distance (Y) in the second section, which second mutual distance is greater than the first distance, wherein an intermediate section, in which the distance of the conductors of a conductor pair increases toward a plugging end of the electrical connector, is formed between the first section and the second section, wherein the conductor pair is surrounded by a conductor pair shield in the first section and/or in the second section, which conductor pair shield shields the conductor pair from external electromagnetic influences, and wherein the conductors are surrounded by a conductor shield in at least part of the intermediate section, which conductor shield shields the conductors from external electromagnetic influences and from electromagnetic influences of the other conductor. The invention further relates to a method for signal transfer.
Claims
1. A connector assembly, comprising: a connector; a cable; and conductive shielding, wherein said connector comprises a first contact element and a second contact element, said cable comprises a first conductor pair comprising a first conductor and a second conductor, in a first portion of said connector assembly, said first conductor is distanced from said second conductor by a first distance, in a second portion of said connector assembly, said first conductor electrically and mechanically contacts said first contact element and said second conductor electrically and mechanically contacts said second contact element, in a first imaginary plane that transects each of second portion, said first conductor, said first contact element, said second conductor and said second contact element, said first conductor is distanced from said second conductor by a second distance that is substantially greater than said first distance, in said first portion, said conductive shielding forms a first shield substantially around a circumference of said first conductor pair, in said second portion, said conductive shielding forms a second shield substantially around a circumference of said first conductor pair, said conductive shielding forms a third shield substantially around a third portion of said first conductor individually and a fourth shield substantially around a fourth portion of said second conductor individually, each of said third portion and said fourth portion being situated intermediate said first portion and said first imaginary plane, said conductive shielding is not in electrical connection with said first conductor and not in electrical connection with said second conductor, said third portion is not parallel to said fourth portion, and said conductive shielding comprises a conductive spacer that defines a path of said third portion and a path of said fourth portion.
2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein: said first conductor is suitably paired with said second conductor to conduct a differential signal.
3. The connector assembly of claim 1, comprising: a first insulating component that insulates said first shield from said first conductor pair in said first portion; a second insulating component that insulates said third shield from said third portion; and a third insulating component that insulates said fourth shield from said fourth portion, wherein said second insulating component has a second thickness smaller than a first thickness of said first insulating component, and said third insulating component has a third thickness smaller than said first thickness.
4. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein: said conductive shielding comprises a plurality of components that collectively form said third shield and said fourth shield.
5. The connector assembly of claim 4, wherein: said plurality of components comprises a plurality of mating partial shells.
6. The connector assembly of claim 4, wherein: said plurality of components comprises a first component and a second component, said first component comprising a first uneven surface and said second component comprising a second counterpart uneven surface that mates said first uneven surface.
7. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein: said conductive shielding comprises a unitary element that forms said third shield and said fourth shield.
8. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein: said conductive shielding comprises a first element that forms said third shield and a second element that forms said fourth shield, said first element being distinct from said second element.
9. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein: in a second imaginary plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said connector assembly, said first conductor is distanced from said second conductor by said second distance, and said conductive shielding close-fittingly encases an entire outer surface of said first conductor and an entire outer surface of said second conductor from said first portion to said second imaginary plane.
10. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein: in said first portion and in said second portion, said first conductor is substantially parallel to said second conductor.
11. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein: said connector comprises an insulating element that supports said first contact and said second contact element, and said insulating element comprises a receptacle that receives a portion of at least one of said third shield and said fourth shield.
12. A connector assembly, comprising: a connector; a cable; and conductive shielding, wherein said connector comprises a first contact element and a second contact element, said cable comprises a first conductor pair comprising a first conductor and a second conductor, in a first portion of said connector assembly, said first conductor is distanced from said second conductor by a first distance, in a second portion of said connector assembly, said first conductor electrically and mechanically contacts said first contact element and said second conductor electrically and mechanically contacts said second contact element, in a first imaginary plane that transects each of second portion, said first conductor, said first contact element, said second conductor and said second contact element, said first conductor is distanced from said second conductor by a second distance that is substantially greater than said first distance, in said first portion, said conductive shielding forms a first shield substantially around a circumference of said first conductor pair, said conductive shielding forms a third shield substantially around a third portion of said first conductor individually and a fourth shield substantially around a fourth portion of said second conductor individually, each of said third portion and said fourth portion being situated intermediate said first portion and said first imaginary plane, said conductive shielding is not in electrical connection with said first conductor and not in electrical connection with said second conductor, and said conductive shielding comprises a wedge-shaped portion that constitutes a portion of said third shield and a portion of said fourth shield.
13. The connector assembly of claim 12, wherein: in said second portion, said conductive shielding forms a second shield substantially around a circumference of said first conductor pair.
14. A signal transmission method, comprising: transmitting a signal as a differential signal in a first portion of a cable using a conductor pair of said cable, said conductor pair comprising a first conductor and a second conductor, said first conductor being substantially parallel to and distanced by a first distance from said second conductor in said first portion, transmitting said signal as a differential signal in a second portion of said cable using said conductor pair, said first conductor being substantially parallel to and distanced by a second distance from said second conductor in said second portion, said second distance being substantially greater than said first distance, and transmitting said signal as an asymmetric signal in a third portion of said cable intermediate said first portion and said second portion, wherein said third portion comprises a fourth portion of said first conductor and a fifth portion of said second conductor that is not parallel to said fourth portion, each of said fourth portion and said fifth portion is individually shielded by conductive shielding, said conductive shielding is not in electrical connection with said first conductor and not in electrical connection with said second conductor, said conductive shielding is formed substantially around each of said first conductor and said second conductor, and said conductive shielding comprises a conductive spacer that defines a path of said fourth portion and a path of said fifth portion.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein: throughout an entire length of said third portion from said first portion to said second portion, each of said first conductor and said second conductor is individually shielded by said conductive shielding, and said conductive shielding is formed substantially around each of said first conductor and said second conductor, said conductive shielding being insulated from said first conductor and said second conductor.
16. A connector assembly, comprising: a connector; a cable attached to and extending into said connector; conductive shielding, wherein said cable comprises a first conductor pair comprising a first conductor and a second conductor, in a first portion of said cable, said first conductor is distanced from said second conductor by a first distance, in a second portion of said connector, said first conductor is distanced from said second conductor by a second distance that is substantially greater than said first distance, in said first portion, said conductive shielding forms a first shield substantially around a circumference of said first conductor pair, in said second portion, said conductive shielding forms a second shield substantially around a circumference of said first conductor pair, in at least a portion of a third portion of said connector assembly intermediate said first portion and said second portion, said conductive shielding forms a third shield substantially around said first conductor individually and a fourth shield substantially around said second conductor individually, said conductive shielding comprises a plurality of components that collectively form said third shield and said fourth shield, and said plurality of components comprises a first component and a second component, said first component comprising a first uneven surface and said second component comprising a second counterpart uneven surface that mates said first uneven surface.
17. A connector assembly, comprising: a connector; a cable; and conductive shielding, wherein said connector comprises a first contact element, a second contact element and an insulating element that supports said first contact and said second contact element, said cable comprises a first conductor pair comprising a first conductor and a second conductor, in a first portion of said connector assembly, said first conductor is distanced from said second conductor by a first distance, in a second portion of said connector assembly, said first conductor electrically and mechanically contacts said first contact element and said second conductor electrically and mechanically contacts said second contact element, in a first imaginary plane that transects each of second portion, said first conductor, said first contact element, said second conductor and said second contact element, said first conductor is distanced from said second conductor by a second distance that is substantially greater than said first distance, in said first portion, said conductive shielding forms a first shield substantially around a circumference of said first conductor pair, in said second portion, said conductive shielding forms a second shield substantially around a circumference of said first conductor pair, said conductive shielding forms a third shield substantially around a third portion of said first conductor individually and a fourth shield substantially around a fourth portion of said second conductor individually, each of said third portion and said fourth portion being situated intermediate said first portion and said first imaginary plane, said conductive shielding is not in electrical connection with said first conductor and not in electrical contact with said second conductor, and said insulating element comprises a receptacle that receives a portion of said conductive shielding.
18. The connector assembly of claim 17, wherein: said receptacle is situated intermediate said first conductor and said second conductor.
19. The connector assembly of claim 17, wherein: said receptacle receives a portion of at least one of said third shield and said fourth shield.
Description
CONTENTS OF THE DRAWING
(1) The present invention will be explained in greater detail below using the exemplary embodiments which are shown in the diagrammatic figures of the drawing, in which:
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16) The accompanying figures of the drawing are intended to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the invention. They illustrate embodiments and, in conjunction with the description, serve to explain principles and concepts of the invention. Other embodiments and many of the advantages mentioned become apparent in view of the drawings. The elements shown in the drawings are not necessarily shown true to scale in relation to one another.
(17) In the figures of the drawing, identical, functionally identical and identically acting elements, features and components are respectively provided with the same reference symbolsunless stated otherwise.
(18) The figures are described below in a coherent and comprehensive manner.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
(19)
(20) The connector arrangement 1 according to the invention has a connector 2 and a cable 3 which, at the cable-side end 4 of the connector 2, is mechanically and electrically connected to the connector 2.
(21) The cable 3 is shielded by a shield 51, 52 for a pair of conductors. At the same time, the shield 51 for a pair of conductors forms an external conductor of the cable. This shield 51 for a pair of conductors can be in the form of a wire mesh or in the form of an electrically conductive film-type shield. The end of the shield 51 for a pair of conductors is placed around a supporting sleeve 6 which is fitted onto the shield 51 for a pair of conductors, and the shield 51 for a pair of conductors is axially fixed in relation to the conductors 8 of the cable 3. A cable sheath 7 which is composed of a plastic material and is placed around the shield 51 for a pair of conductors of the cable 3 is arranged in front of the supporting sleeve 6.
(22) A plurality of conductors 8, here a pair of conductors, are guided within the shield 51 for a pair of conductors. The conductors 8 are each encased by a first insulating part 9. The conductors 8 respectively form a core with the respective insulating part 9. The conductors 8 are twisted with one another (twisted pair cable). As an alternative, the conductors 8 can also run in parallel (twin ax(ial) cable). The pair of conductors transmits a differential signal, for example a high-frequency differential signal.
(23) The conductors 8 run in the longitudinal direction L of the cable 3 and are at a first mutual distance X within the cable 3 in the first section 10.
(24) A further shield 52 for a pair of conductors, which initially jointly shields the pair of conductors in the further profile of said pair of conductors, is formed following the shield 51 for a pair of conductors.
(25) The region of the cable 3 as far as the conductor shield 53 therefore forms the first section 10.
(26) In
(27) The shield 52 for a pair of conductors has a conductor shield 53, which splits the pair of conductors to form individual conductors, between the conductors 8 in a interface-side end region. Therefore, the shield 52 for a pair of conductors is both a shield for a pair of conductors and also a conductor shield in the end region. The conductor shield 53 can be of unipartite design or multipartite design with the shield 52 for a pair of conductors.
(28) Unipartite shields 52, 53 can be cast or inserted and fixed during assembly. Reference is made to
(29) The distance between the individual conductors 8 increases from the first mutual distance X to the greater second mutual distance Y within the shield 52 for a pair of conductors in the intermediate section 13. After this point, the distance between the conductors 8 in the intermediate section 13 remains constant and the conductors 8 run parallel to one another.
(30) In order to avoid or to reduce a possible air gap between the shield 52 for a pair of conductors or the conductor shield 53 and the insulating part 9, the shield 52 for a pair of conductors or conductor shield 53 can be in the form of a unipartite potting compound which surrounds the conductors 8, as far as possible without intermediate spaces. As an alternative, the shield 52 for a pair of conductors or conductor shield 53 can also be produced as a turned, milled or cast part.
(31) The shield 52 for a pair of conductors is electrically connected to the shield 51 for a pair of conductors by means of a conductive crimp sleeve 16. The crimp sleeve 16 is guided coaxially over the supporting sleeve 6 to this end. For the purpose of DC-coupling or electrically connecting the shield 51 for a pair of conductors of the cable 3 to the shield 17 for a pair of conductors of the connector 2, the shield 17 for a pair of conductors is placed over the shield 52 for a pair of conductors which is in turn connected to the shield 51 for a pair of conductors.
(32) The conductors 8 are guided in associated guide channels 18 in the second section 14. The conductors 8 are at the distance Y from one another and are surrounded by an insulating part 19. The conductors 8 are electrically connected to associated internal conductor contact elements 20 within the guide channels 18. The electrical connection can be made, for example, by means of soldering or crimping.
(33) The internal conductor contact elements 20 each have a socket-like recess 23 for receiving an associated contact pin 24 of a mating connector 25 at the connector-side end 22 of the connector 2.
(34) As an alternative, the internal conductor contact elements 20 can also be realized as contact pins and can be inserted into associated socket-like contact elements of the mating connector 25 so as to protrude beyond the interface-side end 22 of the connector 2. The connector 2 can also be realized as a coupler which connects the cable 3 to a further cable.
(35)
(36)
(37) For the purpose of axially fixing the internal conductor contact element 20 in the insulating part 19 of the connector 2, the said insulating part has a radially outwardly directed spring element 21 which is respectively supported on an end face of an annular slot in the guide channel 18 within the insulating part 19.
(38) In
(39)
(40) It is clear to a person skilled in the art that compensation of the impedance on account of the changing distance can also be performed in a region in which the distance between the conductors is constant, provided that this region is formed immediately adjacent to the region with the changing distance in the intermediate section.
(41)
(42)
(43)
(44) The insulating part 19 extends along second section 14 and along the intermediate section 13, serves to insulate the conductors in this region and has a recess, which corresponds to the conductor shield 5272, in the intermediate section. Complex shapes, for example cylindrical shapes, or a recess slot, in which a shielding plate is inserted, are feasible here.
(45) The insulating part 19 can be designed to make contact with the converging conductors 8.
(46)
(47) On account of the increasing distance between the two conductors 8 in the intermediate section 13, the capacitance C.sub.12 between the two conductors 8 reduces. As a result, the impedance Z.sub.odd of the differential mode increases.
(48) With regard to matching of the impedance Z.sub.odd of the differential mode between the individual sections, the impedance Z.sub.odd of the differential mode is also likewise artificially increased within the cable 3 in the first section 10. To this end, the distance d1 between the conductors 8 and the shield 51 for a pair of conductors, and therefore the capacitance C.sub.11 between the individual conductors 8 and the shield 51 for a pair of conductors, within the cable 3 is reduced.
(49) The connector 1.sup.IX has a dielectric spacer 27 between the conductors 8. The connector 1.sup.IX has a shield element 5270 with a shield 5271 for a pair of conductors and a conductor shield 5272 in the intermediate section 13. The shield element can be of unipartite or multipartite design.
(50)
(51)
(52)
(53)
(54)
(55)
(56)
(57)
(58)
(59) A cable 3 is not limited to one pair of conductors, but rather can also have a plurality of pairs of conductors.
(60) According to
(61)
(62)
(63) Said figure shows that the reflection factor S.sub.11 of the connector arrangement according to the invention initially undergoes a considerable impairment starting from a frequency f of approximately 7 GHz, while the reflection factor of a connector arrangement without shielding is already considerably impaired starting from a frequency of approximately 0.8 GHz and the reflection factor of a connector arrangement according to DE 20 2015 000 753 U1 is considerably impaired starting from a frequency of approximately 4 GHz.
(64)
(65) The reflective pulse response of the connector arrangement according to the invention in the time range in which the received signal level value is converted into a corresponding impedance value Z is also considerably more severely damped than in a connector arrangement without shielding or in a connector arrangement according to DE 20 2015 000 753 U1.
(66) The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, refinements and subvariants. In particular, all combinations of the features respectively claimed in the individual patent claims, of the features respectively disclosed in the description and of the features respectively shown in the figures of the drawing are also covered by the invention, provided that they are technically expedient.
(67) Although the present invention has been described above entirely on the basis of preferred exemplary embodiments, it is not limited to these, but rather may be modified in a variety of ways.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
(68) 1, 1.sup.. . . IX Connector arrangement 2 Connector 3 Cable 4 Cable-side end 6 Supporting sleeve 7 Cable sheath 8 Conductor 9 Insulating part 10 First section 13 Intermediate section 14 Second section 15 Widening section 16 Crimp sleeve 17 Shield for a pair of conductors 18 Guide channels 19 Insulating part 20 Internal conductor contact element 21 Spring element 22 Connector-side end 23 Recess 24 Contact pin 25 Mating connector 27 Spacer 51, 52 Shield for a pair of conductors 53 Conductor shield 5220 Shield for a pair of conductors 5221 Conductor shield 5231 Shield for a pair of conductors 5232 Conductor shield 5240 Shield element 5241 Conductor shield 5242 Shield for a pair of conductors 5250 Shield element 5251 Conductor shield 5252 Shield for a pair of conductors 5260 Shield element 5261 Shield for a pair of conductors 5262 Conductor shield 5270 Shield element 5271 Shield for a pair of conductors 5272 Conductor shield 5280 Shield element 5281 Shield for a pair of conductors 5282 Conductor shield 5290 Shield element 5291 Outer conductor shield 5292 Conductor shield 5293 Shield element 5294 Half-shell 5295 Shield element 5296 Stamped part 5297 Shield element 5298 Shell 5299 Shell 5310 Shield element 5311 Shield for a pair of conductors 5312 Conductor shield 5313 Shield element 5314 Shield for a pair of conductors 5315 Conductor shield 5316 Isolating part 5317 Holding-together part 5318 Isolating part 5319 Holding-together part