WO2005086294A1

WO2005086294A1 - Electrical connector

Info

Publication number: WO2005086294A1
Application number: PCT/US2004/005561
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tien-Tsai Linag
Original assignee: Apfel Inc.; Bizlink Technology Inc.
Priority date: 2004-02-23
Filing date: 2004-02-23
Publication date: 2005-09-15

Abstract

An electrical connector (200) includes a dielectric housing (21) formed with a receiving space and having first and second open sides (211, 212) for access into said receiving space, and a conductive terminal (22) that has a first conducting end portion (221) extending outwardly of the first open side of the dielectric housing (21), a second conducting end portion (222) opposite to the first conducting end portion (221) and extending outwardly of the second open side of the dielectric housing (21), and an intermediate coaxial cable (223) received in the receiving space in the dielectric housing (21) and interconnecting electrically the first and second conducting end portions (221, 222).

Description

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to an electrical connector, more particularly to an electrical connector suitable for transmission of high frequency signals. 2. Description of the Related Art Referring to Figure 1, a conventional electrical connector 1 is shown to include a dielectric housing 11, asetof conduc ive terminals 12 and a metal shielding member 13. The dielectric housing 11 has first and second sides 112, 113, and is formed with a plurality of receiving channels, each of which extends from the first side 112 to the second side 113. The second side 113 is to be mounted on a circuit board (not shown) . Each conductive terminal 12 is formed by stamping, and is received in a respective one of the receiving channels in the dielectric housing 11. The metal shielding member 13 is to be grounded, and is mounted on the dielectric housing 11 for electromagnetic interference shielding . In the conventional electrical connector 1, due to electromagne ic interference between adjacent conductive terminals 12 during high-frequency signal transmission, cross-talk phenomenon is unavoidable, thereby resulting in distortion of signals transmitted by the conventional electrical connector 1. Moreover, the conductive terminals 12 have different lengths, thereby resulting in time-delay thereamong during high-frequency signal transmission . In order to enable the conductive terminals 12 to have substantially equal lengths, the shapes of the conductive terminals 21 should vary, thereby resulting in difficulty in forming the same by stamping. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector that can eliminate the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art . According to one aspect of the present invention, an electrical connector comprises : a dielectric housing formed with a receiving space and having first and second open sides for access into the receiving space; and a conductive terminal having a first conducting end portion extending outwardly of the first open side of the dielectric housing, a second conducting end portion opposite to the first conducting end portion and extending outwardly of the second open side of the dielectric housing, and an intermediate coaxial cable received in the receiving space in the dielectric housing and interconnecting electrically the first and second conducting end portions. According to another aspect of the present invention, an electrical connector comprises : a dielectric housing having first and second sides, and formed with a set of receiving channels, each of which extends from the first side to the second side; and a set of conductive terminals, each of which has a first conducting end portion extending outwardly of the first side of the dielectric housing, a second conducting end portion opposite to the first conducting end portion and extending outwardly of the second side of the dielectric housing, and a transmission line received in a respective one of the receiving channels in the dielectric housing and interconnecting electrically the first and second conducting end portions. According to a furtheraspect of the present invention, an electrical connector assembly comprises : a dielectric mounting seat having a mounting side, and a coupling side opposite to the mounting side, the dielectric mounting seat being formed with a plurality of through holes extending from the mounting side to the coupling side; and a plurality of electrical connectors mounted detachably on the mounting side of the dielectric mounting seat, each of the electrical connectors including a dielectric housing having first and second sides , and formed with a set of receiving channels, each of which extends from the first side to the second side, the first side being mounted detachably on the mounting side of the dielectric mounting seat, and a set of conductive terminals, each of which has a first conducting end portion extending outwardly of the first side of the dielectric housing, a second conducting end portion opposite to the first conducting end portion and extending outwardly of the second side of the dielectric housing, and a transmission line received in a respective one of the receiving channels in the dielectric housing and interconnecting electrically the first and second conducting end portions, the first conducting end portion of each of the conductive terminals being accessible via a respective one of the through holes in the dielectric mounting seat when the dielectric housing is mounted on the mounting side of the dielectric mounting seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a partly exploded perspective view of a conventional electrical connector; Figure 2 is apartly exploded perspective view showing the first preferred embodiment of an electrical connector according to the present invention; Figure 3 is an assembled perspective view of the first preferred embodiment; Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a transmission line used in the first preferred embodiment ,- and Figure 5 is apartly exploded perspective view showing the second preferred embodiment of an electrical connector assembly according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Before the present invention is described in greater detail , it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure . Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown to be embodied in an electrical connector 200 that includes a dielectric housing 21 and a set of conductive terminals

22. The dielectric housing 21 has first and second sides 211, 212, and has a receiving space in the form of a set of receiving channels 213, each of which extends from the first side 211 to the second side 212. In this embodiment , the dielectric housing 21 has opposite outer surfaces 214, 215 transverse to the first and second sides 211, 212, and the first and second sides 211, 212 are transverse to each other. Each conductive terminal 22 has a first conducting end portion 221 extending outwardly of the first side 211 of the dielectric housing 21, a second conducting end portion 222 opposite to the first conducting end portion 221 and extending outwardly of the second side 212 of the dielectric housing 21, and a transmission line 223 received in a respective one of the receiving channels 213 in the dielectric housing 21 and interconnecting electrically the first and second conducting end port ions 221 , 222. In this embodiment , the electrical housing 21 is molded integrally on the conductive terminals 22. The transmission line 223 of each conductive terminal 22 is a coaxial cable, and includes a central conducting portion 224 that interconnects electrically the first and second conducting end portions 221 , 222, and a grounding portion 226 that surrounds and that is isolated electrically from the conducting portion 224 via a dielectric spacer layer 225 and that is covered with a dielectric skin layer 227, as best shown in Figure 4. In this embodiment , the first coupling end portions 221 of the conductive terminals 22 are clamp-shaped so as to connect securely with respective terminals of a complementary connector (not shown) , and the second coupling end portions 222 of the conductive terminals 22 are pin-shaped and are adapted to be mounted on a circuit board (not shown) . It is noted that since the transmission lines 223 are flexible, they can be configured to have substantially equal lengths . As such, the transmission lines 223 have substantially equal impedances such that good signal transmission quality can be ensured. Due to the presence of the coaxial cables , the conductive terminals 223 are suitable for high-frequency signal transmission and can effectively suppress noise during high-frequency signal transmission. The electrical connector 200 further comprises a grounding member 23 that includes a base plate 230, a plurality of metal barrier pieces 231, and a plurality of grounding pieces 232. The base plate 230, which is L-shaped, is mounted on the outer surface 215 of the dielectric housing 21, and is connected electrically to the grounding portions 226 of the transmission lines 223. The metal barrier pieces 231 are connected to the base plate 230, are disposed adjacent to the first coupling end portions 221 of the conductive terminals 22, and are spaced apart from each other such that each adjacent pair of the metal barrier pieces 231 has two of the first coupling end portions 221 of the conductive terminals 22 disposed therebetween so as to minimize interference among the first coupling end portions 221 of adjacent ones of the conductive terminals 22 during high-frequency signal transmission. The grounding pieces 232 are connected to the base plate 230, are disposed adjacent to the second coupling end portions 222 of the conductive terminals 22, and are spaced apart from each other such that each adjacent pair of the grounding pieces 232 has two of the second coupling end portions 222 of the conductive terminals 22 disposed therebetween so as to similarly minimize interference (cross-talk phenomenon) among the second coupling end portions 222 of adjacent ones of the conductive terminals 22 during high-frequency signal transmission. In this embodiment, the base plate 230, the metal barriers 231 and the grounding pieces 232 are formed integrally. A metal shielding member 25 is to be grounded via a plurality of grounding pieces 251, and is mounted on the outer surface 214 of the dielectric housing 21 for further reducing electromagnetic interference. Referring to Figure 5, the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown to be embodied in an electrical connector assembly 400 that includes a dielectric mounting seat 40 and a plurality of electrical connectors 200' . The dielectric mounting seat 40 has a mounting side

401, and a coupling side 402 opposite to the mounting side 401. The dielectric mounting seat 40 is formed with a plurality of through holes 405 extending from the mounting side 401 to the coupling side 402. In this embodiment, the dielectric mounting seat 40 is further formed with a plurality of positioning holes 406 that extend from the mounting side 401 to the coupling side

402, and has a guiding wall 403 extending from the mounting side 401. The guiding wall 403 is formed with a plurality of parallel guiding grooves 407, each of which extends in a direction transverse to the mounting side 401. Each electrical connector 200' is guided by a respective one of the guiding grooves 407 and is mounted detachably on the mounting side 401 of the dielectric mounting seat 40. Each electrical connector 200' is similar to the electrical connector 200 of the first preferred embodiment, and includes the dielectric housing 21' , a set of the conductive terminals 22, and the grounding member 23' . In this embodiment, the dielectric housing 21' has first and second sides 211' 212 ' , and is formed with a set of the receiving channels 213, each of which extends from the first side 211' to the second side 212' . The first side 211' is mounted detachably on the mounting side 401 of the dielectric mounting seat 40. The dielectric housing 21' further has a third side 214' transverse to the first side 211' and engaging slidably a respective one of the guiding grooves 407 in the guiding wall 403 of the dielectric mounting seat 40. In this embodiment, the first conducting end portion 221 of each conductive terminal 22 extends outwardly of the first side 211' of the dielectric housing 21' . The second conducting end portion 222 of each conductive terminal 22 extends outwardly of the second side 212' of the dielectric housing 21' . The first conducting end portion 221 of each conductive terminal 22 is accessible via a respective one of the through holes 405 in the dielectric mounting seat 40 when the dielectric housing 21' is mounted on the mounting side 401 of the dielectric mounting seat 40. In this embodiment, the base plate 230 of the grounding member 23' is mounted on the dielectric housing 21' . Each metal barrier piece 231' extends into and engages a respective one of the positioning holes 406 in the dielectric mounting seat 40 when the dielectric housing 21' is mounted on the mounting side 401 of the dielectric mounting seat 40. It is noted that each adjacent pair of the conductive terminals 22 are parallel and close to each other (i.e., a differential pair application) such that electromagnetic interference can be reduced to a minimum . Furthermore, each metal barrier piece 231' has an upper end formed withapairofprotrusions 2311 for preventing the presence of antenna effect. Preferably, each of a distance between the protrusions 2311 in each metal barrier piece 231', a distance between each adjacent pair of the metal barrier pieces 231' , and a distance between each adjacent pair of the grounding pieces 232 is less than a quarter of a wavelength of a signal transmitted through the electrical connector 200' . In this embodiment, the dielectric mounting seat 40 is further formed with a plurality of mounting holes 408 that permit extension of respective metal barrier pieces 511 on a complemantary connector _.500 thereinto such that each of the metal barrier pieces 511 contacts electrically the protrusions 2311 on the grounding member 23' of a corresponding one of the electrical connectors 200' when the complementary connector 500 is coupled to the electrical connector assembly 400. The electrical connector assembly 400 further includes a metal shielding cover 42, which is to be grounded via a plurality of grounding pieces 421, for covering the dielectric housings 21' of the electrical connectors 200' for electromagnetic interference shielding purposes . While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifica ions and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

I CLAIM : 1. An electrical connector comprising: a dielectric housing formed with a receiving space and having first and second open sides for access into said receiving space; and a conductive terminal having a first conducting end portion extending outwardly of said first open side of said dielectric housing, a second conducting end por ion opposite to said first conducting end portion and extending outwardly of said second open side of said dielectric housing, and an intermediate coaxial cable received in said receiving space in said dielectric housing and interconnecting electrically said first and second conducting end portions.

2. An electrical connector comprising: a dielectric housing having first and second sides, and formed with a set of receiving channels, each of which extends from said first side to said second side; and a set of conductive terminals, each of which has a first conducting end port ion extending outwardly of said first side of said dielectric housing, a second conducting end portion opposite to said first conducting end portion and extending outwardly of said second side of said dielectric housing, and a transmission line received in a respective one of said receiving channels in said dielectric housing and interconnecting electrically said first and second conducting end portions .

3. The electrical connector as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said dielectric housing has a receiving space in the form of said receiving channels, and opposite outer surfaces transverse to said first and second sides , said transmission line of each of said conductive terminals including a conducting portion that interconnects electrically said first and second conducting end portions, and a grounding portion, said electrical connector further comprising a grounding member that includes a base plate mounted on one of said outer surfaces of said dielectric housing and connected electrically to said grounding portions of said transmission lines, a plurality of metal barrier pieces connected to said base plate, disposed adjacent to said first coupling end portions of said conductive terminals and spaced apart from each other such that each adjacent pair of said metal barrier pieces has at least one of said first coupling end portions of said conductive terminals disposed therebetween, and a plurality of grounding pieces connected to said base plate, disposed adjacent to said second coupling end portions of said conductive terminals and spaced apart from each other such that each adjacent pair of said grounding pieces has at least one of said second coupling end portions of said conductive terminals disposed therebetween.

4. The electrical connector as claimed in Claim 3 , wherein said base plate, said metal barrier pieces and said grounding pieces are formed integrally.

5. The electrical connector as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said transmission lines have substan ially equal lengths.

6. The electrical connector as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said dielectric housing is molded integrally on said conductive terminals.

7. The electrical connector as claimed in Claim 3, further comprising a metal shielding member mounted on the other one of said outer surfaces of said dielectric housing.

8. The electrical connector as claimed in Claim 2 , wherein said first coupling end portions of said conductive terminals are clamp- shaped, and said second coupling end portions of said conductive terminals are pin-shaped.

9. The electrical connector as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said first and second sides of said dielectric housing are transverse to each other.

10. The electrical connector as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said transmission line of each of said conductive terminals is a coaxial cable , and said grounding portion surrounds and is isolated electrically from said conducting portion.

11. An electrical connector assembly comprising: a dielectric mounting seat having a mounting side, and a coupling side opposite to said mounting side , said dielectric mounting seat being formed with a plurality of through holes extending from said mounting side to said coupling side; and a plurality of electrical connectors mounted detachably on said mounting side of said dielectric mounting seat, each of said electrical connectors including a dielectric housing having first and second sides , and formed with a set of receiving channels, each of which extends from said first side to said second side, said first side being mounted detachably on said mounting side of said dielectric mounting seat, and a set of conductive terminals, each of which has a first conducting end portion extending outwardly of said first side of said dielectric housing, a second conducting end portion opposite to said first conducting end portion and extending outwardly of said second side of said dielectric housing, and a transmission line received in a respective one of said receiving channels in said dielectric housing and interconnecting electrically said first and second conducting end portions, said first conducting end portion of each of said conductive terminals being accessible via a respective one of said through holes in said dielectric mounting seat when said dielectric housing is mounted on said mounting side of said dielectric mounting seat .

12. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in Claim 11, wherein said dielectric mounting seat is further formed with a plurality of positioning holes that extend from said mounting side to said coupling side, said transmission line of each of said conductive terminals including a conducting portion that interconnects electrically said first and second conducting end portions, and a grounding portion, each of said electrical connectors further including a grounding member that includes a base plate mounted on said dielectric housing and connected electrically to said grounding portions of said transmission lines, a plurality of metal barrier pieces connected to said base plate, disposed adjacent to said first coupling end portions of said conductive terminals and spaced apart from each other such that each adjacent pair of said metal barrier pieces has at least one of said first coupling end portions of said conductive terminals disposed therebetween, each of said metal barrier pieces extending into and engaging a respective one of said positioning holes in said dielectric mounting seat when said dielectric housing is mounted on said mounting side of said dielectric mounting seat, and a plurality of grounding pieces connected to said base plate, disposed adjacent to said second coupling end portions of said conductive terminals and spaced apart from each other such that each adjacent pair of said grounding pieces has at least one of said second coupling end portions of said conductive terminals disposed therebetween.

13. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in Claim 12, wherein said base plate, said metal barrier pieces and said grounding pieces are formed integrally.

14. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in Claim 11, wherein said transmission lines have substantially equal lengths .

15. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in Claim 11, wherein said dielectric housing of each of said electrical connectors is molded on said conductive terminals .

16. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in Claim 11, further comprising a metal shielding cover for covering said dielectric housings of said electrical connectors .

17. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in Claim 11, wherein said first coupling end portions of said conductive terminals are clamp-shaped, and said second coupling end portions of said conductive terminals are pin-shaped .

18. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in Claim 11, wherein said first and second sides of said dielectric housing of each of electrical connectors are transverse to each other.

19. The electrical connector as claimed in Claim 12, wherein said transmission line of eachof said conductive terminals is a coaxial cable , and said grounding portion surrounds and is isolated electrically from said conducting portion.