CONNECTION TERMINAL AND COAXIAL CONNECTOR

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

[0001] At least one embodiment of the disclosure relates to a coaxial connector for a cable, and in particular to a coaxial connector and a connecting terminal for such a coaxial connector.Description of the Related Art

[0002] The coaxial connector for connecting a coaxial cable mainly comprises an outer cylinder and a connecting terminal disposed at a central portion of the outer cylinder. Correspondingly, a fitting cylinder and a socket located at a center of the fitting cylinder are provided within a mating connector mated with the coaxial connector. When the coaxial connector and the mating connector are engaged with each other, the outer cylinder of the coaxial connector is connected with the mating cylinder of the mating connector, and the connecting terminal is inserted and electrically connected into the socket, thereby realizing the electrical connection between the cable and the mating connector.

[0003] JP 2007 109453 A relates to a contact structure which prevents a resin leak to a contact part of the contact.

[0004] DE 102 56 374 B3 relates to a contact device having a contact carrier with a number of bores for reception of contact elements, which are soldered to an electronic circuit board within a housing of a sensor-actuator distributor. A separate contact guide body with corresponding guide bores for the contact elements is secured to the contact carrier via interlocking latching elements. Each contact element is provided with peripheral collars for fixing it in the contact device and sealing the gap between the respective contact element and the inside walls of the corresponding reception bore. The collars particularly prevent a liquid cast resin from leaking out of the housing, when the casting resin is filled into the housing for sealing and heat conducting purposes.

[0005] WO 2007 / 089879 A1 discloses an electrical terminal stamped and formed into a pin configuration by roll forming a flat blank material. A terminal body has a resilient locking member cut from the blank material, which creates an opening in the terminal body. The locking member is thereafter formed to extend as an arch or beam structure through an aperture on the opposite side of the terminal body. The terminal body further includes a rib-like projection circumferentially disposed around the terminal body. When positioned into a cavity of a connector housing, the locking member and the projection are configured to abut internal shoulders of a connector housing, and thus lock the terminal in place.

[0006] WO 2014 / 037859 A1 discloses an electrical connector assembly comprising a first connector having a first engagement portion at one end thereof and a second connector having a second engagement portion at one end thereof. The second engagement portion is formed with a chamber into which the first engagement potion is inserted to electrically contact both connectors. To provide multiple contact points, ridges extending in straight, curved or zigzag lines are formed on each engagement portion. The ridges have convex semicircular cross-sections and protrude towards the ridges of the respective other connector. Further, ventilation holes are formed on each connector for heat dissipation purposes.

[0007] DE 10 2004 028 328 A1 discloses a connector with a housing, which has one or more cavities for insertion of male terminal fittings. Each male terminal fitting is formed from a metallic plate by bending, folding or embossing. A box-shaped main section is formed between a wire connecting section and a flat contact section, which is electrically connectable to a matching socket fitting. A notch formed on an outer wall of the main section is used for locking the terminal in the housing by receiving a locking portion provided inside the housing.

[0008] JP H10 69947 A discloses a coaxial connector having a pin-shaped electrical terminal to be crimped on a center conductor of a coaxial cable and an outer shell to be connected with an outer conductor of the coaxial cable. Between a contact portion and a crimp barrel, the terminal has an opening with a pair of tongue pieces on both sides thereof, which enter into slots of a dielectric structure with a suitable accommodating cavity. The dielectric structure separates the terminal from the outer shell, wherein the outer shell is press-bonded and connected with the outer conductor through strip-like parts at the rear end thereof. The outer shell has an elastic joining piece with a joining shoulder for latching with a mating connector.SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0009] The present invention provides a connecting terminal for a coaxial connector according to claim 1, wherein the coaxial connector is capable of preventing the injection molding gel from flowing to an inserting portion of the connecting terminal.

[0010] Advantageous embodiments are provided according to the dependent claims.

[0011] In the connecting terminal and the coaxial connector according to the present invention, when the injection molding plastic is casted on the outside of the cable connecting portion of the connecting terminal by injection molding, the injection molding gel for forming an insulator is prevented from flowing into the inserting portion of the connecting terminal, and poor electrical contact between the inserting portion of the connecting terminal and the socket of the mating connector is avoided.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The above and other features of the present disclosure will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig.1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a coaxial connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure; Fig.2 is an enlarged schematic view of part A shown in Fig.1; Fig.3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a connecting terminal of a coaxial connector according to the main embodiment of the invention; Fig.4 is another schematic perspective view of the connecting terminal shown in Fig.3; Fig.5 is a side view showing the connecting terminal shown in Fig.3; Fig.6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the connecting terminal shown in Fig.3; and Fig.7 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state during a process of manufacturing the connecting terminal according to the main embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0013] Although the disclosure will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings containing preferred embodiments of the disclosure, it should be understood prior to this description that those skilled in the art may modify the disclosure described herein while obtaining the technical effect of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, it should be understood that the above description is a broad disclosure for those of ordinary skill in the art, and its content does not limit the exemplary embodiments described in the disclosure.

[0014] In addition, in the following detailed description, for the sake of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are illustrated schematically in order to simplify the drawing.

[0015] According to the invention, a connecting terminal for a coaxial connector is provided according to claim 1.

[0016] Fig.1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a coaxial connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure; Fig.2 is an enlarged schematic view of part A shown in Fig.1. As shown in Figs. 1-2, a coaxial connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure is adapted to connect a coaxial cable. In the following description, if the coaxial connector is a plug connector, the mating connector is a receptacle connector; and if the coaxial connector is a receptacle connector, the mating connector is a plug connector. The embodiment of the disclosure will be described below taking a coaxial connector as a plug connector as an example.

[0017] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a coaxial connector 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure is adapted to connect with a coaxial cable 200, which includes a conductor core 201 and a protecting layer 202 wrapped around an outside of the conductor core. In another embodiment, the coaxial cable includes a conductor core 201, a protective layer 202 wrapped around the outside of the conductor core, and a peripheral conductor located at a periphery of the conductor core and insulated from the conductor core.

[0018] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the coaxial connector 100 includes a connecting terminal 1, an insulator 2, and an outer cylinder 3. The insulator 2 is overmolded on the connecting terminal, by way of injection molding process, to which the cable is connected, and the outer cylinder 3 is mounted on the outside of the insulator so that the connecting terminal 1 and the outer cylinder 3 are electrically insulated from each other.

[0019] Fig.3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a connecting terminal of a coaxial connector according to the main embodiment of the invention; Fig.4 is another schematic perspective view of the connecting terminal shown in Fig.3; Fig.5 is a side view showing the connecting terminal shown in Fig.1; Fig.6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the connecting terminal shown in Fig.1.

[0020] As shown in Figs. 3-6, in the main embodiment, the connecting terminal 1 is made of a single piece of metal sheet (for example, copper sheet), and includes a cylindrical fixing portion 11, a cylindrical inserting portion 12 and a cable connecting portion 13. The positioning portion 11 is configured to position the connecting terminal 1 to mount the connecting terminal 1 in the outer cylinder 3; the insertion portion 12 is integrally connected to a first end of the fixing portion 11 (right end in Figs. 5 and 6), and is configured to be inserted into a socket of the mating connector; the cable connecting portion 13 is integrally connected to a second end (left end in Figs. 5 and 6) of the fixing portion 1 opposite to the first end, and is configured to electrically connect with the cable 200 (see Figs. 1 and 2). A stopper portion 14 is provided inside the fixing portion 11, and configured to prevent an injection molding gel for forming the insulator 2 from flowing from the second end to the first end and finally into the inserting portion 12 inside the fixing portion 11, when injecting the injection molding gel outside the fixing portion 11 and the wiring portion 13 during forming the insulator 2. In this way, poor electrical contact between the inserting portion 12 of the connecting terminal 1 and the socket of the mating connector may be avoided.

[0021] In the main embodiment, an opening 15 is formed on and leads to the inside of the fixing portion 11, and the stopper portion 14 is integrated with the fixing portion and extends from an edge of the opening 15, adjacent to the second end, toward the inside of the fixing portion 11. In this way, the periphery of the opening 15 may be partially cut, and the cut portion of the fixing portion is pressed inward so that the cut portion is inwardly bent, thereby forming the stopper portion 14.

[0022] In the main embodiment, an annular stopper protrusion 16 is further formed on the fixing portion 11. The annular stopper protrusion 16 is located between the stopper portion 14 and the second end and protrudes radially outwardly around an outer peripheral surface of the fixed portion 11, so as to prevent the injection molding gel outside the fixing portion 11 from flowing from the second end to the first end and the outside of the inserting portion 12 when the injection molding gel is injected outside the fixing portion 11 and the cable connecting portion 13. In this way, poor electrical contact between the inserting portion 12 of the connecting terminal 1 and the socket of the mating connector may be further avoided.

[0023] In one embodiment, referring to Figs. 1-6, the cable connecting portion 13 includes a first crimping portion 131 and a second crimping portion 132. The first crimping portion 131 is configured to be crimped onto a portion of the protective layer 202 of the cable 200 so as to mechanically fix the cable 200; the second crimping portion 132 is disposed between the second end of the fixing portion 11 and the first crimping portion 131, and configured to be crimped onto an exposed conductor core 201 of the cable 200 so that the connecting terminal 1 is electrically connected to the cable 200. An inwardly projecting rib 134 is provided inside the second crimping portion 132 to maintain good electrical contact between the second crimping portion 132 and the conductor core 201.

[0024] In one embodiment, as shown in Figs. 3-6, the first crimping portion 131 and the second crimping portion 132 both have substantially U-shaped cross-sections. In this way, when the protective layer 202 and the conductor core 201 of the cable 200 are crimped by the first crimping portion 131 and the second crimping portion 132, respectively, the first crimping portion 131 and the second crimping portion 132 may be controlled to keep a consistent concentricity with respect to the inserting portion 11, avoiding deviation of the first crimping portion 131 and the second crimping portion 132 with respect to an axis of the inserting portion 11.

[0025] Fig.7 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state during a process of manufacturing the connecting terminal according to the main embodiment of the invention. As shown in Fig.7, in an exemplary embodiment, the connecting terminal 1 of the embodiment of the disclosure is formed by using a single piece of copper sheet through mechanical processes, such as shearing, stamping, bending, etc., when making the connecting terminal 1. It is necessary to retain the supporting portion 300 on the processed copper sheet in advance and form the fixing hole 301 on the supporting portion 300 so as to facilitate the operation. The copper piece is fixed to an operating frame by bolts passing through the fixing holes 301 so that the copper piece is machined.

[0026] In the main embodiment, as shown in Figs. 3-7, an outer edge of the first crimping portion 131 is provided with a cut portion 133, and the cut portion 133 is configured to be connected to the support portion 300 for supporting the connecting terminal 1 during a process of manufacturing the connecting terminal 1. An indentation 302 is formed between the cut portion 133 and the supporting portion 300, so that after the process of machining the connecting terminal 1 is completed, the supporting portion 300 may be bent at the indentation 302 to remove the supporting portion 300 from the connecting terminal 1, then the final connecting terminal is formed.

[0027] In process of assembling the coaxial connector 100, the protective layer of the cable 200 is firstly stripped and removed to expose a portion of the conductor core 201; after that, the conductor core 201 and a part of the protective layer 202 are respectively placed on the U-shaped structures of the second crimping portion 132 and the first crimping portion 131; the second crimping portion 132 and the first crimping portion 131 are then clamped by crimping tools (for example clamps) to fix the conductor core 201 and the portion of the protective layer 202 into the second crimping portion 132 and the first crimping portion 131, respectively; then, the injection molding gel is applied on the first and second crimping portions of the connecting terminal 1 through an injection molding process; after the injection molding gel is solidified, the insulator 2 is coated around the outside of the second crimping portion 132 and the first crimping portion 131.

[0028] In the main embodiment, notches 135 recessed inwardly from the outer edge of the first crimping portion 131 are provided on two opposite sides of the cut portion 133. A length of the cut portion 133 in the axial direction of the connecting terminal 1 does not exceed the outer edge of the first crimping portion 131. That is, the cut portion 133 is not higher than, preferably lower than, a plane defined by the outer edge of the first crimping portion 131. In this way, in the process of mounting the connecting terminal 1 coated with the insulator 2 into the outer cylinder 3 by pushing the outer edge of the first crimping portion 131, the cut portion 133 does not hinder but facilitate a movement of the connecting terminal 1, allowing the connecting terminal to be accurately positioned in the outer cylinder.

[0029] In one embodiment, an inserting end 121 of the inserting portion 12 has a truncated cone shape tapering toward a tip of the inserting end. Further, the insertion end 121 has a radially continuous cutout 122 which is radially run through the inserting end 121. In this way, the inserting portion may be easily engaged with the socket of the mating connector.

[0030] In one embodiment, the fixing portion 11 and the inserting portion 12 both are provided with seams 17 extending in an axial direction of the connecting terminal, respectively, and an internal space of the fixing portion 11 is in communication with that of the inserting portion 12. The seams 17 are formed during the process of forming the fixing portion 11 and the inserting portion 12 by crimping or curling, so that the inserting portion 12 may be radially expanded and contracted, which increases the engagement strength of the connecting terminal with the mating connector. Further, an outer diameter of the inserting portion 12 is smaller than that of the fixing portion 11.

[0031] According to another embodiment of the disclosure, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 , there is provided a coaxial connector comprising: the connecting terminal 1 as described in the above various embodiments; an insulator 2 overmolded on at least one of the fixing portion 11 and the crimping portion 12 of the connecting terminal 1 to which the cable 200 is connected; and an outer cylinder 3 mounted radially outside the insulator 2, and the inserting portion 12 of the connecting terminal 1 being at least partially suspended within the outer cylinder 3 such that the inserting portion 12 being electrically connected to the socket of the mating connector. In this way, the electrical connection to the coaxial cable 200 may be achieved.

[0032] In one embodiment, a coaxial connector 100 further comprises a housing 4 rotatably mounted on the outer cylinder 3, the cable 200 passes through the housing 4 in the axial direction and connects to the connecting terminal 1. A threaded portion 31 and a grooved operation portion 32 are provided on the outer cylindrical 3, and the outer cylindrical 3 may be rotated by hand holding the grooved operating portion 32 so that the coaxial connector 100 and a threaded portion of the mating connector are engaged by screw thread while the inserting portion of the coaxial connector is inserted into the socket of the mating connector.

[0033] In one embodiment, the outer cylinder 3 is electrically conductive, the cable 200 includes a peripheral conductor disposed on the periphery of the conductor core 201, and the peripheral conductor is electrically connected to the outer cylinder 3 on the outside of the insulator 2. In this way, while the coaxial connector 100 is threadedly engaged with the threaded portion of the mating connector, and the inserting portion of the coaxial connector is inserted into the socket of the mating connector, the outer cylinder of the coaxial connector is electrically connected to the mating cylinder of the mating connector.

[0034] The connecting terminal and the coaxial connector according to the invention, because of arrangement of the stopper portion and stopper protrusion, when the injection molding gel is injected on the outside of the cable connecting portion of the connecting terminal by injection molding process, the injection molding gel for forming the insulator is prevented from flowing into the inserting portion of the connecting terminal, and poor electrical contact between the inserting portion of the connecting terminal and the socket of the mating connector is avoided. Additionally, the cut portion is provided not higher than the plane defined by the outer edge of the first crimping portion, so that in the process of mounting the connecting terminal 1 coated with the insulator 2 into the outer cylinder 3 by pushing the outer edge of the first crimping portion 131, the cut portion 133 does not hinder but facilitate a movement of the connecting terminal 1, allowing the connecting terminal to be accurately positioned in the outer cylinder.

[0035] After a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the disclosure, those skilled in the art may clearly understand that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A connecting terminal (1) for a coaxial connector, comprising: a cylindrical fixing portion (11) configured to position the connecting terminal; a cylindrical inserting portion (12) integrally connected to a first end of the fixing portion, and configured to be inserted into a socket of a mating connector; and a cable connecting portion (13) integrally connected to a second end of the fixing portion opposite to the first end and configured to be electrically connected with a cable, wherein the cable connecting portion comprises: a first crimping portion (131) configured to be crimped onto a portion of a protective layer of the cable so as to mechanically fix the cable, and a second crimping portion disposed between the second end of the fixing portion and the first crimping portion and configured to be crimped onto an exposed conductor core of the cable so that the connecting terminal is electrically connected to the cable; wherein an outer edge of the first crimping portion is provided with a cut portion (133), and the cut portion is configured to be connected to a support portion (300) for supporting the connecting terminal during a process of manufacturing the connecting terminal (1), wherein an indentation (302) is formed between the cut portion (133) and the support portion (300) such that the support portion (300) may be bent at the indentation (302) to remove the support portion (300) from the connecting terminal (1) after manufacturing is complete; wherein, a stopper portion (14) is provided inside the fixing portion and configured to prevent an injection molding gel from flowing from the second end to the first end within the fixing portion, wherein an opening (15) is formed on and leads to the inside of the fixing portion, and the stopper portion is integrated with the fixing portion and extends from an edge of the opening adjacent to the second end toward the inside of the fixing portion, and characterized in that notches (135) recessed inwardly from the outer edge of the crimping portion are provided on two opposite sides of the cut portion, and wherein an annular stopper protrusion (16) is further formed on the fixing portion (11), and the stopper protrusion is located between the stopper portion and the second end, and protrudes radially outwardly around an outer peripheral surface of the fixing portion so as to prevent the injection molding gel outside the fixing portion from flowing from the second end to the first end.

2. The connecting terminal (1) according to claim 1, wherein, cross sections of the crimping portion (131) and the second crimping portion (132) are formed as substantially U shapes.

3. The connecting terminal (1) according to claim 2, wherein the cut portion (135) is connected to said support portion (300) for supporting the connecting terminal during a process of manufacturing the connecting terminal.

4. The connecting terminal (1) according to claim 3, wherein, a length of the cut portion (133) in an axial direction of the connecting terminal does not exceed the outer edge of the crimping portion (131).

5. The connecting terminal (1) according to claim 1, wherein, an inserting end of the inserting portion (12) has a truncated cone shape tapering toward a tip of the inserting end.

6. The connecting terminal (1) according to claim 5, wherein, the inserting end has a cutout which is radially run through the inserting end.

7. The connecting terminal (1) according to claim 1, wherein, the fixing portion (11) and the inserting portion (12) both are provided with seams extending in an axial direction of the connecting terminal, respectively, and an internal space of the fixing portion is in communication with that of the inserting portion.

8. The connecting terminal (1) according to claim 1, wherein, an outer diameter of the inserting portion (12) is smaller than that of the fixing portion (11).

9. A coaxial connector (100) comprising: the connecting terminal (1) according to claim 1; an insulator molded on at least one of the fixing portion (11) and the crimping portion of the connecting terminal to which the cable is connected; and an outer cylinder mounted radially outside the insulator, and the inserting portion (12) of the connecting terminal being at least partially suspended within the outer cylinder such that the inserting portion being electrically connected to a socket of a mating connector.

10. The coaxial connector (100) according to claim 9, wherein the injection molding gel forms the insulator.

11. The coaxial connector (100) according to claim 9, further comprising a housing rotatably mounted on the outer cylinder, the cable passing through the housing in an axial direction and being connected to the connecting terminal.

12. The coaxial connector (1) according to claim 9, wherein, the outer cylinder is electrically conductive, and the cable comprises a peripheral conductor disposed at a periphery of a conductor core of the cable, the peripheral conductor outside the insulator is electrically connected to the outer cylinder.