Assembly, electrical connector, and electrical connector device

Abstract

To provide an assembly or the like capable of realizing low height.SOLUTION: The plug contact 11 is connected to one end of a core wire of a flexible shielded cable 4. An insulating plug housing 12 holds a shield cable 4 and a plug contact 11. The plug shell 13 is fixed to the plug housing 12 and holds the shielded cable 4 together with the plug housing 12. The plug housing 12 includes a fitting portion 50a which is fitted to the receptacle connector and holds the shield cable 4 extending in a + Z direction along a normal line of a main surface of a substrate on which the receptacle connector is mounted, and an extension portion 50b which is formed continuously with an end portion of the fitting portion 50a far from the receptacle connector and holds the shield cable 4 extending in a second direction (direction between the + Z direction and the + Y direction) crossing the + Z direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an assembly, an electrical connector, and an electrical connector arrangement. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an electrical connector device including a board electrical connector mounted on the main surface of a circuit board and an electric wire electrical connector connected to the ends of multiple electric wires. The circuit board electrical connector has a mating recess with an opening located away from the circuit board and a bottom located close to the circuit board. The electric wire electrical connector mates with the board electrical connector in the normal direction to the main surface of the circuit board, with the electric wires extending in the normal direction to the circuit board. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7253354 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In order to miniaturize various electrical devices, it is desirable that the electrical connector device housed therein be as small and low-profile as possible. In the electrical connector device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the electric wires extend in the normal direction of the circuit board, so there is a limit to how low-profile the device can be made.

[0005] The present invention has been made in light of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an assembly, an electrical connector, and an electrical connector device that can achieve a low profile. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, an assembly according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises: a conductive contact connected to one end of a core wire of a flexible shielded cable; an insulating housing that holds the shielded cable and the conductive contacts; a conductive shell fixed to the housing and holding the shielded cable together with the housing; The housing includes: a mating portion that mates with a mating connector and holds the shielded cable, the shielded cable extending in a first direction along a normal to a main surface of a board on which the mating connector is mounted; The mating portion has an extension portion formed continuously with an end portion farther from the mating connector, and configured to hold the shielded cable extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction.

[0007] An electrical connector according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises: a plurality of assemblies according to the first aspect; a main housing having recesses into which the fitting portions of the plurality of assemblies are inserted; Equipped with.

[0008] An electrical connector device according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises: an electrical connector according to a second aspect; a mating connector to be connected to the board; The electrical connector is fitted to the mating connector along the first direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, a low profile can be achieved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view of the electrical connector device showing the plug connector and receptacle connector of FIG. 1 in a separated state. [Figure 3](A) and (B) are perspective views of the assembly. [Figure 4] 4A is a perspective view of the shielded cable and the plug contact in a connected state, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the shielded cable taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are perspective views of a shielded cable and a plug shell. [Figure 7] 1A is a perspective view of the plug connector with the cover removed, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing a plurality of assemblies. [Figure 8] 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the electrical connector device taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 1. [Figure 9] 1A is a perspective view of a plug connector, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a receptacle connector. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a receptacle contact and a receptacle shell. [Figure 11] 10A and 10B are perspective views of the cover and the frame. [Figure 12] 10 is a perspective view showing how a plug shell connected to a shielded cable is mated with a receptacle shell. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same or equivalent parts are designated by the same reference numerals. In the following embodiments, the terms "have," "include," or "contain" also include the meaning of "consisting of" or "consisting of." In the present embodiments, the description will be made appropriately according to a three-axis Cartesian coordinate system of XYZ shown in the drawings.

[0012] [Electrical connector device] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the electrical connector device 1 includes a plug connector 2 and a receptacle connector 3 as electrical connectors. A plurality of shielded cables 4 are connected to the plug connector 2. Meanwhile, the receptacle connector 3 is mounted on a main surface 5a of a circuit board 5. In this embodiment, the normal direction to the main surface 5a of the circuit board 5 is defined as the Z-axis direction. In the following description, the plug connector 2 and the receptacle connector 3 will be described with the -Y surface as the front, the +Y surface as the back, the -Z surface as the bottom, and the +Z surface as the top.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 2, the plug connector 2 and receptacle connector 3, which are separate from each other, are mated with the mating direction being the Z-axis direction, as shown in Fig. 1. The electrical connector device 1, in which the plug connector 2 and the receptacle connector 3 are mated, electrically connects the shielded cable 4 and the circuit board 5.

[0014] [Plug Connector: Assembly] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the plug connector 2 includes the above-mentioned multiple assemblies 10 (see Figure 7(A)), a main housing 20, and a cover portion 21. The main housing 20 and the cover portion 21 will be described later. Figure 7(A) shows the plug connector 2 with the cover portion 21 removed. As shown in Figure 7(A), the plug connector 2 includes an assembly 10. The assembly 10 is housed inside the plug connector 2.

[0015] Fig. 3(A) is a perspective view of the front of the assembly 10 viewed obliquely from above, and Fig. 3(B) is a perspective view of the rear of the assembly 10 viewed obliquely from below. As shown in Figs. 3(A) and 3(B), the assembly 10 includes plug contacts 11 as conductive contacts, a plug housing 12 as a housing, and a plug shell 13 as a conductive shell.

[0016] [Assembly: Plug Contact] In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B), the shielded cable 4 is a two-core flat cable. The shielded cable 4 includes a pair of core wires 4a, an insulator 4b, a shielding material 4c, and an outer sheath 4d. The pair of core wires 4a are made of linear metal wires (e.g., copper wires). The insulator 4b tightly covers each core wire 4a. The shielding material 4c is made of, for example, a metal braided wire, and covers each core wire 4a via the insulator 4b. The outer sheath 4d covers the shielding material 4c.

[0017] The above-described shielded cable 4 is merely an example. For example, the core wire 4a may be a twisted wire made up of multiple metal wires, or a single metal wire. Furthermore, the shielding material 4c may be a single copper plate wound around the core wire instead of a braided metal wire.

[0018] The shielded cable 4 enables signal transmission due to the potential difference between the two core wires 4a and the shielding material 4c. As shown in Figures 4(A) and 8, the plug connector 2 has a pair of plug contacts 11 that are connected one-to-one to each core wire 4a of the two-core shielded cable 4. The plug contact 11 is connected to one end of the core wire 4a of the flexible shielded cable 4.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B), the sets of plug contacts 11 and shielded cables 4 are connected to the assembly 10 in a state where they are aligned in a line in the X-axis direction.

[0020] [Assembly: Plug housing] As shown in Figures 3(A) and 3(B), the plug housing 12 holds the shielded cable 4 and the plug contacts 11. As shown in Figure 5, the plug housing 12 includes a base portion 12a and a holding plate 12b.

[0021] The base portion 12a is formed of an insulating material, for example, resin. As shown in Fig. 5, the base portion 12a includes a base portion 40, a protrusion 41, a pillar portion 42, and an edge portion 43. The base portion 40 extends in the X-axis direction and is the base end of the protrusion 41, the pillar portion 42, and the edge portion 43. The protrusion 41 protrudes from the base portion 40 in the -Z direction. The protrusions 41 are arranged at equal intervals in the X-axis direction. Each protrusion 41 holds a pair of plug contacts 11.

[0022] The pillar portions 42 are formed at three locations on the base 40: at both ends in the X-axis direction and in the center. The pillar portions 42 extend from the base 40 in the +Z direction (a first direction along a normal to the main surface 5a of the board 5 on which the receptacle connector 3 is mounted), bend partway, and extend in a direction (a second direction) between the +Z direction and the +Y direction that intersects with the first direction. The edge portions 43 are provided further outward in the X-axis direction than the pillar portions 42 at both ends of the base 40 in the X-axis direction. The edge portions 43 each extend from the base 40 in the +Z direction.

[0023] The holding plate 12b is made of a conductive material, such as a metal plate, and is fixed to the three pillars 42 in a bent state along the direction in which the pillars 42 extend.

[0024] The plug housing 12 includes a mating portion 50a and an extension portion 50b. As shown in Figures 3(A) and 3(B), the mating portion 50a mates with a receptacle connector 3 as a mating connector, and holds the shielded cable 4 extending in the +Z direction (first direction) along the normal to the main surface 5a of the board 5 on which the receptacle connector 3 is mounted. The extension portion 50b is formed continuously with the end of the mating portion 50a that is farther from the receptacle connector 3, and holds the shielded cable 4 extending in a direction between the +Z direction and the +Y direction (second direction).

[0025] In other words, the shielded cable 4 is held by the mating portion 50a and the extension portion 50b, so that as shown in Figure 4(A), it extends in the +Z direction (first direction) from the end that connects with the plug contact 11, bends midway, and extends in a direction between the +Z direction and the +Y direction (second direction).

[0026] Thus, the plug housing 12 includes the base portion 12a made of an insulating material and the retaining plate 12b, which is a conductive plate. The retaining plate 12b is press-fitted into the base portion 12a or inserted when the base portion 12a is molded, thereby forming the plug housing 12.

[0027] [Assembly: Plug shell] 3(A) and 3(B), the plug shell 13 made of a conductive material is fixed to the plug housing 12 and holds the shielded cable 4 together with the plug housing 12. As shown in FIG. 3(A), the plug shell 13 includes a first holding portion 13a, a second holding portion 13b, and a connecting portion 13c.

[0028] The first holding portion 13a, together with the mating portion 50a, holds one end of the shielded cable 4 connected to the plug contact 11. The first holding portion 13a is fixed to the mating portion 50a of the plug housing 12, as shown in FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B), with the shielded cable 4 surrounded. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of press-fit holes 50aa are formed in the mating portion 50a. Press-fit pieces 13aa (see FIG. 6(A)) formed in the first holding portion 13a are press-fitted into the press-fit holes 50aa, thereby fixing the first holding portion 13a to the mating portion 50a.

[0029] The second holding portion 13b, together with the extension portion 50b, holds a portion of the shielded cable 4. As shown in FIG. 4(A), the portion of the shielded cable 4 held by the extension portion 50b has the outer sheath 4d removed, exposing the shielding material 4c. Note that the outer sheath 4d does not have to be removed from the portion of the shielded cable 4 corresponding to the second holding portion 13b. In other words, the second holding portion 13b holds the shielding material 4c or the outer sheath 4d as part of the shielded cable 4.

[0030] Fig. 6(A) is a perspective view of the shielded cable 4 and plug shell 13, viewed obliquely from above the front, and Fig. 6(B) is a perspective view of the same state, viewed obliquely from below the back. As shown in Figs. 6(A) and 6(B), the second holding portion 13b surrounds a portion of the shielded cable 4 on three sides. As shown in Figs. 3(A) and 3(B), the second holding portion 13b is fixed to the extension portion 50b of the plug housing 12 while surrounding the portion of the shielded cable 4. Specifically, a plurality of press-fit holes 50ba are formed in the extension portion 50b, and press-fit pieces 13ba formed in the second holding portion 13b are press-fitted into the press-fit holes 50ba, thereby fixing the second holding portion 13b to the extension portion 50b.

[0031] In this way, the first retaining portion 13a is fixed to the mating portion 50a while surrounding one end of the shielded cable 4, and the second retaining portion 13b is fixed to the extension portion 50b while surrounding a portion of the shielded cable 4, so that the shielded cable 4 is firmly fixed to the plug housing 12 as shown in Figures 3(A) and 3(B).

[0032] The connecting portion 13c connects the first retaining portion 13a and the second retaining portion 13b in the plug shell 13. In other words, the connecting portion 13c integrates the first retaining portion 13a and the second retaining portion 13b to form the plug shell 13.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B), in the plug housing 12, a holding plate 12b, which is a conductive member, surrounds a shielding material 4c, which is a part of the shielded cable 4, together with a second holding portion 13b.

[0034] As shown in Figures 3(A) and 3(B), the plug housing 12 holds multiple pairs of shielded cables 4 and plug contacts 11. A plug shell 13 is provided for each pair of shielded cables 4 and plug contacts 11. One plug housing 12 fixes multiple plug shells 13. This completes the assembly 10.

[0035] [Plug connector: Main housing] 7(A), the main housing 20 has an overall rectangular parallelepiped outer shape. The +Z surface of the main housing 20 is provided with a recess 20a.

[0036] The mating portions 50a of the multiple assemblies 10 are inserted into the recess 20a. Grooves 20b facing each other are formed in a pair of inner walls of the recess 20a that face each other in the X-axis direction. The grooves 20b each extend in the Z-axis direction and are aligned in the Y-axis direction. The assembly 10 is inserted into the recess 20a so that its edge portion 43 fits into the grooves 20b.

[0037] Here, as shown in Fig. 3(A), a vector pointing in the +Z direction (first direction) is defined as vector V1, and a vector pointing in a direction between the +Z direction and the +Y direction (second direction) is defined as vector V2. Furthermore, a projected vector obtained by projecting vector V2 pointing in the second direction onto plane S1 perpendicular to the first direction is defined as vector V3. As shown in Fig. 7(B), multiple assemblies 10 are inserted into recess 20a in a state where they are lined up in a row along the direction indicated by vector V3.

[0038] Returning to Fig. 2, the plug connector 2 includes a cover portion 21. The cover portion 21 includes an upper surface portion 21a, a pressing portion 21b (see Fig. 8), a fixing portion 21c, an elastic piece 21d, and an engaging portion 21e.

[0039] The top surface portion 21a is fixed to the main housing 20 and prevents the assembly 10 (see FIG. 7) housed in the main housing 20 from falling out of the recess 20a. Specifically, as can be seen by comparing FIGS. 1, 2 and 7(A), the top surface portion 21a comes into contact with the +Z surface of the edge portion 43 of the assembly 10 housed in the recess 20a of the main housing 20, preventing the assembly 10 from slipping out in the +Z direction.

[0040] As shown in Fig. 8, the retaining portion 21b is formed by folding back a portion of the upper surface portion 21a. The retaining portion 21b is located in the +Z direction of the plug shell 13 in the assembly 10 arranged furthest in the -Y direction and comes into contact with it. The assembly 10 arranged furthest in the -Y direction retains the adjacent assembly 10, and the adjacent assembly 10 further retains the assembly 10 next to it. With this structure, the retaining portion 21b can retain all of the multiple assemblies 10 housed in the recess 20a so that they do not protrude in the +Z direction.

[0041] Returning to Figure 2, fixing portions 20c protruding from the side surfaces are provided on the side walls of the main housing 20. Fixing portions 21c of the cover portion 21 fit into fixing portions 20c of the main housing 20. In this way, the main housing 20 fixes the cover portion 21.

[0042] The elastic piece 21d is a cantilever beam that extends in the -Z direction with the upper surface portion 21a as a fixed end. When viewed in the Z-axis direction, the elastic piece 21d is deformable by an elastic force from the center of the plug connector 2 outward. Here, "when viewed in the Z-axis direction" means that an observer who moves far along the Z-axis direction from the elastic piece 21d as a starting point observes the elastic piece 21d from an end point sufficiently distant from the elastic piece 21d.

[0043] Returning to Fig. 2, engaging portion 21e is provided at the tip of elastic piece 21d. Engaging portion 21e engages with receptacle connector 3. Specifically, as will be described later, when plug connector 2 is mated with receptacle connector 3, engaging portion 21e elastically deforms and engages with receptacle connector 3 (engaging hole 33d, which will be described later).

[0044] Fig. 9(A) is a perspective view of the bottom surface of the plug connector 2 viewed obliquely from below. Fig. 9(B) is a perspective view of the top surface of the receptacle connector 3 viewed obliquely from above. As shown in Fig. 9(A), at the end of the plug connector 2 in the -Z direction, protrusions 41 are arranged two-dimensionally along the XY plane. At each protrusion 41, a pair of plug contacts 11 connected to one end of the shielded cable 4 is exposed.

[0045] [Receptacle connector] On the other hand, the receptacle connector 3 includes a receptacle housing 30, receptacle contacts 31 as mating contacts, a receptacle shell 32 as a mating shell, and a frame 33, as shown in FIG. 9(B).

[0046] The receptacle housing 30 is made of an insulating material, such as resin. When viewed in the Z-axis direction, the receptacle housing 30 is rectangular. An array of recesses 30a is formed on the +Z side surface of the receptacle housing 30. The recesses 30a are provided at positions corresponding to the protrusions 41 of the plug connector 2. When viewed in the Z-axis direction, the receptacle housing 30 is also provided with protrusions 30b that protrude outward from its four outer edges.

[0047] The receptacle contacts 31 are conductive members. The receptacle contacts 31 are soldered to signal electrodes 5b (see FIG. 8) formed on the main surface 5a of the circuit board 5. As shown in FIGS. 9(B) and 10, a pair of receptacle contacts 31 are provided in the recess 30a, and when the plug connector 2 and the receptacle connector 3 are mated, each receptacle contact 31 is arranged to come into contact with the plug contact 11, as shown in FIG.

[0048] The receptacle shell 32 is a conductive member. The receptacle shell 32 is soldered to a ground electrode 5c (see FIG. 8) formed on the main surface 5a of the circuit board 5. As shown in FIGS. 9(B) and 10, the receptacle shell 32 surrounds the receptacle contacts 31 when viewed in the mating direction of the plug connector 2 and the receptacle connector 3. When the plug connector 2 and the receptacle connector 3 are mated, the receptacle shell 32 comes into contact with the plug shell 13 of the plug connector 2, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 12.

[0049] 9(B), the frame 33 is a conductive member and includes an outer frame portion 33a, a board connection portion 33b, a guide portion 33c, and an engagement hole 33d.

[0050] 9(B), the outer frame portion 33a is disposed so as to surround the receptacle housing 30 when viewed in the mating direction. The outer frame portion 33a is fixed to the protrusion portion 30b of the receptacle housing 30. When the plug connector 2 and the receptacle connector 3 are mated, the main housing 20 of the plug connector 2 fits inside the frame 33.

[0051] 9(B), the board connecting portion 33b is continuous with the outer frame portion 33a and is connected to the ground electrode 5c (see FIG. 8) of the circuit board 5. The frame 33 is fixed to the circuit board 5 by the board connecting portion 33b.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 9(B), the guide portion 33c is provided to guide the main housing 20 to the mating position when mating with the plug connector 2.

[0053] As described above, the cover portion 21 is provided with the engaging portion 21e (see FIG. 9(A)). The engaging hole 33d is provided to correspond to the engaging portion 21e of the plug connector 2. FIGS. 11(A) and 11(B) show the state of the cover portion 21 and the frame 33 when the plug connector 2 and the receptacle connector 3 are mated as shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 11(A) and 11(B), when the plug connector 2 and the receptacle connector 3 are mated, the engaging portion 21e of the cover portion 21 elastically deforms and engages with the engaging hole 33d of the frame 33. The mating of the plug connector 2 and the receptacle connector 3 can be released by manually elastically deforming the elastic piece 21d to release the engagement between the engaging portion 21e and the engaging hole 33d.

[0054] 12 is a perspective view of the shielded cable 4, plug shell 13, and receptacle shell 32, viewed obliquely from above the front. When the plug connector 2 and the receptacle connector 3 are mated, as seen in the mating direction, the plug shell 13 and the receptacle shell 32 surround the plug contacts 11 and the receptacle contacts 31 on all sides, as shown in FIG. 12. This allows them to function as a shield that prevents electromagnetic waves from entering or leaking between the exposed core wire 4a and the outside.

[0055] [Electrical connector device] As described above, the electrical connector device 1 includes the plug connector 2 connected to a plurality of shielded cables 4, and the receptacle connector 3 connected to the circuit board 5. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the plug connector 2 is mated with the receptacle connector 3 in the Z-axis direction (mating direction) perpendicular to the circuit board 5.

[0056] [Assembling the Electrical Connector Device] To assemble the plug connector 2, the assembly 10 is first assembled. Specifically, a plug housing 12 equipped with plug contacts 11 is prepared. Then, the core wires 4a of the multiple shielded cables 4 are soldered to the plug contacts 11. After that, the shielding material 4c of the shielded cable 4 is surrounded by the first holding portion 13a and holding plate 12b of the plug shell 13, and the shielding material 4c is soldered to the first holding portion 13a and holding plate 12b. Next, the shielded cable 4 is arranged along the mating portion 50a and the extension portion 50b, and the shielding material 4c of the shielded cable 4 is surrounded by the second holding portion 13b and holding plate 12b of the plug shell 13, and the shielding material 4c, second holding portion 13b, and holding plate 12b are soldered together. This completes the assembly 10 (see FIGS. 3A and 3B).

[0057] Furthermore, multiple assemblies 10 are housed in the main housing 20 in the same orientation (see FIG. 7(A)), and the cover portion 21 is fixed to the main housing 20. This completes the plug connector 2 that can be connected to multiple shielded cables 4 (see FIGS. 2 and 9(A)).

[0058] Meanwhile, the receptacle connector 3 is mounted on the main surface 5a of the circuit board 5 (see FIG. 2). Then, the plug connector 2 connected to the shielded cable 4 and the receptacle connector 3 mounted on the circuit board 5 are mated, electrically connecting the shielded cable 4 to the circuit board 5 (see FIGS. 1 and 8). As shown in FIG. 1, the shielded cable 4 extends in the +Z direction (first direction) from the end connected to the plug contact 11, then bends, extends in a direction between the +Z direction and the +Y direction (second direction), and is finally pulled out in the +Y direction. Therefore, the position of the shielded cable 4 (a position distant in the +Z direction from the main surface 5a of the circuit board 5) can be lower than when the shielded cable 4 is bent from a state in which it extends in the +Z direction and pulled out in the +Y direction.

[0059] [Operation of electrical connector device] Next, the operation of the electrical connector device 1 will be described. When the plug connector 2 is mated with the receptacle connector 3 connected to the circuit board 5, a signal transmission path is formed from the core 4a of the shielded cable 4 → plug contact 11 → receptacle contact 31 → signal electrode 5b of the circuit board 5, as shown in Fig. 8. This enables signal transmission, for example, between the shielded cable 4 and the circuit board 5. Furthermore, when the plug connector 2 is mated with the receptacle connector 3 connected to the circuit board 5, a grounding transmission path is formed from the shielding material 4c of the shielded cable 4 → plug shell 13 → receptacle shell 32 → ground electrode 5c of the circuit board 5, as shown in Fig. 8. The core 4a at the tip of the shielded cable 4 is surrounded by the plug shell 13 and the receptacle shell 32, i.e., the grounding transmission path, so that noise leakage or intrusion into the electrical connector device 1 is prevented.

[0060] [summary] (1) As described above in detail, the assembly 10 according to this embodiment includes the plug contact 11 connected to one end of the core wire 4a of the flexible shielded cable 4, the insulating plug housing 12 that holds the shielded cable 4 and the plug contact 11, and the plug shell 13 that is fixed to the plug housing 12 and holds the shielded cable 4 together with the plug housing 12. The plug housing 12 includes a mating portion 50a that mates with the receptacle connector 3 and holds the shielded cable 4 extending in the +Z direction (first direction) along the normal to the main surface 5a of the board 5 on which the receptacle connector 3 is mounted, and an extension portion 50b that is formed continuously with the end of the mating portion 50a that is farther from the receptacle connector 3 and holds the shielded cable 4 extending in a direction between the +Z direction and the +Y direction (second direction) that intersects the first direction. In this way, the shielded cable 4 can be pulled out in an oblique direction relative to the normal direction of the main surface 5a of the circuit board 5, thereby making it possible to reduce the height of the entire device compared to when the shielded cable 4 is pulled out in the +Y direction from a state in which it extends in the +Z direction.

[0061] (2) According to the assembly 10 of this embodiment, the plug shell 13 is fixed to the fitting portion 50a and includes the first holding portion 13a that, together with the fitting portion 50a, holds one end of the shielded cable 4. This allows the one end of the shielded cable 4 to be held from all four sides, thereby reducing the load on the connection portion (soldered portion) between the one end of the shielded cable 4 and the plug contact 11.

[0062] (3) According to the assembly 10 of this embodiment, the plug shell 13 is fixed to the extension portion 50b and includes the second holding portion 13b that, together with the extension portion 50b, holds the outer sheath 4d or the shielding material 4c of the shielded cable 4. This allows a portion of the shielded cable 4 to be held from all four sides, thereby reducing the load on the connection portion (soldered portion) between one end of the shielded cable 4 and the plug contact 11 due to bending stress generated in the shielded cable 4 held in a bent state. Note that the assembly 10 does not necessarily have to include the second holding portion 13b.

[0063] (4) According to the assembly 10 of this embodiment, the plug shell 13 includes the connecting portion 13c that connects the first holding portion 13a and the second holding portion 13b. This allows the number of parts of the plug shell 13 to be one per shielded cable 4, thereby improving the efficiency of the assembly work and reducing the number of parts. Note that the assembly 10 does not necessarily have to include the connecting portion 13c.

[0064] (5) According to the assembly 10 of this embodiment, the plug housing 12 has the retaining plate 12b, which is a conductive member that, together with the second retaining portion 13b, surrounds a portion of the shielded cable 4. This allows the shielded cable 4 to be surrounded on all four sides by conductive members, thereby improving the shielding performance around the shielded cable 4. However, in the plug housing 12, the member of the plug housing 12 that, together with the second retaining portion 13b, surrounds a portion of the shielded cable 4 may be an insulating member.

[0065] (6) According to the assembly 10 of this embodiment, the plug housing 12 holds a plurality of pairs of shielded cables 4 and plug contacts 11. A plug shell 13 is provided for each pair, and the plug housing 12 fixes the plurality of plug shells 13. This allows the number of plug housings 12 to be one per unit number of shielded cables 4, thereby improving the efficiency of the assembly work and reducing the number of parts.

[0066] (7) According to the assembly 10 of this embodiment, the shielded cable 4 is a twin cable having a pair of core wires 4a for each cable. The plug contacts 11 are a pair of plug contacts 11 that are connected one-to-one to the pair of core wires 4a. However, this is not limiting. Instead of a twin cable, two coaxial cables may be used as a pair, with one plug shell provided for each pair of coaxial cables. Alternatively, a single-core coaxial cable may be used, with one plug shell provided for each coaxial cable.

[0067] (8) The plug connector 2 according to this embodiment includes a plurality of assemblies 10 and a main housing 20 having recesses 20a into which fitting portions 50a of the plurality of assemblies 10 are inserted. In this way, the plurality of assemblies 10 can be combined into one plug connector 2, thereby making it possible to miniaturize the entire connector.

[0068] (9) In the plug connector 2 according to this embodiment, the multiple assemblies 10 are inserted into the recess 20a while being aligned in a line along the direction indicated by the vector V3, which is a projection vector obtained by projecting the vector V2 facing the second direction onto the plane S1 perpendicular to the first direction. This allows the multiple assemblies 10 to be aligned in the same direction and inserted into the recess 20a of the main housing 20, thereby improving the efficiency of the assembly work of the plug connector 2.

[0069] (10) The plug connector 2 according to this embodiment includes a cover portion 21 that is fixed to the main housing 20 and prevents the assembly 10 housed in the main housing 20 from slipping out of the recess 20a. This prevents the assembly 10 from falling out of the main housing 20.

[0070] (11) According to the electrical connector device 1 of this embodiment, the cover portion 21 has the engaging portion 21e that engages with the receptacle connector 3. This prevents the plug connector 2 from accidentally being disengaged from the receptacle connector 3.

[0071] (12) According to the electrical connector device 1 of this embodiment, when the plug connector 2 is mated with the receptacle connector 3, the engaging portion 21e elastically deforms to engage with the receptacle connector 3. This allows the plug connector 2 to engage with the receptacle connector 3 simply by the mating operation, making it difficult for the two to come loose.

[0072] In this embodiment, the plug connector 2 and the receptacle connector 3 are configured to engage with each other by elastic deformation, but this is not limiting. For example, the plug connector 2 and the receptacle connector 3 may be configured to engage with each other by a rotation mechanism such as a rotation bar.

[0073] (13) The electrical connector device 1 according to this embodiment includes a plug connector 2 and a receptacle connector 3 connected to a circuit board 5. The plug connector 2 mates with the receptacle connector 3 along a first direction. The electrical connector device 1 has a low profile, which allows for densely packed arrangement of the circuit boards 5, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in designing the internal space of the electrical device in which the circuit boards 5 are mounted.

[0074] (14) According to the electrical connector device 1 of this embodiment, the receptacle connector 3 includes conductive receptacle contacts 31 that come into contact with the plug contacts 11, and a receptacle shell 32 that surrounds the receptacle contacts 31 when viewed in the first direction. When the plug connector 2 and the receptacle connector 3 are mated, the plug shell 13 and the receptacle shell 32 surround the plug contacts 11 and the receptacle contacts 31 when viewed in the first direction. This improves the shielding performance of the exposed core wire 4a of the shielded cable 4.

[0075] This electrical connector device 1 forms multiple signal transmission lines from the shielded cable 4 to the plug contacts 11 to the receptacle contacts 31 to the signal electrodes 5b, but the path lengths of these transmission lines are the same between the lines, which reduces variations in the signal transmission characteristics between the transmission lines.

[0076] This invention allows various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of this invention. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are intended to explain this invention and do not limit the scope of this invention. That is, the scope of this invention is defined by the claims, not the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the meaning of the invention equivalent thereto are considered to be within the scope of this invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0077] The present invention is applicable to an assembly for connecting a plurality of shielded cables to a circuit board, an electrical connector, and an electrical connector device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 1 Electrical connector device, 2 Plug connector (electrical connector), 3 Receptacle connector, 4 Shielded cable, 4a Core wire, 4b Insulator, 4c Shielding material, 4d Outer jacket, 5 Circuit board, 5a Main surface, 5b Signal electrode, 5c Ground electrode, 10 Assembly, 11 Plug contact (conductive contact), 12 Plug housing (housing), 12a Base portion, 12b Retaining plate, 13 Plug shell (conductive shell), 13a First retaining portion, 13aa Press-fit piece, 13b Second retaining portion, 13ba Press-fit piece, 13c Connecting portion, 20 Main housing, 20a Recess, 20b Groove portion, 20c Fixing portion, 21 Cover portion, 21a Upper surface portion, 21b Retaining portion, 21c Fixing portion, 21d Elastic piece, 21e Engagement portion, 30 Receptacle housing, 30a Recess, 30b protrusion, 31 receptacle contact (mating contact), 32 receptacle shell (mating shell), 33 frame, 33a outer frame portion, 33b board connection portion, 33c guide portion, 33d engagement hole, 40 base portion, 41 protrusion portion, 42 column portion, 43 edge portion, 50a mating portion, 50aa press-fit hole, 50b extension portion, 50ba press-fit hole

Claims

1. a conductive contact connected to one end of a core wire of a flexible shielded cable; an insulating housing that holds the shielded cable and the conductive contacts; a conductive shell fixed to the housing and holding the shielded cable together with the housing; The housing includes: a mating portion that mates with a mating connector and holds the shielded cable, the shielded cable extending in a first direction along a normal to a main surface of a board on which the mating connector is mounted; an extension portion formed continuously with an end portion of the fitting portion farther from the mating connector, the extension portion holding the shielded cable extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction; assembly.

2. The conductive shell is a first holding portion fixed to the fitting portion and holding one end of the shielded cable together with the fitting portion; The assembly of claim 1 .

3. The conductive shell is a second holding portion fixed to the extension portion and holding an outer sheath or a shielding material of the shielded cable together with the extension portion; 3. The assembly of claim 2.

4. The conductive shell is a connecting portion that connects the first holding portion and the second holding portion, 4. The assembly of claim 3.

5. The housing includes: a conductive member surrounding a portion of the shielded cable together with the second holding portion; 4. The assembly of claim 3.

6. the housing holds a plurality of sets of the shielded cables and the conductive contacts; the conductive shell is provided for each of the sets, The housing secures the plurality of conductive shells. The assembly of claim 1 .

7. Each of the shielded cables has a pair of the core wires, The conductive contacts include a pair of conductive contacts connected to the pair of core wires in a one-to-one relationship.

7. The assembly of claim 6.

8. A plurality of assemblies according to any one of claims 1 to 7; a main housing having recesses into which the fitting portions of the plurality of assemblies are inserted; An electrical connector comprising:

9. the plurality of assemblies are inserted into the recess in a state where they are aligned in a line along a direction indicated by a projection vector when a vector pointing in the second direction is projected onto a plane perpendicular to the first direction; 9. The electrical connector of claim 8.

10. a cover portion that is fixed to the main housing and prevents the assembly housed in the main housing from slipping out of the recess; 9. The electrical connector of claim 8.

11. The cover portion includes an engaging portion that engages with the mating connector.

11. The electrical connector of claim 10.

12. When the electrical connector is mated with the mating connector, the engaging portion elastically deforms to engage with the mating connector.

12. The electrical connector of claim 11.

13. The electrical connector according to claim 8; a mating connector to be connected to the board; The electrical connector is fitted to the mating connector along the first direction. Electrical connector device.

14. The mating connector is a conductive mating contact that contacts the conductive contact; a mating shell surrounding the mating contact when viewed in the first direction, When the electrical connector and the mating connector are mated, the conductive shell and the mating shell surround the conductive contacts and the mating contacts when viewed in the first direction.

14. The electrical connector device of claim 13.

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