Electrical Connector Unit

Abstract

To provide an electric connector unit with a more suitable electromagnetic shield structure for electrically shielding a cable and a terminal connected to the cable.SOLUTION: An electric connector unit is formed by having a connector and a cable to be connected to the connector. The cable includes an internal cable bundle constituted of a plurality of internal cables, and a cable shield surrounding the internal cable bundle. The connector includes a terminal housing and a shell to be attached to the terminal housing. The terminal housing includes an opening. The shell includes a shield fixing part capable of being inserted into the opening. At least a part of the cable shield and the shield fixing part are inserted into the opening and are electrically connected to each other in the opening.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 14

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electrical connector unit, and more particularly to an electrical connector unit having a cable electrically connected thereto. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a multi-pole L-shaped connector for connecting a multi-core cable to an electrical device.

[0003] In such connectors, an electromagnetic shield structure is provided that electrically shields the cable attached to the connector from the terminals provided on the connector in order to suppress the external radiation of electromagnetic waves due to signals transmitted to electrical devices or the intrusion of electromagnetic waves from the outside. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-45835 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The inventors of the present invention have realized that there are problems to be overcome in the electromagnetic shielding structure of conventional connectors, and have recognized the need to take measures to address these problems. Specifically, they have found the following problems:

[0006] For example, in the connector described in Patent Document 1, an outer conductor surrounding the outer periphery of an internal cable is electrically connected to a shielding member provided in a connector housing having terminals inside. To connect the cable, the end of the insulating coating covering the outer periphery of the outer conductor is removed, the entire end of the outer conductor is folded back outward, and copper tape is wrapped around the folded back portion to terminate the cable. The outer conductor and the shielding member are electrically connected by crimping or pressing the shielding member against the terminated portion.

[0007] In this type of termination, the folded outer conductor of the cable is positioned directly on the insulating sheath, and the shielding material is crimped or pressed onto the insulating sheath around the cable. However, since insulating sheaths are generally made of heat-shrinkable materials that shrink with increasing temperature, the outer diameter of the cable can be reduced due to heat generated during operation of electrical equipment. Therefore, in the above-mentioned connection where the outer conductor is pressed onto the insulating sheath, there is a concern that poor contact may occur due to changes in the outer diameter of the cable caused by aging deterioration of the insulating sheath, and that this could impair the electromagnetic shielding function.

[0008] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a primary object of the present disclosure is to provide an electrical connector unit having a more suitable electromagnetic shielding configuration for electrically shielding a cable and a terminal connected to the cable. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the present disclosure provides an electrical connector unit comprising a connector and a cable connected to the connector, wherein the cable comprises an internal cable bundle consisting of a plurality of internal cables and a cable shield surrounding the internal cable bundle, the connector comprises a terminal housing and a shell attached to the terminal housing, the terminal housing has an opening, the shell has a shield fixing portion insertable into the opening, and at least a portion of the cable shield and the shield fixing portion are inserted into the opening and are electrically connected to each other at the opening. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The electrical connector unit according to the present disclosure provides a more suitable electromagnetic shield configuration for electrically shielding the cable and the terminal connected to the cable.

[0011] More specifically, the electrical connector unit according to the present disclosure provides an electromagnetic shielding configuration that achieves a more optimal connection between a cable shield that electrically shields a cable and a shell that electrically shields a terminal housed in a terminal housing. This connection can be achieved by inserting at least a portion of the cable shield through an opening in the terminal housing and sandwiching it between the shield fixing portion of the shell inserted into the opening and the inner wall of the opening. Therefore, in the electrical connector unit according to the present disclosure, the cable shield provided on the cable and the shell attached to the terminal housing are electrically connected at the opening of the connector's terminal housing. In other words, the connection between the cable shield and the shell is achieved without directly affecting the cable's insulating coating, which can more effectively prevent connection failures due to aging of the insulating coating. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an electrical connector unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a cable according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating an electrical connector unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a shell of an electrical connector unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the shell of FIG. 4 taken along the line AA, as viewed in the direction of the arrow. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a terminal housing of an electrical connector unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a top view schematically showing a terminal housing of an electrical connector unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the terminal housing of FIG. 7 taken along the line BB. [Figure 9] 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the CC cross section of the terminal housing of FIG. 7 as viewed in the direction of the arrow. [Figure 10] 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the terminal housing of FIG. 7, taken along the line DD. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view schematically showing a state before the terminal housing and the shell of the electrical connector unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure are assembled. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view schematically showing a state after the terminal housing and the shell of the electrical connector unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure have been assembled. [Figure 13] 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the assembled terminal housing and shell shown in FIG. 12, taken along the EE cross section as viewed in the direction of the arrow. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the connection between the cable shield and the shell in the terminal housing and shell shown in FIG. [Figure 15A]FIG. 15A is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection between a cable shield and a shell in an electrical connector unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 15B] FIG. 15B is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection between a cable shield and a shell in an electrical connector unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 15C] FIG. 15C is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection between a cable shield and a shell in an electrical connector unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 15D] FIG. 15D is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection between a cable shield and a shell in an electrical connector unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] An electrical connector unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. The various elements in the drawings are merely shown schematically and for illustrative purposes only, and the appearance and dimensional ratios may differ from those of the actual product.

[0014] Furthermore, in the following description, terms indicating specific directions or positions are used as necessary. However, the use of these terms is for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the invention with reference to the drawings, and the meaning of these terms does not limit the technical scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, parts with the same reference numerals in multiple drawings refer to the same or equivalent parts.

[0015] The description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure is intended to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are considered a part of the entire written description. In describing the embodiments of the present disclosure disclosed herein, references to directions or orientations are for convenience of description only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Relative terms such as "lower," "upper," "horizontal," "vertical," "top," "lower," "top," and "bottom," as well as derivative terms such as "horizontally," "downward," and "upward," should be understood to refer to the orientation as described or illustrated. Such relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the device be configured or operated in a particular orientation, unless expressly described otherwise. Furthermore, terms such as "mounted," "attached," "connected," "coupled," and "interconnected," and similar terms, describe a relationship in which structures are directly or indirectly fixed or attached to one another by an intervening object, or a relationship in which both are movable or rigidly attached to one another, unless expressly described otherwise. Furthermore, the features or benefits of the present disclosure are illustrated with reference to preferred embodiments. Such embodiments have been described in sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice the present disclosure. It is also to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and process, electrical, or mechanical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is expressly not limited to the preferred embodiments (alone or in combination with other features) which illustrate non-limiting combinations of possible features.

[0016] Furthermore, "substantially perpendicular" as used herein does not necessarily mean completely "perpendicular" and includes a slight deviation therefrom (for example, an angle formed with respect to the winding axis in the range of 90°±20°, e.g., up to 90°±10°).

[0017] Furthermore, in this specification, "substantially parallel" does not necessarily mean completely "parallel," but includes a state where the parallelism is slightly deviated from the parallelism (for example, within a range of ±20° from completely parallelism, e.g., a range of ±10°).

[0018] The features of the present disclosure relate to the structure of an electromagnetic shield in an electrical connector unit. However, in order to understand the electrical connector unit as a whole, an outline of the electrical connector unit will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0019] 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an electrical connector unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The electrical connector unit 1000 includes, as main components, a connector 100 and a cable 200 connected to the connector 100. The electrical connector unit 1000 further includes a device connector 300 provided on a device. The device connector 300 is configured to be installed on a device (not shown) and to be mated with the connector 100.

[0020] In the following description, the direction in which the connector 100 and the device connector 300 are combined is referred to as the "vertical direction," and the connector 100 is placed above the device connector 300, which is placed below it in the vertical direction.

[0021] In this disclosure, the term "unit" refers to a composite or combination of multiple components. Therefore, the electrical connector unit 1000 of the present disclosure may correspond to an electrical connector composite or combination including at least a cable 200, a connector 100 attached to the end of the cable 200, and a device connector 300 that mates with the connector 100.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a cable 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The cable 200 includes an inner cable bundle 240 composed of multiple inner cables 230, a cable shield 220, and an insulating covering member 210 (or covering material) surrounding the inner cable bundle 240 and the cable shield 220. As shown in the figure, each of the multiple inner cables 230 may be formed by covering the outer periphery of a conductor 231 with an insulating inner cable sheath 232. The multiple inner cables 230 constitute the inner cable bundle 240, the outer periphery of which is surrounded by the conductive cable shield 220. The covering member 210 covers the outer periphery of the cable shield 220 and defines the outer periphery of the cable 200. The covering member 210 may also be referred to as a cable jacket.

[0023] The covering member 210 is made of an insulating material, and preferably a flexible insulating material for ease of cable routing. For example, the covering member 210 may be made of a polymer such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, fluoropolymer, polyethylene, and / or the like. The conducting wire 231 may be made of any conductive material, such as pure copper wire or tinned copper wire.

[0024] 3 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating an electrical connector unit 1000 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The connector 100 includes terminals 140 that electrically connect with an internal cable, a terminal housing 130 that accommodates the terminals 140, a shell 120 that surrounds the outer periphery of the terminal housing 130, and a housing 110 that accommodates all of the above. In the connector of the present disclosure, the housing 110 is a housing that defines the outside of the connector 100, and the terminal housing 130 is disposed within the housing 110. Therefore, the housing 110 and the terminal housing 130 may also be referred to as an outer housing and an inner housing, respectively, based on their relative positional relationship.

[0025] The housing 110 is an insulating member having a generally box-like shape, and is open on the device connector 300 side. An insertion opening 111 through which the cable 200 can pass may be formed on at least one side of the housing 110. In the electrical connector unit 1000 of the present disclosure, the cable 200 combined with the connector 100 extends from the housing 110 to the outside through the insertion opening 111 (see FIG. 1 ). The insertion opening 111 may have a cylindrical shape that protrudes toward the outside of the housing 110. A thread may be formed on the outer periphery of the insertion opening 111 to threadably engage with a screw cap 150, and tightening the screw cap 150 may seal a gap between the insertion opening 111 and the cable 200. Although not shown, the space between the screw cap 150 and the insertion opening 111 may be waterproofed using a sealant and / or a clamp, etc. One end of cable 200 inserted into case housing 110 is accommodated within case housing 110. Within case housing 110, an internal cable bundle (not shown) of a predetermined length extends from the end of cable 200 in the mating direction D1 (see FIG. 1 ) with the device connector, and the tip of the internal cable bundle is electrically connected to terminal 140. More specifically, the internal cable is connected to terminal 140 by electrical conduction between the conductor extending from the tip of the internal cable bundle and terminal 140. In other words, cable 200 inserted from the side of case housing 110 has an internal cable bundle of a predetermined length extending from the end of cable 200 toward terminal 140.

[0026] The terminals 140 connected to the internal cable may be accommodated in the terminal housing 130. The terminal housing 130 is configured to be combined with the device connector 300 described below. Furthermore, the terminal housing 130 is configured to support the terminals 140 connected to the internal cable. When the device connector 300 is combined with the connector 100, each of the terminals 140 in the terminal housing 130 is electrically connected to each of the terminals (not shown) provided in the device connector 300.

[0027] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the device connector 300 is a connector provided in a device and may also be referred to as a header connector. The device connector of the present disclosure may be applied to various electronic devices, such as motors used in industrial machinery or industrial robots. The device connector 300 mainly includes a base 320, an insulating housing 310, and terminals installed in the insulating housing 310. The insulating housing 310 may be installed on the surface of the device's enclosure (not shown). For example, the connector 100 may be attached to the device connector 300 by combining the insulating housing 310 and the terminal housing 130 so that the insulating housing 310 surrounds the terminal housing 130. Terminals of the device connector are installed inside the insulating housing, and when mated with the connector 100, the terminals are electrically connected to the terminals 140 of the terminal housing 130. That is, by combining the insulating housing 310 and the terminal housing 130, the terminal 140 at the tip of the internal cable and the terminal accommodated in the insulating housing 310 are electrically connected to each other.

[0028] Furthermore, when mated with the device connector 300, the connector housing 110 is combined to surround the insulating housing 310. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the device connector 300 may have a packing to prevent water from entering from the outside. The packing may be provided, for example, around the outer periphery of the insulating housing 310 that is combined with the connector 100, and / or at the joint between the base 320 and the device. This fills any gaps that may occur at the joint between the connector, device connector, and device, and allows electrical elements such as internal cables and terminals to be properly waterproofed.

[0029] Although not shown, a lock lever may be used to mate the connector 100 and the device connector 300. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the lock lever may be curved or bent and extend across the case housing 110. The lock lever may be configured to engage with the side surface of the case housing from a direction opposite the insertion opening 111 when the connector 100 and the device connector 300 are mated, thereby maintaining the mated state.

[0030] In the present disclosure, insulating members such as the enclosure housing 110, the terminal housing 130, and the insulating housing 310 may be formed from an insulating, non-conductive material. These insulating members may include a resin material having insulating properties. Although not particularly limited, such insulating members may include at least one thermosetting resin selected from the group consisting of epoxy resin, phenolic resin, silicone resin, and unsaturated polyester resin. Different members may also be made of different resin materials.

[0031] The electrical connector unit of the present disclosure is characterized by a shield structure for electrically shielding a cable from a terminal connected to the cable. In particular, the electrical connector unit of the present disclosure is characterized by a shield configuration that does not directly involve the cable covering. The shield structure of the electrical connector unit of the present disclosure is described below.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a shell 120 of an electrical connector unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a state after the terminal housing 130 and the shell 120 of the electrical connector unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure are assembled. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the shell 120 is attached to the terminal housing 130, which accommodates terminals. The shell 120 is installed to function as a shielding element for the terminals connected to the ends of internal cables (not shown). Furthermore, the shell 120 can also be used to ensure shielding for the internal cables and the terminals connected to the ends thereof. As shown in FIG. 12 , the shell 120 may be provided to at least partially surround the entire periphery of the terminal housing 130. That is, the shell 120 may have a shape that is bent along the side of the terminal housing 130 and be arranged to at least partially cover the outer periphery of the terminal housing 130. In other words, the shell 120 of the present disclosure does not necessarily have to be formed to surround the entire periphery of the terminal housing 130. In the electrical connector unit of the present disclosure, the shell 120 also functions as an electromagnetic shield for the electrical elements housed inside the terminal housing 130 of the connector, and may therefore also be referred to as a connector shield.

[0033] The shell may be formed from a conductive material such as metal or soft magnetic material, or a material whose surface is made conductive by plating, etc. Although not limited thereto, the shell may be formed from a conductive plate-like member, for example, by stamping and / or forming a metal sheet.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the shell 120 shown in FIG. 4 taken along the line AA, as viewed in the direction of the arrow. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, a shield fixing portion 121 is disposed on the side surface of the shell 120. The shield fixing portion 121 electrically shields the internal cables and terminals in the terminal housing 130 by conducting with at least a portion of the cable shield 220 (see FIG. 2) at an opening 131 (see FIG. 12) of the terminal housing 130, which will be described later. The shape of the shield fixing portion 121 is not particularly limited as long as it can be inserted into the opening 131 of the terminal housing 130 and establishes conduction with the cable shield inserted through the opening 131. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the shield fixing portion 121 may extend from the side surface of the shell 120 and have a bent shape that folds back. In this disclosure, "bending" also encompasses curvature and flexure. Such a bent shape may also be referred to as, for example, a "folded shape," "approximately U-shape," "approximately V-shape," "approximately J-shape," or "curved shape with a local maximum point" in the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 5. The shield fixing portion 121 is conductive and may be formed, for example, by bending the thin metal plate that constitutes the shell 120. That is, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the shell and the shield fixing portion may be formed from a single conductive plate material. This means that the shell and the shield fixing portion may be an integrated part that are integrated with each other.

[0035] FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a terminal housing 130 of an electrical connector unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a top view schematically illustrating the terminal housing 130. As illustrated, the terminal housing 130 may include terminal accommodating sections 136 that individually accommodate terminals connected to internal cables. The terminal accommodating sections 136 may be open in the direction in which the internal cables connected to the terminals extend. Furthermore, a through-hole 136a may be formed at the bottom of the terminal accommodating section 136, through which a terminal (e.g., a contact pin) of the device connector can pass. When the connector and the device connector are mated, the terminal of the device connector inserted through the through-hole 136a is electrically connected to the terminal connected to the internal cable inside the terminal accommodating section 136. In other words, each terminal that is electrically connected to each terminal of the device connector may be supported by being inserted into the terminal accommodating section 136.

[0036] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the terminals accommodated in the terminal housing 130 include a ground terminal 140a connected to a ground potential and a signal terminal 140b for transmitting signals. For example, each of the multiple terminal accommodating sections 136 of the terminal housing may accommodate one ground terminal 140a and multiple signal terminals 140b. When the connector and the device connector are mated, the ground terminal and signal terminal of the terminal housing are electrically connected to the ground terminal and signal terminal installed in the insulating housing of the device connector, respectively. In other words, the ground terminal of the connector may be configured to be electrically connected to the ground terminal of the device connector, and the signal terminal of the connector may be configured to be electrically connected to the signal terminal of the device connector, respectively.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the terminal housing of the present disclosure includes an opening 131. The opening 131 may be located on a side surface of the terminal housing 130. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the opening 131 may open in the same direction as the terminal accommodating portion 136. The opening 131 may have a shape that penetrates along the mating direction D1 with the device connector. That is, the opening 131 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may have a shape that penetrates along the up-and-down direction shown in FIG. 6 . In addition, the shape of the opening 131 may be, for example, a substantially rectangular shape in the top view shown in FIG. 7 . More specifically, the opening 131 may have a substantially rectangular space that extends along the side surface of the terminal housing 130 in the top view. The opening 131 does not necessarily have to be enclosed all around. That is, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the opening 131 may have a discontinuous shape that is not closed all around in the top view.

[0038] The terminal housing with the opening may be formed from an insulating resin material. That is, the terminal housing and the opening may be integrally formed by injection molding the insulating resin material. This means that the terminal housing and the opening may be an integrated body. Although not particularly limited, the insulating resin material may include at least one thermosetting resin selected from the group consisting of epoxy resin, phenolic resin, silicone resin, and unsaturated polyester resin.

[0039] FIG. 11 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a state before the terminal housing 130 and the shell 120 of an electrical connector unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure are assembled. FIG. 12 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a state after the terminal housing 130 and the shell 120 shown in FIG. 11 are assembled. As described above, the shell 120 can be attached to the terminal housing 130 that accommodates terminals 140 (140a, 140b) to be connected to the ends of internal cables (not shown). More specifically, the shell 120 can be arranged along the side of the terminal housing 130 so as to surround the terminals arranged in the terminal housing 130 and the internal cables connected to the terminals. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 , the shell 120 and the terminal housing 130 are assembled together such that the shield fixing portion 121 is inserted into the opening 131 of the terminal housing 130. In other words, when the shell 120 and the terminal housing 130 are assembled, the shield fixing portion 121 can be positioned within the opening 131. After assembly, the shield fastening portion 121 may have a shape that bends within the opening 131. Fig. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the E-E cross section of the terminal housing 130 and shell 120 after assembly shown in Fig. 12, viewed in the direction of the arrow. As shown in the figure, the shell 120 and the terminal housing 130 may be combined with each other so that the shield fastening portion 121, which has a shape that is bent so as to fold back, is housed within the opening 131.

[0040] 11 and 12, the terminal housing 130 may have at least one latch 137 for securing the shell 120. The latch 137 may protrude outward from a side surface of the terminal housing 130. The shell 120 may have a latch receiving portion 123 that engages with the latch 137. This structure locks the shell 120 assembled to the terminal housing 130, more effectively preventing unintentional detachment of the shell 120. The terminal housing 130 may also have at least one guide portion 138 on its side surface that protrudes outward from the terminal housing 130 and extends along the mating direction D1. The shell 120 may also have a guided portion 124 that corresponds to the guide portion 138 and guides the shell 120 to the assembly completion position. By combining terminal housing 130 and shell 120 so that guided portion 124 is aligned with guide portion 138, incorrect attachment of the shell and rattle of the shell and terminal housing can be more effectively prevented.

[0041] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a state in which the shell 120 and the cable shield 220 in the electrical connector unit of the present disclosure are connected to each other. As shown in the figure, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, at least a portion of the cable shield (e.g., the conductive member 221 described below) extends toward and is inserted through the opening 131 of the terminal housing 130. That is, at least a portion of the cable shield 220 may be exposed to the outside of the insulating covering member 210 from one end of the cable 200 and inserted through the opening 131. In other words, at least a portion of the cable shield may extend through the opening 131 of the terminal housing 130. The cable shield inserted through the opening 131 is electrically connected to the shield fixing portion 121 of the shell 120 combined with the terminal housing 130. That is, at least a portion of the cable shield may be electrically connected to the shield fixing portion 121 inside the opening 131. More specifically, at least a portion of the cable shield may be inserted between the inner wall surface of the opening 131 and the shield fixing portion 121 and electrically connected to the shield fixing portion 121. This means that there may be a gap between the inner wall of the opening 131 and the shield fixing portion 121 through which at least a portion of the cable shield can be inserted. In other words, the opening 131 may have a space through which at least a portion of the shield fixing portion 121 and the cable shield can be inserted and electrically connected to each other. With the above-described configuration, the cable shield 220 and the shell 120 can be electrically connected at the opening 131 of the terminal housing 130. This means that the cable shield 220 and the shell 120 are electrically connected without being positioned on the outer surface of the covering member 210. In other words, the above-described configuration enables the cable shield 220 and the shell 120 to be connected without directly affecting the covering member 210 and the outer diameter of the cable. This more effectively prevents connection failures caused by aging of the covering member and changes in the outer diameter of the cable.Furthermore, the above-described structure enables electrical continuity between cable shield 220 and shell 120 without the need for another member, such as copper foil or a crimp terminal, between cable shield 220 and shell 120. Therefore, the electrical connector unit of the present disclosure can achieve a more suitable electromagnetic shield configuration that does not require an additional connecting member when connecting the shield elements of the cable and connector.

[0042] In the electrical connector unit of the present disclosure, the cable shield 220 is composed of a conductive member to electrically shield the internal cable bundle. As shown in FIG. 14 , in one embodiment of the present disclosure, at least a portion of the conductive member 221 constituting the cable shield 220 is sandwiched between the opening 131 of the terminal housing and the shield fixing portion 121 of the shell. Electrical connection between the shell 120 and the cable shield 220 can be achieved by conducting at least a portion of the conductive member 221 constituting the cable shield 220 and the shield fixing portion 121 inside the opening 131. In other words, electrical conduction between the cable shield 220 and the shield fixing portion 121 can be achieved by sandwiching at least a portion of the conductive member 221 constituting the cable shield 220 between the opening 131 and the shield fixing portion 121 inserted into the opening 131. At least a portion of the conductive member 221 constituting the cable shield 220 may extend toward the opening 131 to bridge the cable shield 220 and the shield fixing portion 121. In other words, the conductive member 221 extends from the end of the cable shield 220 toward the outside of the cable 200 and is electrically connected to the shield fixing portion 121 at the opening 131 of the terminal housing. The extending conductive member is not limited to a solid wire, and may be configured as a bundle, stranded wire, braided wire, or twisted wire made up of multiple conductive members. This configuration achieves a more suitable electromagnetic shield that does not directly affect the cable's covering member 210 or outer diameter. Furthermore, the cable shield 220 and the shell 120 are electrically connected by direct contact between the conductive member 221 drawn from the cable shield and the shield fixing portion 121 of the shell. In other words, the cable used in the present disclosure can also be considered a cable without a drain member, i.e., a cable without a drain member separate from the cable shield. As a result of the above, the electrical connector unit of the present disclosure can achieve a more suitable electromagnetic shield configuration that does not necessarily require additional members when connecting the cable shield and the shell.

[0043] The conductive member 221 used in the cable shield 220 is preferably made of a flexible, conductive material, which is advantageous for routing the member to devices located in narrow spaces. In particular, when emphasizing excellent durability and flexibility, the conductive member 221 is preferably a conductive wire such as annealed copper wire, silver wire, nickel wire, alloy wire, or metal compound wire. Furthermore, a conductive plating layer such as tin plating, nickel plating, or silver plating may be formed on the surface of the member to prevent oxidation and rust. The conductive wire is a thin, conductive wire, and may also be referred to as, for example, conductive fiber, conductive filament, or conductive wire. The cable shield 220 may be formed by braiding or spirally winding (or horizontally winding) multiple conductive members. For example, the cable shield 220 may be a braid formed by weaving multiple conductive members together. Alternatively, the cable shield 220 may be formed by spirally winding the conductive member 221 along the cable longitudinal direction. Alternatively, the cable shield 220 may be formed by braiding or spirally winding a strand of conductive material that is made by twisting together multiple conductive members.

[0044] For example, if cable shield 220 is configured with braided or spirally wound conductive member 221, a twisted wire formed by unwinding conductive member 221 constituting cable shield 220, extracting a portion, and twisting the stranded wire may be inserted through opening 131. Alternatively, conductive member 221 inserted through opening 131 may be a non-twisted wire consisting of at least a portion of conductive member 221 constituting cable shield 220. Alternatively, cable shield 220 may be configured so that a portion of conductive member 221 extends, and such a portion of conductive member 221 may be pulled out from the end of cable 200 and inserted through opening 131. As described above, using a braid as the cable shield may make it easier to insert at least a portion of the cable shield through the opening.

[0045] *Connection between shell and cable shield (application example) Alternatively, the conductive members constituting cable shield 220 may have a linear, elongated, sheet-like, or tape-like shape. The conductive members may have, for example, a linear or curved shape in a plan view, and their thickness need not necessarily be uniform. For example, cable shield 220 may be formed from a metal foil, a laminated metal, a metal-laminated polyimide, a conductive polymer layer, a conductive continuous (e.g., sheet-like) material, and / or the like. Furthermore, the conductive members do not necessarily need to be covered with an insulating material (e.g., a resin material such as polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene).

[0046] In one embodiment, a separate shielding member electrically connected to the cable shield 220 may be inserted through the opening. That is, the shield fixing portion and the shielding member may abut against each other at the opening, and the cable shield and the shield fixing portion may be electrically connected via the shielding member. Such a shielding member is not particularly limited as long as it can be inserted between the shield fixing portion and the opening. For example, it may be a long, thin shielding member extending from the end of the cable shield into the opening. Therefore, the shielding member may be, for example, a conductive elongated member, a long sheet-like member, or a strip-like member. The shielding member may have, for example, a linear or curved shape in a planar view, and its thickness does not necessarily have to be uniform. Furthermore, the shielding member is not limited to a single wire, but may be composed of a bundle, stranded wire, braided wire, or twisted wire composed of multiple conductive elements. Furthermore, the shielding member does not necessarily require a covering with an insulating material (e.g., a resin material such as polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene).

[0047] Furthermore, the opening 131 of the terminal housing, into which at least a portion of the cable shield (e.g., a conductive member) and the shield fixing portion are inserted, may be located on the outer side surface of the terminal housing 130, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 . That is, the opening 131 may be formed so as to protrude outward from the side surface of the terminal housing 130. For example, the opening 131 may be disposed so as to form a space outside the terminal housing 130 by the outer side surface of the terminal housing 130 and a side wall that is substantially C-shaped in top view as shown in FIG. 7 . In such a structure, the shield fixing portion 121 of the shell 120 is inserted into the opening 131 along the outer side surface of the terminal housing 130. That is, as shown in FIG. 14 , the shield fixing portion 121 inserted into the opening 131 may have a shape that extends along the outer side surface of the terminal housing 130 in the mating direction D1 between the connector and the device connector and is bent so as to fold back within the opening 131. More specifically, the shield fixing portion 121 may extend along the outer side surface of the terminal housing 130 and then bend back toward the inner wall surface opposite that side. In this structure, the cable shield (e.g., conductive member 221) inserted through the opening 131 may be inserted along the inner wall surface opposite the outer side surface of the terminal housing 130 so as to be electrically connected to the folded-back shield fixing portion 121. In this structure, the outer side surface of the terminal housing 130 having the opening 131 can be covered more extensively by the conductive member constituting the shield fixing portion 121. This can more effectively shield the internal cables and terminals disposed within the terminal housing. Furthermore, by positioning the cable shield and shield fixing portion outside the terminal housing, the electrical elements and shield elements disposed inside the terminal housing are isolated by the side walls of the terminal housing, thereby more effectively preventing accidental contact between the elements.

[0048] In one embodiment of the present invention, the shield fixing portion 121 may be a leaf spring. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the shield fixing portion 121 may be a leaf spring supported at one end by a cantilever on the side surface of the shell 120. Such a leaf spring has a force (e.g., an elastic force or an elastic biasing force) acting in a direction away from the shell 120 (i.e., direction X in FIG. 5). For example, as shown in FIG. 5, such direction X may be substantially perpendicular to the mating direction D1. As shown in FIG. 14, when a cable shield (e.g., a conductive member 221) and the shield fixing portion 121 are inserted into the opening 131, the elastic force of the shield fixing portion 121, which is a leaf spring, acts toward the inserted cable shield. In other words, the cable shield 220 inserted into the opening 131 of the terminal housing 130 may be fixed due to the elastic force of the shield fixing portion 121, which is a leaf spring. That is, the shield fixing portion 121 may be configured so that, when inserted into the opening 131, it interferes with the inner wall surface of the opening 131 and the cable shield inserted into the opening 131, causing it to elastically deform and come into close contact with the cable shield inside the opening 131. This means that the shield fixing portion 121 presses the cable shield toward the inner wall surface of the opening 131, thereby more appropriately holding the cable shield within the opening 131. In other words, the shield fixing portion 121, which is a leaf spring, elastically comes into contact with the cable shield inserted into the opening 131, thereby providing a more reliable and stable electrical connection.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 14 , in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the cable shield (e.g., the conductive member 221) inserted through the opening 131 may be folded back after passing through the opening 131. More specifically, at least a portion of the cable shield may penetrate the opening 131, and the end of the penetrated cable shield may be bent so as to fold back along the outer wall surface of the opening 131. That is, as shown in FIG. 14 , the cable shield inserted into the opening 131 in the mating direction D1 may be bent after passing through the opening 131, and the end of the cable shield may extend in a direction substantially opposite to direction D1 (upward in the figure). Such folding back may contribute to preventing the cable shield from unintentionally coming out of the opening 131 and losing conductivity with the shield fixing portion 121.

[0050] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the opening 131 may include a cutout portion 132, and the cable shield (e.g., conductive member 221 shown in FIG. 14 ) inserted through the opening 131 may be folded back at the cutout portion 132. That is, the opening 131 may have the cutout portion 132 at a location where the inserted cable shield 220 extends. In other words, the opening 131 may have a shape in which a portion of the side wall facing the side surface of the terminal housing 130 is cut out. For example, in the terminal housing 130 shown in FIG. 6 , the cable shield may be inserted downward from the upper opening of the opening 131 and folded back upward at the cutout portion 132 formed in the center of the lower end of the side wall of the opening 131. With this structure, the cable shield inserted through the opening 131 is gathered at the cutout portion 132, and the portion extending from the opening 131 is folded back. By using the cutout portion 132, the cable shield is gathered on the inner wall surface of the side wall having the cutout portion 132 within the opening 131, which may make it possible to more reliably hold the cable shield between the shield fixing portion and the inner wall surface. Therefore, the structure in which the cable shield is folded back at the cutout portion 132 may contribute to more reliably and stably establishing electrical continuity between the shield fixing portion and the cable shield. Furthermore, the cutout portion 132 may help make it easier to insert the shield fixing portion into the opening during the operation of connecting the cable shield to the shell, which will be described later, by gathering the cable shield on the side surface having the cutout portion 132 when the cable shield is folded back.

[0051] 13 , in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the shell 120 further includes a tongue 122 electrically connected to the ground terminal 140a. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the shell 120 is mated with the terminal housing 130, the tongue 122 of the shell 120 is electrically connected to the ground terminal 140a in the terminal housing 130. That is, when the shell 120 and the terminal housing 130 are mated, the tongue 122 may be configured to contact and conduct with the ground terminal 140a disposed in the terminal accommodating portion 136. Furthermore, as described above, the ground terminal 140a in the terminal housing 130 is configured to electrically connect with the ground terminal of the device connector when the electrical connector unit is mated. Therefore, the shell 120 is grounded by electrically connecting the tongue 122 with the ground terminal 140a in the terminal housing 130. That is, by assembling the shell 120 and the terminal housing 130, electrical continuity is established between the shell 120 and the ground terminal 140a. Furthermore, by mating the connector and the device connector, electrical continuity is established between the shell 120 and the ground terminal of the device connector, ensuring shielding of the terminals within the connector. This means that the cable shield, the shell, and the ground terminal of the device connector are electrically connected, and electrical elements within the electrical connector unit (e.g., the conductors of the internal cable and the signal terminal 140b) are electrically shielded. The above-described structure may make it easier to configure the electromagnetic shield of the electrical connector unit by assembling the shell 120 and the terminal housing 130 and mating the connector and the device connector. That is, the electrical connector unit of the present disclosure may enable easier formation of an electromagnetic shield without requiring additional, complicated operations (e.g., cable termination with copper tape, crimping, welding, etc.) for connecting the shielding elements consisting of the cable shield, the shell, and the ground terminal.

[0052] The tongue 122 is a conductive member and may be formed, for example, by bending a single metal plate together with the shell 120. That is, the shell and the tongue may be an integrated unit. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 13 , in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the tongue 122 may have an elongated shape extending from a side surface of the shell 120 toward the inside of the terminal accommodating portion 136 in a folded manner. The tongue 122 may extend from the opening of the terminal accommodating portion 136 toward the ground terminal 140a installed therein and be formed to be electrically connected to the ground terminal 140a. In other words, the tongue 122 may extend toward the inside of at least one of the multiple terminal accommodating portions 136, and the ground terminal 140a may be installed in the terminal accommodating portion 136 from which the tongue 122 extends. The tongue 122 may have an elastic biasing force due to being cantilevered on the side surface of the shell 120. That is, tongue 122 may have a cantilevered leaf spring structure. By using a cantilevered leaf spring for tongue 122, ground terminal 140a disposed in terminal accommodating portion 136 and tongue 122 come into elastic contact, thereby realizing a more reliable and stable electrical connection.

[0053] Next, the connection between the cable shield and the shell in the electrical connector unit of the present disclosure will be described step by step below. Figures 15A to 15D are schematic diagrams showing the procedure for connecting the cable shield and the shell in the electrical connector unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0054] When connecting shell 120 and cable shield 220, first, at least a portion of cable shield 220 is inserted through the opening of terminal housing 130 (see FIG. 15A). For example, if cable shield 220 is made of a conductive member, conductive member 221 having multiple strands drawn out from cable shield 220 may be inserted through opening 131 of terminal housing 130. The inserted cable shield may pass through opening 131 and extend in the direction of mating with the device connector.

[0055] 15B , the end of the cable shield that has passed through the opening 131 may be folded back in a direction substantially opposite to the insertion direction. That is, at least a portion of the end of the cable shield (e.g., conductive member 221) may be bent so as to fold back along the outer wall surface of the opening 131 after passing through the opening 131. Furthermore, the folding back of the cable shield 220 may be performed at a notch 132 formed in the opening 131. That is, the cable shield that has passed through the opening 131 may be gathered at the notch 132 and then bent back. Such a folding back may contribute to preventing the inserted cable shield from coming loose. Furthermore, gathering the cable shield at the notch 132 and then folding it back may make it easier to subsequently insert the shield fixing part 121.

[0056] Next, the shell 120 is assembled to the terminal housing 130. As shown in FIG. 15C , the shell 120 may be assembled along the side of the terminal housing 130 from the same direction as the insertion direction of the cable shield (e.g., conductive member 221). By assembling the shell 120 to the terminal housing 130, the shield fixing portion 121 is inserted into the opening 131 (see FIGS. 14 and 15D ). The shield fixing portion 121 may be inserted so as to sandwich the cable shield between itself and the inner wall surface of the opening 131. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the shield fixing portion 121 is inserted while interfering with the cable shield gathered on the inner wall surface of the opening 131, which has the cutout portion 132, and may elastically deform to come into close contact with the cable shield within the opening 131. Through the above procedure, the cable shield 220 and the shell 120 are electrically connected.

[0057] 14, when the terminal housing 130 is attached to the shell 120, the tongue 122 of the shell 120 may be inserted into at least one of the terminal accommodating sections 136 of the terminal housing 130. By placing the ground terminal 140a in the terminal accommodating section 136 into which the tongue 122 is inserted, the ground terminal 140a and the tongue 122 are electrically connected. In other words, the shell 120 assembled to the terminal housing 130 by the above-described procedure is electrically connected to the ground terminal 140a via the tongue 122. When the connector and the device connector are mated, the ground terminal 140a is electrically connected to the ground terminal of the device connector. In other words, the mating operation of the connector and the device connector electrically connects the shell 120 and the ground terminal of the device connector via the tongue and the ground terminal 140a.

[0058] With the above-described configuration, when the connector and device connector of the present disclosure are combined, the cable shield 220 of the present disclosure is electrically connected to the ground terminal of the device connector via the shell 120. That is, when the connector and device connector are mated, the cable shield 220, the shell 120, and the ground terminal of the device connector are electrically connected to one another. This means that the shielding elements included in the cable, connector, and device connector of the present disclosure can be properly grounded when mated. Therefore, with the above-described structure, the electrical connector unit of the present disclosure can provide a more suitable electromagnetic shielding configuration that can more appropriately electrically shield the cable and the terminals in the connector.

[0059] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the opening 131 of the terminal housing 130 may have at least one tapered surface 133 on its inner wall surface. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the terminal housing 130 shown in FIG. 7 , taken along the line BB, as viewed in the direction of the arrow. As shown, at least a portion of the inner wall surface of the opening 131 may be a tapered surface 133. Here, the tapered surface refers to at least a portion of the inner wall surface of the opening 131 that gradually slopes toward the inside of the opening 131. In other words, at least a portion of the inner wall surface of the opening 131 may be inclined at an angle relative to the insertion direction of the shield fastening portion and the cable shield. This insertion direction is approximately parallel to the mating direction D1 of the terminal housing 130 with the device connector, and the tapered surface of the opening can also be interpreted as being inclined at an angle relative to the mating direction D1.

[0060] FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the CC cross section of the terminal housing 130 shown in FIG. 7 , viewed in the direction of the arrow. As shown, the tapered surface 133 of the opening 131 may be gradually inclined toward the interior of the opening 131. That is, at least a portion of the inner wall surface of the opening 131 may be inclined so that the space inside the opening 131 gradually narrows in at least a portion. More specifically, the tapered surface 133 may be formed on the inner wall surface at the end of the opening 131 into which the cable shield and / or shield fixing part is inserted. In other words, the cable shield and / or shield fixing part may be inserted into the opening 131 from the end having the tapered surface 133. Such tapered surface 133 allows the cable shield inserted into the opening 131 to be guided toward the interior of the opening according to the inclination of the tapered surface 133. The tapered surface 133 of the opening 131 allows the cable shield to be gathered in the center of the opening 131. In particular, when the cable shield inserted through opening 131 is made up of multiple conductive members 221 (see FIG. 14), the multiple conductive members 221 are gathered in the center by tapered surface 133, which can facilitate the subsequent insertion of the shield fixing part. Furthermore, the inserted shield fixing part and the cable shield can be electrically connected more reliably, resulting in a more suitable electromagnetic shield configuration.

[0061] 9, the inclination angle of the tapered surface with respect to the mating direction D1 is not particularly limited as long as the above-described effect can be obtained when inserting the cable shield. For example, the inclination angle may be 5° or more and 85° or less, such as 10° or more and 70° or less, or 20° or more and 70° or less.

[0062] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the DD cross section of the terminal housing 130 shown in FIG. 7, viewed in the direction of the arrow. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the terminal housing 130 may have a slide groove 134 inside the opening 131. More specifically, the opening 131 may have the slide groove 134 extending along the side surface of the terminal housing 130. The slide groove 134 may be formed in the side wall of the opening 131 that is in contact with the side surface of the terminal housing 130. That is, at least one slide groove 134 may be formed between the side wall of the opening 131 and the outer side surface of the terminal housing 130. In other words, the side wall of the opening 131 may have at least one concave slide groove 134 in the portion that is in contact with the outer side surface of the terminal housing 130. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the slide groove 134 may be provided in an inner corner of the opening 131 that is in contact with the side surface of the terminal housing 130. That is, the slide groove may be defined by a recess provided on the side surface of the terminal housing 130 and on the inner corner of the opening. Such slide groove 134 may help guide the shield fixing portion into the interior of the opening 131 when assembling the shell and the terminal housing. That is, the shield fixing portion may be inserted into the interior of the opening 131 along such slide groove 134. Forming the slide groove 134 in the opening 131 more effectively suppresses rattle of the shield fixing portion within the opening 131, and more effectively prevents poor contact with the cable shield. That is, the slide groove 134 provides a more reliable and stable electrical connection between the shield fixing portion and the cable shield, thereby achieving a more optimal electromagnetic shield configuration.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 10 , the opening 131 may have a guide surface 135 on its inner wall surface. In this specification, the guide surface 135 refers to a tapered surface formed at the end of the slide groove 134. In one embodiment, the guide surface 135 is formed on the inner wall surface of the opening 131 that includes the slide groove 134, and the guide surface 135 may be gradually inclined toward the slide groove 134. The guide surface 135 may be gradually inclined toward the interior of the terminal housing 130 so as to form an angle with the side surface of the terminal housing 130. In other words, the guide surface 135 may be inclined so as to gradually decrease in size toward the insertion direction of the shield fastening part (i.e., the mating direction D1). This means that the slide groove 134 may have a structure in which one end gradually narrows toward the mating direction D1. The shield fastening part is inserted into the opening 131 from the end having the guide surface 135. That is, guide surface 135 may be formed on the insertion opening side of slide groove 134 for the shield fixing portion. Guide surface 135 inclined toward slide groove 134 can guide the shield fixing portion into slide groove 134 and contribute to suppressing physical interference when inserting the shield fixing portion. Therefore, such a structure can provide a more suitable electromagnetic shield configuration by making it easier to assemble the shield elements.

[0064] 10, the inclination angle formed by the guide surface 135 and the side surface of the terminal housing 130 is not particularly limited as long as the above-described effect can be obtained when inserting the shield fastening portion 121. For example, the inclination angle may be 5° or more and 85° or less, for example, 10° or more and 70° or less, or 20° or more and 70° or less.

[0065] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the device connector 300 (see FIG. 3) may be a motor-side connector provided in a motor device. For example, the electrical connector unit of the present disclosure may be applied to a motor device such as an industrial machine or an industrial robot. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the electrical connector unit applied to such a motor device may be a combined power and signal electrical connector unit including an internal cable for supplying a power supply voltage to drive or brake the device and an internal cable for transmitting signals from devices such as sensors mounted on the device.

[0066] In such a combined power and signal electrical connector unit, terminals for signal transmission and terminals for supplying power voltage may be arranged adjacent to each other, potentially resulting in mutual interference between the terminals during device operation. Therefore, the terminals for signal transmission and the terminals for supplying power may be housed in separate terminal housings, and the electromagnetic shielding configuration of the present disclosure may be applied to at least one of the terminal housings. For example, by providing an opening in the terminal housing housing the terminals involved in signal transmission and applying the electromagnetic shielding configuration of the present disclosure, mutual interference may be reduced or eliminated. In an electrical connector unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the internal power cable bundle and the internal signal cable bundle may constitute a cable 200 including a cable shield 220 and a covering member 210, and may be inserted separately through two insertion openings 111 provided in the housing 110 (see FIGS. 1 and 3 ). In a further embodiment, a combined cable may be formed by bundling power cables and signal cables, and the combined cable may be inserted into the housing.

[0067] The above describes the embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art are possible, such as combining the above configurations, as long as they do not deviate from the spirit of the claims.

[0068] For example, the insertion direction of the shield fastening portion and / or the cable shield into the opening may be opposite to that shown in the drawings. That is, while in the drawings (e.g., FIG. 14 ) the shield fastening portion 121 and the cable shield 220 (e.g., the conductive member 221) are inserted from top to bottom into the opening 131, they may be inserted from bottom to top into the opening 131. [Industrial Applicability]

[0069] An electrical connector unit having the electromagnetic shielding configuration of the present disclosure can be suitably used in various technical fields requiring electrical connections. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 1000 Electrical Connector Units 100 Connectors 110 Housing 111 Insertion port 112 Opening area 120 shells 121 Shield fixing part 122 Tongue piece 123 Latch receiving part 124 Guided part 130 Terminal Housing 131 Opening 132 Notch 133 Tapered surface 134 Slide groove 135 Guide surface 136 Terminal housing 136a Through hole 137 Latch 138 Guide section 140 terminals 140a ground terminal 140b signal terminal 150 screw caps 200 Cable 210 Covering material 220 Cable Shield 221 Conductive materials 230 Internal Cable 231 Conductor 232 Inner cable sheath 240 Internal Cable Bundle 300 Device Connectors 310 Insulating Housing 320 base

Claims

1. An electrical connector unit comprising a connector and a cable connected to the connector, the cable comprises an inner cable bundle consisting of a plurality of inner cables, and a cable shield surrounding the inner cable bundle; the connector includes a terminal housing and a shell attached to the terminal housing; the terminal housing has an opening, and the shell has a shield fixing portion insertable into the opening, An electrical connector unit, wherein at least a portion of the cable shield and the shield fixing portion are inserted into the opening and are electrically connected to each other at the opening.

2. 2. The electrical connector unit according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the conductive member of the cable shield is sandwiched between the opening and the shield fixing portion.

3. 3. The electrical connector unit according to claim 1, wherein the opening is provided on an outer side surface of the terminal housing, and the shield fixing portion is inserted into the opening along the outer side surface.

4. 4. The electrical connector unit according to claim 1, wherein the shield fixing portion is a leaf spring, and the cable shield inserted into the opening is fixed due to the elastic force of the leaf spring.

5. 5. The electrical connector unit according to claim 1, wherein the shell further comprises a tongue, the tongue being electrically connected to a ground terminal accommodated in the terminal housing.

6. 6. The electrical connector unit according to claim 1, wherein the opening has a notch, and the cable shield inserted into the opening is folded back at the notch.

7. 7. The electrical connector unit according to claim 1, wherein the opening has at least one tapered surface on an inner wall surface thereof.

8. 8. The electrical connector unit according to claim 7, wherein said tapered surface is gradually inclined toward an inner side of said opening.

9. 9. The electrical connector unit according to claim 1, wherein the opening has at least one slide groove extending along a side surface of the terminal housing inside the opening.

10. 10. The electrical connector unit according to claim 9, wherein the opening has a guide surface on an inner wall thereof, the guide surface being gradually inclined toward either end of the slide groove.

Images