connector

Abstract

To suppress deterioration of transmission characteristics.SOLUTION: A connector A includes a terminal module 30 that includes a communication cable 40 that is configured by embedding a pair of signal wires 42 in an insulating sheath 41, and in which the tip regions of the pair of signal wires 42 extends from the tip surface 41S of the sheath 41 as exposed wire portions 43, and a dielectric 31 accommodating a pair of signal terminal fittings 33 individually fixed to the pair of exposed wire portions 43, and is led out the exposed wire portions 43 from a signal electric wire lead-out port 35 of the dielectric 31, and a housing 10 accommodating the tip region of the communication cable 40 and the dielectric 31, and a routing groove 20 accommodating the pair of exposed wire portions 43 is formed within the housing 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] In differential signal transmission, a twisted pair wire formed by twisting two electric wires is used as a communication line. Patent Document 1 discloses a connector including a twisted pair wire, a terminal portion connected to terminal portions of a pair of electric wires constituting the twisted pair wire, and a connector body that houses the pair of terminal portions. At the terminal portion of the twisted pair wire, the twist of the electric wire is untwisted in order to crimp the terminal portion. The terminal portion is inserted into the connector body from the rear. At this time, in the working method of inserting the pair of terminal portions simultaneously, there is a concern that the insertion of the terminal portion may become improper. Therefore, after inserting one terminal portion into the connector body, it is preferable to move the other terminal portion once to the rear of the connector body and then insert it into the connector body.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In order to insert a pair of terminal portions separately, as the untwisted length of the electric wire, at least a dimension corresponding to the total length of the terminal portion is required. However, when the electric wire is put in an untwisted state, the interval between the electric wires tends to widen. When the interval between the electric wires widens, the transmission characteristics deteriorate.

[0005] The connector of the present disclosure has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to suppress deterioration of transmission characteristics.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The connector disclosed herein is A communication cable comprising a pair of signal wires embedded in an insulating sheath, with the tip regions of the pair of signal wires extending from the tip surface of the sheath as exposed wire portions, and a terminal holding member housing a pair of terminal fittings individually fixed to the pair of exposed wire portions, with the exposed wire portions leading out from the wire outlet of the terminal holding member, The system comprises a housing that accommodates the tip region of the communication cable and the terminal holding member that houses the pair of terminal fittings, A cable routing groove is formed inside the housing to accommodate the pair of exposed wire portions. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, the degradation of transmission characteristics can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the connector of Example 1. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the connector of Example 1 with the terminal module, the integrated rubber stopper, and the rubber stopper retaining member attached to the housing body. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a rear view of the housing body shown in Figure 1. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a back cross-sectional view showing the connector of Embodiment 1 with the communication cable routed within the routing space. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a back cross-sectional view showing the connector of Embodiment 1 in the process of routing the communication cable within the routing space. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector shown in Figure 1. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a side cross-sectional view showing the connector of Embodiment 1 in the process of routing the communication cable into the routing space. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the connector of Example 2. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown in FIG. 9. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which a terminal module, a bulk rubber plug, and a rubber plug holding member are attached to a housing body in the connector of Example 2. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a rear view of the housing body in the connector shown in FIG. 9. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a rear view showing a state in which a communication cable is routed in a routing space in the connector of Example 2. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a rear view showing a state in the middle of routing a communication cable in a routing space in the connector of Example 2. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which a communication cable is routed in a routing space in the connector of Example 2. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in the middle of routing a communication cable in a routing space in the connector of Example 2. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the terminal holding member shown in FIG. 10.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0009] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. Combinations of the following multiple embodiments within a range that does not cause contradictions are also included in the mode for carrying out the invention.

[0010] The connector of the present disclosure is (1) A communication cable comprising a pair of signal wires embedded in an insulating sheath, with the tip regions of the pair of signal wires extending from the tip surface of the sheath as exposed wire portions; a terminal module comprising a terminal holding member that houses a pair of terminal fittings individually fixed to the pair of exposed wire portions, with the exposed wire portions leading out from the wire outlet of the terminal holding member; and a housing that houses the tip region of the communication cable and the terminal holding member housing the pair of terminal fittings, wherein a routing groove for housing the pair of exposed wire portions is formed inside the housing. According to the configuration of this disclosure, by housing the pair of signal wires in the routing groove, separation of the signal wires in the exposed wire portions can be suppressed. Therefore, deterioration of communication characteristics caused by the widening of the spacing between signal wires in the exposed wire portions can be suppressed.

[0011] (2) The cable routing groove has a shape that opens to the rear of the housing, and in a rear view of the housing viewed from the rear, the wire outlet is located in the center in the width direction of the housing, and the cable routing groove is located offset in the width direction from the center in the width direction of the housing, and preferably a guide portion is formed at a position adjacent to the cable routing groove on the width direction center side, which guides the exposed wire portion toward the cable routing groove when the exposed wire portion is pressed from the rear. With this configuration, when housing the communication cable in the housing, even if the position of the exposed wire portion is offset toward the width direction center side of the cable routing groove, the guide portion can guide the exposed wire portion into the cable routing groove.

[0012] (3) In (2), a housing recess is formed in the housing for housing the tip of the sheath in a positioned state in the rear view. In a state where the sheath is positioned by the housing recess, the guiding portion is arranged on a virtual straight line connecting the extension position of the signal line on the tip surface of the sheath and the wire outlet in the rear view, and it is preferable that the housing recess is arranged in front of the guiding portion. According to this configuration, even if the signal line is displaced from the wiring groove, by moving the tip of the sheath toward the housing recess, the exposed wire portion is pressed against the guiding portion. Therefore, the operation of housing the tip of the sheath in the housing recess and the operation of guiding the exposed wire portion overlapping the guiding portion into the wiring groove can be performed in one action.

[0013] (4) In (1), the wiring groove has a shape that opens to the rear of the housing, the terminal holding member has a shape that projects in a cantilevered manner, and a shielding portion is formed to cover a part of the wiring path of the exposed wire portion from the rear. It is preferable that a guiding surface for sliding the exposed wire portion toward the protruding end side of the shielding portion is formed on the rear surface of the shielding portion when the exposed wire portion is pushed from the rear. According to this configuration, when the communication cable is housed in the housing, even if the exposed wire portion overlaps the rear surface of the shielding portion, the exposed wire portion can be guided to the wiring path of the exposed wire portion by the guiding surface, so that the exposed wire portion can be housed in the wiring groove.

[0014] (5) In (4), a housing recess for housing the tip of the sheath is formed in the housing, and in a rear view of the housing seen from the rear, it is preferable that the wiring groove and the pair of wire outlets are arranged along the axis of the tip of the sheath housed in the housing recess. According to this configuration, the pair of exposed wire portions can be wired along the shortest path connecting the wire outlet and the tip surface of the sheath. Also, the wiring space in the width direction of the pair of exposed wire portions can be kept small.

[0015] In (6)(5), other wires different from the signal wire are led out from the terminal holding member, and in the rear view, when the direction perpendicular to the axis of the tip of the sheath housed in the housing recess is defined as the width direction, it is preferable that the wire outlet from which the signal wire is led out and the other wire outlet from which the other wire is led out are arranged to be aligned in the width direction, and that the housing recess and the wiring groove are positioned offset from the width direction center of the housing. With this configuration, the signal wire and the other wires can be routed along paths separated in the width direction perpendicular to the axis of the sheath. This makes it possible to suppress the deterioration of transmission characteristics caused by the proximity of other wires and the signal wire.

[0016] [Details of the embodiments of this disclosure] [Example 1] Connector A of Embodiment 1, which embodies the present disclosure, will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. The present invention is not limited to these examples, but is shown in the claims, and all modifications within the meaning and scope of equivalence to the claims are included. In Embodiment 1, the front-to-back direction is defined as the F direction in Figures 1 to 3, 7, and 8. The up-and-down direction is defined as the H direction in Figures 1 to 8. The left-to-right direction is defined as the R direction in Figures 1 to 5. The left-to-right direction and the width direction are used synonymously.

[0017] Connector A in this embodiment 1 comprises a housing 10 and a terminal module 30. In a side view of connector A, viewed from the side, connector A as a whole has a vertically elongated block shape.

[0018] The housing 10 is constructed by assembling the housing body 11, cover 44, rear seal member 51, lump rubber stopper 47, and rubber stopper holding member 50 shown in Figure 2. The housing body 11 is a box-shaped member having an opening 12 on its rear surface. As shown in Figures 5 and 7, a cable routing hole 13 is formed in the lower wall of the housing body 11, penetrating vertically through the lower wall. As shown in Figures 5 to 8, a module housing chamber 14 is formed at the upper end of the housing body 11. The front end of the module housing chamber 14 opens to the front of the housing body 11. The rear end of the module housing chamber 14 opens to the rear within the housing body 11. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, a fitting portion 17 is formed at the upper front end of the housing body 11, which is fitted to a mating connector (not shown) by attaching a front member 15 and a front seal member 16.

[0019] Inside the housing body 11, a cable routing space 18 is formed that communicates with the rear end of the module housing chamber 14. The cable routing space 18 consists of a region behind the module housing chamber 14 and a region of the housing body 11 below the module housing chamber 14. As shown in Figures 3, 7, and 8, a pair of power lines 36 and a communication cable 40 are routed vertically within the cable routing space 18. At the upper end of the cable routing space 18, a cable routing groove 20, a housing recess 23, and a guide section 28 are formed.

[0020] As shown in Figures 4-6, in a rear view of the housing body 11, the upper end of the cable routing groove 20 is located slightly below the module housing chamber 14. As shown in Figure 4, the cable routing groove 20 is positioned off-center to the left in the width direction from the widthwise center 11C of the housing body 11. As shown in Figure 7, the cable routing groove 20 is a recess that opens in both the vertical and rear directions. The groove bottom surface 21 (front) of the cable routing groove 20 is inclined in an overhanging manner such that the lower end is located further forward than the upper end.

[0021] The receiving recess 23 is a recess that opens downward and to the rear. As shown in Figures 4-6, the receiving recess 23, like the cable routing groove 20, is positioned off-center to the left in the width direction from the widthwise center 11C of the housing body 11. The cable routing groove 20 and the receiving recess 23 are positioned adjacent to each other in the vertical direction. The upper end of the receiving recess 23 communicates with the lower end of the cable routing groove 20. In a rear view, the width dimension of the receiving recess 23 is greater than the width dimension of the cable routing groove 20. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the back surface 24 (front surface) of the receiving recess 23 is located in front of the groove bottom surface 21 of the cable routing groove 20. The boundary between the lower end of the receiving recess 23 and the lower end of the cable routing groove 20 forms a stepped portion 25. The portion of the stepped portion 25 facing into the receiving recess 23 functions as a stopper 26.

[0022] As shown in Figures 4-6, the guide portion 28 is positioned to the right of the upper end of the cable routing groove 20 in a rear view. The guide portion 28 has a shape that protrudes to the rear. The rear surface 28R (protruding end surface) of the guide portion 28 is located behind the groove bottom surface 21 of the cable routing groove 20 and the back surface 24 of the housing recess 23. The guide portion 28 functions as a route regulating portion for routing the exposed portion 43 of the signal line 42, which will be described later, in a curved path in a rear view. The upper edge of the guide portion 28 has a guide edge portion 29 that slopes downward towards the cable routing groove 20 in a rear view.

[0023] As shown in Figure 2, the terminal module 30 includes a dielectric 31, a pair of power supply terminal fittings 32, a pair of signal terminal fittings 33, a pair of power lines 36, and a communication cable 40. The dielectric 31 is constructed, for example, by assembling multiple components. The pair of power supply terminal fittings 32 and the pair of signal terminal fittings 33 are housed within the dielectric 31. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, a pair of power supply wire outlets 34 and a pair of signal wire outlets 35, spaced apart in the width direction, are formed on the rear surface of the dielectric 31. The pair of power supply wire outlets 34 open into the upper region of the rear surface of the dielectric 31. The pair of signal wire outlets 35 open into the lower region of the rear surface of the dielectric 31. The terminal module 30 is inserted into the module housing chamber 14 from the rear of the housing body 11.

[0024] The pair of power lines 36 are made of insulated wires. A power supply terminal fitting 32 is fixed to the end of each power line 36. The power lines 36 are led out to the rear from the power supply wire outlet 34 of the dielectric 31. The pair of power lines 36 led out from the power supply wire outlet 34 are routed vertically within the right half of the routing space 18.

[0025] The communication cable 40 is a conductive path for differential communication and has a circular cross-section sheath 41 and a pair of signal wires 42 embedded within the sheath 41. The signal wires 42 are made of insulated wires. Within the sheath 41, the pair of signal wires 42 are twisted together to form a twisted pair wire (not shown). In the tip region of the communication cable 40, the sheath 41 is removed, and the tip regions of the pair of signal wires 42 are exposed. The portion of the signal wires 42 that protrudes from the tip surface 41S of the sheath 41 and is untwisted is defined as the exposed wire portion 43. A signal terminal fitting 33 is fixed to the tip of each exposed wire portion 43. The exposed wire portions 43 are led out to the rear from the signal wire outlet 35 of the dielectric 31.

[0026] The communication cable 40 is routed vertically within the left half of the routing space 18. The tip 41T of the sheath 41 is housed in the housing recess 23 with its tip surface 41S facing upward. The tip surface 41S of the sheath 41 is positioned to abut or face the stopper 26 from below. The tip 41T of the sheath 41 is housed in the housing recess 23 in a position held by the stopper 26. The sheath 41 is also positioned relative to the housing 10 by the housing recess 23. A pair of exposed wires 43 (signal wires 42) led out from the signal wire outlet 35 are housed in the routing groove 20. In the routing groove 20, the pair of exposed wires 43 are arranged side by side, parallel to each other and close together, with their axes oriented vertically. Of the pair of exposed wire sections 43, the portion between the signal wire outlet 35 and the upper end of the wiring groove 20 is routed diagonally with respect to both the vertical and horizontal directions when viewed from the rear.

[0027] The cover 44 is attached to the housing body 11 so as to close the opening 12. As shown in Figure 7, the cover 44 has a plate-shaped main body portion 45 and a detachment restricting portion 46 that protrudes from the front surface of the plate-shaped main body portion 45. When the cover 44 is attached to the housing body 11, in a rear view, the detachment restricting portion 46 is positioned to overlap with the housing recess 23. The bulk rubber stopper 47 is liquid-tightly attached to the cable routing hole 13 of the housing body 11. As shown in Figure 2, the bulk rubber stopper 47 has a pair of first seal holes 48 and one second seal hole 49 that penetrate vertically. A pair of power lines 36 are liquid-tightly inserted through the pair of first seal holes 48. A communication cable 40 is liquid-tightly inserted through the second seal hole 49. The rubber stopper holding member 50 is attached to the lower end of the housing body 11. The rubber stopper holding member 50 is a member that prevents the bulk rubber stopper 47 from detaching downward from the cable routing hole 13.

[0028] The assembly procedure for connector A will be explained. Communication cable 40 With the sheath 41 and power line 36 inserted together into the rubber stopper 47, the signal terminal fitting 33 is crimped onto the exposed portion 43 of the signal line 42, and the power supply terminal fitting 32 is fixed to the power line 36. Next, the terminal module 30 is assembled by housing the signal terminal fitting 33 and the power supply terminal fitting 32 inside the dielectric 31. After that, the assembled terminal module 30 is passed through the wiring hole 13 from below the housing body 11, through the wiring space 18, and pulled out to the rear outside the housing body 11 through the opening 12. After that, the dielectric 31 is inserted into the module housing chamber 14 from the rear.

[0029] Next, the two power lines 36 are housed in the right-hand region of the wiring space 18 and routed vertically. The communication cable 40 is housed in the left-hand region of the wiring space 18 and routed vertically. When routing the communication cable 40, the tip 41T of the sheath 41 of the communication cable 40 is moved forward and housed in the housing recess 23.

[0030] In a rear view, the housing recess 23 is positioned diagonally to the lower left relative to the signal wire outlet 35 located in the center of the width direction of the housing body 11. When the tip 41T of the sheath 41 is housed in the housing recess 23, as shown in Figure 6, the guide portion 28 crosses the imaginary straight line L connecting the extension position of the right-side exposed wire portion 43 of the tip surface 41S of the sheath 41 and the center of the right-side signal wire outlet 35 in the left-right direction. Therefore, when attempting to push the tip 41T (upper end) of the sheath 41 into the housing recess 23, as shown in Figure 8, there is a concern that the right-side exposed wire portion 43 will ride up onto the rear surface 28R of the guide portion 28 and will not be housed in the cable routing groove 20.

[0031] Here, a guide edge 29 is formed on the upper edge of the guide section 28 to guide the exposed wire portion 43 into the routing groove 20. When the tip 41T of the sheath 41 is moved from directly behind the housing recess 23 to the front, the right exposed wire portion 43 moves to the left toward the routing groove 20 while sliding against the guide edge 29, passing the left end of the guide edge 29 and being housed in the routing groove 20. The left exposed wire portion 43 is also housed in the routing groove 20 by being pushed by the right exposed wire portion 43. Therefore, even without the worker touching the exposed wire portion 43 (signal wire 42), the two exposed wire portions 43 can be routed along a predetermined path with a single action to house the sheath 41 in the housing recess 23.

[0032] As the two exposed wire sections 43 are housed within the wiring groove 20, the portions of the exposed wire sections 43 above the wiring groove 20 are routed diagonally in both the vertical and horizontal directions between the upper end of the wiring groove 20 and the signal wire outlet 35. Within the wiring groove 20, the pair of exposed wire sections 43 are arranged side by side in the width direction. The wiring groove 20 has a pair of left and right inner wall surfaces. The distance between the inner wall surfaces (the width dimension of the wiring groove 20) is slightly larger than twice the outer diameter of the two exposed wire sections 43 (signal wires 42). Therefore, the two exposed wire sections 43 are not separated by a large distance in the width direction. Furthermore, between the tip surface 41S of the sheath 41 and the signal wire outlet 35, the two exposed wire sections 43 are routed with almost no excess length. Therefore, between the wiring groove 20 and the wire outlet, the two exposed wire sections 43 are not separated by a large distance in the width direction.

[0033] After routing the power line 36 and communication cable 40 within the routing space 18, the bulk rubber stopper 47 is moved upward and attached to the routing hole 13 while holding the power line 36 and communication cable 40 in place so that they do not move upward relative to the housing body 11. Then, the rubber stopper holding member 50 is attached to the lower end of the housing body 11. When the bulk rubber stopper 47 is moved upward, the communication cable 40 is pushed upward, but the tip surface 41S of the sheath 41 abuts against the stopper 26, so the communication cable 40 does not move upward within the routing space 18.

[0034] Next, the cover 44, on which the rear seal member 51 is attached, is mounted to the rear surface of the housing body 11. This ensures that the opening 12 on the rear surface of the housing body 11 is liquid-tightly closed by the plate-shaped body portion 45 of the cover 44 and the rear seal member 51. With this, the assembly of connector A is completed.

[0035] When the cover 44 is attached to the housing body 11, as shown in Figure 7, the detachment restricting portion 46 of the cover 44 abuts against the tip portion 41T of the sheath 41 from the rear, or is positioned close to it from the rear. This restricts the rearward movement of the communication cable 40, so that the sheath 41 is held in a state where it is housed in the housing recess 23, and the exposed portion of the wire 43 is held in a state where it is housed in the cable routing groove 20.

[0036] Connector A in this embodiment 1 comprises a terminal module 30 and a housing 10. The terminal module 30 includes a communication cable 40, a dielectric 31, and a pair of signal terminal fittings 33. The communication cable 40 is constructed by embedding a pair of signal wires 42 within an insulating sheath 41. At the tip of the communication cable 40, the sheath 41 is removed. From the tip surface 41S of the sheath 41, the tip regions of the pair of signal wires 42 extend as exposed wire portions 43. The pair of exposed wire portions 43 are individually fixed to the pair of signal terminal fittings 33. The pair of signal terminal fittings 33 are housed within the dielectric 31. From a pair of signal wire outlets 35 opening on the rear surface of the dielectric 31, the pair of exposed wire portions 43 are individually led out to the rear. The housing 10 houses the tip region of the communication cable 40 and the dielectric 31 housing the pair of signal terminal fittings 33. A routing groove 20 is formed inside the housing 10 to accommodate a pair of exposed wire portions 43. By accommodating the pair of exposed wire portions 43 in the routing groove 20, separation of the exposed wire portions 43 (signal lines 42) from each other can be suppressed. According to connector A of this embodiment 1, deterioration of communication characteristics caused by an increase in the spacing between exposed wire portions 43 can be suppressed.

[0037] The cable routing groove 20 has a shape that opens to the rear of the housing body 11 that constitutes the housing 10. In a rear view of the housing 10, the signal wire outlet 35 is located in the widthwise center of the housing body 11. The cable routing groove 20 is located offset to the left in the widthwise direction from the widthwise center 11C of the housing body 11 (housing 10). Adjacent to the cable routing groove 20 on the widthwise center 11C side, a guide portion 28 is formed that guides the exposed wire portion 43 toward the cable routing groove 20 when the exposed wire portion 43 is pressed from the rear. With this configuration, when the communication cable 40 is housed in the housing 10, even if the position of the exposed wire portion 43 is offset toward the widthwise center 11C side of the cable routing groove 20, the guide portion 28 can guide the exposed wire portion 43 into the cable routing groove 20.

[0038] The housing 10 has a receiving recess 23 that accommodates the tip 41T of the sheath 41 in a position in the width direction when viewed from the rear. When the tip 41T of the sheath 41 is positioned by the receiving recess 23, the guide portion 28 is positioned on a virtual straight line L connecting the extension position of the exposed wire portion 43 (signal wire 42) on the tip surface 41S of the sheath 41 and the signal wire outlet 35 when viewed from the rear. The receiving recess 23 is positioned in front of the guide portion 28. With this configuration, even if the signal wire 42 (exposed wire portion 43) is misaligned to the right (towards the widthwise center 11C) from the wiring groove 20, the exposed wire portion 43 is pressed against the guide portion 28 by moving the tip 41T of the sheath 41 toward the receiving recess 23. Therefore, the operation of housing the tip portion 41T of the sheath 41 into the receiving recess 23 and the operation of guiding the exposed portion 43 of the electric wire that overlaps the guide portion 28 into the cable routing groove 20 can be performed in a single action.

[0039] [Example 2] Connector B of Embodiment 2, which embodies the present disclosure, will be described with reference to Figures 9 to 17. In Embodiment 2, the front-to-back direction is defined as the F direction in Figures 9 to 11 and 15 to 17. The up-and-down direction is defined as the H direction in Figures 9 to 17. The left-to-right direction is defined as the R direction in Figures 9 to 14 and 17. Connector B of Embodiment 2 has a housing body 61 that constitutes the housing 60, which has a different configuration from Embodiment 1. The other components are the same as in Embodiment 1, so the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the explanation of the structure, operation and effect is omitted.

[0040] The housing body 61 has an opening 12 that opens to the rear surface of the housing body 61, a module housing chamber 14, a cable routing space 18, and a cable routing hole (not shown). As shown in Figure 12, the module housing chamber 14 is located at the left end of the housing body 61. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, a terminal module 30 is inserted into the module housing chamber 14 from the rear. The cable routing hole is located at the right end of the housing body 61. Within the housing body 61, the space extending from the rear of the module housing chamber 14 to the cable routing hole functions as the cable routing space 18. Within the cable routing space 18, one communication cable 40 and a pair of power lines 36 are routed in the left-right direction. In this embodiment 2, in a rear view of the housing body 61, the vertical direction (height direction) perpendicular to the routing direction of the communication cable 40 and power lines 36 is defined as the width direction.

[0041] When the terminal module 30 is housed in the module housing chamber 14, a pair of power supply wire outlets 34 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction within a region on the rear surface of the dielectric 31 that is above the widthwise center (heightwise center) of the center. A pair of signal wire outlets 35 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction within a region on the rear surface of the dielectric 31 that is below the widthwise center height of the center. A pair of power lines 36 are routed in a region of the routing space 18 that is shifted above the widthwise center 61C of the housing body 61. The communication cable 40 is routed in a region of the routing space 18 that is shifted below the widthwise center 61C of the housing body 61.

[0042] The tip portion 41T of the sheath 41 is housed in the housing recess 23 with its tip surface 41S facing left, and is positioned vertically. The width direction described above is perpendicular to the axis L41 of the tip portion 41T of the sheath 41 within the housing recess 23 when viewed from the rear. The cable routing groove 20, the housing recess 23, and the communication cable 40 are positioned off-center in the width direction, downward from the width direction center 61C of the housing body 61. A stepped portion 25 is formed at the boundary between the left end of the housing recess 23 and the right end of the cable routing groove 20. A stopper 26 is formed in the stepped portion 25, which prevents the tip portion 41T of the sheath 41 from shifting to the left by bringing the tip surface 41S of the sheath 41 into contact with it.

[0043] As shown in Figures 10 and 17, a cantilevered overhang portion 62 is formed at the rear end of the dielectric 31, projecting downwards in a cantilevered manner. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the overhang portion 62 is positioned between the signal wire outlet 35 and the wiring groove 20 in the left-right direction. As shown in Figures 15 and 17, the overhang portion 62 is positioned behind the wiring path of the exposed wire portion 43 between the signal wire outlet 35 and the wiring groove 20 in the front-rear direction. The lower end (projecting end) of the overhang portion 62 extends to the same position as the center of the wiring groove 20 in the width direction (up-down direction). As shown in Figures 15 and 16, an overhanging guide surface 63 is formed on the rear surface of the overhang portion 62, inclined to be positioned forward and downward. The guide surface 63 is inclined to approach the wiring path of the exposed wire portion 43 as it approaches the projecting end (lower end) of the overhang portion 62.

[0044] Next, the assembly procedure for connector B will be described. After inserting the terminal module 30 into the module housing chamber 14 using the same procedure as in Embodiment 1, the two power lines 36 are routed in the upper region of the routing space 18, and the communication cable 40 is routed in the lower region of the routing space 18. When routing the communication cable 40, the tip 41T of the sheath 41 is housed in the housing recess 23, and the two exposed wire portions 43 are housed in the routing groove 20.

[0045] The hood portion 62 of the dielectric 31 protrudes to the rear of the wiring path of the exposed wire portion 43 between the signal wire outlet 35 and the wiring groove 20. Therefore, when attempting to push the tip portion 41T (left end) of the sheath 41 into the housing recess 23 from the rear, there is a concern that the exposed wire portion 43 of one of the signal wires 42 may ride up on the rear surface of the hood portion 62, as shown in Figures 14 and 16.

[0046] However, since a guide surface 63 is formed on the rear surface of the visor portion 62, when the sheath 41 is pushed forward toward the housing recess 23, the exposed wire portion 43 that has risen onto the visor portion 62 moves diagonally downward and forward while sliding against the guide surface 63. Then, the exposed wire portion 43 that has passed the protruding end (lower end) of the visor portion 62 settles into a predetermined routing path and is housed in the routing groove 20. In this state, since the visor portion 62 is positioned close to and covering the exposed wire portion 43 from behind, there is no risk of the exposed wire portion 43 shifting backward and detaching from the routing groove 20. As a result, the pair of exposed wire portions 43 are routed in the left-right direction along the axis of the tip portion 41T of the sheath 41.

[0047] After routing the power line 36 and communication cable 40 within the routing space 18, the bulk rubber stopper 47 is moved to the left and attached to the routing hole while holding the power line 36 and communication cable 40 in place so that they do not move to the left relative to the housing body 61. Then, the rubber stopper holding member 50 is attached to the right end of the housing body 61. When the bulk rubber stopper 47 is moved to the left, even if the communication cable 40 is pushed to the left, the tip surface 41S of the sheath 41 abuts against the stopper 26, so the communication cable 40 does not move to the left within the routing space 18.

[0048] Next, the cover 44, on which the rear seal member 51 is attached, is mounted to the rear surface of the housing body 61. This ensures that the opening 12 on the rear surface of the housing body 61 is liquid-tightly closed by the plate-shaped body portion 45 of the cover 44 and the rear seal member 51. With this, the assembly of connector B is completed.

[0049] When the cover 44 is attached to the housing body 61, the detachment restricting portion 46 (not shown) of the cover 44 abuts against the tip portion 41T of the sheath 41 from the rear, or is positioned close to it from the rear. As a result, the rearward movement of the communication cable 40 is restricted, so that the sheath 41 is held in a state where it is housed in the housing recess 23, and the exposed portion of the wire 43 is held in a state where it is housed in the cable routing groove 20.

[0050] According to connector B of this embodiment 2, by housing a pair of signal lines 42 (exposed wire portions 43) in the wiring groove 20, separation of the exposed wire portions 43 can be suppressed, thereby suppressing the deterioration of communication characteristics caused by an increase in the distance between the exposed wire portions 43.

[0051] The cable routing groove 20 has a shape that opens towards the rear of the housing 60. The dielectric 31 has a cantilevered projection shape and a canopy portion 62 that covers a part of the cable routing path of the exposed wire portion 43 from the rear. On the rear surface of the canopy portion 62, a guide surface 63 is formed that causes the exposed wire portion 43 to slide toward the projection end of the canopy portion 62 when pushed from behind by the exposed wire portion 43. With this configuration, when the sheath 41 of the communication cable 40 is housed in the housing recess 23 of the housing body 61, even if the exposed wire portion 43 overlaps with the rear surface of the canopy portion 62, the guide surface 63 can guide the exposed wire portion 43 toward the cable routing path of the exposed wire portion 43, so that the exposed wire portion 43 can be housed in the cable routing groove 20.

[0052] The housing 60 has a receiving recess 23 for accommodating the tip 41T of the sheath 41. In a rear view, the routing groove 20 and a pair of signal wire outlets 35 are arranged in a left-right direction along the axis of the tip 41T of the sheath 41 housed in the receiving recess 23. With this configuration, the pair of exposed wire portions 43 can be routed along the shortest path (straight path) connecting the signal wire outlets 35 and the tip surface 41S of the sheath 41. In addition, the routing space in the width direction of the pair of exposed wire portions 43 can be kept small.

[0053] A power line 36 (another wire), distinct from the signal line 42 (exposed wire portion 43), is led out from the dielectric 31. The width direction defined in this embodiment 2 is the direction perpendicular to the axis of the tip portion 41T of the sheath 41 housed in the housing recess 23 when viewed from the rear. The signal wire outlet 35 from which the signal line 42 is led out and the power supply wire outlet 34 (another wire outlet) from which the power line 36 is led out are arranged side by side in the width direction. The housing recess 23 and the routing groove 20 are positioned offset downward in the width direction from the width direction center 61C of the housing body 61 (housing 60). With this configuration, the exposed wire portion 43 (signal line 42) and the power line 36 can be routed along separate paths in the width direction. This makes it possible to suppress the deterioration of transmission characteristics caused by the power line 36 and the exposed wire portion 43 (signal line 42) being close together.

[0054] [Other examples] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and in the drawings, but is shown in the claims. The present invention includes the meaning of equivalents of the claims and all modifications within the claims, and also includes the following embodiments.

[0055] In Examples 1 and 2, the communication cable may have two or more pairs of signal wires embedded within its sheath. In Example 1, the housing may be in a form that does not have a guide portion. In Example 2, a configuration in which no guide surface is formed on the eaves portion is also possible. In Example 2, the shape may be one without an overhang. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] A... Connector B... Connector L...Virtual line L41…Axis line 10… Housing 11… Housing body 11C…Center in the width direction of the housing body 12…Opening 13...Wiring hole 14… Module housing room 15…Front component 16…Front seal component 17…Matching part 18…Routing space 20… Cable routing groove 21…Groove bottom surface 23… Storage recess 24…back side 25... Stepped section 26... Stopper 28…Guiding part 28R… Guidance part rear 29...Induction edge 30…Terminal module 31…Dielectric (terminal holding member) 32... Power supply terminal fittings 33…Signal terminal fittings (terminal fittings) 34…Power supply wire outlet (other wire outlet) 35… Signal wire outlet (wire outlet) 36…Power lines (other power lines) 40…Communication cable 41...Sheath 41S... The tip of the sheath 41T...Tip of the sheath 42... Signal line 43...Exposed wire part 44...cover 45...Plate-shaped main body 46…Withdrawal Regulatory Department 47...Bulk rubber stopper 48…First sealing hole 49...Second sealing hole 50...Rubber stopper retaining member 51... Rear seal component 60… Housing 61…Housing body 61C…Center in the width direction of the housing body 62...Eaves 63…Guidance surface

Claims

1. A communication cable comprising a pair of signal wires embedded in an insulating sheath, with the tip regions of the pair of signal wires extending from the tip surface of the sheath as exposed wire portions, and a terminal holding member housing a pair of terminal fittings individually fixed to the pair of exposed wire portions, with the exposed wire portions leading out from the wire outlet of the terminal holding member, The system comprises a housing that accommodates the tip region of the communication cable and the terminal holding member that houses the pair of terminal fittings, The connector has a cable routing groove formed inside the housing for accommodating the pair of exposed wire portions.

2. The cable routing groove has a shape that opens towards the rear of the housing. In a rear view of the housing, the wire outlet is located in the center of the housing in the width direction, and the cable routing groove is located at a position offset in the width direction from the center of the housing in the width direction. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a guide portion is formed at a position adjacent to the center in the width direction with respect to the cable routing groove, which guides the exposed wire portion toward the cable routing groove when the exposed wire portion is pressed from behind.

3. The housing has a receiving recess formed therein, which accommodates the tip of the sheath in a position as seen from the rear. When the sheath is positioned by the housing recess, the guide portion is positioned in the rear view on a virtual straight line connecting the extension position of the signal wire on the tip surface of the sheath and the wire outlet. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the receiving recess is positioned in front of the guide portion.

4. The cable routing groove has a shape that opens towards the rear of the housing. The terminal holding member has a cantilevered shape and a canopy portion that covers a part of the wiring path of the exposed wire portion from the rear. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the rear surface of the visor portion is formed with a guide surface that causes the exposed wire portion to slide toward the protruding end of the visor portion when pushed from behind by the exposed wire portion.

5. The housing has a recess for accommodating the tip of the sheath, The connector according to claim 4, in a rear view of the housing, the cable routing groove and the pair of wire outlets are arranged along the axis of the tip of the sheath housed in the housing recess.

6. Other wires, different from the signal wires, are led out from the terminal holding member. In the aforementioned rear view, when the direction perpendicular to the axis of the tip of the sheath housed in the housing recess is defined as the width direction, The wire outlet from which the signal line is led out and the other wire outlet from which the other wire is led out are arranged to be aligned in the width direction. The connector according to claim 5, wherein the receiving recess and the cable routing groove are positioned offset from the widthwise center of the housing in the widthwise direction.

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