Cable device

Abstract

A cable device according to the present invention comprises: a plurality of electric wires which include a pair of first signal lines configured to transmit a first differential signal and a pair of second signal lines configured to transmit a second differential signal and which each extend along a first direction; and an accommodation unit which accommodates the plurality of electric wires. The pair of first signal lines and the pair of second signal lines are disposed such that, in a cross section intersecting the first direction of the accommodation unit, a first line segment which connects the centers of the pair of first signal lines intersects a second line segment which connects the centers of the pair of second signal lines.

Description

Cable Device

[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-119714, filed on July 24, 2023, and incorporates by reference all of the contents of said Japanese application.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a cable device. The cable device includes a wiring board and a plurality of pairs of electric wires. Each pair of electric wires is electrically connected to a pad on the wiring board and transmits a differential signal. The first signal wire and the second signal wire of each pair of electric wires transmit a positive phase signal and a negative phase signal, respectively. When noise of approximately the same intensity occurs in each pair of electric wires, the noise in the differential signal is sufficiently removed by calculating the difference between the positive phase signal and the negative phase signal.

[0003] JP 2006-073269 A

[0004] The present disclosure relates to a cable device. The cable device includes a plurality of electric wires and a storage section that stores the plurality of electric wires. The plurality of electric wires includes a pair of first signal lines configured to transmit a first differential signal and a pair of second signal lines configured to transmit a second differential signal. Each of the plurality of electric wires extends along a first direction. The pair of first signal lines and the pair of second signal lines are arranged such that, in a cross section of the storage section that intersects with the first direction, a first line segment connecting the centers of the pair of first signal lines intersects with a second line segment connecting the centers of the pair of second signal lines.

[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electrical connector according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a sub-connector included in the electrical connector shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the arrangement of multiple electric wires on a first surface of the housing shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of multiple electric wires in an electrical connector according to a comparative example. Parts (a), (b), and (c) of FIG. 6 are diagrams for explaining the influence of noise due to crosstalk from a pair of second signal wires on a pair of first signal wires in the electrical connector according to the comparative example. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the arrangement of multiple electric wires on a first surface of the housing of an electrical connector according to a first modified example. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the arrangement of multiple electric wires on a first surface of the housing of an electrical connector according to a second modified example. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the arrangement of multiple electric wires on a first surface of the housing of an electrical connector according to a third modified example. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the arrangement of multiple electric wires on a first surface of the housing of an electrical connector according to a fourth modified example.

[0006] [Problem to be Solved by the Present Disclosure] In the cable assembly described in Cited Document 1, the distance between a first signal wire of a certain pair of electric wires and the first signal wire of a pair of electric wires adjacent to the certain pair of electric wires is different from the distance between a second signal wire of the certain pair of electric wires and the first signal wire of the adjacent pair of electric wires. As a result, the strength of crosstalk from the first signal wire of an adjacent pair of electric wires differs for each of the certain pair of electric wires. As a result, when calculating the difference between the positive-phase signal and the negative-phase signal in a certain pair of electric wires, a difference in the influence of noise due to crosstalk from the first signal wire of another adjacent pair of electric wires remains. Similarly, a difference in the influence of noise due to crosstalk from the second signal wire of another adjacent pair of electric wires remains in a certain pair of electric wires. As such, it is not possible to sufficiently eliminate the influence of noise due to crosstalk from another adjacent pair of electric wires in a certain pair of electric wires.

[0007] Effect of the Present Disclosure According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a cable device that can sufficiently eliminate the influence of noise due to crosstalk from a pair of second signal lines in a pair of first signal lines.

[0008] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, the contents of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. [1] A cable device according to one embodiment includes a plurality of electric wires and a storage section that stores the plurality of electric wires. The plurality of electric wires include a pair of first signal lines configured to transmit a first differential signal and a pair of second signal lines configured to transmit a second differential signal. Each of the plurality of electric wires extends along a first direction. The pair of first signal lines and the pair of second signal lines are arranged such that, in a cross section of the storage section that intersects with the first direction, a first line segment connecting the centers of the pair of first signal lines intersects with a second line segment connecting the centers of the pair of second signal lines.

[0009] In this cable device, the pair of first signal lines and the pair of second signal lines are arranged such that, in a cross section of the storage section intersecting the first direction, a first line segment connecting the centers of the pair of first signal lines intersects a second line segment connecting the centers of the pair of second signal lines. With this configuration, compared to when the pair of first signal lines and the pair of second signal lines are arranged along a second direction intersecting the first direction (see, for example, FIG. 5 ), the difference between the distance between the center of one first signal line and the center of one second signal line and the distance between the center of the other first signal line and the center of one second signal line is smaller. This reduces the intensity of crosstalk from one second signal line in one first signal line to the intensity of crosstalk from one second signal line in the other first signal line. As a result, when calculating the difference between the positive-phase signal and the negative-phase signal in the pair of first signal lines, the influence of noise due to crosstalk from one second signal line is reduced. Furthermore, the difference between the distance between the center of one first signal line and the center of the other second signal line and the distance between the center of the other first signal line and the center of the other second signal line is reduced. This reduces the influence of noise due to crosstalk from the other second signal line in the pair of first signal lines. Therefore, the influence of noise due to crosstalk from the pair of second signal lines in the pair of first signal lines can be sufficiently eliminated.

[0010] [2] As one embodiment, in the cable device according to [1] above, the pair of first signal lines and the pair of second signal lines may be arranged so that the midpoint of the first line segment coincides with the midpoint of the second line segment. In this case, compared to when the pair of first signal lines and the pair of second signal lines are arranged along the second direction, the difference between the center of one first signal line and the center of one second signal line and the center of the other first signal line and the center of the one second signal line is smaller, and the difference between the center of one first signal line and the center of the other second signal line and the center of the other first signal line and the center of the other second signal line is smaller. This further reduces the influence of noise due to crosstalk between the pair of second signal lines when calculating the difference between the positive-phase signal and the negative-phase signal in the pair of first signal lines.

[0011] [3] As one embodiment, in the cable device according to [1] or [2] above, the pair of first signal lines and the pair of second signal lines may be arranged so that the first line segments and the second line segments are perpendicular to each other. In this case, in a cross section of the storage section intersecting the first direction, the difference between the distance between the center of one first signal line and the center of one second signal line and the distance between the center of the other first signal line and the center of the one second signal line is zero, and the difference between the distance between the center of one first signal line and the center of the other second signal line and the distance between the center of the other first signal line and the center of the other second signal line is also zero. This further reduces the influence of noise due to crosstalk between the pair of second signal lines when calculating the difference between the positive-phase signal and the negative-phase signal in the pair of first signal lines. As a result, the influence of noise due to crosstalk from the pair of second signal lines can be more effectively eliminated in the pair of first signal lines.

[0012] [4] As an embodiment, in the cable device according to any one of [1] to [3] above, the pair of first signal lines and the pair of second signal lines may be arranged so that the first line segments and the second line segments have the same length. In this case, in a cross section of the storage section intersecting the first direction, the centers of the pair of first signal lines and the centers of the pair of second signal lines are at the four vertices of a square whose sides are line segments connecting the centers of one of the first signal lines and the center of one of the second signal lines.

[0013] [5] As an embodiment, in the cable device described in any one of [1] to [4] above, the plurality of electric wires may further include a first ground wire connected to ground. The first ground wire may be aligned with the pair of first signal wires and the pair of second signal wires in the second direction in a cross section of the storage section intersecting the first direction. In this case, when another signal wire is located on the opposite side of the first signal wires and the pair of second signal wires with respect to the first ground wire, the influence of noise due to crosstalk from the other signal wires is reduced. As a result, the influence of noise due to crosstalk from the other signal wires can be more effectively eliminated in the pair of first signal wires and the pair of second signal wires.

[0014] [6] As an embodiment, in the cable device described in [5] above, the multiple electric wires may further include a second ground wire connected to ground. The first and second ground wires may be arranged to sandwich the pair of first signal wires and the pair of second signal wires in the second direction in a cross section of the storage section intersecting the first direction. In this case, when another signal wire is located on the opposite side of the first or second ground wire from the pair of first signal wires and the pair of second signal wires, the influence of noise due to crosstalk from the other signal wires is reduced. As a result, the influence of noise due to crosstalk from the other signal wires can be more effectively eliminated in the pair of first signal wires and the pair of second signal wires.

[0015] [7] As an embodiment, in the cable device described in [6] above, the multiple electric wires may further include a pair of third ground wires connected to ground. The pair of third ground wires may be arranged to sandwich the pair of first signal wires and the pair of second signal wires in a third direction intersecting the second direction in a cross section of the storage section intersecting the first direction. In this case, when another signal wire is located on the opposite side of at least one of the pair of third ground wires from the pair of first signal wires and the pair of second signal wires, the influence of noise due to crosstalk from the other signal wires is reduced. As a result, the influence of noise due to crosstalk from the other signal wires can be more effectively eliminated in the pair of first signal wires and the pair of second signal wires.

[0016] [8] As an embodiment, in the cable device according to any one of [1] to [7] above, the storage section may be a housing for storing a plurality of electric wires. In this case, for example, the cable device is an electrical connector. Here, as described above, in an electrical connector, crosstalk from a pair of first signal wires to a pair of second signal wires can be a problem. However, the crosstalk can be suppressed.

[0017] [9] As one embodiment, in the cable device according to any one of the above [1] to [8], the housing may have a plurality of through holes for respectively accommodating the conductors at the ends of the plurality of electric wires.

[0018]

[10] As an embodiment, in the cable device according to any one of the above [1] to [9], the plurality of electric wires may be a plurality of electric wires of a flexible flat cable.

[0019]

[11] As an embodiment, in the cable device according to any one of the above [1] to

[10] , the cross-sectional shape of each of the plurality of electric wires may be circular.

[0020] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] Specific examples of cable devices according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same elements or elements having the same functions will be designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted. The present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electrical connector according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 1. The electrical connector 1 (cable device) includes a plurality of sub-connectors 5 and a frame 6. The plurality of sub-connectors 5 are clamped by the frame 6. The sub-connector 5 includes a plurality of electric wires 7, a housing 20 (storage section), and a pair of guide pins 70. The plurality of electric wires 7 are integrated by a covering member 13 to form a flexible flat cable (FFC). Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction of the electrical connector 1 is referred to as the X direction (first direction), the width direction of the electrical connector 1 is referred to as the Y direction (second direction), and the direction intersecting the X direction and the Y direction is referred to as the Z direction (third direction).

[0022] The multiple electric wires 7 are components for transmitting power or electrical signals. Each electric wire 7 is either a pair of first signal wires 8 or a pair of second signal wires 9 that transmit differential signals. In one example, the multiple electric wires 7 include nine pairs (eighteen wires) of first signal wires 8 and nine pairs (eighteen wires) of second signal wires 9. The first signal wires 8 include conductors 8a. The conductors 8a are made of a metal such as copper. When the electrical connector 1 is connected to a mating connector, the conductors 8a are connected to a circuit on the board via terminals provided on the mating connector. The conductors 8a may be directly connected to electrode pads provided on the board. The first signal wires 8 may be insulated wires in which the conductors 8a are covered with an insulator, or may be bare wires in which the conductors 8a are exposed. The cross-sectional shape of each electric wire 7 in a cross section intersecting the X direction is, for example, circular.

[0023] The second signal line 9 has a conductor 9a. The conductor 9a is made of a metal such as copper. When the electrical connector 1 is connected to a mating connector, the conductor 9a is connected to a circuit on the board via a terminal provided on the mating connector. The conductor 9a may be directly connected to an electrode pad provided on the board. The second signal line 9 may be an insulated wire in which the conductor 9a is covered with an insulator, or may be a bare wire in which the conductor 9a is exposed.

[0024] The multiple electric wires 7 each extend along the X direction. The multiple electric wires 7 are arranged side by side along the Y direction. As an example, first signal lines 8 and second signal lines 9 are arranged alternately along the Y direction. A pair of first signal lines 8 are adjacent to each other in a direction inclined with respect to the Y direction and the Z direction. The pair of first signal lines 8 are configured to pass currents of opposite phases to each other and are configured to transmit signals by differential transmission, in which signals are transmitted using the potential difference between the pair of first signal lines 8. In such a pair of first signal lines 8, when noise of the same amplitude occurs in each first signal line 8, the noise can be removed by calculating the difference between the signals of the first signal lines 8. The pair of second signal lines 9 are adjacent to each other in a direction inclined with respect to the Y direction and the Z direction. The direction in which the pair of second signal lines 9 are adjacent to each other intersects the direction in which the pair of first signal lines 8 are adjacent to each other. The pair of second signal lines 9 are configured to pass currents of opposite phases to each other, and are configured to transmit signals by differential transmission, in which signals are transmitted using the potential difference between the pair of second signal lines 9. The distance between each conductor of the multiple electric wires 7 (center-to-center distance) is, for example, 0.6 mm. The pair of second signal lines 9 can remove noise of the same amplitude as the pair of first signal lines 8.

[0025] The covering member 13 covers the portions of the multiple electric wires 7 except for their leading and trailing ends. The covering member 13 is made of a resin such as polyester. A portion of the covering member 13 that covers the leading end of the conductor 8 a of the first signal line 8 and the leading end of the conductor 9 a of the second signal line 9 has been removed. In other words, the leading end of the conductor 8 a of the first signal line 8 and the leading end of the conductor 9 a of the second signal line 9 are exposed from the covering member 13.

[0026] The housing 20 is a rectangular parallelepiped member that holds a plurality of electric wires 7. The housing 20 is formed from a resin such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sub-connector 5 shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the housing 20 of the sub-connector 5 has a first surface 21, a second surface 22, a third surface 23, and a fourth surface 24. The first surface 21 and the second surface 22 extend in the Y direction and the Z direction. The second surface 22 is located on the opposite side of the first surface 21 in the X direction. The third surface 23 and the fourth surface 24 extend in the X direction and the Y direction. The fourth surface 24 is located on the opposite side of the third surface 23 in the Z direction.

[0027] The housing 20 further has a plurality of through holes 25 (retaining holes) and a pair of guide holes 28 .

[0028] The through holes 25 extend along the X direction and penetrate the housing 20. The through holes 25 open on the first surface 21 and the second surface 22. When viewed from the X direction, the through holes 25 have, for example, a circular shape. In this embodiment, eighteen through holes 25 are formed in the housing 20. The through holes 25 are aligned along the Y direction. The inner diameter of each through hole 25 is the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the conductor 8 a of the first signal line 8 and the conductor 9 a of the second signal line 9. The through holes 25 respectively accommodate the conductors 7 a at the tip ends of the plurality of electric wires 7. Either the conductor 8 a of the first signal line 8 or the conductor 9 a of the second signal line 9 is disposed inside each through hole 25. Each through hole 25 holds the tip end of an electric wire 7. The tip ends of the plurality of electric wires 7 are exposed from the respective through holes 25 on the first surface 21. Thus, the housing 20 accommodates a plurality of electric wires 7 .

[0029] The pair of guide holes 28 are holes that penetrate the housing 20 along the X direction. When viewed from the X direction, the guide holes 28 have a circular shape. Each of the pair of guide holes 28 is configured to allow a guide pin 70 to be inserted therein. For example, a pair of guide pins 70 are inserted into the inside of each of the pair of guide holes 28. The pair of guide holes 28 are formed to sandwich the multiple through holes 25 in the Y direction. The inner diameter of the pair of guide holes 28 is formed to be larger than the inner diameter of each of the through holes 25.

[0030] The pair of guide pins 70 are pins extending in the X direction. The guide pins 70 are made of a metal such as stainless steel. Each guide pin 70 is positioned within a corresponding guide hole 28. The pair of guide pins 70 are arranged to sandwich a plurality of through holes 25 in the Y direction. The guide pins 70 may be, for example, screws. When the pair of guide pins 70 are mated with a pair of mating connectors, the positioning of each electric wire, etc. is performed when the sub-connector 5 is mated with the mating connector. For example, the positioning of each electric wire, etc. is performed by fixing the housing 20 to a board with screws.

[0031] The plurality of sub-connectors 5 configured as described above are stacked in the Z direction and sandwiched by a frame 6. The frame 6 is an annular member. The frame 6 is made of a resin such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The stacked plurality of sub-connectors 5 are located inside the frame 6.

[0032] The pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4 . FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the first signal lines 8 and the second signal lines 9 on the first surface 21 of the housing 20. The pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 form a unit U with two rows and two columns. A plurality of units U are arranged in the Y direction and the Z direction on the first surface 21 of the housing 20. The pair of first signal lines 8 are configured to transmit differential signals (first differential signals). The pair of first signal lines 8 includes a signal line 81 that transmits a positive-phase signal and a signal line 82 that transmits a negative-phase signal. The pair of second signal lines 9 includes a signal line 91 that transmits a positive-phase signal and a signal line 92 that transmits a negative-phase signal. In each unit U, the signal lines 91 and 81 are arranged in this order in the Y direction. The signal lines 82 and 92 are arranged in this order in the Y direction. Therefore, the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 are adjacent to each other in the Y direction.

[0033] Hereinafter, the imaginary line segment connecting the center 81a of the signal line 81 and the center 82a of the signal line 82 will be referred to as the first line segment L1. The imaginary line segment connecting the center 91a of the signal line 91 and the center 92a of the signal line 92 will be referred to as the second line segment L2. The pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 are arranged so that the first line segment L1 intersects the second line segment L2 in a cross section intersecting the X direction. The pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 are arranged so that the midpoint of the first line segment L1 coincides with the midpoint of the second line segment L2. The midpoint of the first line segment L1 does not have to strictly coincide with the midpoint of the second line segment L2. For example, the midpoint of the first line segment L1 may be shifted relative to the midpoint of the second line segment L2. For example, the midpoint of the first line segment L1 may coincide with the vicinity of the midpoint of the second line segment L2, or the vicinity of the midpoint of the first line segment L1 may coincide with the midpoint of the second line segment L2, or the vicinity of the midpoint of the first line segment L1 may coincide with the vicinity of the midpoint of the second line segment L2. The vicinity of the midpoint of the first line segment L1 refers to the approximate midpoint position on the first line segment L1, the vicinity of the midpoint position on the first line segment L1, or a position close to the midpoint of the first line segment L1. The vicinity of the midpoint of the first line segment L1 may refer to a range on a line segment whose length is within a range of ±0.02 from the midpoint and shares a midpoint with the first line segment L1, assuming that the length of the first line segment L1 is 1. The same applies to the vicinity of the midpoint of the second line segment L2.

[0034] The pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 are arranged so that the first line segment L1 and the second line segment L2 are perpendicular to each other. The first line segment L1 and the second line segment L2 do not have to be strictly perpendicular to each other. For example, the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 may be arranged so that the first line segment L1 and the second line segment L2 intersect at an angle θ1. The angle θ1 may be, for example, 69.2 degrees or greater and 111.8 degrees or less, or may be, for example, 90 degrees. The pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 are arranged so that the first line segment L1 and the second line segment L2 are the same length. The first line segment L1 and the second line segment L2 do not have to be strictly the same length. For example, the ratio of the length of the second line segment L2 to the length of the first line segment L1 may be 0.6 or greater and 1.4 or less, or 0.8 or greater and 1.2 or less, or may be, for example, 1.0.

[0035] From the above, in the example shown in FIG. 4 , in a cross section intersecting the X direction, the centers 81 a, 82 a of the pair of first signal lines 8 and the centers 91 a, 92 a of the pair of second signal lines 9 form the four vertices of an imaginary square, one side of which is the line segment connecting the center 81 a of the signal line 81 and the center 91 a of the signal line 91.

[0036] The following describes the effects achieved by the electrical connector 1 according to this embodiment. First, crosstalk in the electrical connector 100 according to the comparative example will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of multiple electric wires 7 in the electrical connector 100 according to the comparative example. In the example shown in FIG. 5, a pair of first signal lines 180 and a pair of second signal lines 190 are arranged in the Y direction with the ground line 110 sandwiched between them. The pair of first signal lines 180 includes a signal line 181 that transmits a positive-phase signal and a signal line 182 that transmits a negative-phase signal. The pair of second signal lines 190 includes a signal line 191 that transmits a positive-phase signal and a signal line 192 that transmits a negative-phase signal.

[0037] When electrically connecting electrical conductors used for signal transmission to a circuit board, the electrical conductors are typically arranged in a row and secured to a holder (e.g., a housing) to form a unit. For example, while ensuring differential impedance within the differential signal lines 181 and 182 and the signal lines 191 and 192, a ground line 110 is placed between the pair of second signal lines 190 (paired electrical wires) to prevent crosstalk XT (signal leakage) from the pair of first signal lines 180 (other paired electrical wires). As an example, multiple pairs of electrical wires used for differential signal transmission are arranged side by side and unitized in a GSSGSSG (Ground Signal Signal Ground Signal Signal Ground) arrangement. With this configuration, the electrical connector 100 according to the comparative example 100 transmits differential signals through multiple electrical wires to reduce the effects of noise during high-speed signal transmission, thereby providing noise countermeasures.

[0038] In the electrical connector 100 according to the comparative example, crosstalk XT1 occurs in the signal line 181 due to the signal line 191, and crosstalk XT3 occurs in the signal line 181 due to the signal line 192. Part (a) of FIG. 6 illustrates the crosstalk XT1 and crosstalk XT3 in the signal line 181. The signal lines 191 and 192 transmit signals of opposite phases. However, because the distance between the center of the signal line 191 and the center of the signal line 181 is different from the distance between the center of the signal line 192 and the center of the signal line 181, the amplitudes of the crosstalk XT1 and crosstalk XT3 in the signal line 181 are different. Therefore, when the crosstalk XT1 and crosstalk XT3 are added together in the signal line 181, crosstalk XT13 occurs. Furthermore, in the electrical connector 100 according to the comparative example, the signal line 191 causes crosstalk XT2 in the signal line 182, and the signal line 192 causes crosstalk XT4 in the signal line 182. 6B is a diagram showing crosstalk XT2 and crosstalk XT4 on the signal line 182. As with the signal line 181, when the crosstalk XT2 and the crosstalk XT4 are added together on the signal line 182, crosstalk XT24 occurs.

[0039] 6(c) shows the crosstalk XT13 and crosstalk XT24 in signal lines 181 and 182, and the difference between the crosstalks. Because the amplitude of crosstalk XT13 in signal line 181 and the amplitude of crosstalk XT24 in signal line 182 are different, even when an output signal is generated by taking the difference between the signals in signal line 181 and 182, crosstalk XT remains in the output signal. As an example, the magnitude relationship between the crosstalks is XT3 > XT1 = XT4 > XT2, so XT = (XT1 + XT3) - (XT2 + XT4) > 0, and crosstalk XT remains in the output signal. Thus, the electrical connector 100 according to the comparative example is unable to sufficiently eliminate the effects of noise due to crosstalk XT1, XT2, XT3, and XT4 from the pair of signal lines 191 and 192 in the pair of signal lines 181 and 182.

[0040] On the other hand, in the electrical connector 1 of the first embodiment, the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 are arranged such that, in a cross section intersecting the X direction, a first line segment L1 connecting the center 81 a of the signal line 81 and the center 82 a of the signal line 82 intersects with a second line segment L2 connecting the center 91 a of the signal line 91 and the center 92 a of the signal line 92. With this configuration, the difference between the distance between the center 81 a of the signal line 81 and the center 91 a of the signal line 91 and the distance between the center 82 a of the signal line 82 and the center 91 a of the signal line 91 is smaller than when multiple signal lines 181, 182, 191, and 192 are arranged along the Y direction (see FIG. 5). As a result, the intensity of crosstalk XT1 (see FIG. 4) from the signal line 91 in the signal line 81 approaches the intensity of crosstalk XT2 (see FIG. 4) from the signal line 91 in the signal line 82. As a result, when the difference between the positive-phase signal and the negative-phase signal is calculated in the pair of first signal lines 8, the influence of noise due to crosstalk XT1 and XT2 from the signal line 91 is reduced. Furthermore, the difference between the distance between the center 81a of the signal line 81 and the center 92a of the signal line 92 and the distance between the center 82a of the signal line 82 and the center 92a of the signal line 92 is reduced. This reduces the influence of noise due to crosstalk XT3 and XT4 (see FIG. 4 ) from the signal line 92 in the pair of first signal lines 8. Therefore, the influence of noise due to crosstalk XT1, XT2, XT3, and XT4 from the pair of second signal lines 9 in the pair of first signal lines 8 can be sufficiently eliminated. Therefore, the electrical connector 1 can realize an arrangement that nullifies or reduces leakage signals from other signal lines in differential signal transmission of the pair of first signal lines 8. This makes it possible to realize and provide high-quality transmission in signal transmission using high-frequency signals in the electrical connector 1.

[0041] In the electrical connector 1, the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 are arranged so that the midpoint of the first line segment L1 coincides with the midpoint of the second line segment L2. In this case, compared to when the multiple signal lines 181, 182, 191, and 192 are arranged along the Y direction (see FIG. 5 ), the difference between the distance between the center 81 a of the signal line 81 and the center 91 a of the signal line 91 and the distance between the center 82 a of the signal line 82 and the center 91 a of the signal line 91 is smaller, and the difference between the distance between the center 81 a of the signal line 81 and the center 92 a of the signal line 92 and the distance between the center 82 a of the signal line 82 and the center 92 a of the signal line 92 is smaller. As a result, when the difference between the positive-phase signal and the negative-phase signal is calculated for the pair of first signal lines 8, the influence of noise due to crosstalk XT1, XT2, XT3, and XT4 of the pair of second signal lines 9 is further reduced.

[0042] In the electrical connector 1, the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 are arranged so that the first line segment L1 and the second line segment L2 are perpendicular to each other. In this case, compared to when the multiple signal lines 181, 182, 191, and 192 are arranged along the Y direction (see FIG. 5 ), the difference between the distance between the center 81 a of the signal line 81 and the center 91 a of the signal line 91 and the distance between the center 82 a of the signal line 82 and the center 91 a of the signal line 91 is zero, and the difference between the distance between the center 81 a of the signal line 81 and the center 92 a of the signal line 92 and the distance between the center 82 a of the signal line 82 and the center 92 a of the signal line 92 is also zero. This further reduces the influence of noise due to crosstalk XT1 and XT2 from the pair of second signal lines 9 when calculating the difference between the positive-phase signal and the negative-phase signal in the pair of first signal lines 8. The same applies to crosstalk XT3 and XT4 from the other second signal line 9 in the pair of first signal lines 8. As an example, the magnitude relationship between the crosstalks is XT1 = XT2 = XT3 = XT4, so XT = (XT1 + XT3) - (XT2 + XT4) = 0, and the crosstalk XT is removed from the output signal. The "zero" mentioned above does not have to be strictly zero.

[0043] Although the cable assembly according to the present disclosure has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be applied to various other embodiments and modifications. For example, in the above embodiment, the multiple electric wires 7 include only the multiple first signal lines 8 and the multiple second signal lines 9, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, as shown in the following first and second modifications, the multiple electric wires 7 may also include multiple ground lines 30.

[0044] 7 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the first signal wire 8, the second signal wire 9, and the ground wire 30 on the first surface 21 of the housing 20A of the electrical connector 1A according to the first modification. The plurality of electric wires 7 may include a plurality of ground wires 30. The plurality of ground wires 30 includes two ground wires 31 (first ground wires) and two ground wires 32 (second ground wires).

[0045] The ground wire 30 has a conductor. The conductor is, for example, a metal such as copper. For example, when the electrical connector 1 is connected to a mating connector, the conductor is connected to ground via a ground terminal provided on the mating connector. The conductor may be directly connected to an electrode pad provided on the substrate. The ground wire 30 may be an insulated wire in which the conductor is covered with an insulator, or may be a bare wire in which the conductor is exposed. When the ground wire 30 is an insulated wire, part of the insulation of the insulated wire is removed to expose the conductor.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 7 , a pair of first signal lines 8, a pair of second signal lines 9, and ground lines 31 and 32 form a unit U1 arranged in two rows and four columns. A plurality of units U1 are arranged in the Y direction on the first surface 21 of the housing 20A. In the first row of each unit U1, the ground line 31, the signal line 91, the signal line 81, and the ground line 32 are arranged in this order in the Y direction. In the second row of each unit U1, the ground line 31, the signal line 82, the signal line 92, and the ground line 32 are arranged in this order in the Y direction. In other words, the two ground lines 31 are arranged in the Z direction. In a cross section along the YZ plane, the two ground lines 31 are arranged in the Y direction with the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9. The two ground lines 32 are arranged in the Z direction. The two ground lines 32 are arranged on the opposite side of the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 from the two ground lines 31 in a cross section intersecting the X direction. Therefore, the ground lines 31 and 32 are arranged to sandwich the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 in the Y direction in a cross section along the YZ plane.

[0047] In the electrical connector 1A according to the first modified example, similarly to the above embodiment, the influence of noise due to crosstalk XT1, XT2, XT3, and XT4 from the pair of second signal lines 9 can be sufficiently eliminated in the pair of first signal lines 8.

[0048] In the electrical connector 1A according to the first modification, the multiple electric wires 7 have a ground line 31 connected to ground. The ground line 31 is aligned in the Y direction with the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 in a cross section intersecting the X direction. In this case, when other signal lines are located on the opposite side of the ground line 31 from the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9, the influence of noise due to crosstalk from the other signal lines is reduced. As a result, the influence of noise due to crosstalk from the other signal lines can be more effectively eliminated in the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9.

[0049] In the electrical connector 1A according to the first modification, the multiple electric wires 7 include a ground line 32 connected to ground. The ground lines 31 and 32 are arranged to sandwich the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 in the Y direction in a cross section intersecting the X direction. In this case, when another signal line is located on the opposite side of the ground line 31 or the ground line 32 from the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9, the influence of noise due to crosstalk from the other signal lines is reduced. As a result, the influence of noise due to crosstalk from the other signal lines can be more effectively eliminated in the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9.

[0050] In the first modification, the plurality of electric wires 7 may not include the ground line 32 , and may include only the ground line 31 .

[0051] 8 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the first signal wires 8, the second signal wires 9, and the ground wires 30 on the first surface 21 of the housing 20B of an electrical connector 1B according to a second modification. The plurality of electric wires 7 may include a plurality of ground wires 30. In the second modification, unlike the above embodiment and the first modification, the plurality of electric wires 7 are arranged in 4 rows and N columns (N is an integer greater than or equal to 4) on the first surface 21 of the housing 20B. Furthermore, unlike the first modification, the plurality of ground wires 30 further include a plurality of ground wires 33.

[0052] In the example shown in FIG. 8 , a plurality of first signal lines 8, a plurality of second signal lines 9, and a plurality of ground lines 31, 32, and 33 form a unit U2 arranged in four rows and four columns. On the first surface 21 of the housing 20B, a plurality of units U2 are arranged in the Y direction. In the first row of each unit U2, a plurality of ground lines 33 are arranged in the Y direction to form a ground line array 41. In the second row of each unit U2, a ground line 31, a signal line 91, a signal line 81, and a ground line 32 are arranged in this order in the Y direction. In the third row of each unit U2, a ground line 31, a signal line 82, a signal line 92, and a ground line 32 are arranged in this order in the Y direction. In the fourth row of each unit U2, a plurality of ground lines 33 are arranged in the Y direction to form a ground line array 42. The ground line array 41 and the ground line array 42 are arranged so as to sandwich a pair of first signal lines 8 and a pair of second signal lines 9 in the Z direction. For example, a pair of ground lines 33 (a pair of third ground lines) aligned in the Z direction are arranged to sandwich the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 in the Z direction.

[0053] The plurality of first signal lines 108, the plurality of second signal lines 109, and the plurality of ground lines 131, 132, and 133 constitute another unit U2, which is configured similarly to the plurality of first signal lines 8, the plurality of second signal lines 9, and the plurality of ground lines 31, 32, and 33, respectively. For example, the plurality of ground lines 133 constitute a ground line array 141 and a ground line array 142. The unit U2 and another unit U2 are aligned in the Z direction. For example, the pair of first signal lines 108 and the pair of second signal lines 109 are arranged on the opposite side of the ground line array 42 and the ground line array 141 from the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9.

[0054] In the electrical connector 1B according to the second modification, the multiple electric wires 7 include a pair of ground wires 33 connected to ground. The pair of ground wires 33 are arranged to sandwich the pair of first signal wires 8 and the pair of second signal wires 9 in the Z direction in a cross section intersecting the X direction. In this case, the first signal wire 108 and the second signal wire 109 are located on the opposite side of at least one of the pair of ground wires 33 from the pair of first signal wires 8 and the pair of second signal wires 9, thereby reducing the influence of noise due to crosstalk from the first signal wires 108 and the second signal wires 109. As a result, the influence of noise due to crosstalk from the first signal wires 108 and the second signal wires 109 can be more effectively eliminated in the pair of first signal wires 8 and the pair of second signal wires 9. Therefore, the ground line 33 is arranged perpendicular to the arrangement of the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9, and the arrangement of each electric wire 7 and each ground line 30 is set to prevent the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 from being affected by noise due to crosstalk XT (leakage signals) from the first signal lines 108 and the second signal lines 109.

[0055] [Third Modification] In the above embodiment, the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 are arranged so that the first line segment L1 and the second line segment L2 are orthogonal to each other and have the same length, but this is not limiting. For example, as shown in the third modification, the first line segment L1 and the second line segment L2 may not be orthogonal to each other and may not have the same length. In this case, it is sufficient that the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 are arranged so that the first line segment L1 and the second line segment L2 intersect each other.

[0056] 9 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the first signal wire 8, the second signal wire 9, and the ground wire 30 on the first surface 21 of the housing 20C of the electrical connector 1C according to the third modification. The first signal wire 8, the second signal wire 9, and the ground wire 30 constitute each unit U1. Unlike the above embodiment and the first modification, the pair of first signal wires 8 and the pair of second signal wires 9 are arranged so that the first line segment L1 and the second line segment L2 intersect with each other at an angle θ3. The angle θ3 may be, for example, between 69.2 degrees and 111.8 degrees, inclusive, and is, for example, 90 degrees.

[0057] Similar to the first modification, the plurality of electric wires 7 may include a plurality of ground wires 30. The plurality of ground wires 30 may include two ground wires 31 (first ground wires) and two ground wires 32 (second ground wires). Unlike the first modification, the two ground wires 31 are arranged in a direction intersecting the Y and Z directions in the YZ plane. The two ground wires 32 are arranged in a direction intersecting the Y and Z directions in the YZ plane. In the third modification, the plurality of electric wires 7 may not include the ground wires 30, and each unit U1 may be configured by only a pair of first signal wires 8 and a pair of second signal wires 9.

[0058] In the electrical connector 1C according to the third modified example, similarly to the above embodiment, the influence of noise due to crosstalk XT1, XT2, XT3, and XT4 from the pair of second signal lines 9 can be sufficiently eliminated in the pair of first signal lines 8.

[0059] [Fourth Modification] In the above embodiment, the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 are arranged so that they have the same length, but this is not limited to this. For example, as shown in the fourth modification, the first line segment L1 and the second line segment L2 do not have to have the same length. In this case, it is sufficient that the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 are arranged so that the first line segment L1 intersects the second line segment L2.

[0060] 10 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the first signal wires 8, the second signal wires 9, and the ground wires 30 on the first surface 21 of the housing 20D of an electrical connector 1D according to a fourth modified example. Unlike the above-described embodiment and each modified example, in the fourth modified example, the plurality of electric wires 7 are arranged in 3 rows and 2N columns (N is an integer of 2 or more) on the first surface 21 of the housing 20B.

[0061] A plurality of first signal lines 8, a plurality of second signal lines 9, and a plurality of ground lines 30 form a unit U4 arranged in three rows and two columns. A plurality of units U4 are arranged in the Y and Z directions on the first surface 21 of the housing 20C. In the first row of the unit U4, signal lines 81 and ground lines 30 are aligned along the Y direction. In the second row of the unit U4, a pair of second signal lines 9 are aligned along the Y direction. In the third row of the unit U4, a ground line 30 and a signal line 82 are aligned along the Y direction. Similar to the above embodiment, the pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 are arranged such that the first line segment L1 intersects the second line segment L2 in a cross section intersecting the X direction. The pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 are arranged such that the first line segment L1 and the second line segment L2 are perpendicular to each other. The pair of first signal lines 8 and the pair of second signal lines 9 are arranged so that the midpoint of the first line segment L1 coincides with the midpoint of the second line segment L2.

[0062] In the fourth modification, the plurality of electric wires 7 may not have the ground wires 30, and each unit U4 may be configured by only a pair of first signal wires 8 and a pair of second signal wires 9.

[0063] In the above embodiment, the electrical connector 1 is a cable device, but this is not limiting. For example, a single cable may be the cable device. The cable device may include a plurality of electric wires 7 including a pair of first signal wires 8 and a pair of second signal wires 9. In this case, similar to the above embodiment, the pair of first signal wires 8 and the pair of second signal wires 9 may be arranged such that the first line segment L1 intersects the second line segment L2 in a cross section intersecting the direction in which the cable extends. The plurality of electric wires 7 may include a ground wire 30.

[0064] In the above embodiment and the third modified example, the first signal line 8 and the second signal line 9 may be aligned in the Z direction or may be aligned alternately in the Y direction. For example, a pair of first signal lines 8 may be aligned in the Z direction. In this case, in the above embodiment, the signal line 91 of a pair of second signal lines 9 and the signal line 92 of another pair of second signal lines 9 may be aligned in the Z direction. In the third modified example, the ground line 31 and the signal line 82 may be aligned in the Z direction. The signal line 81 and the ground line 32 may be aligned in the Z direction. Also, for example, the pair of second signal lines 9 may be aligned in the Z direction. In this case, in the above embodiment, the signal line 81 of a pair of first signal lines 8 and the signal line 82 of another pair of first signal lines 8 may be aligned in the Z direction. In the third modified example, the signal line 91 and the ground line 31 may be aligned in the Z direction. The ground line 32 and the signal line 92 may be aligned in the Z direction.

[0065] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D... Electrical connector 5... Sub-connector 6... Frame 7... Electric wire 7a... Conductor 8... First signal line 8a... Conductor 9... Second signal line 9a... Conductor 13... Covering member 20, 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D... Housing 21... First surface 22... Second surface 23... Third surface 24... Fourth surface 25... Through hole 28... Guide hole 30... Ground line 31, 131... Ground line (first ground line) 32, 132... Ground line (second ground line) 33, 133... Ground line (third ground line) 41, 141... Ground line array 42, 142... Ground line array 70... Guide pin 81, 82, 91, 92... Signal line 81a, 82a, 91a, 92a... Center REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100...electrical connector 108...first signal line 109...second signal line 110...ground line 180...first signal line 181...signal line 182...signal line 190...second signal line 191...signal line 192...signal line L1...first line segment L2...second line segment U...unit U1...unit U2...unit U4...unit XT, XT1, XT2, XT3, XT4, XT13, XT24...crosstalk θ1...angle θ3...angle

Claims

1. A cable device comprising: a pair of first signal lines configured to transmit a first differential signal and a pair of second signal lines configured to transmit a second differential signal, each of which extends along a first direction; and a storage section that stores the plurality of electric wires, wherein the pair of first signal lines and the pair of second signal lines are arranged such that, in a cross section of the storage section that intersects with the first direction, a first line segment connecting the centers of the pair of first signal lines intersects with a second line segment connecting the centers of the pair of second signal lines.

2. The cable device according to claim 1, wherein the pair of first signal lines and the pair of second signal lines are arranged such that a midpoint of the first line segment coincides with a midpoint of the second line segment.

3. A cable device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pair of first signal lines and the pair of second signal lines are arranged such that the first line segments and the second line segments are perpendicular to each other.

4. A cable device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pair of first signal lines and the pair of second signal lines are arranged so that the first line segments and the second line segments have the same length as each other.

5. A cable device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plurality of electric wires further includes a first ground wire connected to ground, and the first ground wire is aligned in the second direction with the pair of first signal wires and the pair of second signal wires in a cross section of the storage portion that intersects with the first direction.

6. The cable device according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of electric wires further includes a second ground wire connected to ground, and the first ground wire and the second ground wire are arranged to sandwich the pair of first signal wires and the pair of second signal wires in the second direction in a cross section of the storage section that intersects with the first direction.

7. The cable device according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of electric wires further include a pair of third ground wires connected to ground, and the pair of third ground wires are arranged in a cross section of the storage section that intersects the first direction so as to sandwich the pair of first signal wires and the pair of second signal wires in a third direction that intersects the second direction.

8. A cable device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the storage section is a housing that stores the plurality of electric wires.

9. The cable device according to claim 8, wherein the housing has a plurality of through holes for respectively accommodating the conductors at the ends of the plurality of electric wires.

10. A cable device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the plurality of electric wires are a plurality of electric wires of a flexible flat cable.

11. A cable device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the cross-sectional shape of each of the plurality of electric wires is circular.

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