Modular Cable Assembly

This invention is related to modular connector assemblies, and especially, to those assemblies which are capable of housing and grounding differential pair conductors.

The telecommunications industry employs many miles of cable for low frequency transmissions. Recent trends in this industry have dictated that signal contacts are designed to be closer together than previously. This shortens the signal transmission pass between signal contacts and reduces the amount of space occupied by the contact spacing. Unfortunately, if the signal contacts are close together, they can be electrically coupled inductively and capacitively to produce cross-talk and stray voltages. One prior art attempt to minimize these effects by separating rows of signal contacts with reference contact plates is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,992, which is incorporated herein by reference.

During an electrical signal transmission, pulses are sent along parallel circuit paths and the magnitude of the differences between these paths is measured in deciphering the signal. Since separately shielded signal wires can be affected somewhat differently by electrical interferences over the many miles of transmission, pulses can be changed beyond allowable tolerance levels.

In an effort to avert the inductive and electrostatic variances between parallel pulse lines of digital switching applications, "differential pair" conductors have been designed which include a pair of connector wires insulated from one another and shielded with a metallic braiding. The ends of the differential pair typically include an adapter connected to the differential pair cable with a braided PIC termination and insulation strain relief. Since both connector wires of the differential pair are identically and commonly insulated and conductively-shielded from electrical interference, they produce the same response to inductive and electrostatic effects, thereby providing an accurate differential magnitude for more reliable signal deciphering.

Because differential pairs are a relatively new connector element, connector housings, and the like, must be equipped to accommodate them in a highly reliable and efficient fashion. Accordingly, a need exists for cable connector systems which provide means for using differential pairs with currently employed low frequency connectors and reference elements for eventually connecting to mating portions on a printed circuit board, such as the posts of a pin field connector. Such systems must both conserve space and minimize noise and cross-talk.

This invention provides cable connectors and housing blocks suitable for connecting and providing a reference voltage to differential pair conductors. In a first preferred embodiment, the cable connector includes an insulating housing block having at least two cable-receiving cavities disposed through its thickness and at least one transverse opening for communicating between the cavities. Disposed in a first of the cavities is an electrical cable assembly including at least two insulated signal wires and a protective conductive shell or layer co-axially disposed around a portion of the cable assembly. In the second cavity there is disposed a reference contact including a contact finger frictionally positioned in electrical contact with the conductive shell through the transverse opening.

Accordingly, this invention provides means for commonly grounding various contact leads along the conductive shell of the electrical cable assembly. The insulating housing block can be specially equipped with many smaller cable-receiving cavities for interchangeably receiving reference contacts and signal wire contacts, so that a wide variation of connector configurations can be employed without major redesigning. The conductive shells, preferably, wire braiding and/or conductive cans, disposed around the electrical cable assemblies, or differential pair cables, of this invention effectively dissipate static charges from outside of the unit for minimizing stray voltages.

In another preferred embodiment of this invention, a cable connector is provided having an insulating housing block including at least three cable-receiving cavities and at least one transverse opening for communicating between a first and a second of these cavities. In a first cavity of this housing block there is disposed a differential pair cable having at least two insulating wires and including a conductive shell co-axially disposed around a portion of the signal wires and insulated from these wires. A ground contact is disposed in a second cavity which includes a contact finger frictionally contacting the conductive shell for applying a reference voltage, ground, or return voltage to, for example, a post of a pin field connector. This embodiment also includes a signal wire having a mating contact disposed in a third of the cavities of the housing block. Preferably, the signal wire mating contact and the ground contact are approximately sized to frictionally fit interchangeably within the second and third cavities.

The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention according to the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

FIG. 1: is an exploded perspective view of a preferred cable connector of this invention including a differential pair electrical cable assembly, a low frequency cable contact, an electrostatic grounding contact, and a 4.times.5 modular housing block;

FIG. 2: is a perspective view of the preferred cable connector of this invention including at least six low frequency cables disposed in alternating cavities and a pair of differential pair electrical cable assemblies located in the central cavities of the housing block, also illustrating, in exploded view, alternative low frequency cable and electrostatic discharge grounding contacts for fitting within one of the smaller cable-receiving cavities;

FIG. 3: is a perspective, cross-sectional view of the preferred cable connector illustrating a low frequency cable contact, a differential pair electrical cable assembly, and an electrostatic discharge grounding contact disposed within respective cable-receiving cavities of said housing block;

FIG. 4: is a side, cross-sectional view of the cable connector arrangement of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5: is a detailed, perspective of the preferred differential pair electrical cable assembly of this invention;

FIG. 6: is a perspective view of a preferred low frequency cable contact; and

FIG. 7: is a perspective view of a preferred electrostatic discharge grounding contact.

Cable connectors and connector housing blocks are provided which provide common grounding between the conductive metal shell of a multiple cable assembly, such as a differential pair electrical cable assembly, and one or more reference contacts suitable for connecting to posts of a pin field connector, or the like. The cable connectors also preferably permit interchangeability between reference contacts and signal contacts, such as low frequency cable contacts, for permitting a myriad of flexible end uses. As used herein, the term "differential pair" comprises at least two signal wires, and may contain from about two to about twelve independent signal wires. The term "shell" used in connection with the electrical cable assemblies and differential pairs refers to any conductive or semi. conductive continuous layer suitable for providing a reference voltage or ground, including braided wire, mesh, metallic films or cans.

With reference to FIGS. 1-7, a preferred embodiment of the cable connectors of this invention will now be described. The preferred cable connector includes an insulating housing block 10 made of an insulating plastic material, and preferably an insulating plastic material which is injection molded or otherwise formed to provide contact-receiving cavities therethrough. Housing block 10 comprises multiple cable-receiving cavities, including at least one centrally-located cavity for receiving a differential pair electrical cable assembly, and a plurality of smaller cavities having similar cross-sectional areas disposed around the central cavity for preferably alternatingly receiving a low frequency cable contact 20, an electrostatic discharge grounding contact 18, or the like. Preferably, the housing block 10 comprises about 10-50 cavities therethrough, including a preferred arrangement having two larger central cavities 16 adapted to receive differential pair electrical cable assemblies 22 and 23 (FIG. 2). Circumscribed around these larger central cavities is a plurality of smaller cavities, which can include, for example, alternating smaller cavities 12 without a side transition opening, and smaller cavities 14 including at least one transverse opening, such as a longitudinal slot. This embodiment further includes two centrally-located smaller cavities 15 having a pair of transverse openings each for communicating with a larger central cavity 16.

Although a 4.times.5 modular block is illustrated in the Figures, it is envisioned that any number of configurations would be suitable for the applications of this invention, for example, those normally associated with pin arrays, such as 6.times.6, 8.times.10, etc. The housing block 10 includes at least one larger cavity for receiving a central electrical cable having at least two insulated wires, and a second smaller cavity for containing a reference contact which communicates with a conductive shell portion of the cable assembly.

Differential pair cable assemblies 22 have been used in the telecommunications industry for minimizing the effects of cross-talk and stray voltages on the magnitude of the differences between the pulsed charges carried through connector wires. With reference to FIG. 5, such structures typically include a pair of conductor wires 26 insulated with a polymeric insulation composition 27. Disposed co-axially around the insulation portion is a conductive braided strip 33. The braided strip 33 preferably includes a copper or aluminum wire. The differential pair is connected to a plug adapter 25 which is suitable for mounting to a pin connector unit (not shown). The plug adapter 25 includes shielding can 24 and is adhered to the outer insulation layer 29 of the differential pair with insulation strain relief 37 and a braid PIC termination 35, the latter providing electrical connection between the shielding can 24 and the conductive braided strip 33.

With reference to FIG. 6, a preferred signal wire mating contact, such as a low frequency cable contact 20 will now be described. The mating contact of the wire 41 preferably includes a box form electrical receptacle 42, including twin fingers 28 for frictionally receiving conductive pins of a field of pins arranged in a grid distribution on a circuit board.

With reference to FIG. 7, a preferred reference contact, such as an electrostatic discharge (ESD) grounding contact 18, is described. The ESD grounding contact 18 preferably provides a ground or reference voltage through the metal can 24 or other contact conducting surface of the differential pair electrical assembly 22 through to a matching contact on the printed circuit board or other target contact surface. The ESD grounding contact 18 includes a grounding spring having opposed twin fingers 30, only one of which is readily seen in FIG. 7, for frictionally receiving conductive pins of, for example, a pin field connector, and a contact finger 31 that enters the transverse opening or slot through the side wall of one of the smaller cavities 14 or 16 for electrically communicating with the metal shell or can 24. As with the low frequency cable contact 20 described above, the ESD grounding contact 18 can also comprise a box form electrical receptacle 43. Electrical receptacles suitable for mating with contact points on a printed circuit board are well known and disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,818,424, Re. 26,646, and Re. 26,837, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, upon inserting the preferred plug adapter 25 for the differential pair into the central cavity 16, and the ESD grounding contact 18 into its respective smaller cavity 14, the contact finger 31 pushes through the transverse opening to frictionally contact the can 24 of the plug adapter 25. This permits the ESD grounding contact 18 to electrically join a contact of a suitable pin connector unit to a desired reference electrical potential through the can 24 and conductive braided strip 33 of the differential pair electrical assembly 22. The reference electrical potential can be electrical ground voltage, or a voltage other than ground.

In one important aspect of this invention, the smaller cavities 14, 12, and 15 are preferably of similar cross-sectional areas for providing interchangeability between various contact elements, such as the preferred ESD grounding contact 18 and low frequency cable contact 20. In the preferred embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the box form electrical receptacles 42 and 43 are designed to have the substantially same cross sectional area, so that when a low frequency cable contact 20 is replaced with an ESD grounding 18, the contacts remain snug and secure within the housing 10. In this fashion, various signal/ground patterns can be developed for minimizing electrostatic and electromagnetic interferences. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of low frequency cables 41 can be alternated with electrostatic discharge grounding contacts 18 for minimizing cross-talk between pairs of low frequency cables 41. If an end user requires more cables in a particular application, a select number of the grounding springs 18 can be replaced with low frequency cables contacts 20 in a matter of seconds. The preferred 4.times.5 modular block described in the figures can accommodate two differential pair cables, up to 14 low frequency cables and up to 15 ground contacts, and preferably comprises about 2-10 smaller cavities having transverse slots.

From the foregoing, it can be realized that this invention provides improved cable connectors and housing blocks suitable for providing various signal cable and ground designs, while simultaneously utilizing preferred shielded differential contacts. Although various embodiments have been illustrated, this was for the purpose of describing and not limiting the invention. Various modifications and embodiments, which will become apparent to one skilled in the art, are within the scope of this invention described in the attached claims.