IP Library Granted Patent US 11,296,464
Granted Patent B2
US 11,296,464 · App. 16/791,592 · Granted Apr 5, 2022

Impedance control connector

Inventors: Nicholas Lee Evans (Harrisburg, PA); Nathan William Swanger (Dillsburg, PA); Neil Franklin Schroll (Mount Joy, PA); John Wesley Hall (Hummelstown, PA); Bin Lin (Hummelstown, PA)
H01R13/6476H01R13/11H01R13/506H01R13/6581
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,296,464
App. No.
16/791,592
Granted
Apr 5, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A connector assembly which controls impedance. The connector assembly includes a first metallic outer housing and a second metallic outer housing. The second metallic housing has a conductor receiving portion. A rib is formed in the conductor receiving portion, the rib extends in a direction which is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second metallic outer shell. A terminal positioned in the connector assembly has a conductor receiving section and a mating terminal receiving section. The mating terminal receiving section has a lead-in portion and securing projections. At least one longitudinally extending opening is positioned about the circumference of the mating terminal receiving section, the opening reduces the cross section of the terminal. The opening provides impedance tuning to allow for a defined pitch of the terminal to be maintained without an impedance drop because of the close proximity of the terminal to an adjacent terminal.

Claims (18)

1. A connector assembly which controls impedance, the connector assembly comprising:

a cable having conductors;

a first metallic outer shell;

a second metallic outer shell having a conductor receiving portion, a rib formed in the conductor receiving portion, the rib extending in a direction which is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second metallic outer shell, the rib divides the conductor receiving portion into two conductor receiving passages having conductor receiving portions and conductor transition portions, the conductor transition portions extending at angles relative to a longitudinal axis of the second metallic shell, the conductor receiving portions extending in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second metallic shell;

wherein the conductor receiving passages interact with the conductors to match the impedance of the conductors in the second metallic outer shell with the impedance of the cable.

2. The connector assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the connector assembly has at least one terminal, the at least one terminal comprising;

a conductor receiving section;

a mating terminal receiving section, the mating terminal receiving section having a lead-in portion and securing projections, at least one longitudinally extending opening positioned about the circumference of the mating terminal receiving section, the at least one longitudinally extending opening reduces the cross section of the terminal, the least one longitudinally extending opening configured to reduce inductive coupling to an adjacent terminal;

wherein the least one longitudinally extending opening provides impedance tuning to allow for a defined diameter of the terminal to be maintained without an impedance drop because of the close proximity of the terminal to the adjacent terminal.

3. The connector assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first metallic outer shell has a stamped and formed recess which extends about the circumference of the first metallic outer shell, the recess provides controlled impedance of the first metallic outer shell in the area of the recess.

4. The connector assembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein the recess has a bottom wall and transition walls which extend from an outside surface of the first metallic outer shell to the bottom wall of the recess.

5. A connector housing assembly comprising:

a mating end and an oppositely facing conductor receiving end, a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls extending between the mating end and the conductor receiving end, a connector receiving passage extending between the mating end and the conductor receiving end;

an impedance controlled connector assembly positioned in the connector receiving passage, the connector assembly having a first metallic outer shell and a second metallic outer shell, the first metallic outer shell has a stamped and formed recess which extends about the circumference of the first metallic outer shell, the recess provides controlled impedance of the first metallic outer shell in the area of the recess;

a terminal position assurance receiving recess extending from a side wall;

a terminal position assurance device positioned in the terminal position assurance receiving recess, the terminal position assurance device having a base with a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface, a first terminal engagement section and second terminal engagement arms extending from the first surface in a direction away from the second surface, the first terminal engagement section has an extension arm and a terminal positioning surface which is provided at the end of the extension arm, the second terminal engagement arms have latching shoulders, terminal locking projections are provided on the second terminal engagement arms, the terminal locking projections have terminal engagement surfaces provided thereon.

6. The connector housing assembly as recited in claim 5 , wherein terminal position assurance receiving recess has arm receiving recesses which extend from the terminal position assurance receiving recess toward an opposed side wall, the arm receiving recesses intersect with the conductor receiving passage, a locating member receiving recess extends from the terminal position assurance receiving recess to the conductor receiving passage, the locating member receiving recess is provided proximate the mating end, the arm receiving recesses have first projections and second projections which extends into the arm receiving recesses.

7. The connector housing assembly as recited in claim 5 , wherein the connector assembly has a conductor receiving portion, a rib is formed in the conductor receiving portion, the rib extends in a direction which is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second metallic outer shell.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Jun 7, 2022
From: TE CONNECTIVITY SERVICES GMBH
To: TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GMBH
Reel/Frame 060305/0923 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2020
From: EVANS, NICHOLAS LEE; SWANGER, NATHAN WILLIAM; SCHROLL, NEIL FRANKLIN; HALL, JOHN WESLEY; LIN, BIN
To: TE CONNECTIVITY SERVICES GMBH
Reel/Frame 051904/0316 →