Shielded electrical connector for automotive applications and method of assembling thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12100915-B2
Application number	US-202318137708-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 21, 2023
Priority date	Aug 20, 2019
Publication date	Sep 24, 2024
Grant date	Sep 24, 2024

Abstract

A method of assembling a connector for automotive applications, comprising the steps of: providing a cable having at least one inner conductor; connecting an elongated inner signal contact of the connector to a stripped end of the at least one inner conductor; surrounding the elongated inner signal contact by an insulating element; placing a first shielding part of the connector around a first portion of the insulating element from a first radial direction; placing a second shielding part of the connector around a second portion of the insulating element from a second radial direction generally opposite to the first radial direction; and joining the first and second shielding parts to form a shielding contact of the connector surrounding the insulating element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of assembling a connector for automotive applications,
the method comprising:
providing a cable having at least one inner conductor;
providing at least one elongated inner signal contact having at a first end at least a first connection portion and at a second end at least a second connection portion;
overmolding the at least one elongated inner signal contact with insulating material to form an insulating element that surrounds portions of the at least one elongated inner signal contact, wherein the insulating element is located on both sides of the second connection portion in an axial direction, wherein the second connection portion is not overmolded to allow access to the second connection portion;
connecting the second connection portion of the at least one elongated inner signal contact of the connector to a stripped end of the at least one inner conductor;
placing a first shielding part of the connector around a first portion of the insulating element from a first radial direction;
placing a second shielding part of the connector around a second portion of the insulating element from a second radial direction generally opposite to the first radial direction; and
joining the first and second shielding parts to form a shielding contact of the connector surrounding the insulating element,
wherein the at least one inner conductor is connected to the second connection portion of the at least one inner signal contact forming a tube, and wherein the second connection portion of the at least one inner signal contact has an opening along an outer surface of the tube to check whether the stripped end of the at least one inner conductor can be seen through the opening.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second connection portion of the at least one elongated inner signal contact is connected to the stripped end of the at least one inner conductor by one of crimping, welding, or laser welding.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second connection portion of the at least one elongated inner signal contact is welded to the stripped end of the at least one inner conductor via the opening along the outer surface of the tube.

4. A connector for automotive applications, the connector comprising:
at least one elongated inner signal contact having a first connection portion and a second connection portion, wherein the second connection portion is configured as a tube having a first opening at a distal end of the tube for receiving a wire;
an insulating element overmolded around the first connection portion of the at least one elongated inner signal contact, wherein the insulating element surrounds portions of the at least one elongated inner signal contact, wherein the insulating element is located on both sides of the second connection portion in an axial direction, wherein the second connection portion is not overmolded to allow access to the second connection portion;
a first shielding part; and
a second shielding part, wherein the second connection portion of the at least one elongated inner signal contact has a second opening along an outer surface of the tube to check whether the wire can be seen through the opening.

5. The connector of claim 4 , wherein the wire is welded to the the second connection portion via the first opening at the distal end of the tube.

Assignees

• Aptiv Technologies AG

Inventors

• Droesbeke Gert
• De Blieck Roland Tristan
• Manoharan Srinivasan

Classifications

• H01R43/0221

  Laser welding (H01R43/0228 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R13/4223

  comprising integral flexible contact retaining fingers · CPC title

• H01R13/428

  by resilient locking means on the contact members; by locking means on resilient contact members · CPC title

• H01R13/422

  Securing in resilient one-piece base or case, {e.g. by friction}; One-piece base or case formed with resilient locking means · CPC title

• H01R13/42

  Securing in a demountable manner · CPC title