GB2130818A

GB2130818A - Electrical connecting arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2130818A
Application number: GB8327936A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Francis Yates
Original assignee: McMurdo Instrument Co Ltd
Current assignee: McMurdo Instrument Co Ltd
Priority date: 1982-10-19
Filing date: 1983-10-19
Publication date: 1984-06-06
Also published as: GB8327936D0

Abstract

An electrical plug or socket connector for providing an electrically conductive interface between ribbon cable and a further circuit, comprises a plurality of electrical contact elements (202) which are arranged to have a pitch which is different from the pitch of the wires of the ribbon cable connected to the conventional connector. The contact elements are separated into two groups and each element (1, 2, 3, 4) of one group is provided with an angled portion (204) whose angle is equal but opposite to the angle of an angled portion (204) of each element (5, 6, 7, 8) of the other group (shaded in Fig. 3) whereby to interdigitate at least some of further portions (203) of the elements which further positions (203) are arranged to connect with the ribbon cable. As shown, a 10-wire cable is connected to the contact portions (203), and contact elements (202) form part of an EIA RS232C socket. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electrical connecting arrangement The present invention relates to an electrical connecting arrangement for connecting a plug or socket to a cable which may be a ribbon cable.

There is a standard plug and socket connection for use with the data bus of instruments and computers. This standard is known in this country as EIA RS 232 C and involves the use of a 25-way plug and socket connector. The specification of the standard, names and defines the function of each of the 25 pins in the connector. It should be noted that all the pins do not have to be used in any installation, but if they are, they must follow the specification.

Commonly, only 9 pins are used but because of the specification of pins and the fact that ribbon cable is used in conjunction with the pins, it means that to date it has been necessary to use 25-way cable. This is expensive due to the fact that the bulk of the cable is not being utilised.

Cable is available in only a limited number of variations as regards the number of "ways" and one of the variations is a 10-way cable.

Heretofore, it has been impossible to use such cable.

The present invention provides an electrical connecting arrangement for altering the pitch of selected contact making elements of an electrical connector to conform to the pitch of a standard cable.

This arrangement permits use of a plug or socket conforming to EIA RS 232 C in conjunction with 1 0-way flat cable.

Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of a front view of a part of an RS 232 socket incorporating the present invention; Figure 2 shows a plan view partly in section showing the socket of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a diagram for explaining in more detail the arrangement according to the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic view of an EIA RS 232 C connector, in this case, a socket.

Locations 1 to 8 and 20 of the connector are shown in detail because it is those locations which are most commonly used. The locations are numbered from left to right for the top row in Figure 1 and location 20 is on the bottom row.

Locations 1 to 4 are shown in more detail in Figure 2 which also part shows the arrangement which allows a 10-way ribbon cable to be used.

Each of the locations 1 to 4 is provided with a contact making element 201 and each element 201 is composed of three portions, namely a socket portion 202 for receiving a pin, a wire connection portion 203 and an angled interconnecting portion 204. As shown, the wire connecting portion 203 is an IDC contact but this is but one example of a number of suitable constructions for the portion 203.

Each of the elements 201 for locations 1 to 4 in Figure 2 are identical and the portions 204 of each have an identical angle and slope direction.

The pitch of the portion 202 is, of course determined by the RS 232 specification but the pitch of the portions 203 is selected to be twice the pitch of the wires of a 10-way ribbon cable (not shown) and the angle of the portion 204 is selected accordingly.

Referring again to Figure 1, it will be seen that the locations 5 to 8 inclusive are also provided with elements 201 but in this case, although the angled interconnecting portion 204 of all the elements is the same, the elements 201 for the locations 5 to 8 are mounted on the other side of the locations with respect to the elements 201 for the locations 1 to 4 so as to space the portions 203 for the locations 5 to 8 from the portions 203 for the locations 1 to 4 with the interconnecting portions 204 sloping in the opposite direction and with the portions 203 interposed between two of the portions 203 for the locations 1 to 4 so that the interconnecting portions at least partially overlap so as to space and interdigitate at least some of the wire connecting portions 203 of the elements.The interdigitation is more clearly shown in Figure 3 where it will be seen that location 20 is also provided with an element 201 sloping in the same way as the elements 201 for locations 5 to 8. Interdigitation in this case occurs because the locations of the bottom row in Figure 1 are between the locations in the top row.

With this arrangement a 10-way ribbon cable, when presented to the connector with its wires running into the plane of the paper as shown in Figure 2, can be simply connected to the portions 203.

It will be appreciated that by using elements 201 either a plug or a socket conforming to EIA RS 232 C can be adapted to utilise 10-way cable.

Preferably the elements are unitary and are stamped from a sheet of conductive material.

Ideally the portions 202 are initially flat and are subsequently formed into either pins or sockets by a subsequent forming operation. Even more advantageously, the width of the flat portion is the same irrespective of whether the element will ultimately be used to form a pin or a socket.

Claims

1. An electrical connector for connection to a ribbon cable having a plurality of wires space apart by a first distance, and comprising: a plurality of connecting elements each having a first portion for connection to a respective wire of the ribbon cable, a second portion for connection to a subsequent electrical circuit, and a third interconnecting portion connected between the first and third portions, wherein the elements are spaced apart by a second distance and the third portions of a first plurality of elements are

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Electrical connecting arrangement The present invention relates to an electrical connecting arrangement for connecting a plug or socket to a cable which may be a ribbon cable. There is a standard plug and socket connection for use with the data bus of instruments and computers. This standard is known in this country as EIA RS 232 C and involves the use of a 25-way plug and socket connector. The specification of the standard, names and defines the function of each of the 25 pins in the connector. It should be noted that all the pins do not have to be used in any installation, but if they are, they must follow the specification. Commonly, only 9 pins are used but because of the specification of pins and the fact that ribbon cable is used in conjunction with the pins, it means that to date it has been necessary to use 25-way cable. This is expensive due to the fact that the bulk of the cable is not being utilised. Cable is available in only a limited number of variations as regards the number of "ways" and one of the variations is a 10-way cable. Heretofore, it has been impossible to use such cable. The present invention provides an electrical connecting arrangement for altering the pitch of selected contact making elements of an electrical connector to conform to the pitch of a standard cable. This arrangement permits use of a plug or socket conforming to EIA RS 232 C in conjunction with 1 0-way flat cable. Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of a front view of a part of an RS 232 socket incorporating the present invention; Figure 2 shows a plan view partly in section showing the socket of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a diagram for explaining in more detail the arrangement according to the present invention. Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic view of an EIA RS 232 C connector, in this case, a socket. Locations 1 to 8 and 20 of the connector are shown in detail because it is those locations which are most commonly used. The locations are numbered from left to right for the top row in Figure 1 and location 20 is on the bottom row. Locations 1 to 4 are shown in more detail in Figure 2 which also part shows the arrangement which allows a 10-way ribbon cable to be used. Each of the locations 1 to 4 is provided with a contact making element 201 and each element 201 is composed of three portions, namely a socket portion 202 for receiving a pin, a wire connection portion 203 and an angled interconnecting portion 204. As shown, the wire connecting portion 203 is an IDC contact but this is but one example of a number of suitable constructions for the portion 203. Each of the elements 201 for locations 1 to 4 in Figure 2 are identical and the portions 204 of each have an identical angle and slope direction. The pitch of the portion 202 is, of course determined by the RS 232 specification but the pitch of the portions 203 is selected to be twice the pitch of the wires of a 10-way ribbon cable (not shown) and the angle of the portion 204 is selected accordingly. Referring again to Figure 1, it will be seen that the locations 5 to 8 inclusive are also provided with elements 201 but in this case, although the angled interconnecting portion 204 of all the elements is the same, the elements 201 for the locations 5 to 8 are mounted on the other side of the locations with respect to the elements 201 for the locations 1 to 4 so as to space the portions 203 for the locations 5 to 8 from the portions 203 for the locations 1 to 4 with the interconnecting portions 204 sloping in the opposite direction and with the portions 203 interposed between two of the portions 203 for the locations 1 to 4 so that the interconnecting portions at least partially overlap so as to space and interdigitate at least some of the wire connecting portions 203 of the elements.The interdigitation is more clearly shown in Figure 3 where it will be seen that location 20 is also provided with an element 201 sloping in the same way as the elements 201 for locations 5 to 8. Interdigitation in this case occurs because the locations of the bottom row in Figure 1 are between the locations in the top row. With this arrangement a 10-way ribbon cable, when presented to the connector with its wires running into the plane of the paper as shown in Figure 2, can be simply connected to the portions 203. It will be appreciated that by using elements 201 either a plug or a socket conforming to EIA RS 232 C can be adapted to utilise 10-way cable. Preferably the elements are unitary and are stamped from a sheet of conductive material. Ideally the portions 202 are initially flat and are subsequently formed into either pins or sockets by a subsequent forming operation. Even more advantageously, the width of the flat portion is the same irrespective of whether the element will ultimately be used to form a pin or a socket. Claims

1. An electrical connector for connection to a ribbon cable having a plurality of wires space apart by a first distance, and comprising: a plurality of connecting elements each having a first portion for connection to a respective wire of the ribbon cable, a second portion for connection to a subsequent electrical circuit, and a third interconnecting portion connected between the first and third portions, wherein the elements are spaced apart by a second distance and the third portions of a first plurality of elements are disposed at a first angle and the third portions of a second plurality are disposed at an angle equal but opposite to the first angle such that at least some of the first portions of the elements are interdigitated and spaced apart by the first distance.

2. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elements are arranged in a row with the third portions of the first plurality extending from the opposite sides of the second portions with respect to the third portions of the second plurality whereby to space the first portions of the first plurality of elements from the first portions of the second plurality of elements along the length of the ribbon cable.

3. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 2 and comprising at least one further element arranged to provide a second row spaced from the first row.

4. An electrical connector as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said three portions of each element extend in substantially the same plane.

5. An electrical connector as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the electrical connector is a plug and the third connecting portions are pins.

6. An electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the electrical connector is a socket and the third connecting portions are members for receiving a co-operating pin.

7. An electrical connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.