JP2024058452A - Terminal Unit - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a terminal unit with excellent high-speed transmission performance. [Solution] The terminal unit 10 comprises an internal terminal 20, a dielectric member 30, and an external terminal 40. The external terminal 40 is electrically connected to a shield portion 93 of an attachment target cable 90. The terminal unit 10 further comprises relay members 50, 60 that relay the connection between the external terminal 40 and the shield portion 93. The relay members 50, 60 have a first contact portion 53 that contacts the external terminal 40, and a second contact portion 60a that contacts the shield portion 93. [Selected Figure] Figure 5

Description

This disclosure relates to a terminal unit.

Patent Document 1 discloses a terminal unit that is attached to a target cable having at least one electric wire and a shielding portion. This terminal unit includes an internal terminal that is connected to the electric wire, a dielectric member that holds the internal terminal, and an external terminal that houses the internal terminal and is connected to the shielding portion.

JP 2020-98719 A

One objective of the present disclosure is to provide a terminal unit with excellent high-speed transmission performance.

The terminal unit according to the first aspect is a terminal unit to be attached to a target cable having at least one electric wire, a shielding portion, and an outer coating, and includes at least one internal terminal electrically connected to the at least one electric wire, a dielectric member that holds the at least one internal terminal, an external terminal that houses the at least one internal terminal and is electrically connected to the shielding portion, and a relay member that has a first contact portion that contacts the external terminal and a second contact portion that contacts the shielding portion, and relays the connection between the external terminal and the shielding portion.

In this aspect, the terminal unit includes at least one internal terminal, a dielectric member, and an external terminal.
The at least one internal terminal is electrically connected to the at least one electric wire. The dielectric member holds the at least one internal terminal. The external terminal houses the at least one internal terminal and is electrically connected to the shield portion.

However, if electrical connection between the external terminal and the shielding part is realized only by contact between the external terminal and the shielding part, the transmission path of the return current tends to become complicated. Even if the transmission path is not complicated, the structure of the external terminal for realizing such a transmission path may reduce the ease of assembly of the terminal unit.
Therefore, the terminal unit according to this aspect includes a relay member that relays the connection between the external terminal and the shield portion. The relay member has a first contact portion that contacts the external terminal and a second contact portion that contacts the shield portion.
This makes it difficult for the transmission path of the feedback current to become complicated, which contributes to improving high-speed transmission performance.

The wire shield member of the terminal unit of Patent Document 1 does not contact the shield portion of the cable to be connected. Therefore, the terminal unit of Patent Document 1 does not have a relay member that relays the connection between the external terminal of the terminal unit and the shield portion of the cable to be attached.

In the embodiment described below, an example will be described in which the connection target cable has two twisted electric wires, but the connection target cable in this embodiment is not limited to this. The two electric wires of the connection target cable do not have to be twisted. In addition, the number of electric wires of the connection target cable may be one or three or more.
In the embodiment described later, an example in which the shielding part is composed of a first shielding part (aluminum foil) and a second shielding part (metal braid) will be described, but the shielding part of this embodiment is not limited to this. The shielding part of this embodiment may be composed of only either the first shielding part (aluminum foil) or the second shielding part (metal braid).
In the embodiment described later, an example in which the relay member is composed of a first relay member and a second relay member (conductive tape (copper foil tape)) will be described, but the relay member of this embodiment is not limited to this. The relay member of this embodiment may be composed of a single member, or may be composed of three or more members.

In the terminal unit according to the second aspect, in the first aspect, the shield portion has a non-folded portion that is exposed from the outer coating and is located on the outer surface of the insulating coating of the electric wire, and the second contact portion contacts the non-folded portion.

In this aspect, the shield portion has an unfolded portion that is exposed from the outer coating and is located on the outer surface of the insulating coating of the electric wire, and the second contact portion contacts the unfolded portion.
Therefore, the path of the return current is less likely to be complicated compared to an embodiment in which the shield portion has a folded portion folded back on the outside of the outer coating and the second contact portion contacts the folded portion.

In the terminal unit according to the third aspect, in the first or second aspect, the external terminal has a main body portion that houses the at least one internal terminal and a dielectric member, and a fixed portion that is fixed to the outside of the outer coating of the cable to be attached, and the at least one internal terminal and the dielectric member are housed from the rear side of the main body portion.

In this aspect, the external terminal has a main body portion that houses at least one internal terminal and a dielectric member, and a fixed portion that is fixed to the outside of the outer coating of the target cable. The at least one internal terminal and the dielectric member are housed in the main body portion from the rear side.
Therefore, the terminal unit is easier to assemble than in a configuration in which at least one internal terminal and the dielectric member are housed in the main body from the front side.
In addition, the fixed portion fixed to the outside of the outer sheath of the cable to be attached includes not only a fixed portion directly fixed to the outside of the outer sheath, but also a fixed portion fixed to the outside of the outer sheath via a folded portion.

The terminal unit according to the fourth aspect is any one of the first to third aspects, in which the relay member is attached to an exposed portion of the at least one electric wire that is exposed from the shield portion.

Incidentally, a portion of at least one electric wire that is exposed from the shield (exposed portion) is a portion in which impedance is likely to increase.
Here, in this embodiment, the relay member is attached to the exposed portion.
For this reason, the relay member is disposed in the vicinity of the exposed portion, and as a result, an increase in impedance at the exposed portion is suppressed.

The terminal unit according to the fifth aspect is any one of the first to fourth aspects, in which the at least one electric wire comprises a plurality of electric wires, the at least one internal terminal comprises a plurality of internal terminals, the relay member is attached to an exposed portion that is a portion of the plurality of electric wires that is exposed from the shield portion, and the relay member has a holding portion that holds the exposed portion so that the plurality of electric wires are maintained in close proximity to each other.

Incidentally, when the cable to be attached includes a plurality of electric wires, it is difficult to maintain the plurality of electric wires in close proximity to each other in the portions (exposed portions) of the plurality of electric wires that are exposed from the shield portion.
In this embodiment, the relay member is attached to the exposed portion, and has a holding portion that holds the exposed portion so that the plurality of electric wires are maintained in close proximity to each other.
This keeps the wires in close proximity to each other, thereby suppressing an increase in impedance at the exposed portions.

The terminal unit according to the sixth aspect is the fifth aspect, in which the retaining portion surrounds the outer periphery of the exposed portion.

In this aspect, the holding portion surrounds the outer periphery of the exposed portion, so that the plurality of electric wires are more reliably maintained in close proximity to each other.
The holding portion may be a conductive material. When the holding portion is a conductive material, the exposed portion can be shielded by the holding portion.

The seventh aspect of the terminal unit is the sixth aspect, in which the retaining portion is made of a conductive material and covers the entire or substantially the entire portion of the exposed portion that is not housed in the dielectric material.

In this aspect, the holding portion is made of a conductive material and covers the entirety or substantially the entirety of the portion of the exposed portion that is not housed in the dielectric member, thereby enabling the exposed portion to be effectively shielded by the holding portion.
Here, "covering substantially the entirety" means covering 95% or more of the front-to-rear dimension of the exposed portion that is not housed in the dielectric member, taken as 100%.

The terminal unit according to the eighth aspect is any one of the first to seventh aspects, in which the shielding portion has a first shielding portion and a second shielding portion located outside the first shielding portion, the first shielding portion has a non-folded portion exposed from the outer coating and located on the outer surface of the insulating coating of the electric wire, the second shielding portion has a folded portion exposed from the outer coating and folded back to the outside of the outer coating, the second contact portion contacts the non-folded portion, and the external terminal has a fixed portion fixed to the outside of the folded portion.

In this embodiment, the shield portion has a first shield portion and a second shield portion located outside the first shield portion. The first shield portion has a non-folded portion exposed from the outer coating and located on the outer surface of the insulating coating of the electric wire. The second shield portion has a folded portion exposed from the outer coating and folded back to the outside of the outer coating.
Here, the second contact portion contacts the non-folded portion, and the external terminal has a fixed portion that is fixed to the outside of the folded portion.
This not only electrically connects the external terminal and the second shield portion, but also prevents only the outer coating and the second shield portion of the cable to be connected from retracting when the cable to be connected is pulled.

The terminal unit according to the ninth aspect is any one of the first to eighth aspects, in which the relay member includes a first relay member having the first contact portion and a second relay member having the second contact portion.

In this aspect, the relay member includes a first relay member having a first contact portion, and a second relay member having a second contact portion.
This allows for greater freedom in designing the relay member in accordance with the functions it should fulfill, compared to a case in which the relay member is integrally formed. The functions referred to here are not particularly limited, but include, for example, the inherent functions of the relay member (the function of relaying the connection between the external terminal and the shield portion) as well as the function of holding the exposed portion.

The terminal unit according to the tenth aspect is the terminal unit according to the ninth aspect, in which the at least one electric wire comprises a plurality of electric wires, the at least one internal terminal comprises a plurality of internal terminals, the relay member is attached to an exposed portion that is a portion of the plurality of electric wires that is exposed from the shield portion, the first relay member has an elastic contact portion that elastically contacts the second relay member, and the second relay member is a conductive tape that surrounds the outer periphery of the exposed portion and functions as a holding portion that holds the exposed portion so that the plurality of electric wires are maintained in close proximity to each other.

In this embodiment, the first relay member has an elastic contact portion that elastically contacts the second relay member, so that the second relay member is stably connected to the second relay member that is a conductive tape.
The second relay member is a conductive tape that surrounds the outer periphery of the exposed portion and functions as a retaining member that retains the exposed portion so that the plurality of electric wires are maintained in close proximity to each other. Therefore, the second relay member more reliably maintains the plurality of electric wires in close proximity to each other and shields the exposed portion.

In the embodiment described below, the first relay member has both an elastic contact portion that elastically contacts the second relay member and an elastic contact portion that elastically contacts the external terminal. However, the first relay member of this embodiment is not limited to this.

The terminal unit according to the eleventh aspect is the terminal unit according to the ninth or tenth aspect, in which the external terminal has a fixing portion that fixes the first relay member, and the first relay member has a fixed portion that is formed at a position different from the first contact portion and is fixed to the fixing portion.

In this aspect, the external terminal has a fixing portion that fixes the first relay member. The first relay member has a fixed portion that is formed at a position different from the first contact portion and is fixed to the fixing portion.
Therefore, the position and attitude of the first relay member are stable.
In the embodiment described below, an example will be described in which the first relay member and the external terminal are electrically connected at the fixed position of the fixed part relative to the fixing part, but the fixing part and the fixed part in this embodiment are not limited to this.

The terminal unit according to the twelfth aspect is the terminal unit according to the eleventh aspect, in which the fixing part and the fixed part are configured so that the fixed part can be fixed to the fixing part by moving the first relay member forward relative to the external terminal.

In this aspect, the fixing portion and the fixed portion are configured so that the fixed portion can be fixed to the fixing portion by moving the first relay member forward with respect to the external terminal.
Therefore, the fixed portion can be fixed to the fixing portion by moving the first relay member forward with respect to the external terminal.

The terminal unit according to the thirteenth aspect is any one of the ninth to twelfth aspects, in which the first relay member is held by the second relay member and is configured to be slidable forward relative to the second relay member while being held by the second relay member.

In this aspect, the first relay member is held by the second relay member, and is configured to be slidable forward relative to the second relay member while being held by the second relay member.
Therefore, in the manufacturing process of the terminal unit, the first relay member can be moved forward relative to the second relay member, and the second relay member can be moved forward by the frictional force generated during sliding, thereby reducing the gap between the dielectric member and the second relay member in the front-rear direction.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a terminal unit attached to a target cable; FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in the middle of assembling the terminal unit. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in the middle of assembling the terminal unit. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the completed assembly state of the terminal unit. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of an external terminal. FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing a first relay member, and FIG. 7B is a sectional perspective view of the first relay member. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cable to be attached.

The following describes a preferred embodiment of the terminal unit according to the present disclosure.

In addition, in each figure, arrow X indicates the forward direction (one axial direction), arrow Y indicates the upward direction, and arrow Z indicates one width direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the terminal unit 10 is attached to a target cable 90 .
The terminal unit 10 is a component of a connector (not shown). Specifically, the connector includes a housing in addition to the plurality of terminal units 10. The plurality of terminal units 10 are accommodated in the housing.
However, the terminal unit of the present disclosure is not limited to this and does not have to be accommodated in a housing.

(Attachment target cable 90)
As shown in FIG. 8, the attachment target cable 90 is a shielded twisted pair cable (two cores).
The target cable 90 includes two electric wires 91 , a holding tape 92 , a shield portion 93 , and an outer sheath 94 .
The pressing tape 92 is made of, for example, an insulating material. The outer coating 94 is made of, for example, an insulating material. The pressing tape 92 does not necessarily have to be provided.

The electric wire 91 includes a core wire 91a and an insulating coating 91b.
2, the two electric wires 91 have portions (exposed portions 91R) that are exposed from the outer coating 94 and from the shield portion 93. Two core wires 91a are exposed at the ends of the two electric wires 91. The internal terminals 20 are crimped to these portions.

The shield portion 93 includes a first shield portion 93a and a second shield portion 93b.

The first shielding portion 93a is a metal foil, specifically an aluminum foil. The first shielding portion 93a is exposed from the outer sheath 94 and has a portion (non-folded portion 93a1, see FIG. 2) located on the outer surface of the insulating sheath 91b of the electric wire 91.

The second shielding portion 93b is located outside the first shielding portion 93a. The second shielding portion 93b is a metal braid. The second shielding portion 93b is exposed from the outer sheath 94 and has a portion folded back to the outside of the outer sheath 94 (folded back portion 93b1, see FIG. 2).

(Terminal unit 10)
The terminal unit 10 includes two internal terminals 20 , a dielectric member 30 , an external terminal 40 , and relay members 50 and 60 .

(Internal terminal 20)
The two internal terminals 20 are arranged side by side in the width direction and have the same structure.

The internal terminal 20 is electrically connected to an electric wire 91 of the target cable 90 .
The internal terminal 20 is manufactured by bending a metal plate into a cylindrical shape, for example.

The internal terminal 20 includes a contact portion 21 and a crimp portion 22 .
The contact portion 21 comes into contact with a signal terminal of a mating connector (connection target), and sandwiches the signal terminal in the width direction.
The crimping portion 22 is crimped to the core wire 91 a of the electric wire 91 .

(Dielectric member 30)
The dielectric member 30 holds the two internal terminals 20 and is housed in the main body portion 41 of the external terminal 40 .

The dielectric member 30 includes a first member 31 and a second member 32. The first member 31 and the second member 32 are combined in the vertical direction (Y direction) to form the dielectric member 30. As a result, a space is formed inside the dielectric member 30 in which the two internal terminals 20 are housed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the dielectric member 30 has a front portion 30A and a rear portion 30B. The front portion 30A and the rear portion 30B are both substantially rectangular parallelepiped shaped. The front portion 30A has a smaller cross-sectional shape (cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction) than the rear portion 30B.

The dielectric member 30 has an arrangement recess 33 in which the first contact portion 53 of the first relay member 50 is arranged.
When the first relay member 50 moves forward from the state shown in FIG. 4 , the first contact portion 53 of the first relay member 50 is disposed in the arrangement recess 33 .
The arrangement recesses 33 are formed on each of a pair of side surfaces 30B1 in the rear portion 30B of the dielectric member 30. The arrangement recesses 33 are recesses that are open outward in the width direction and rearward.

(External terminal 40)
The external terminal 40 houses the two internal terminals 20, and is electrically connected to the shield portion 93 of the target cable 90. The external terminal 40 also houses the dielectric member 30.

The external terminal 40 has a main body portion 41 .
The main body portion 41 accommodates the two internal terminals 20 and the dielectric member 30 .

The main body 41 comprises a first plate 41a and a pair of second plate parts 41b. The first plate part 41a is a rectangular flat plate with its thickness direction oriented in the vertical direction of the unit (Y direction). Each of the pair of second plate parts 41b is a rectangular flat plate with its thickness direction oriented in the width direction of the unit (Z direction). The pair of second plate parts 41b are connected to the first plate part 41a via a curved part.

The main body 41 also includes a third plate 41c. The third plate 41c connects the upper ends (ends in the +Y direction) of the pair of second plate parts 41b in the unit width direction. The third plate part 41c is a rectangular flat plate, and its plate thickness direction is oriented in the vertical direction of the unit (Y direction). The third plate part 41c is formed by combining a pair of plate parts extending from the pair of second plate parts 41b.

The first plate portion 41a, the pair of second plate portions 41b, and the third plate portion 41c form cylindrical portions 41a, 41b, and 41c that house the internal terminal 20 and the dielectric member 30 therein.

The front end of the third plate portion 41c is formed rearward of the rear ends of the first plate portion 41a and the pair of second plate portions 41b.

As shown in FIG. 4 and other figures, the second plate portion 41b has an extension plate portion 41b1 that is located rearward of the rear end of the third plate portion 41c.
In other words, the rear end of the third plate portion 41c is formed forward of the extended plate portion 41b1 of the second plate portion 41b. This makes it easier to insert the dielectric member 30 into the main body portion 41 of the external terminal 40 from the rear and diagonally above the main body portion 41.
The extension plate portion 41b1 is a portion with which the first contact portion 53 of the first relay member 50 comes into contact.

Further, the external terminal 40 has a fixed portion 42 that is fixed to the outside of the outer coating 94 of the target cable 90 .
Specifically, the fixed portion 42 is crimped to the outside of a folded-back portion 93b1 (see FIG. 2) that is folded back to the outside of the outer coating 94 of the target cable 90. Hereinafter, the fixed portion 42 may be referred to as a cable crimping portion 42.
The cable crimping portion 42 is connected to the main body portion 41 via the connecting portion 43. The connecting portion 43 connects a lower portion of the cable crimping portion 42 to the first plate portion 41a of the main body portion 41. The lower portion of the cable crimping portion 42 is located above the first plate portion 41a of the main body portion 41.

Further, the external terminal 40 has a fixing portion 44 for fixing the first relay member 50 .
The fixing portion 44 has a pair of locking portions 45. The pair of locking portions 45 have the same structure. The pair of locking portions 45 are formed to extend upward from a rear portion 41b2 (see FIG. 6) of the second plate portion 41b. The rear portion 41b2 of the second plate portion 41b constitutes the rearmost portion of the second plate portion 41b and has a small vertical dimension.

The entire locking portion 45 is oriented so that the board width direction is aligned along a plane perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction.

The locking portion 45 has a lower portion 45a having a relatively large front-to-rear dimension and an upper portion 45b having a relatively small front-to-rear dimension. The front-to-rear dimension of the locking portion 45 can be said to be the plate width dimension of the plate that constitutes the locking portion 45.
A front end of the lower portion 45a is located forward of a front end of the upper portion 45b. A rear end of the lower portion 45a is located at the same position in the front-rear direction as a rear end of the upper portion 45b.
In other words, the locking portion 45 has an enlarged portion 45a1 that is enlarged toward the front side at the lower portion 45a of the locking portion 45. The enlarged portion 45a1 restricts the locked portion 55 of the first relay member 50 from moving downward.

The upper portion 45b of the locking portion 45 has a bent portion 45c that is bent in the width direction. The bent portion 45c restricts the locked portion 55 of the first relay member 50 from moving upward. The bent portion 45c is bent outward in the width direction.

The upper portion 45b of the locking portion 45 restricts the locked portion 55 of the first relay member 50 from moving in the front-rear direction.

A displacement portion 45d that is displaced inward in the width direction is formed in the lower portion 45a of the locking portion 45. By forming the displacement portion 45d, most of the locking portion 45 is located inward in the width direction from the second plate portion 41b.

The external terminal 40 does not have a crimping portion that contacts the non-folded portion 93a1 of the shield portion 93 of the target cable 90. The electrical connection between the external terminal 40 and the non-folded portion 93a1 is achieved via the relay members 50 and 60.

(Relay members 50, 60)
The relay members 50 and 60 are members that relay the electrical connection between the external terminal 40 and the shield portion 93 .

The relay members 50, 60 include a first relay member 50 and a second relay member 60.

3 to 5, the second relay member 60 is a conductive tape 60, and is attached to the exposed portion 91R so as to surround the outer periphery of the exposed portion 91R. In this way, the second relay member 60 functions as a holding portion 60 that holds the exposed portion 91R so as to maintain the plurality of electric wires 91 in close proximity to each other.
The second relay member 60 has a second contact portion 60 a that comes into contact with the shield portion 93 .
Specifically, the rear portion (second contact portion 60a) of the second relay member 60 comes into contact from the outside with the non-folded-back portion 93a1 of the first shield portion 93a of the target cable 90. In other words, the conductive tape 60 constituting the second relay member 60 is wrapped around the exposed portions 91R of the two electric wires 91 so that the rear portion of the conductive tape 60 overlaps with the non-folded-back portion 93a1.

The first relay member 50 has a held portion 51 that is held by the second relay member 60 .
7A and 7B, the held portion 51 has a bottom plate portion 51a, a pair of side plate portions 51b, and a pair of top plate portions 51c. The second relay member 60 is disposed inside the held portion 51 by utilizing the gap between the pair of top plate portions 51c (see FIG. 2), and the portion between the pair of top plate portions 51c and the pair of side plate portions 51b is bent. This causes the held portion 51 to be held by the second relay member 60 (see FIG. 3). More specifically, the first relay member 50 is held by the second relay member 60, and is capable of sliding forward relative to the second relay member 60 while being held by the second relay member 60.

The first relay member 50 has an elastic contact portion 52 that elastically contacts the second relay member 60 .
A pair of elastic contact portions 52 are formed. The pair of elastic contact portions 52 are aligned in the width direction.
The elastic contact portion 52 is formed in a through hole formed in the bottom plate portion 51a. That is, the elastic contact portion 52 is formed by cutting and raising. The elastic contact portion 52 is a cantilever spring with a fixed end at the front side and a free end at the rear side.

The first relay member 50 has a first contact portion 53 that comes into contact with the external terminal 40 .
The first contact portion 53 contacts the pair of second plate portions 41b of the external terminal 40 from the inside in the width direction. A pair of first contact portions 53 are formed. The pair of first contact portions 53 are formed in portions extending forward from the pair of side plate portions 51b of the held portion 51. The first contact portion 53 has a main body plate portion 53a and a resilient contact portion 53b. A through hole is formed in the main body plate portion 53a, and the resilient contact portion 53b is formed in the through hole. In other words, the resilient contact portion 53b is formed by cutting and raising. The resilient contact portion 53b is a cantilever spring with the front side as a fixed end and the rear side as a free end.

The first relay member 50 has a fixed portion 54 that is fixed to the fixing portion 44 of the external terminal 40 .
The fixed portion 54 allows the first relay member 50 to be fixed to the external terminal 40 at a position other than the first contact portion 53 .
The fixed portion 54 is configured so that the fixed portion 54 can be fixed to the fixing portion 44 by moving the first relay member 50 forward with respect to the external terminal 40 (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

The fixed portion 54 has a pair of engaged portions 55. The pair of engaged portions 55 are formed in portions that extend rearward from the pair of side plate portions 51b of the held portion 51.

The locked portion 55 has an inner plate portion 55a and an outer plate portion 55b. The upper portion 45b of the locking portion 45 of the external terminal 40 is disposed between the inner plate portion 55a and the outer plate portion 55b.
The locked portion 55 has a connecting portion 55c that connects the rear end of the inner plate portion 55a and the rear end of the outer plate portion 55b.
The locked portion 55 has a tip curved portion 55d that engages with the enlarged portion 45a1 of the locking portion 45 and the upper portion 45b of the locking portion 45. The tip curved portion 55d is formed in a portion that extends forward from the outer plate portion 55b. The tip curved portion 55d comes into contact with the enlarged portion 45a1, thereby restricting downward movement of the locked portion 55. The tip curved portion 55d comes into contact with the upper portion 45b of the locking portion 45, thereby restricting rearward movement of the locking portion 45.

The inner plate portion 55a is located outboard in the width direction relative to the side plate portion 51b of the held portion 51. The locked portion 55 has a connecting portion 55e that connects the side plate portion 51b of the held portion 51 and the inner plate portion 55a.

(Assembly Procedure of Terminal Unit 10)
The terminal unit 10 is assembled generally in the following procedure.
(1) The insulation of the target cable 90 is stripped, and two internal terminals are crimped (see FIG. 2).
(2) The dielectric member 30 is assembled, and a conductive tape 60 serving as the second relay member 60 is wound around the exposed portion 91R. The first relay member 50 is then placed from below and held by the conductive tape 60 (see FIG. 3).
(3) The dielectric member 30 housing the two internal terminals 20 is inserted into the main body 41 of the external terminal 40 from the rear side of the main body 41. Then, the cable crimping portion 42 is crimped to the outside of the outer coating 94 (specifically, the folded-back portion 93b1) (see FIG. 4).
(4) The first relay member 50 is moved forward. As a result, the pair of first contact portions 53 of the first relay member 50 come into contact with the main body portion 41 of the external terminal 40, and the fixed portion 54 of the first relay member 50 is fixed to the fixing portion 44 of the external terminal 40 (see FIG. 5 ). At this time, the second relay member 60 moves forward due to frictional force with the first relay member 50, etc. As a result, even if there was a gap between the dielectric member 30 and the second relay member 60 in the front-rear direction, the gap becomes smaller or disappears.

<Action and effect>
Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described.

As shown in Fig. 1, the terminal unit 10 according to this embodiment is attached to a target cable 90 (see Fig. 8). As shown in Fig. 2, the terminal unit 10 includes two internal terminals 20, a dielectric member 30, and an external terminal 40.
The two internal terminals 20 are electrically connected to the two electric wires 91. The dielectric member 30 holds the two internal terminals 20. The external terminal 40 houses the two internal terminals 20 and is electrically connected to a shield portion 93 (see FIG. 8 ).

However, if electrical connection between the external terminal 40 and the shield part 93 is to be realized only by contact between the external terminal 40 and the shield part 93, the transmission path of the return current is likely to become complicated. Even if the transmission path is not complicated, the structure of the external terminal 40 for realizing such a transmission path may reduce the ease of assembly of the terminal unit 10.
Therefore, the terminal unit 10 according to the present embodiment includes relay members 50, 60 that relay the connection between the external terminal 40 and the shield portion 93. The relay members 50, 60 each have a first contact portion 53 (see FIG. 2 ) that contacts the external terminal 40, and a second contact portion 60a (see FIG. 5 ) that contacts the shield portion 93.
For this reason, the transmission path of the feedback current is less likely to become complicated. The fact that the transmission path of the feedback current is less likely to become complicated contributes to improving high-speed transmission performance. This is because the path length of the signal current is usually shorter than the path length of the feedback current, so if the transmission path of the feedback current is prevented from becoming complicated, the difference in path length between the signal current and the feedback current can be reduced. Reducing the difference in path length between the signal current and the feedback current contributes to improving high-speed transmission performance.

2, the shield portion 93 has a non-folded portion 93a1 that is exposed from the outer coating 94 and is located on the outer surface of the insulating coating 91b of the electric wire 91. The second contact portion 60a contacts the non-folded portion 93a1.
Therefore, compared to a configuration in which the shield portion 93 has a folded portion 93b1 folded back on the outside of the outer coating 94 and the second contact portion 60a of the relay member 50, 60 contacts the folded portion 93b1, the path of the return current is less likely to become complicated.

In the present embodiment, the external terminal 40 has a main body portion 41 that houses the two internal terminals 20 and the dielectric member 30, and a fixed portion 42 that is fixed to the outside of the outer coating 94 of the target cable 90. The two internal terminals 20 and the dielectric member 30 are housed in the main body portion 41 from the rear side.
Therefore, the terminal unit 10 is easier to assemble than in a configuration in which the two internal terminals 20 and the dielectric member 30 are housed in the main body 41 from the front side.
This is because, in a configuration in which the dielectric member 30 etc. is housed in the main body portion 41 from the front side, it is necessary to pass the cable 90 to be attached from rear to front relative to the main body portion 41 before assembling the dielectric member 30.

Incidentally, the portions of the two electric wires 91 exposed from the shield portion 93 (exposed portions 91R, see FIG. 2) are portions where impedance is likely to increase.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the relay members 50 and 60 are attached to the exposed portion 91R.
Therefore, the relay members 50 and 60 are disposed in the vicinity of the exposed portion 91R, and as a result, an increase in impedance at the exposed portion 91R is suppressed.

Incidentally, when the attachment target cable 90 includes a plurality of electric wires 91, it is difficult to maintain the plurality of electric wires 91 in close proximity to each other at the portions (exposed portions 91R) of the plurality of electric wires 91 exposed from the shield portion 93.
In this embodiment, the relay boards 50 and 60 have a holding portion 60 that holds the exposed portions 91R so that the plurality of electric wires 91 are maintained in close proximity to each other.
Therefore, the multiple electric wires 91 are maintained in close proximity to each other, and as a result, an increase in impedance at the exposed portions 91R is suppressed.

In the present embodiment, the holding portion 60 surrounds the outer periphery of the exposed portion 91R, so that the plurality of electric wires 91 are more reliably maintained in close proximity to each other.
In particular, in this embodiment, since the holding portion 60 is made of a conductive material, the exposed portion 91R can be shielded by the holding portion 60.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, the holding portion 60 covers the entirety or substantially the entirety of the portion of the exposed portion 91R that is not housed in the dielectric member 30. For this reason, the exposed portion 91R can be effectively shielded by the holding portion 60. Note that "substantially covering the entirety" here means that, when the front-to-rear dimension of the portion of the exposed portion 91R that is not housed in the dielectric member 30 is taken as 100%, 95% or more of it is covered.

In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 8, the shield portion 93 has a first shield portion 93a and a second shield portion 93b located outside the first shield portion 93a. As shown in Fig. 2, the first shield portion 93a has a non-folded portion 93a1 that is exposed from the outer coating 94 and is located on the outer surface of the insulating coating 91b of the electric wire 91. The second shield portion 93b has a folded portion 93b1 that is exposed from the outer coating 94 and is folded back to the outside of the outer coating 94.
Here, the second contact portions 60a of the relay boards 50, 60 contact the non-folded portion 93a1, and the external terminal 40 has a fixed portion 42 that is fixed to the outer side of the folded portion 93b1.
Therefore, not only is the external terminal 40 and the second shield portion 93b electrically connected, but when the target cable 90 is pulled, the outer coating 94 and the second shield portion 93b of the target cable 90 are prevented from retracting alone.

In the present embodiment, the relay members 50 and 60 include a first relay member 50 having a first contact portion 53 and a second relay member 60 having a second contact portion 60a.
Therefore, compared to a configuration in which the relay members 50, 60 are integrally formed, there is a higher degree of freedom in designing the relay members 50, 60 according to the functions to be performed. Note that the functions referred to here are not particularly limited, but may include, for example, the inherent function of the relay members 50, 60 (the function of relaying the connection between the external terminal 40 and the shield portion 93), as well as a function of holding the exposed portion 91R and a function of shielding the exposed portion 91R.

7A and 7B , in the present embodiment, the first relay member 50 has an elastic contact portion 52 that elastically contacts the second relay member 60. Therefore, the second relay member 60 is stably connected to the first relay member 50.
The second relay member 60 is a conductive tape 60 surrounding the outer periphery of the exposed portion 91R, and functions as a holding portion 60 that holds the exposed portion 91R so as to maintain the adjacent state of the multiple electric wires 91. Therefore, the second relay member 60 more reliably maintains the adjacent state of the multiple electric wires 91 and shields the exposed portion 91R.

6 , the external terminal 40 has a fixing portion 44 that fixes the first relay member 50. As shown in FIG 7A , the first relay member 50 has a fixed portion 54 that is formed at a position different from the first contact portion 53 and is fixed to the fixing portion 44.
Therefore, the position and posture of the first relay member 50 are stable.

In addition, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the fixing portion 44 and the fixed portion 54 are configured so that the fixed portion 54 can be fixed to the fixing portion 44 by moving the first relay member 50 forward relative to the external terminal 40.
Therefore, by moving the first relay member 50 forward with respect to the external terminal 40 , the fixed portion 54 can be fixed to the fixing portion 44 .

In addition, in the present embodiment, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the first relay member 50 is held by the second relay member 60, and is configured to be slidable forward relative to the second relay member 60 while being held by the second relay member 60.
Therefore, in the manufacturing process of the terminal unit 10, the first relay member 50 can be moved forward relative to the second relay member 60, and the second relay member 60 can be moved forward by the frictional force generated during sliding. As a result, the gap between the dielectric member 30 and the second relay member 60 in the front-rear direction can be reduced.

[Supplementary explanation of the above embodiment]
In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the attachment target cable 90 is a shielded twisted pair cable (two-core), but the attachment target cable of the present disclosure is not limited to this.
For example, the two electric wires of the cable to be attached do not have to be twisted.
Also, for example, the attachment target cable may have one electric wire, or may have three or more electric wires.

In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the terminal unit 10 has two internal terminals 20, but the terminal unit of the present disclosure is not limited to this. The terminal unit of the present disclosure may have one internal terminal, or three or more internal terminals.

In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the relay members 50, 60 include a first relay member 50 and a second relay member 60, but the relay members of the present disclosure are not limited to this. The relay members of the present disclosure may be composed of a single member.

10 Terminal unit 20 Internal terminal 21 Contact portion 22 Crimping portion 30 Dielectric member 40 External terminal 41 Main body portion 42 Cable crimping portion (fixed portion)
44 Fixed portion 45 Locking portion 50, 60 Relay member 50 First relay member 51 Hold portion 52 Elastic contact portion 53 First contact portion 54 Fixed portion 55 Locked portion 60 Second relay member (holding portion, conductive tape)
60a Second contact portion 90 Target cable 91 Electric wire 91R Exposed portion 91a Core wire 91b Insulating coating 93 Shield portion 93a First shield portion 93a1 Non-folded portion 93b Second shield portion 93b1 Folded portion 94 Outer coating

Claims (13)

A terminal unit to be attached to a target cable having at least one electric wire, a shield portion, and an outer sheath,
at least one internal terminal electrically connected to the at least one electric wire;
a dielectric member holding the at least one internal terminal;
an external terminal that houses the at least one internal terminal and is electrically connected to the shield portion;
a relay member having a first contact portion that contacts the external terminal and a second contact portion that contacts the shield portion, the relay member relaying the connection between the external terminal and the shield portion;
A terminal unit comprising: the shield portion has a non-folded portion exposed from the outer coating and located on an outer surface of the insulating coating of the electric wire,
The second contact portion contacts the non-folded portion.
The terminal unit according to claim 1 . The external terminal is
a body portion housing the at least one internal terminal and a dielectric member;
a fixed portion that is fixed to the outside of the outer sheath of the cable to be attached,
The at least one internal terminal and the dielectric member are accommodated in the main body from a rear side.
The terminal unit according to claim 1 . The relay member is attached to an exposed portion of the at least one electric wire that is exposed from the shield portion.
The terminal unit according to claim 1 . the at least one electrical wire comprises a plurality of electrical wires;
The at least one internal terminal comprises a plurality of internal terminals;
the relay member is attached to an exposed portion of the plurality of electric wires that is a portion exposed from the shield portion,
The relay member has a holding portion that holds the exposed portion so that the plurality of electric wires are maintained in close proximity to each other.
The terminal unit according to claim 1 . The holding portion surrounds an outer periphery of the exposed portion.
The terminal unit according to claim 5 . the holding portion is made of a conductive material and covers the entirety or substantially the entirety of the exposed portion that is not housed in the dielectric material;
The terminal unit according to claim 6. The shield portion has a first shield portion and a second shield portion located outside the first shield portion,
the first shield portion has a non-folded portion exposed from the outer coating and located on an outer surface of the insulating coating of the electric wire,
the second shield portion has a folded portion that is exposed from the outer coating and folded back to the outside of the outer coating,
the second contact portion contacts the non-folded portion,
The external terminal has a fixed portion that is fixed to the outside of the folded portion.
The terminal unit according to claim 1 . The relay member includes a first relay member having the first contact portion and a second relay member having the second contact portion.
The terminal unit according to claim 1 . the at least one electrical wire comprises a plurality of electrical wires;
The at least one internal terminal comprises a plurality of internal terminals;
the relay member is attached to an exposed portion of the plurality of electric wires that is a portion exposed from the shield portion,
the first relay member has an elastic contact portion that elastically contacts the second relay member,
the second relay member is a conductive tape surrounding an outer periphery of the exposed portion, and functions as a holding portion that holds the exposed portion so that the plurality of electric wires are maintained in close proximity to each other.
The terminal unit according to claim 9. the external terminal has a fixing portion that fixes the first relay member,
the first relay member has a fixed portion formed at a position different from the first contact portion and fixed to the fixed portion;
The terminal unit according to claim 9. the fixing portion and the fixed portion are configured such that the fixed portion can be fixed to the fixing portion by moving the first relay member forward with respect to the external terminal.
The terminal unit according to claim 11. the first relay member is held by the second relay member, and is configured to be slidable forward relative to the second relay member while being held by the second relay member;
The terminal unit according to claim 12.