# US 10,312,638 B2 · High performance cable termination > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,312,638 B2 - Document ID: US10312638B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/610,376 - Filed: 2017-05-31 - Published: 2017-11-30 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-31 - Assignees: Amphenol Corporation - Applicants: Amphenol Corporation - Inventors: Donald A. Girard, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10312638B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/6592: the conductive member being a shielded cable - H01R 13/65917: {Connection to shield by means of resilient members} - H01R 13/6599: Dielectric material made conductive, e.g. plastic material coated with metal - H02G 15/064: with devices for relieving electrical stress - H01R 13/2414: {conductive elastomers} - H01R 13/405: Securing in non-demountable manner, e.g. moulding, riveting - H01R 13/5808: {formed by a metallic element crimped around the cable (H01R4/185 takes precedence)} - H01R 13/5845: {the strain relief being achieved by molding parts around cable and connections} - H01R 13/6584: formed by conductive elastomeric members, e.g. flat gaskets or O-rings - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES ## Abstract A cable assembly comprising a termination with at least one conductive, compressible member and a conductive ground shield. The conductive, compressible member may be held within a connector module forming the termination such that the conductive compressive member is pressed against, and therefore makes electrical contact with, both an outer conductive layer of the cable and ground structures within the connector module. In some embodiments, these connections may be formed using a conductive, compressible member with an opening configured to receive the end of the cable therethrough. The conductive ground shield may be configured to compress the conductive, compressible member, and to cause the conductive, compressible member to electrically contact the cable's conductive layer. The conductive, compressible member may be formed from a compressible material and may comprise a plurality of conductive particulates configured to provide electrically conductive paths. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cable assembly comprising: a cable comprising an end; and an electrical termination comprising: a conductive ground shield enclosing, at least in part, the end of the cable; a conductive, compressible member disposed between, and in electrical contact with, the end of the cable and the conductive ground shield; a dielectric member adjacent the conductive, compressible member, wherein the dielectric member comprises a projecting member configured to mate with a depression formed on a surface of the conductive, compressible member; and conductive elements comprising mating contact portions held within the dielectric member, the conductive elements being electrically coupled to signal conductors of the cable. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the end of the cable comprises an exposed conductive layer surrounding, at least in part, signal conductors, and the conductive, compressible member is in physical and electrical contact with the conductive layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cable assembly of claim 2, wherein the conductive, compressible member is configured to press against the conductive layer when the compressible member is compressed by the conductive ground shield. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive ground shield is configured to compress the conductive, compressible member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cable assembly of claim 4, wherein the cable passes through an opening formed in the conductive, compressible member, and wherein the opening is configured to reduce in size when the conductive, compressible member is compressed by the conductive ground shield. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive, compressible member is formed from a compressible material and a plurality of conductive particulates embedded in the compressible material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The cable assembly of claim 6, wherein the plurality of conductive particulates are configured to form a conductive path between an outer surface of the conductive, compressible member and an inner surface of an opening formed in the conductive compressive member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The cable assembly of claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive particulates comprises a silver micro sphere. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive, compressible member, in an uncompressed state, has a perimeter that is greater than a perimeter of the conductive ground shield. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive ground shield encloses, at least in part, the dielectric member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein a spacing between a surface of the conductive, compressible member and the signal conductor varies along an axis of the cable. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive, compressible member is made, at least in part, from silicone. ### Claim 13 An electrical connector comprising: a plurality of cable assemblies disposed in one or more columns, each one of the plurality of cable assemblies comprising an electrical termination for a cable, the cable comprising an end, and the electrical termination comprising: the end of the cable; a conductive ground shield enclosing, at least in part, the end of the cable; a conductive, compressible member disposed between, and in electrical contact with, the end of the cable and the conductive ground shield, the conductive, compressible member being in contact with an inner surface of the conductive ground shield and an outer surface, opposite the inner surface, of the conductive ground shield. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electrical connector of claim 13, wherein the end of the cable comprises an exposed conductive layer surrounding, at least in part, signal conductors, and the conductive, compressible member is in physical and electrical contact with the conductive layer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The electrical connector of claim 14, wherein the conductive, compressible member is configured to form a contact of less than 25 Ohms with the conductive layer when the conductive, compressible member is compressed by the conductive ground shield. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The electrical connector of claim 13, wherein the conductive ground shield is configured to compress the conductive, compressible member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The electrical connector of claim 16, wherein the cable passes through an opening formed in the conductive, compressible member, and wherein the opening is configured to reduce in size when the conductive, compressible member is compressed by the conductive ground shield. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The electrical connector of claim 13, wherein the conductive, compressible member is formed from a compressible material and a plurality of conductive particulates embedded in the compressible material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The electrical connector of claim 13, wherein the plurality of conductive particulates are configured to form a conductive path between an outer surface of the conductive, compressible member and an inner surface of an opening formed in the conductive compressive member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The electrical connector of claim 13, wherein the conductive, compressible member has a perimeter that is greater than a perimeter of the conductive ground shield. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The electrical connector of claim 13, wherein each one of the plurality of cable assemblies is configured to mate with a respective receptacle, and each one of the plurality of cable assemblies further comprises at least one tab connected to the conductive ground shield and configured to electrically contact a housing of the respective receptacle. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The electrical connector of claim 13 wherein the conductive, compressible member is made, at least in part, from silicone. ### Claim 23 A connector module for terminating a cable with an outer perimeter, the connector module comprising: a conductive, compressible member having an opening there through, the opening being sized to have, in an uncompressed state, an interior perimeter greater than the outer perimeter of the cable and, in a compressed state, an interior perimeter less than or equal to the outer perimeter of the cable; and a conductive ground shield contacting and enclosing, at least in part, the conductive, compressible member, the conductive, compressible member being adhered to the conductive ground shield, wherein the conductive, compressible member is in contact with an inner surface of the conductive ground shield and an outer surface, opposite the inner surface, of the conductive ground shield. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The connector module of claim 23, wherein the interior perimeter of the opening in an uncompressed state is between 5% and 25% greater than the outer perimeter of the cable. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The connector module of claim 23, wherein the cable is a twin-ax cable without a drain wire. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The connector module of claim 23, wherein the conductive ground shield comprises a plurality of conductive ground shield portions configured to compress the conductive, compressible member when attached to one another. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The connector module of claim 23, wherein the conductive, compressible member comprises a plurality of conductive, compressible member portions, wherein a first conductive, compressible member portion of the plurality of conductive, compressible member portions is formed from a first material and a second conductive, compressible member portion of the plurality of conductive, compressible member portions is formed from a second material different from the first material. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The connector module of claim 23, wherein the conductive, compressible member comprises a polymer configured to be cured to the conductive ground shield.