# US 12,003,063 B2 · Selectively plated plastic part > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,003,063 B2 - Document ID: US12003063B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/179,315 - Filed: 2023-03-06 - Published: 2023-10-05 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-11 - Assignees: Fci USA LLC - Applicants: Fci USA LLC - Inventors: Charles Copper - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003063B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/6599: Dielectric material made conductive, e.g. plastic material coated with metal - H01R 13/502: composed of different pieces (H01R13/514 takes precedence) - H01R 13/6581: Shield structure - H01R 13/6594: the shield being mounted on a PCB and connected to conductive members - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract An electrical connector including a housing and electrical conductor plating. The housing includes a first member and a second member. The first member is made of plastic and forms at least one first contact receiving channel therein. The second member is attached around the first member, and the first and second members form at least one second contact receiving channel therebetween. The electrical conductor plating is on the first member. The electrical conductor plating includes at least one first section along the at least one first contact receiving channel and at least one second section along an exterior side of the first member at the at least one second contact receiving channel. The first and second sections of the electrical conductor plating are electrically separate from one another. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrical connector configured to terminate a cable, the electrical connector comprising: a plastic housing, comprising: a first channel within the plastic housing configured to receive a first conductor of the cable; and a second channel within the plastic housing configured to receive a second conductor of the cable, wherein the first and second channels are configured to form a differential pair comprising the first and second conductors when the first and second conductors are received in the first and second channels; and electrically conductive plating on an exterior surface of the plastic housing and configured to provide a ground shield for the differential pair. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive plating is electrically separate from the first and second channels. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the plastic housing comprises a first face and a second face opposite the first face, the first and second faces having openings in communication with the first and second channels. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electrical connector of claim 3, wherein the first and second faces comprise openings, the openings of the second face configured to receive the first and second conductors of the cable and the openings of the first face configured to allow the first and second conductors of the cable to connect to another electrical connector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive plating is disposed on at least three sides of the first and second channels. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electrical connector of claim 5, wherein the electrically conductive plating is disposed on a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side of the first and second channels. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The electrical connector of claim 5, wherein the plastic housing comprises a plastic housing member having the first and second channels within the plastic housing member and the electrically conductive plating on an exterior surface of the plastic housing member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electrical connector of claim 7, wherein the electrically conductive plating is disposed on a first side, a second side, and a third side of the plastic housing member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The electrical connector of claim 7, wherein the first and second channels comprise partially closed cavities. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the plastic housing comprises: a plastic housing member having the exterior surface with the electrically conductive plating thereon; and a conductive housing member attached to the plastic housing member and electrically coupled to the electrically conductive plating. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electrical connector of claim 10, wherein the conductive housing member is configured to electrically connect the electrically conductive plating to ground. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is configured to receive a pair of signal conductors of another connector and electrically connect the pair of signal conductors to the first and second conductors of the cable. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive plating is plated using vapor deposition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An electrical cable assembly comprising: an electrical cable comprising: a first conductor and a second conductor configured as a differential pair; and a ground conductor; and the electrical connector of claim 1 at an end of the cable, with the first conductor received in the first channel, the second conductor received in the second channel, and the ground conductor electrically connected to the electrically conductive plating. ### Claim 15 An electrical cable termination device, comprising: an insulative housing comprising: a first path through the insulative housing configured to receive a first cable conductor of a pair of differential cable conductors; and a second path through the insulative housing configured to receive a second cable conductor of the pair of differential cable conductors; and electrically conductive plating on a surface of the insulative housing configured to provide a ground return path for signals propagating in the first and second cable conductors. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electrical cable termination device of claim 15, wherein the electrically conductive plating is electrically separate from the first and second paths. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The electrical cable termination device of claim 15, wherein the electrically conductive plating is configured to contact a ground conductor that surrounds the pair of differential cable conductors. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The electrical cable termination device of claim 15, further comprising: a cable mounting interface at a first end of the insulative housing configured to receive the first and second cable conductors; and a mating interface at a second end of the insulative housing configured to electrically connect the first and second cable conductors to an electrical connector, wherein the cable mounting interface and the mating interface comprise openings in communication with the first and second paths. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The electrical cable termination device of claim 18, wherein the first and second paths run at least partially through the insulative housing from the cable mounting interface to the mating interface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The electrical cable termination device of claim 18, wherein the openings of the cable mounting interface are configured to receive the first and second cable conductors and the openings of the mating interface are configured to allow the first and second cable conductors to connect to another electrical connector. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The electrical cable termination device of claim 15, wherein the electrically conductive plating is disposed on at least three sides of the first and second paths. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The electrical cable termination device of claim 21, wherein the electrically conductive plating is disposed on a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side of the first and second paths. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The electrical cable termination device of claim 22, wherein the insulative housing comprises an insulative member having the first and second paths within the insulative member and the electrically conductive plating on an exterior surface of the insulative member. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The electrical cable termination device of claim 23, wherein the electrically conductive plating is disposed on a first side, a second side, and a third side of the insulative member. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The electrical cable termination device of claim 23, wherein the first and second paths comprise partially closed cavities through the insulative member. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The electrical cable termination device of claim 25, wherein the partially closed cavities are C-shaped. ### Claim 27 (depends on 15) The electrical cable termination device of claim 15, wherein the insulative housing comprises: an insulative member having the surface with the electrically conductive plating thereon; and a conductive member at least partially surrounding the insulative member and electrically coupled to the electrically conductive plating, wherein the conductive member is configured to electrically connect the electrically conductive plating to ground. ### Claim 28 (depends on 15) The electrical cable termination device of claim 15, wherein the electrical cable termination device is configured to receive a pair of signal conductors of a connector and electrically couple the pair of signal conductors to the first and second cable conductors.