# US 2004/0002242 A1 · Cylindrical electric connection apparatus with alternate lamination of dielectric layer and conductor layer, wiring member used for the apparatus, and method of manufacturing the wiring member > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2004/0002242 A1 - Document ID: US20040002242A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 10/461,444 - Filed: 2003-06-16 - Published: 2004-01-01 - Earliest claimed: 2002-06-27 - Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba - Inventors: Kazuyoshi Sasaki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20040002242A1 ## CPC - H01R 35/04: Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle {with frictional contact members} - H01R 24/38: having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts - H01R 12/59: for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures - H01R 2107/00: Four or more poles - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract An electric connection apparatus includes a cylindrical main body through which a center shaft passes. The main body has a plurality of conductor layers, and rigid dielectric layers which electrically insulate the conductor layers. The conductor layers and dielectric layers are alternately laminated in the radial direction of the center shaft. The main body has a first terminal to which the conductor layers are exposed, and a second terminal to which the conductor layers are exposed. The first and second terminals shift each other in the axial direction of the main body. A first connector is attached to the first terminal, and has a plurality of contact parts to contact the conductor layers. A second connector is attached to the second terminal, and has a plurality of contact parts to contact the conductor layers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electric connection apparatus comprising: a center shaft; a cylindrical main body through which the center shaft passes; the main body having a plurality of conductor layers, and rigid dielectric layers which electrically insulate the conductor layers; the conductor layers and the dielectric layers laminated alternately in the radial direction of the center shaft just like surrounding the center shaft; a first terminal which is formed in the main body, and to which the conductor layers are exposed; a second terminal which is formed in the main body, and to which the conductor layers are exposed; the second terminal located shifting in the axial direction of the main body with respect to the first terminal; a first connector which is attached to the first terminal of the main body; the first connector having a plurality of contact parts electrically connected to the conductor layers; and a second connector which is attached to the second terminal of the main body; the second connector having a plurality of contact parts electrically connected to the conductor layers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An electric connection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first terminal is located at one end of the main body, and the second terminal is located at the other end of the main body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An electric connection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conductor layers includes a power layer, a signal layer and a ground layer; and the ground layer covers the outer circumference of the main body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An electric connection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conductor layers includes a signal layer having a plurality of signal lines extending in the axial direction of the main body; the signal lines are located on the same circumference concentric with the center shaft, and are aligned with equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the main body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) An electric connection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the signal layer is located between the ground layer and the power layer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An electric connection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main body has a support hole through which the center shaft passes concentrically; and the first and second connectors have a bearing hole through which the center shaft passes concentrically. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An electric connection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first connector has a recess to fit with the first terminal; the second connector has a recess to fit with the second terminal; and contact parts of the first and second connectors are arranged inside of each recess. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An electric connection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising first and second units which are connected rotatable to each other through the center shaft, the first unit having a first circuit module electrically connected to the second connector, and the second unit having a second circuit module electrically connected to the first connector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An electric connection apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a first flexible printed wiring board which electrically connects the first connector and the second circuit module; and a second flexible printed wiring board which electrically connects the second connector and the first circuit module. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) An electric connection apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first unit has a pair of bearings to support the center shaft; the bearings are separated from each other in the axial direction of the center shaft; and the main body, the first connector and the second connector are located between the bearings. ### Claim 11 A wiring member comprising: a cylindrical dielectric layer; and a signal layer laminated inside of the dielectric layer, the signal layer having a plurality of signal lines extending in the axial direction of the dielectric layer, the signal lines arranged on the circumference concentric with the center of the dielectric layer, and aligned with equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the circumference. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A wiring member according to claim 11, wherein the dielectric layer is made of rigid synthetic resin material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A wiring member according to claim 11, further comprising a ground layer which covers the outer circumference of the dielectric layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A wiring member according to claim 13, further comprising a conductor layer laminated inside of the dielectric layer, wherein the conductor layer, the ground layer and the signal layer are arranged coaxially with the dielectric layer interposed therebetween; and the interval among the conductor layer, the ground layer and the signal layer is equal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A wiring member according to claim 12, further comprising a center shaft which passes through the center of the dielectric layer, the center shaft having one end and the other end projecting outward of the dielectric layer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) A wiring member according to claim 11, wherein the dielectric layer has first and second terminals to which the signal layer is exposed, and the first and second terminal units are separated from each other in the axial direction of the dielectric layer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A wiring member according to claim 16, further comprising: a first connector attached to the first terminal of the dielectric layer, the first connector having a contact part to electrically connect the signal layer; and a second connector attached to the second terminal unit of the dielectric layer, the second connector having a contact part to electrically connect the signal layer. ### Claim 18 A method of manufacturing a wiring member, comprising: preparing a cylindrical core with electric insulation characteristics; forming a first conductor layer on the outer circumference of the core; preparing a sheet laminated with a dielectric layer and a second conductor layer, and laminating the sheet just like winding around the outer circumference of the first conductor layer; and pressing the laminated sheet while heating, and constructing the sheet in one body with the first conductor layer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A method of manufacturing a wiring member according to claim 18, further comprising: forming a conductor pattern on the second conductor layer on the sheet, after constructing the sheet in one body with the first conductor layer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A method of manufacturing a wiring member according to claim 19, further comprising: forming a hole at the center of the core coaxially and along the axial direction, after forming the conductor pattern on the second conductor layer.