# US 7,743,496 B2 · Cable termination methods

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- Number: US 7,743,496 B2
- Document ID: US7743496B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/004,539
- Filed: 2007-12-20
- Published: 2009-06-25
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2007-12-20
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Christopher D. Prest
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743496B2

## CPC

- H01R 43/0263: {for positioning or holding parts during soldering or welding process}
- H01R 4/023: {between cables or wires and terminals}
- H01R 12/58: terminals for insertion into holes
- H05K 3/32: electrically connecting electric components or wires to printed circuits
- H05K 3/3447: Lead-in-hole components
- H05K 2201/10356: Cables
- H05K 2201/10424: Frame holders
- H05K 2201/10924: Leads formed from a punched metal foil
- H05K 2201/10962: Component not directly connected to the PCB
- Y10T 29/49117: Conductor or circuit manufacturing
- Y10T 29/49123: Co-axial cable
- Y10T 29/49147: Assembling terminal to base
- Y10T 29/49174: Assembling terminal to elongated conductor
- Y10T 29/49176: with molding of electrically insulating material
- Y10T 29/49179: by metal fusion bonding
- Y10T 29/49208: by assembling plural parts
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A termination for a multi-conductor cable is made by providing a metal structure that includes a plurality of parallel but spaced apart fingers that are joined together by a connecting member adjacent at least one end of each finger. Each of the conductors in the cable is connected to a respective one of the fingers at a location that is spaced from the connecting member. The cable and the fingers are then over-molded with an insulating material where the conductors are connected to the fingers. This over-molding leaves a portion of the length of each finger exposed. The connecting member is then severed and removed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of terminating a multi-conductor cable comprising:
providing a metal structure that includes a plurality of substantially parallel, spaced apart, metal fingers that are joined together adjacent at least one end of each finger by a metal connecting member that is part of the metal structure, the metal structure by itself maintaining the fingers in parallel, spaced apart relationship to one another;
mechanically and electrically connecting each one of the conductors to a respective one of the fingers at a location along the finger that is spaced from the connecting member, said connecting being performed prior to over-molding any insulating material onto the metal structure;
over-molding with an insulating material the cable and the fingers where the conductors have been connected to the fingers, said over-molding leaving a portion of the length of each finger exposed; and
severing the connecting member from the fingers.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method defined in claim 1 wherein after the severing, a portion of the length of each finger is still exposed.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method defined in claim 2 further comprising:
inserting the portion of the length of each finger that is still exposed into an aperture in an electrical circuit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method defined in claim 3 further comprising:
connecting the portion of each finger that has been inserted into the electrical circuit to electrical circuitry of the electrical circuit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method defined in claim 4 wherein the connecting the portion of each finger to electrical circuitry comprises:
soldering the portion of each finger to the electrical circuitry.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method defined in claim 1 wherein the connecting comprises:
soldering each of the conductors to a respective one of the fingers.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:
providing each of the fingers with a through aperture at the location where the connecting will be performed.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:
providing each of the fingers with a through aperture where the over-moldering will cover the finger and will therefore enter the aperture.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method defined in claim 1 wherein the cable includes an outer cover around the conductors adjacent to, but spaced from, where the connecting is performed, and wherein the over-molding covers and bonds with the outer cover adjacent to where the connecting is performed.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method defined in claim 9 wherein the over-molding also forms a shape separate from the fingers that can be used to provide a mechanical connection to other structure that the cable is to be connected to.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method defined in claim 1 wherein the over-molding also leaves the connecting member exposed.