CA1245735A - Method and mass termination connector with solder connections - Google Patents

Abstract

For: METHOD AND MASS TERMINATION CONNECTOR WITH
SOLDER CONNECTIONS

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A multiconductor electrical cable termination for flat ribbon cable has plural electrical contacts pierced through the cable insulation to engagement with respective conductors. The junctions of contacts and conductors are encapsulated in a base that forms an integral structure with the contacts and cable maintaining the junctions substantially free of oxygen and moisture. Plural openings in the base provide access to terminal portions of the contacts for test probing thereof, or the like, while the contacting portions of the contacts are connected to another termination, connector or the like. The cable termination assembly is formed using both an insulation displacement mass termination connection of the contacts and cable conductors and additionally has a solder connection provided between respective contacts and cable conductors.

Description

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~ACKG~OU~D OF T11E I1~1JTIO1~
The present invention is directed to a multi-conductor electrical cable ~ermination and, moxe paxticularly, to a relativ~ly permanent termination for a flat ribbon-like multiconductor electrical cable ~ith mass termination insulation displacement and solder connections for the contacts and cable conductors.
Since individual manual connection of each conductor in a multiconductor electrical cable, which usually has more than three conductors and as many as fifty or more conductors therein, would be a difficult and tedious task, a number of specialized connectors have been developed for simultanQously connecting each of the plural conductors to tho~se of another multiconductor electrical cable via anot11er connector, for example, to a plural signal input terminal of a computer or the like, to conductive paths on printed circuit board or the like, etc. Typically these specialized conn2ctors include multiple housing parts between whic11 the cable is clamped, and usually before or during that clamping the ~ultiple contacts of the connector puncture the electrical insulation of the cable to connect with respective conductors therein. Tho housing parts are mechanically secured in clamping engaqement ~ith th~ cable, and strain relief is usually provided by the clamping strength and/or by th~
terminal parts of the contacts pierced through the cable insulation.
In U.S. Patent 4,030,799 is disclosed a multiconductor electrical cable termination formed as an integral structural combination of the multiconductor electrical cable, the plurality of electrical contacts, and a housing part that is molded about at least a portion of ~ach of the contacts and a portion of the cable.

~2~573~ii Each contac~ forms a junc~ion with a respective co~ductor of the cable~ and the integral housing part ~s mDlded under eleYated temperature and pressure conditions so tha~ each of the junctions is substantially fully encapsul.~ted ~y at least one of the cable insluation and the molded-~ody part and, ~hus, maintained relatively free o f moisture and oxygenO The contacts and tl~e conductors, therefore, may be of dissimil~r metals, which will not corrode, oxidize or undergo any electrolysis-like activity due to the lack of moistuxe or oxygen at the ju~ctions. Furthermore, the molded housing part preferably is of a material compatible with that of ~he electrical insulation of the cable so as to bond chemically there~it} to provide an e~ective strain relief for the termination and also to insure the integrity of ~e encapsulation of the junc*ions. Tl~e terminal portion of each electrical contact preferably extends fully through the ca~le insulation, and openings pro~ided in the molded housing part offer access to the ends of those terminal portions for test probing thereof.
It will be appreciated that the contactin~ portion of each electrical contact, i.e. the portion beinq intended for elec-trical connection to a ~evice other than th~ cable of the termination, may b~ of various desi~ns for connection, for example, with pin contacts, femal~ contacts, e.gO fork contacts;
conductive paths on a printed circuit board, etc.
Such cable termination may be formed using a mass termination techni~ue known as insulation displacement connection (IDC) whereby the contacts, preferably a plurality of them simultaneously, pierce the cable insula~ion to engage cable conductors before the integral hou~ing body part is molded.
Such IDC mass termination approach is relatively inexpensi~e and expeditious.

BRIEF SU~MARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a solder connection of the contacts of the cable termination and the conductors of the cable being terminated is provided while also retaining the manufacturing and cost efficiency characteristics of a mass termination IDC connector device. A solder connection can provide added integrity of the junction of the contact and cable conductor while also assuring a minimum of impedance at such junctions. The solder connection preferably is formed using induction heating of the otherwise complete connector~
cable termination to re-flow solder.
Such solder connection is provided by employing con-tacts that have been pre-coated, e.g. by electro-plating with a solder material at the IDC part thereoE and after the IDC connection oE the contacts and cable conductors has been made providing heat to the solder material to re-flow the same thereby forming a solder connection with respective cable conductors. Preferably the solder connection is so formed after the integral housing part has been molded about the IDC connection of the contacts and cable conductors by applying sui-table source of heating energy to re-flow the solder.
Advantages of the aforesaid approach include main-tain-ing the solder connection area clean from contaminant and the confining of the solder to assure re-flowing in the cor rect areas of the contacts and especially the conductors while minimizing the amount of solder required for the pur-pose. Another important advantage is the avoiding of a spur-ious short circuit between an incorrect contact and cable conductor because during the soldering operation the indi-vidual contact andconductor pairs are isolated from the other such pairs by the molded housing part and the cable insula-tion.
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On the other hand, if desired, it is possible that the solder connections may be formed by applying heat and re-flowing the solder on the contacts prior -to the molding step or possibly during the molding step.
~ ith -the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the invention to provide a multi-conductor electrical cable termination improved in the noted respects.
Another object is to provide advantages of a mass termination multiconductor cable termination while also achieving the integrity and other characteristics of a solder-connection junction.
Another object is to achieve both the mass termination IDC cable termina-tion cost and manufacturing efficiencies and to utilize the same to facilitate making solder connec-tions in a mu]ticonductor cable termination device.
Another object is to facili-tate the formation of plural solder connections of a mass termination cable termi-nation device especially using induction heating, and, further, especially by effecting such induction heating and re-flowing of the solder material to form the solder connec-tions after the cable termination device is otherwise already complete or substantially complete in manufacturing.
Another object is to maintain the junctions between the terminals and conductors of a multi-conductor electrical cable termination substantially free of moisture and oxygen.

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~n additional object of the inven~ion i~ to pn~Yide integral molded strain relie~ for a multiconductor electrical cable termination.
A further obiect of the invention is to provide for test probing or ~le like of the electrical circui~s in a multi-conductor electrical cable termincltion and especially to provide such ability while the termination i5 ~onnected to anoth~r d2vice.
Still another object of the invention is to 10 provide for the termination of a multi-conductor electrical cable having a plurality of closely positionod, electrically insulated conductors.
Still an additional object of ths invention is to terminate in a facilQ manner a multi-conductor elec~rical cable and especially a flat, ribbon-like multi-conductor electrical cable.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will ~ecome more apparent as the following description proceeds.
To the accomplishment ~ the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, compri,ses the features hereinafter fully d scribed and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodimen~ of the invention, this being indicativQ, however, of but one of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.
BRI~F DESCRIPTION Ol Tli~ DR~ING
In the anne~ed drawinq:
Fig. 1 is an ~xploded isom~tric view o:E th~ multi conductor electrical cable ternlination in accordance with the invention;

~/-~5~5 ~ig. 2 is a bottom view of the mDlded housing part of the multiconduc~r electrical cable term.ination looking in the direction of ~he arrows 2--2 of Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is an end elevation view of th~ multi-conductox electxical cable termination looking in the direction of the arrows 3-~3 of Fig. l;
Fig. 4 is a partial se~tion view at two relatively spaced apart generally vertical planes of ~he multiconductor alectrical cable termination looking in ~he direction of the stepped arrows 4--4 of Fig. l;
Fig. 5 is a partial section view at a test probe opening of the multiconductor el~ctrical cable t~rmination looking in the direction o~ th~ arrows 5--5 of Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is an ond elevational section ~i~w of tha housing cover of the multiconductor el~ctrical cable termination looking in the direction of the arrows 6-~6 of Fig. l;
Fig. 7 is a partial side elevation view, mostly in section, o~ the housing cover looking in th~ ~irection of the arrows 7--7 of Fig. 6;

ir ln. a i5 an enlaraed plan view of a contact rl~1ted with soldr?l~ act:ol-dino to tne preser-~t invention;
Fiy. 9 is an enlarged sectiQn view simil2.r to Fia. 4 showing the sulrder conrlection of a tvpic~l contact ~nd condLIctor in a multirondLIctor cable termination according to the present i nvent i on; ~nd Fig. 1(1 is a schematic view of ar~ induction ne~tlnu method and ,:;poaratLl, in ~ccc:,rdance with the pr-esent inventioll emploved to effect rompletion rf solder conr)ecti~ns in the cable tei-mination assembly by i~e--f lowina solder upun appl lc~tion of i l-, d ~ lc ~ , e c~ ~ 1 r~

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DESCRIPTIOI~ OF THE PR~FERRE~ E~ODIMENT
Referring no~ more specifically to th~ drawing, wherei~ like referenc~ numerals designat:e like parts in the several figures, and initially to Figs. 1 through 5, a multiconductor electrical cable termir~ation is generally indicated at la. Th~ fundamental parts of the terrr.ination 10 include a multi-conductor _lectrical cable 11, a plurality of 21ectrical contacts 12 for connection a~ respectiv~ junctions to the respective conductors 13 of the cabl~, and a housing 14 having a base body part 15 molded about at least a portion of eacn of the contacts and a portion of the cabl~ to an integral structure therewitll.

-4a-In the illustrated preferrea embodiment of the inv~ntion the housing 14 also includes a cover 16 adapted to fi~ onto the base 15 at a poripheral ~tep 17 of the latter for appropriate containment of the c:ontactinq portions 18 of the el~ctrical contacts 12; however, it will ~ appre~iated that the form of the cover 16 and its possible elimi~ation will depend on the particular style of the contacting portions lB.
For example, if the contacting portions 18 were simply poin~s to bQ soldered in plated through op~nings of a printed circuit board or ~le like rather than of the illustrated fork-like style, the cover 16 can be eliminated from the termination :L0~
Preferably, the composition of the material of which the base 15 is form~d and th~ composition of the electrical' insulation 19, which maintains the conductors 13 in parallel spac~d-apart locations, are similar or compatible so that when the base 15 is molded it will chemically bond to the insulation 19 further to increase the integrity of th~ structure of the termination 10 and at the same tim~ to provide a mol~d strain relief that precludes separation of the contact terminal portions 20 from their respective junctions 21 with the conductors 13, which are seen most clearly in Fig. 4.
As shown in Fig. 4, the junctior,s 21 are e~capsulated by the insulation 19 and the ~olded body of the base lS, and in the preferred form of the invention the body 15 is molded about portions of the electrical contacts 12 and cable 11 under the elevated temperatures and pressur~s used in an injec~ing molding maclline, ~her~by any moisture and~or oxygen at thC~ junction 21 is substantially eliminated during the molding proc~ssO Therefore, the ma~erial o which the electrical contacts 12 are formed and the material of which th~ conductors 13 ar~ formed may b~ d~ss~ilar , ~

without encountering corrosion, o~:idation or cl~ctroly~is--l;ke activity at the junctions 21, which t~ill re~ain efective cl~ctrical connectionS between the electrical contacts and the respective conductors regardless of the ~xternal environment to whic~ the termination 10 is subsequently subjected, Moreover, since ~che base material and the insulation material chomically bond during m~lding of the base, the integrity of the encapsulatio~.
at each junction is further enhanced. T~erefore, th~ relatively ~xpensiv~ copper or plated conductors 13 may be ef fectively terminated, for example, by less expensiv~ al~minum ~lectrical contacts 12.
The texminal portion 20 of each electrical contact 12 pr~ferably includes a pair of elongate prong-lik~ arms 22 commonly supported from a base portion 23 and d~fi~ing a relatively narrow slot ~4 ~hsr~twee~. Th~ ends of ~ anms 22 r2mote from the base portion 23 prefsrably are tapered or chamfered to define an entranceway into the narrow slot 24 and to form g~n_rally pointed tips 25 to pierce easily through the c~ble insu-lation 19. The width of the narrow slot 24 is preferably narrower than the normal diameter of the conductor 13. Th~refore, as a typical electrical contact 12 is joined with the cable 11 by urging th~ t~Jo toward ~ach oth~r, the pointed tips 25 pierce through the insulation 19 while the wide chamfer~d entrance-way guides ~he conductor 13 into the narro~ slot 24. As the con-~uctor 13 enters the slot, it is somewhat flattened to provide a relatively ~anlarged surface area of engagement or conn2ction ~ith the two arms 22.

35i To maximize the efficiency of the insulation displace ment connections (IDC) a plurality of the conductors and contacts make connections simultaneously, for example, by loading the contacts into a holder and pressing the same simultaneously through the cable insulation into the afore-noted engagement with respective cable conductors. Such simultaneous mass termination of respective cable conductors is extremelycost and time efficient.
With the contacts in place in the cable, thebase body is molded about part of the contacts, cable conductors and cable insulation forming an integral structure therewith, for example, using a plastic injection molding machine.
Although such rnolded plastic fills a large portion of any voids formed in the area of slo-t 24 of the respective con-tacts, a-t least small open areas remain exposed wl-thout molcled plastic there, and this is especially true at areas of the contact directly engaged with and very proximate to the cable conductor 13. Moreover, preferably the cable con-ductor 13 is a stranded conductor, for example a seven strand conductor. A stranded conductor has good signal carrying properties and also is easily distorted to make a good con-nection with the edges of the contact 12 on opposite sides of the slo-t 24. An added advantage of the stranded conduc-tor used in the present invention is that the spaces between the strands generally do not fill with plastic during the plastic molding step mentioned above; therefore, such spaces or areas are available for the flowing of solder therein during the soldering process described further below. Further-more, during the insulation piercing by the contact arms 22 and tips 25 (the - 6a -i;'73~

insLIlation displa~ement step in the process of ~nufac~uring the connector/cable termination 10 ~f the invention~ the c~ble insul~tion m~y wip~ closely ~gainst the sLIrface 9~ the co~tact ~nd remain at l~t in part about the conductor 1~ such as o~er p~rt of the latter which is ~Jithin the slot 24~ and! thus~ suc~
insul~tion l~y f~rther chielcl p~rt of the c~ble ~nd contact ~rDm plastic being molded ~irectly into engage~ent therewith in order tD prDvi~e sp~ce ~or s~ld~r to be re-~low~-d in formino ~ solder connecti~r) betweer\ respective contact~ and cable conductors.

The terminal portion 20 of each electrical contact 12 is in the same plane and is offset with respect to the contacting portion 18 thereof, as can be seen most clearly in Figs. 1 and 4~ ~s seen particularly in Fig. 1, the el~ctrical contacts 12 in the fon~ard row 26 have ~leir te.rminal portions offset to the left with respect to their contacting portions, and the electrical contacts in the rear~ard row 27 have their -6b-3~

texminal portio~s offset to the right wi~h respect to the contacting portions. This offset configuration ~f th~
electrical contacts 12 allows them ~o be o xeasonabie size and strength while ~h_ contacting psrtion of each contact in one row is dircc~ly aligned with ~he co~tacting portion of an opposite contact in the other row and with each ~f the relatively c10s21y positioned parallel co:nductors li 3 bei ng connected to only a single respecti~e contact 12. It will be appreciated that al~ough the illustrated invention utilizes 10 two rows of contacts, the principles of the inv~ntion may be, of course, employed in terminations having one row or more than two such rows of contacts or any ot~her arran~e-ment th~reof.
Each of ths contact terminal arms 22 is preferably sufficiently long to extend fully through the cable 11 with a portion, for example, including the pointed ends 25, being exposed beyond the plane of the cable, as is illustrated most clearly in Figs. 3 and 4. ~hen the base body 15, then~ is mold~d about portions of the contacts and cable, openings or holes 2~, which are seen most clearly in Figs . 2 through 5, are formed in the bas~ to allow those portions of the arms 22 to remain e~posed. Th~refore, wh~n the multiconductor electrical cable t~rmination 10 is connectod, for example, to ~-another connector, to a computer, to a printed circuit board or the like, with the conductors 13 operativ~ly carrying r~spective 21ectrical sisnals, each of the circuits in ~hich ~e respective conductors 13 are connect~d may be tested, for example, by insertion of a probe ~rom a t~st instrument or the li~e in the r~spective openings 28 to en~ag~ment ~ith the exposed arms 72. Also, during the molding of ~he bas~ body 15 l~d~es --7~

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29 are fonmed be nd each of the arms 22 ~o pre~ent such an insert~d probe from separating the arms and disturbing ~he sealed encapsulated and electrical integrity of ~he junction 210 As illustrated in Fig. 1, for example, each of the electrical contacts 12 is of the fork contact type whereby each of the contact portions 18 comprises a pair of generally parallel elongate arms 30 adapted for electrical and mechanical connection with a pin contact, for example, inserted there-between. The housing cover 14, which is illustrated in Figs.1, 6 and 7, preferably is also injection m31ded as a separate part of dielectric material such as, for example, plastic ~ith chambers 31 th~rein for containment of the arms 30. The cover 16 has an outer wall 32 opon at the bottom 33 to recelve respective pairs of elongate contacta~ns 30 in the respective cha~bers 31, which arQ ~efined by the outer wall 32 and by internal walls 34, 35. In the cover top 36 are a plurality of apertures 37 for guidin~ respective pin contacts or the like into the respective cham~ers 30 between the t~Jo arms 30 of the respectivo el2ctrical contacts 12 for mechanical and electrical engagement ~erewith.
The opening at the cover bottom 33 is also stepped for joining at the step 17 of the base 15.

~5~35 In addition to the above express and implied advan-tages of the multiconductor electrical cable termination 10 of the present invention, the termination may be produced relatively more efficiently~than the prior art clamping type specialized connectors previously used to terminate flat multiconductor ribbon-like cable, for example, by inserting the electrical contacts 12 in the cable 11 and moldiny the base body 15 of the housing 14 thereabout at the same work station of an injection molding machine substantially to complete the formation of the termination in a single step.
Thereafter, if the housing 14 is to include a cover 16, the latter may be easily fitted to the base 15 at the step 17 and secured thereto, for example, by acoustical or ultra-sonlc welding techniques.
I'urning now to Fig. 8, a contact 12 employed in the present invention is shown in enlarged plan view. Preferably the arms 22 and part of the contact base 23 are electro-plated with a relatively copious amount of solder material 40, and, if desired, some flux material may be provided there as well.
In the preferred embodiment flux is employed and may be applied direc-tly to the contacts as par-t of or as a separate step as is the solder 40, for example. The flux is not separately identified in the drawings but may be construed as being part of the solder 40 that is shown. The solder 40 is shown about the outer edges and especially about the inner edges 41 of the arms 22 bounding the slot 24. If desired, the solder may be applied to the contact by means other than electro-plating and may be applied in a more res-tricted area than that shown in the drawings.

The cable rDnciuctors 1~ preferably are Dt the stranded type noted above and also are preferably formed of a mater-ial that will form a satisf~ctory solder connection with the solder and the ~ontacts 1~ with good r~liability of the elec~rical connection so formed. In the preferred embodiment and best mode of the invention~ the cable conductors 1~ are formed of tinned copper material.
~ ccording to the preferred embodiment and best mode~ too~
the solder 40 is re-~lowed to forn~ the solder connection 42 shown in Fig. 9 after the body 15 has ~een molded int place and~ if usedl after the cover 16 has been put in place e~nd preferably ultrasor,ically welcied to the body 15. To effect such re-flowin~
of the c,older~ hr-at is applied to the soltier~ Such hr~?at application may be bv laser~ heatinq in an oven. or other technique. For e~mple~ a laser mav be ~ocust:~d ~nto the opentng ?8 onto the e~posed contact arMs 8; ~nri heat fr-om the laser may be transmitted thruugh the metal of the cQntact to re-flow the soler thereon~ especie~lly in the area of the desired lunction Df the contact and cable conductor l_. ~ltern~-tively. if the material uf which the bodv 15 and cover or aap 1~ are. cornpried is of the thern~osetting type or is capable after beina molded of withstanding the tell)peratLIre required to re-flow the solder, in is possible ~o place the conr-ector 1~:) in an oven to heat the eiolder to r~e--flcw the -,ame without ti,:-trlm-entall~ iectin~? the bndy 15 or- the cover 16~
~ ccor-ding to the prefer-reri r-mttodin,ent and ~est ~)ode of the invention~ as is illustrated in Fia. lC)o induction heatil-)g is ~Ised tu re-flow the solder- 4l:). Specificallv~ a power s~lpply 5 pr-ovides electrical po~Jer to an ind-lctior- heatin~ COl 1 ~1 Yi a electr-ical leads 5'~ 57~. T~-,e induction tteatina cull 51 is adequatelY laYge to receive the completed connector/cable terrrlination ll:) therewithin. Ur~orl ~pF~lication of suitable electrical erer91~atlQrl to the coll 51 th-- Cc~me eftects heaLinrJ

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of the contacts within the connectDr $0 andJor of the ~older 40 caucjing -the latter- to re-flow over at least part of the contacts and respective cDnductors associ~ted therewith. The flowing solder 4C~ preferably ~akes a good solder connection 4~ by flowing into the in~erstices between the str~nds of the c~ble conductor 13. Thus! such induction heating process facilitates further ~h~
manu4acturing of the c~ble termination 10 according to the invention achieving both ~irect engagement and solder connection integrity of the individual iunctiQns of respective contacts l2 and conductors l~. The use of indL(ction he~ting. too. avoids the s~lbiecting of the other pcarts of the corl)lector 10 to heat that maY be otherwise disadvantageoLIsly affecting sa~.e~ while also enablincl colnpleting of ll the or a plur~litv of the solder connections in the conrlectcr in a simultaneou~ manner.
7'hu~ it will be appreciat~d that the presi?nt invention providec~ t:or the cernlinatino of a mLIlticor)ductor cable achieving the lhbor~ cr~t, arld time effiLiencv of a mass termination connE~ctor~ especlally of th_ IDC type while also adding the reli~bility r~f a sulder connectinn. Moreov_r! due tv the ability to effect the solder- re-~lowinL3 within a confined .area after molding of the body 15~ such ~oldering step may be effected r~pidly and efficientlY, e.g~ in terms of cost. labor~ time~
materi~ls and equipment.
UFon rompletlnc~ the tormatlon and~or- as~embl~ ot ~he oulti-conductor- electrical cable termination lO~ it m~y be easily connecterd to another electrical ronnector~ a plural signal input terminal ol a computer-! conducLive paths on a print~d circuit ~c3ard! or- the like to cor~nect the conductors 13 in respective circuits~ 'l'hr- ccntacts 1~, cilthough described as female Lontacts~ n,ay be of the male type or of other scecialtv type fDr connectinr~ the condoctors 13 l~ith other respecti~e circuits~
cond~ctc~rs~ etc.

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~ reov2r~ w~ile the in~ention is illustratod and described above with reference to multiconductor electrical rable termination 10 located at ~n end of the multiconductor el~ctrical conductor 11, it Wlll be apparent that Cuch a termination also may be pro~ided in accordanc~ the invention at a location on a multic~nductor electrical ca~le intermediate the ends ~hereof.

Claims (22)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A multiconductor electrical cable termination, comprising:
a multiconductor electrical cable including a plurality of conductors and electrical insulation about said conductors maintaining the latter electrically insulated from each other, a plurality of electrical contacts, each including terminal means for connecting to at least one of said conductors forming a junction therewith and contacting means for electrically connecting to an external member placed to engagement therewith, a solder connection between respective contacts and conductors, and a housing including base means for holding said contacts and said cable in relatively fixed position, said base means comprising a body molded about at least a portion of each of said contacts and a portion of said cable, whereby said base means, said contacts and said cable form an integral structure.

2. A multiconductor electrical cable termination as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said junctions is sealed in air-tight and relatively moisture-free and oxygen-free condition by at least one of said electrical insulation and said housing body.

3. A multiconductor electrical cable termination as set forth in claim 2, wherein said conductors and said electrical contacts are of dissimilar metals.

4. A multiconductor electrical cable termination as set forth in claim 2, wherein said multiconductor electrical cable comprises flat ribbon-like cable, and said housing body comprises a material that chemically bonds with said electrical insulation during molding of said body.

5 . A multiconductor electrical cable termination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said terminal means comprises piercing means for piercing said electrical insulation to engage a conductor therein.

6. A multiconductor electrical cable termination as set forth in claim 5, wherein said piercing means comprises prong-like arm means for deforming such engaged conductor to enlarge the surface area of said junction

7. A multiconductor electrical cable termination as set forth in claim 6, wherein at least one of said body and said electrical insulation fully encapsulate said junctions in fluid-tight relation.

8. A multiconductor electrical cable termination as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said body and said electrical insulation fully encapsulate said junctions and said body is molded under elevated temperature and pressure conditions whereby said encapsulated junctions are substantially free of moisture and oxygen.

9. A multiconductor electrical cable termination as set forth in claim 1, therein said body comprises a material compatible with that of said electrical insulation to bond chemically with the latter upon molding of said body under elevated temperatures and pressure conditions.

10. A multiconductor electrical cable termination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said terminal means of each electrical contact comprises at least one elongate arm of a sufficient length to extend on both sides of said electrical insulation, and said body comprises hole means for access to said elongate arms, whereby a test probe or the like can be inserted to electrical engagement with said elongate arms.

11. A multiconductor electrical cable termination as set forth in claim 10, wherein said terminal means comprises two elongate arms.

12. A multiconductor electrical cable termination as set forth in claim 11, wherein said multiconductor electrical cable comprises flat ribbon-like cable, and said terminal means comprises means for piercing said electrical insulation upon forcing one of said cable and said electrical contacts relatively together.

13. A multiconductor electrical cable termination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises cover means for containment of said contacting means of said electrical contacts.

14. A multiconductor electrical cable termination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said contacting means comprise fork-like arms.

15. A multiconductor electrical cable termination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said multiconductor electrical cable comprises flat ribbon-like cable having more than three conductors therein.

16. A multiconductor electrical cable termination as set forth in claim 15, wherein said terminal means and said contacting means of each electrical contact are linearly off-set with respect to each other, whereby said contacts may be rela-tively closely positioned in plural rows in said body while respectively connecting with each of said closely positioned conductors.

17. A multiconductor electrical cable termination as set forth in claim 15, wherein said multiconductor electrical cable has from about twenty to about fifty conductors.

18. A method for making a cable termination comprising, Inserting a contact having solder therein through the insulation of an electrical cable so as to make electrical connection with a conductor in such cable placing at least some of such solder at least in proximity to such conductor.
Heating such solder to re-flow the same to form a solder conenction with such contact and such conductor, and Molding an electrically insulating body about at least part of such contact, solder junction, conductor and cable insulation to form an integral cable termination body.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said molding step is carried out prior to said heating step.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said heating step comprises induction heating.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said induction heating comprises placing such cable termination in an induction heating coil and energizing such coil to effect heating of at least one or more of such contact, conductor and solder.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein such cable comprises a multiconductor cable, such contact contact comprises a plurality of contacts for connection with respective conductors of such cable, and wherein such induction heating effects heating of a plurality of the junctions of such respective contacts and conductors to effect simultaneously the soldering of a plurality of such junctions.