Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – For receiving coaxial connector
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-09
2001-05-01
Abrams, Neil (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
For receiving coaxial connector
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224390
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to coaxial connectors.
2. Related Art
Sometimes, it is necessary for a coaxial connector attached to a circuit board to be movable to a certain extent in a radial direction or an axial direction perpendicular to the plugging direction when the coaxial connector is plugged with a mating connector.
Japanese patent application Kokai No. 7-37648 discloses such a coaxial connector. As
FIG. 4
shows, the coaxial connector comprises a plug-side coaxial member
50
to be plugged with a mating connector (not shown) and a base-side coaxial member
60
attached to a circuit board (not shown).
The plug-side coaxial member
50
consists of a dielectric member
51
having a cylindrical section
51
A and a pair of extended sections
51
B extending radially from the bottom of the cylindrical section
51
A, and central and outer conductors
52
and
53
provided so as to cover the inner and outer surfaces of the dielectric member
51
. That is, the central and outer conductors
52
and
53
have cylindrical and extended sections
52
A and
53
A, and
52
B and
53
B, respectively. In addition, protruded contacts
52
C and
53
C are provided on the extended sections
52
B and
53
B, respectively.
The base-side coaxial member
60
has a substantially rectangular dielectric block
61
. An upper recess
61
A extends from one side to the other side of the dielectric block
61
. A central conductor connection member
62
is provided on the bottom of the upper recess
61
A and folded back at the both ends of the upper recess
61
A. An outer conductor connection member
63
is provided on the dielectric block
61
and has a hole
63
A through which the cylindrical sections
51
A,
52
A, and
53
A extend upwardly. It is folded back at the both sides of the dielectric block
61
. In this way, the central conductor
52
is shielded by the outer conductor
53
.
The protruded contacts
52
C and
53
C are in spring contact with the central conductor connection members
62
and
63
, respectively, and the diameter of the hole
63
A is greater than that of the outer conductor
52
so that the coaxial member
50
is movable in the radial direction.
The folded back portions of the inner and outer conductor connection members
62
and
63
are soldered to corresponding circuit conductors of the circuit board. Even if there is a difference in the radial direction between positions of the coaxial member
50
and a mating connector, the coaxial member
50
is moved in the same direction and plugged with the mating connector without producing any stress in the base-side coaxial member
60
.
However, the coaxial connector as shown in
FIG. 4
has disadvantages that the shielding made by the outer conductor is not perfect and that the characteristics vary with the axial distance between the circuit board and the mating connector.
First of all, as shown in
FIG. 4
, sides of the outer conductor connection member
63
are opened, and there is no shield on the sides of the central conductor
52
and the central conductor connection member
62
. This area is so large that it has large influence on the characteristics of the coaxial connector.
The plug-side coaxial member
50
of the coaxial connector is not axially movable with respect to the base-side coaxial member
60
so that if the distance between circuit boards on which the mating connector and the base-side coaxial member
60
are attached, respectively, is changed, the depth of plugging with the plug-side coaxial member
50
of the mating connector is changed. Consequently, the shield range is changed, resulting in the changed characteristics.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a coaxial connector which has the improved shield characteristics and allows both radial and axial movement of the plug-side coaxial member.
A coaxial connector related to the invention comprises a plug-side coaxial member to be plugged with a mating connector and consisting of a plug-side central conductor and a plug-side outer conductor; a base-side coaxial member to be attached to an object and consisting of a base-side central conductor and a base-side outer conductor; and the plug-side coaxial member being movable in a radial direction with respect to the base-side coaxial member.
According to the invention, the plug- and base-side outer conductors are in contact with each other and cover substantially an entire length, in an axial direction, of the plug-side central conductor and a length, in the axial direction, of the base-side central conductor between a point where the plug- and base-side central conductors are contacted and a point where the base-side coaxial member is attached to the object.
If the plug-side coaxial member is shifted in the radial direction from the mating connector, it is moved in the same direction to avoid any stress acting upon the base-side coaxial member. The central conductor is almost completely shielded in the above range, thus improving the shield characteristics.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the plug- and base-side central conductors each have a sliding surface extending in the radial direction to allow radial movement of the plug-side central conductor with respect to the base-side central conductor.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the plug-side central conductor is divided into a fixed central conductor fixed to the plug-side coaxial member and a movable central conductor movable in the axial direction with respect to the fixed central conductor. The coaxial connector further comprises a first spring member provided between the fixed and movable central conductors for biasing the movable central conductor against the base-side central conductor for slidable spring contact with the base-side central conductor. Upon radial movement, the plug-side central conductor is biased against the base-side central conductor under a predetermined contact pressure, thereby providing stable contact conditions.
More specifically, the fixed central conductor is provided with a recess for receiving a stem portion of the movable central conductor to form a space between them for accommodating the first spring therein, with ends of the first spring member engaged with a bottom of the recess and a jaw of the movable central conductor, respectively, thereby biasing the movable central conductor in the axial direction. In such an embodiment, the first spring is a coil spring.
According to the invention, the base-side coaxial member comprises a support extending from the base-side outer conductor and spaced from the plug-side outer conductor in the radial direction so as to allow radial movement of the plug-side coaxial member and having an engaging jaw at a position corresponding to a midpoint, in the axial direction, of the plug-side outer conductor such that the engaging jaw engages an engaging shoulder of the plug-side outer conductor in the axial direction. A second spring member is provided between the plug- and base-side coaxial members to bias the engaging shoulder against the engaging jaw. If the position of connection with the mating connector is shifted in the axial direction, the plugging depth between the plug-side coaxial member and the mating connector is kept constant by means of the second spring member, thereby providing stable shield effects.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the plug- and base-side outer conductors each have an opposed surface extending in the radial direction, between which the second spring member is provided. It is preferred that the second spring member is a spring washer having a circular
REFERENCES:
patent: 2640118 (1953-05-01), Werner
patent: 4008943 (1977-02-01), Flatt et al.
patent: 4575694 (1986-03-01), Lapke et al.
patent: 5516303 (1996-05-01), Yohn et al.
patent: 5769652 (1998-06-01), Wider
patent: 5775927 (1998-07-01), Wider
patent: 7-37648 (1995-02-01), None
Asano Naoyuki
Mitani Ikujiro
Abrams Neil
Duverne J. F.
Hirose Electric Co. Ltd.
Kanesaka & Takeuchi
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