Electrical connectors – Having circuit interrupting provision effected by mating or...
Reexamination Certificate
2003-05-13
2004-03-30
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Having circuit interrupting provision effected by mating or...
C439S944000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06712628
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to devices which combine both a connector and a switch for disconnecting an “antenna circuit”, in particular of the “patch antenna” type hereinafter referred to as a flat antenna, and circuits for supplying this, whilst connecting these same circuits to a plug allowing external connection of these circuits. This plug is for example itself connected to a cable for supplying an antenna which is more effective than the initial flat antenna. Such devices are for example used for connecting a portable telephone to a fixed base.
Such a currently known device is depicted in its disconnected state in FIG.
1
and in its connected state in FIG.
2
.
The flat antenna
101
is fixed to a support
102
, as is the earth plane
103
which supplements the antenna in order to obtain the required radiation diagram. The antenna is supplied by a spring connector
104
and the earth plane by a spring connector
105
, from circuits for transmitting and/or receiving radio frequency signals which are themselves fixed to a printed circuit board
106
.
The radio frequency signal arrives at this printed circuit through a circuit
107
and the earth through a circuit
108
. The radio frequency signal is then routed from this circuit
107
as far as a spring connector
104
by means of a switch
109
formed by a spring blade
110
which can, according to its position, provide continuity between the circuit
107
and a circuit
111
on which the spring connector
104
bears.
The continuity between the blade
110
and the circuit
111
is provided by a conductive piece
112
fixed in the insulating body
113
of the switch. A metallic rod
114
perpendicular to the plane of the circuit
106
is fixed to the flexible blade
110
.
When a pressure is exerted on the end of this rod, it makes the blade
110
flex and cuts off communication between this blade and the piece
112
. The body
113
is itself surrounded by a conductive pot
115
which is connected to the earth circuit
118
in order to be able to obtain the earth recovery as described below.
In the disconnected state illustrated in
FIG. 1
, the radio frequency signal arrives through the conductor
107
, passes through the blade
110
, the piece
112
, the conductor
111
and the spring connector
104
, and is finally applied to the flat antenna
101
.
In order to be able to use an external antenna, or possibly a measuring circuit, a plug
116
is used, comprising an external casing
117
and a central conductor
119
forming a core and separated from the conductive external casing by an insulating layer
118
.
This plug is conical in shape, so as to be able to enter a hole
120
provided in the support
102
in line with the switch
109
and situated also at the separation level between the flat antenna
101
and the earth plate
103
. The end of the central conductor
119
of the plug
116
projects at the tip of this conical part at a hole provided in the external casing
117
.
When the plug is lowered in order to insert it in the hole
120
, the end of the core
119
presses on the rod
114
, which makes the blade
116
flex and interrupts the transmission of the radio frequency signal to the piece
112
and therefore to the flat antenna
101
. The radio frequency signal is on the other hand then applied to the core
119
of the plug, so as to be able to be transmitted to the circuits connected to this plug, which are not shown in the figure.
Simultaneously, the conical part of the casing
117
of the plug is placed in a hollow provided in the top part of the conductive pot
115
of the switch
119
and adapted to the conical shape of the end of the plug. In this way contact is established between the casing
117
of the plug and the pot
115
of the switch, which establishes the earth connection between the circuit
108
and the external casing of the plug.
Mechanical means, not shown but known to persons skilled in the art, provide the mechanical fixing of these pieces together.
This system functions well but has the drawback of being of large size and consequently reducing the surface area of the flat antenna, which therefore reduces the performance of the latter.
In order to be able to reduce the dimensions of this system and to be able to increase the surface area and therefore the efficacy of the flat antenna, the invention proposes a connector/switch unit for alternately connecting an earth circuit respectively to an earth plane or to the external casing of a plug, and a radio frequency circuit respectively to an antenna circuit or to the core of said plug, this earth plane and antenna circuit being carried by one and the same insulating support plane comprising a hole for allowing said plug to pass, principally characterized in that the earth circuit is connected to said earth plane by a first spring connector distinct from the switching means of the unit, in that the support plane comprises a hollow cylindrical protrusion comprising an internal cavity opening out in said hole, in that this hole comprises an oval hollow periphery adapted to the conical shape of said plug, in that the antenna circuit and the earth plane are extended towards the inside of the hole whilst matching said oval hollow periphery, and in that the unit also comprises a second spring connector placed in the said internal cavity and comprising a central rod provided with a collar and pushed in one direction by a spring in order to establish contact with the antenna circuit when said plug is removed, and to establish contact with said core by cutting off contact with the antenna circuit when said plug is pressed into the hole, pushing said rod in the other direction.
According to another characteristic, the unit comprises a printed circuit board coplanar with said flat support supporting said earth circuit and said radio frequency circuit; said cylindrical protrusion bearing on the printed circuit board and the second spring connector also bearing on the printed circuit plate at the radio frequency circuit through its end opposite to the one establishing contact with the plug.
According to another characteristic, the extension of the antenna circuit inside the hole is sufficiently long to serve as a stop for the said central rod by means of the collar carried by this central rod.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6224407 (2001-05-01), Duquerroy et al.
patent: 6473045 (2002-10-01), Duquerroy et al.
patent: 6520785 (2003-02-01), Hida
patent: 1 041 680 (2000-10-01), None
patent: 1 187 267 (2002-03-01), None
patent: 2 307 113 (1997-05-01), None
Cupif Bertrand
Villain Jean-Christophe
Vogel Frédéric
Alcatel
Ta Tho D.
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