Electrical connectors – Having circuit interrupting provision effected by mating or...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-07
2001-04-10
Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Having circuit interrupting provision effected by mating or...
C439S944000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213801
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particularly to electrical coupling and switching devices for use in high frequency transmission rate applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electrical connectors and switching devices have been used for many years in various industries, such as the broadcast industry. The devices are used in electrical equipment systems to provide a transfer of electrical signal to different components of the particular system. The devices typically employ a mechanical-type action, such as a biasing action, in order to connect or disconnect various components of the system.
For example, a common type of connector and switching device or jack employs spring arms that are normally biased to provide electrical communication between two equipment plugs, such as standard BNC plugs, that are engaged in the device, typically on the same end of the device. The spring arms are individually moveable away from the normally biased position such that the equipment plugs can be terminated separately. In particular, a patch plug is often provided for urging a respective spring arm away from the normally biased position such that the patch plug is in electrical communication with one of the equipment plugs, while the remaining equipment plug is terminated through a resistor via the remaining spring arm.
Typically, these conventional jacks perform satisfactorily for standard television signals or for serial digital signals having a maximum bandwidth of about 750 megahertz. More specifically, the signal loss and discontinuity associated with these conventional jacks are not deleterious for most applications because most applications in the broadcast field for which they were designed do not require a high level of performance. However, with the advent of high definition television and other formats where the operating bandwidth is now beyond 2.4 gigahertz, conventional jacks do not provide effective signal carrying capacity as required for these applications. In particular, conventional jacks have excessive return losses at these high bandwidths. Thus, there is a need for an electrical switching jack that provides low discontinuity while minimizing return loss at bandwidths of about 1.5 GHz and higher. The jack, however, must be durable and capable of withstanding the repetitious cycling of the equipment and patch plugs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other needs are provided by the present invention, which, in one embodiment, comprises an electrical coupling and switching device having a low-discontinuity, impedance-controlled electrical flowpath between two equipment plugs along a flexible microstrip. Advantageously, the flexible microstrip can be moved by insertion of a patch plug into the device in order to break the connection between the equipment plugs and establish electrical communication between the patch plug and the corresponding equipment plug.
In particular, the electrical coupling and switching device or jack in one embodiment comprises a housing defining first and second equipment ports, wherein each port includes a conductor pin. The conductor pins are adapted for connecting to the center conductor of a equipment plug, such as a coaxial or BNC plug, which is inserted into the respective equipment port. The housing further defines first and second patch ports for receiving first and second patch plugs, such as video-style plugs.
The jack also includes first and second insulative actuators positioned within the housing. Each actuator includes a conducting member that is positioned to be engaged by a patch plug when the patch plug is inserted into the respective patch port. The conducting member is also positioned such that as the patch plug is fully inserted into the respective patch port, the conducting member contacts the conductor pin of the respective equipment port so as to establish electrical communication or connection between the patch plug and the equipment port.
Advantageously, the flexible microstrip has first and second portions that, in a normal mode, are biased into contact with the conductor pins of the first and second equipment ports, respectively. In this regard, a connection is made between the first and second equipment ports when no patch plugs are inserted into the patch ports. More specifically, an impedance-controlled electrical flowpath is established along the flexible microstrip between the first and second equipment plugs in the normal mode, i.e., when no patch plugs are inserted into the patch ports.
When a patch plug, such as a video plug, is inserted into one of the patch ports, the patch plug engages the respective insulative actuator. As the patch plug engages the patch port, the actuator is urged toward the respective equipment port. This action causes the actuator to engage and urge the respective portion of the flexible microstrip away from and out of contact with the conductor pin on the respective equipment port, thus creating a patched circuit between the patch plug and the respective equipment port and an unpatched circuit to the remaining equipment port. Preferably, the actuator includes a ramped or angled surface for gradually engaging the respective portion of the flexible microstrip.
In one embodiment, the jack of the present invention also includes a resistive termination device, such as a resistor, that is positioned inside the housing so as to be contacted by the flexible microstrip when one of the insulative actuators urges the respective portion of the microstrip out of contact with the conductor pin of the respective equipment port. As the flexible microstrip contacts the termination device, the remaining unpatched equipment port is thereby terminated. In addition, the termination device preferably has the same impedance as the unpatched circuit, thereby substantially eliminating return loss. In order to facilitate contact between the termination device and the flexible microstrip, a conductive tab portion is attached to the flexible microstrip at each of its respective ends.
Thus, the jack of the present invention overcomes the problems mentioned above. In particular, the coaxial-to-flexible microstrip transition provides a more constant impedance in the normal mode than conventional jacks which employ spring arms to carry the signal between the equipment ports. In addition, the jack provides a low discontinuity flowpath between the equipment ports in the normal mode, which results in better signal integrity, particularly at bandwidths of 1.5 GHz and greater.
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Bateman Steve
Kennedy Jim
Tayloe David C.
Alston & Bird LLP
Bradley Paula
Kings Electronics Co., Inc.
McCamey Ann
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