High frequency, blind mate, coaxial interconnect

Details High frequency, blind mate, coaxial interconnect High frequency, blind mate, coaxial interconnect

2002-08-22

2004-12-07

Nguyen, Truc T. T. (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

Including or for use with coaxial cable

C439S638000, C439S851000, C439S654000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06827608

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to electrical connectors for coupling together coaxial transmission media, such as coaxial cables, modules, ports, combinations thereof, and the like. The invention is well suited for application to connectors for connecting coaxial transmission media operating or operable in the microwave frequency range and similar frequency regimes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Coaxial transmission media for conveying information at microwave frequencies are often particularly characterized by their relatively small size which is not only a consequence of the operation frequency range, but is also particularly attributable to the applications and environments of the systems in which they are employed. Such systems, for example, may be found in sophisticated aircraft in which the size and weight of microwave electronics systems often must be small and light as possible, yet durable and reliable.
An example of a known coaxial transmission medium assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,403 to Gilbert Engineering Company, Inc. (hereinafter “the '403 patent”). One of the figures of the '403 patent is reproduced as
FIG. 10
of the accompanying drawings. As shown in
FIG. 10
, a female center conductor
35
electrically couples juxtaposed
26
and
27
to one another. The female center connector
35
comprises a center conductor
20
that is electrically coupled to the first
26
at points
36
and
37
. The central conductor
20
is electrically coupled to the second
27
at points
38
and
39
. The female center connector
35
further comprises outer beams
40
and
41
which mechanically engage terminal housings of the first
26
and the second
27
, respectively. A retaining ring
44
electrically couples the outer beams
40
and
41
to one another. The retaining ring
44
may be integrally formed with the outer beams
40
and
41
.
A problem that has been found to be associated with junctions affected by such a connector system is the mechanical stress that may be encountered in the outer beams
40
and
41
. It has been found that axial misalignment, as shown in
FIG. 10
, may occur between the female center connector
35
and the first and second male
26
and
27
. Axial misalignment between the males
26
and
27
and the female connector
35
may impart mechanical stress to the interface between, on the one hand, the retaining ring
44
, and on the other hand, the first and second outer beams
40
and
41
. The mechanical stress may cause beams
40
and
41
to break at the interface, thereby jeopardizing the mechanical and electrical connection between the males
26
and
27
and the female connector
35
.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a coaxial transmission medium connector that securely and reliably maintains the desired connection.
Another object of aspects of this invention is to provide such a coaxial transmission medium connector and a coaxial transmission medium assembly in which the effects of mechanical stress at the connection point can be accommodated without unduly affecting the performance of the connection.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the foregoing objects and in accordance with the purposes of the invention as embodied and broadly described in this document, a coaxial transmission medium connector is provided for connecting to a coaxial transmission medium to form a coaxial conduction path. The coaxial transmission medium has an inner conductor and an outer conductor. It comprises an outer conductor portion for electrically coupling to the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission medium. The outer conductor portion comprises a base portion, a plurality of cantilevered beams, and a plurality of slots extending substantially circumferentially about a substantially non-conductive cavity and substantially about a longitudinal axis extending through the cavity. The cavity may comprise air, a dielectric, and the like. Each of the cantilevered beams is coupled to the base portion at a transition portion and terminates at a distal end. Each of the cantilevered beams has a respective tapering profile with respect to the longitudinal axis that tapers in a direction away from the base portion. A center conductor portion is disposed within the cavity for electrically coupling to the inner conductor of the coaxial transmission medium.
In a preferred embodiment, each of the cantilevered beams comprises a respective radial inner surface and a respective radial outer surface and the respective radial inner surface of each of the cantilevered beams is obliquely angled relative to the longitudinal axis when the cantilevered beams are in an unbiased state. In another preferred embodiment, the respective radial outer surface of each of the cantilevered beams is obliquely angled relative to the longitudinal axis when the cantilevered beams are in an unbiased state. It is also preferred that each of the cantilevered beams flares radially outward when the cantilevered beams are in an unbiased state. Each of the cantilevered beams also may flare radially inward when the cantilevered beams are in an unbiased state.
In the preferred embodiment, each of the cantilevered beams comprises a respective external detent at the distal end of the respective cantilevered beam.
It is preferred that there are at least six of the slots, and more preferably that there are six slots.
Each of the cantilevered beams preferably is coupled to the base portion at the transition portion and the transition portion comprises a non-orthogonal profile. The base portion preferably comprises an external surface, each of the cantilevered beams comprises an external surface, and the transition portion is positioned is positioned at the external surfaces of the base portion and each of the cantilevered beams. The non-orthogonal profile preferably comprises a curved profile, e.g., a radial profile. Such profiles may be useful in distributing stress in the outer conductor portion when the cantilevered beams are flexed radially inward. The tapering profile preferably is continuous and constant. It is preferred that the tapering profile spans at least 80 percent of the length of the cantilevered beams.
Each of the distal ends preferably is disposed substantially at an outer conductor portion reference plane, and the center conductor portion comprises an end disposed substantially at a center conductor portion reference plane that is non-coplanar with the outer conductor portion reference plane. The center conductor portion reference plane preferably is longitudinally spaced from the outer conductor portion reference plane.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a coaxial transmission medium connector is provided for connecting first and second coaxial transmission media to form a coaxial conduction path. Each of the first and second coaxial transmission media have inner and outer conductors. The coaxial transmission medium connector comprises an outer conductor portion for electrically coupling the outer conductors of the first and second coaxial transmission media. The outer conductor portion comprises a base portion, a plurality of first cantilevered beams and a plurality of first slots extending substantially circumferentially about a substantially non-conductive first cavity and substantially about a longitudinal axis extending through the cavity. Each of the first cantilevered beams terminates at a first distal end. The outer cantilever portion also comprises a plurality of second cantilevered beams and a plurality of second slots extending substantially circumferentially about a sub

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