Electrical connectors – Including or for use with coaxial cable – Having means for interconnecting outer conductors of three...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-03
2001-07-10
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Including or for use with coaxial cable
Having means for interconnecting outer conductors of three...
C439S580000, C439S607560
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257927
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a multi-coaxial connector for electrically connecting a plurality of coaxial cables to a connecting object such as a printed circuit board, and, in particular, to such a multi-coaxial connector which is fixed on and connected to the connecting object and which is removably coupled with a mating connector fixedly connected to a plurality of coaxial cables.
A coaxial cable is known in the prior art and is advantageously used for transmitting a high frequency signal. The coaxial cable comprises an inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor through an insulator layer, and an outer jacket on the outer conductor. The inner conductor is used for transmitting electrical signal and the outer conductor serves for electromagnetically shielding the inner conductor. Thus, the use of the coaxial cable can avoid electromagnetic interference such as invading noise into the inner conductor from the outside and undesired radiation from the inner conductor due to the high-frequency signal flowing therethrough.
A coaxial connector is also known in the prior art for electrically connecting a coaxial cable with another coaxial cable. The coaxial connector comprises a plug unit and a receptacle unit which mutually mate. Each of the plug unit and the receptacle unit includes an inner contact element and an outer contact element connected to the inner conductor and the outer conductor, respectively, of the corresponding one of the both coaxial cables.
In order to connecting a plurality of coaxial cables with a connecting object such as a printed circuit board, a multi-coaxial connector is known in the prior art. The conventional connector includes a plurality of inner and outer contact pairs. Each of the inner and outer contact pairs comprises an inner contact element and an outer contact element surrounding, and insulated from, the inner contact element. Each of the inner and outer contact elements has a terminal portion which is fixed and connected, or soldered to a corresponding conductor, for example, a pad on the printed circuit board. A mating connector to be coupled with this multi-coaxial connector also includes a plurality of inner and outer contact pairs which are fixedly and electrically connected with inner and outer conductor pairs of the plurality of coaxial cables, respectively.
The conventional connector is mounted on the printed circuit board and the mating connector is connected and fixed to the plurality of coaxial cables. Then, the mating connector is coupled to the conventional connector, so that the plurality of coaxial cables are electrically connected to the printed circuit board.
As example of such conventional multi-coaxial connector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. Re. 36,065.
However, the conventional connector is composed of many parts, and requires a complicate manufacturing process, owing to the structure and the number of the parts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention therefore provides the multi-coaxial connector which consists of less parts and can be readily manufactured, in comparison with the conventional connector.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a multi-coaxial connector comprises a metallic block, a plurality of contact elements, and a plurality of insulator sleeves.
The metallic block has a front end surface and a rear end surface, and is formed with a plurality of first through-holes extending in parallel with each other between the front end and the rear end of the metallic block. Such metallic block may be a die-cast metallic block.
The contact elements are disposed in the first through-holes, respectively. Each of the contact elements comprises a support portion having opposite front and rear ends, a contact portion extending from the front end of the support portion, and a terminal portion extending from the rear end of the support portion.
Each of the insulator sleeves is fitted on the support portion of each of the contact elements, while being fitted in each of the first through-holes. And thereby, the contact elements are stationarily supported in the first through-holes, respectively, in a state that the contact elements are electrically insulated from the metallic block. Thus, the contact elements and the metallic block function as coaxial inner conductors and a coaxial common outer conductor, respectively.
With this structure, the number of parts comprising the multi-coaxial connector decreases, because the metallic block is common to all of the contact elements and functions as a coaxial common outer conductor. Beside that, such connector is manufactured, by fitting the insulator sleeve on the support portion of each contact element and then inserting the contact element together with each sleeve into each first through hole of the metallic block. That is, manufacturing process becomes easy, according to one aspect of the present invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 36065 (1999-01-01), Andrews et al.
patent: 5108300 (1992-04-01), Weber
patent: 5842872 (1998-12-01), Hosler et al.
patent: 6071127 (2000-06-01), Acke et al.
European Search Report (The Hague) completed Feb. 22, 2000 for Application No. EP 99 12 1862 and the following patents: (1) EP 0 862 243 A(Siemens AG); (2) WO 97 02629 A (Whitaker Corp); (3) U.S. Patent 4,659,156 dated Apr. 21, 1987 (Johnescu et al); (4) EP 0 582 960 A (Siemens AG); and (5) EP 0 488 482 A (DuPont Nederland; DuPont US).
Sugii Yoshihiro
Suzuki Takao
Gilman Alexander
Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
Laff, Whitesel & Saret, Ltd.
Paumen Gary F.
Whitesel J. Warren
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