Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – For receiving coaxial connector
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-16
2003-02-11
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
For receiving coaxial connector
C439S581000, C439S246000, C439S289000, C439S314000, C439S722000, C439S736000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06517359
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to electrical connections and, in particular, to a system and method for establishing and maintaining a removable connection between an electrical conductor of a first connector assembly and a contact pin of a second connector assembly.
2. Related Art
Various kinds of electrical connectors exist and have been used for decades to provide a removable electrical connection between various types of electrical components and devices. One such kind of removable electrical connector is known as a BNC or Bayonet Niel-Concelman connector. BNC connectors were developed many years ago and are typically used to connect coaxial (i.e., two conductor) cables, frequently in low-power, radio-frequency, and test applications, although they may be used in other applications as well.
FIG. 1
shows a typical female connector
11
and a typical male BNC connector
13
that are designed to engage and disengage with one another. The connectors
11
and
13
are two-conductor connectors, with one of the conductors being a center conductor
23
(which mates with a female receptacle
21
), and the other conductor being a center terminal
33
(which mates with a sleeve
15
). In many applications, the second conductor, i.e., the center terminal
33
and the sleeve
15
, are grounded, although that is not necessary. The sleeve
15
of the female connector
11
surrounds the female receptacle
21
and includes a pair of diametrically opposed engagement pins
17
and
19
that extend radially outward from the sleeve
15
. The male connector
13
includes a male BNC center terminal
33
having a center conductor
23
. The male connector
13
also includes a locking collar
29
having a pair of slots
25
and
27
that are adapted to engage the engagement pins
17
and
19
on the sleeve
15
of the female connector
11
to lock the connectors
11
and
13
together.
The female and male connectors
11
and
13
can be connected and locked together by first engaging the male BNC center terminal
33
with the sleeve
15
and then rotating the locking collar
29
to the locked position. This twist-lock coupling action is a central feature of the BNC connectors
11
and
13
and allows a reliable electrical connection to be made without the danger of the female and male connectors
11
and
13
gradually working loose or becoming accidentally unplugged.
Some male BNC connectors
13
are associated with additional contact pins (not shown by
FIG. 1
) that transmit signals in addition to the signals transmitted by center conductor
23
and center terminal
33
. These additional contact pins connect to conductive pads (not shown in
FIG. 1
) associated with the female connector assembly
11
. The conductive pads are usually formed on a flexible circuit (not shown) which transmits the signals received from the additional contact pins to other electrical devices.
However, the engagement pins
17
and
19
do not always keep the additional contact pins (not shown in
FIG. 1
) of the male BNC connector
13
precisely aligned with the conductive pads (not shown in
FIG. 1
) of the female BNC connector
11
. Furthermore, the additional male contact pins of the male BNC connector
13
and the conductive pads of the female BNC connector
11
are not typically aligned when BNC connectors
11
and
13
first engage (i.e., before the engagement pins lock the BNC connectors
11
and
13
together). Therefore, it can be difficult to establish an electrical connection between the additional contact pins and the conductive pads.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry for providing a system and method of establishing and maintaining an electrical connection between a female connector assembly and the contact pins of a male connector assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the inadequacies and deficiencies of the prior art as discussed hereinbefore. Generally, the present invention relates to a system and method for establishing and maintaining electrical connections between connector assemblies.
The present invention utilizes a mechanical support, a conductive connection, and an electrical connector. The mechanical support has a tapered recess and a wall defining the tapered recess. The conductive connection is electrically coupled to the wall, and the electrical connector is coupled to the mechanical support. Because the recess is tapered, a contact pin from a connector assembly is automatically guided toward a center of the recess when the contact pin is received by the recess. Accordingly, an electrical connection between the conductive connection and the contact pin is easily established and maintained.
The present invention can also be viewed as providing a method for establishing and maintaining electrical connections between connector assemblies. Briefly described, the method can be broadly conceptualized by the following steps: providing a first connector assembly having a first electrical connector and a conductive pin; providing a second connector assembly having a second electrical connector coupled to a mechanical support, the mechanical support having a tapered recess, the recess defined by a wall of the mechanical support; interlocking the first electrical connector with the second electrical connector; passing the contact pin into the recess; engaging the mechanical support with the contact pin; and sliding the contact pin along a surface of the wall.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon examination of the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such features and advantages be included herein within the scope of the present invention and protected by the claims.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 3810258 (1974-05-01), Mathauser
patent: 3994552 (1976-11-01), Selvin
patent: 4083619 (1978-04-01), McCormick et al.
patent: 4423373 (1983-12-01), LeCroy, Jr.
patent: 4672306 (1987-06-01), Thong
patent: 4708661 (1987-11-01), Morland et al.
patent: 4734050 (1988-03-01), Negre et al.
patent: 5015947 (1991-05-01), Chism
patent: 5214308 (1993-05-01), Nishiguchi et al.
patent: 5293122 (1994-03-01), Cake et al.
patent: 5431580 (1995-07-01), Tabata
patent: 5460536 (1995-10-01), Cullen
patent: 5857866 (1999-01-01), Felps
patent: 5961349 (1999-10-01), Paagman
Philips Semiconductors “12C Bus specification” RF Communications Products, Dec. 1988, pp. 895, 897-921.
Tajimi, BNCS series, “One Touch Push/Pull Locking BNC Coaxial RF Connector (50 /75 )/BNCS Series” (undatad).
Tajimi electronic Co., Ltd., Data Sheet for BNCS502-P().
Stonewalls Corporation, Data Sheet for BNCS502-P () (undated).
Bamesberger Brett B.
Felps Jimmie D.
Kimbley David Nelson
Agilent Technologie,s Inc.
Ta Tho D.
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