The present disclosure generally relates in general to electrical connectors or adapters for coaxial cables, and more particularly, to an angled connector or adapter for receiving at least one coaxial cable.
In transmitting a signal through a central conductor of a coaxial cable, it is generally preferred to have noise-free transmission. More specifically, it is desired to minimize radio frequency (RF) interference and noise levels. However, routing of coaxial cables often requires the cables to be arranged perpendicularly or at other angles to the connection ports or printed circuit boards they serve. In general, the cables lack the flexibility needed to make sharp bends at the locations of these ports and boards. Therefore, rather than bending the cables, terminals for connecting the cables to the connection ports and printed circuit boards are typically bent to provide the needed turn.
It is common practice to utilize a soldered joint for terminating cable center conductors to the bent terminal, or to provide a right angle connection. Soldered joints are typically more expensive and time consuming than the simpler crimp connections, and usually must be done after the wire end and terminal are placed in the connector. However, both soldered and crimped joints reduce the RF performance of the connection. Significant geometry variations in the signal path caused by the bend area of the terminal instigate further interference and noise.
In standard coaxial cable connectors/adapters, internal cavities or chambers are formed around the angled joint and around the bend in the conductive element (pin or insert). These chambers of different directions often provide sharp corners or bends that create interference in the signal passing through the connector/adapter and considerably reduce the RF performance of the connection. Accordingly, there is a need for an angled coupling element such as an adapter or connector that improves RF performance by minimizing potential interference in the signal as the signal changes direction in the angled coupling element.
For example, it may be desirable to provide an angled coaxial adapter that is structurally configured to prevent interference between a first signal wave and a second signal wave so as to reduce potential noise and potential interference between the first signal wave and the second signal wave when a signal changes direction at a bend of the angled coaxial coupler enhance signal quality of the adapter so as to provide an enhanced RF signal, including at frequencies of 1.3 GHz and greater.
According to various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, an angled coaxial cable adapter may include a housing portion structurally configured to include a first RF signal wave receiving portion, a second RF signal wave receiving portion, and a third RF signal wave receiving portion disposed between the first RF signal wave receiving portion and the second RF signal wave receiving portion. A conductive portion may be structurally configured to pass an RF signal through the first RF signal wave receiving portion, the second RF signal wave receiving portion, and the third RF signal wave receiving portion of the housing. A first insulating portion may be structurally configured to hold a first portion of the conductive element in the first RF signal wave receiving portion of the housing, and a second insulating portion may be structurally configured to hold a second portion of the conductive element in the second RF signal wave receiving portion of the housing. An RF signal wave blocking portion may be structurally configured to block an RF signal wave in the first RF signal wave receiving portion of the housing or an RF signal wave in the second RF signal wave receiving portion of the housing from entering the third RF signal wave receiving portion of the housing. The first RF signal wave receiving portion may be structurally configured to be disposed at an angle relative to the second RF signal wave receiving portion, the conductive portion may be structurally configured to include a bend at the third RF signal wave receiving portion of the housing, and the conductive portion may include a first conductive portion at least partially disposed in the first RF signal wave receiving portion of the housing and a second conductive portion at least partially disposed in the second RF signal wave receiving portion of the housing. The RF signal wave blocking portion may include a first RF signal wave blocking portion between the first RF signal wave receiving portion and the third RF receiving portion that is structurally configured to block a first RF signal wave in the first RF signal wave receiving portion from entering the third RF signal wave receiving portion and a second RF signal wave blocking portion between the second RF signal wave receiving portion and the third RF receiving portion that is structurally configured to block a second RF signal wave in the second RF signal wave receiving portion from entering the third RF signal wave receiving portion. The first RF signal wave blocking portion and the second RF signal wave blocking portion may be structurally configured to block the first RF signal wave and the second RF signal wave from interfering with one another so as to reduce potential noise when a signal changes direction at the bend of the conductive element such that the adapter can provide an enhanced RF signal at frequencies of 1.3 GHz and greater.
In accordance with various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, an angled coaxial cable adapter may include a housing portion structurally configured to include a first RF signal wave receiving portion and a second RF signal wave receiving portion, a conductive portion structurally configured to pass an RF signal through the first RF signal wave receiving portion, the second RF signal wave receiving portion, and the third RF signal wave receiving portion of the housing, and an RF signal wave blocking portion structurally configured to block an RF signal wave in the first RF signal wave receiving portion of the housing or an RF signal wave in the second RF signal wave receiving portion of the housing from entering the third RF signal wave receiving portion of the housing. The first RF signal wave receiving portion may be structurally configured to be disposed at an angle relative to the second RF signal wave receiving portion, and the conductive portion may be structurally configured to include a bend at the third RF signal wave receiving portion of the housing. The RF signal wave blocking portion may be structurally configured to block the first RF signal wave and the second RF signal wave from interfering with one another so as to reduce potential noise when a signal changes direction at the bend of the conductive element such that the adapter can provide an enhanced RF signal at frequencies of 1.3 GHz and greater.
According to various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, an angled coaxial cable adapter may include a housing portion structurally configured to include a first RF signal wave receiving portion and a second RF signal wave receiving portion and a conductive portion structurally configured to pass an RF signal through the first RF signal wave receiving portion and the second RF signal wave receiving portion. The first RF signal wave receiving portion may be configured to be disposed at an angle relative to the second RF signal wave receiving portion, and the conductive portion may be structurally configured to include a bend. The RF signal wave blocking portion may be structurally configured to block the first RF signal wave and the second RF signal wave from interfering with one another so as to reduce potential noise when a signal changes direction at the bend of the conductive element such that the adapter can provide an enhanced RF signal.
In some aspects of the foregoing embodiments, the angled coaxial cable adapter may further include a first insulating portion structurally configured to hold a first portion of the conductive element in the first RF signal wave receiving portion of the housing and a second insulating portion structurally configured to hold a second portion of the conductive element in the second RF signal wave receiving portion of the housing.
In some aspects of one or more of the foregoing embodiments, the conductive portion may include a first conductive portion at least partially disposed in the first RF signal wave receiving portion of the housing and a second conductive portion at least partially disposed in the second RF signal wave receiving portion of the housing.
In some aspects of one or more of the foregoing embodiments, the angled coaxial cable adapter may further comprise a third RF signal wave receiving portion disposed between the first RF signal wave receiving portion and the second RF signal wave receiving portion.
In some aspects of one or more of the foregoing embodiments, the RF signal wave blocking portion may include a first RF signal wave blocking portion between the first RF signal wave receiving portion and the third RF receiving portion that is structurally configured to block a first RF signal wave in the first RF signal wave receiving portion from entering the third RF signal wave receiving portion and a second RF signal wave blocking portion between the second RF signal wave receiving portion and the third RF receiving portion that is structurally configured to block a second RF signal wave in the second RF signal wave receiving portion from entering the third RF signal wave receiving portion.
In some aspects of one or more of the foregoing embodiments, the first RF signal wave blocking portion and the second RF signal wave blocking portion each may include a conductive material.
In some aspects of one or more of the foregoing embodiments, the first RF signal wave receiving portion may be structurally configured to be disposed at a ninety degree angle relative to the second RF signal wave receiving portion.
In some aspects of one or more of the foregoing embodiments, the housing portion may include a first portion that is structurally configured to define the first RF signal wave receiving portion and a second portion that is structurally configured to define the second RF signal wave receiving portion.
In some aspects of one or more of the foregoing embodiments, a first portion of the housing portion may be structurally configured to be electrically coupled with an interface port and a second portion of the housing portion is structurally configured to be electrically coupled with a coaxial cable connector.
In some aspects of one or more of the foregoing embodiments, the RF signal wave blocking portion may comprise a conductive material.
In some aspects of one or more of the foregoing embodiments, wherein the RF signal wave blocking portion may be structurally configured to block the first RF signal wave and the second RF signal wave from interfering with one another so as to reduce potential noise when a signal changes direction at the bend of the conductive element such that the adapter can provide an enhanced RF signal at frequencies of 3 GHz and greater.
In some aspects of one or more of the foregoing embodiments, the RF signal wave blocking portion may be structurally configured to block the first RF signal wave and the second RF signal wave from interfering with one another so as to reduce potential noise when a signal changes direction at the bend of the conductive element such that the adapter can provide an enhanced RF signal at frequencies of 1.3 GHz and greater.
Further advantages and features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made. In which are shown:
Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodiments and methods of the present disclosure, which constitute the best modes of practicing the present disclosure presently known to the inventors. The figures are not necessarily to scale. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the present disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for any aspect of the present disclosure and/or as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.
It is also to be understood that this present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments and methods described below, as specific components and/or conditions may, of course, vary. Furthermore, the terminology used herein is used only for the purpose of describing particular embodiments of the present disclosure and is not intended to be limiting in any way.
It must also be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular form “a,” “an,” and “the” comprise plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. For example, reference to a component in the singular is intended to comprise a plurality of components.
As indicated in the prior art, it is generally preferred to minimize radio frequency (RF) interference and noise levels. However, routing of coaxial cables often requires the cables to be arranged perpendicularly or at other angles to the connection ports or printed circuit boards they serve. Noting that coaxial cables lack the flexibility needed to make sharp bends at the locations of these ports and boards, coaxial adapters (
As shown in
Similarly, as shown in
Therefore, the present disclosure provides a coupler 10 in the form of an adapter 12, wherein the coupler provides improved performance at higher signal frequencies by preventing or reducing interference between the first signal waves and the second signal waves. In some aspects, the coupler 10 may be in the form of a connector 112.
The present disclosure provides a coupler in the form of an adapter or a connector, wherein the coupler provides improved performance, for example, at higher signal frequencies, by preventing or reducing interference between the first signal waves 80 and the second signal waves 82.
Referring to
The angled coaxial cable adapters 12 of
The terminal pin 16 may include a conductor receiving portion 27 at a first end of the terminal pin 16, which may be disposed at the rearward end 26 of the housing 14 and may be configured to receive a center conductor or terminal pin, for example, of a coaxial cable connector. The conductor receiving portion 27 may include a plurality of axial slots 30 extending from the first end of the terminal pin in a forward direction 32, as shown in
As discussed above, the first insulator 15 comprises a nonconductive material and is structurally configured to support the conductor receiving portion 27 of the terminal pin 16 in the second portion 26. The first insulator 15 is also configured to be received in a first conductive portion receiving portion 54, for example, a first bore 54, in the housing 14. Accordingly, the first insulator 15 may be disposed in the first bore 54 of the housing 14.
The adapter may include a second insulating portion 15′ disposed proximate to the forward end 24. The second insulator 15′ comprises a nonconductive material and is configured to receive and support a conductive portion 42 at a second end of the terminal pin 16, which may be disposed at the forward end 24 of the housing 14. Accordingly, the second insulator 15′ may be disposed in the second conductive portion receiving portion 56 for example, a bore of the housing 14.
Referring back to the conductor receiving portion 27 of
However, with respect to the angled coaxial cable adapter 12 of
The exemplary adapter of
In operation, the first portion 26 of the adapter 12 may be coupled with a coaxial cable, for example, a hardline coaxial cable, and the second portion 24 of the adapter 12 may be coupled with an interface port. The conductor receiving portion 27 of the terminal pin 16 is structurally configured to receive a terminal pin or center conductor of the coaxial cable, and the conductive portion 42 of the terminal pin 16 is structurally configured to be inserted into and received by the interface portion. For example, the first portion 26 of the adapter 12 may include an internally threaded portion that is structurally configured to be threadedly coupled with an externally threaded coupler of a hardline coaxial cable, and the second portion 24 of the adapter 12 may include an externally threaded portion that is structurally configured to be threadedly coupled with an internally threaded interface of the interface port.
As a radio frequency (RF) signal passes through the adapter bidirectionally, first RF signal waves 80 travel through the first signal wave receiving portion 60 in the first direction, and second RF signal waves travel through the second signal wave receiving portion 62 in the second direction. The second signal wave blocking portion 66 is structurally configured to prevent, block, or limit the first RF signal waves 80 in the first signal receiving portion 60 from entering the third signal wave receiving portion 64. Similarly, the first signal wave blocking portion 66 is structurally configured to prevent, block, or limit the second RF signal waves 82 in the second signal receiving portion 62 from entering the third signal wave receiving portion 64.
In some aspects, the adapter 12 may include the first signal blocking portion 72 but not the second signal blocking portion 66. In other aspects, the adapter 12 may include the second signal blocking portion 66 but not the first signal blocking portion 72 In such aspects, the presence of either the first signal blocking portion 72 or the second signal blocking portion 66 may prevent, block, or limit the first RF signal waves 80 or the second RF signal waves 82 from entering the third signal wave receiving portion 64 and interfering with one another.
As a result, the adapter 12 can not only operate effectively at frequencies from 0-1.2 GHz, but the adapter 12 can operate effectively at higher frequencies, such as 1.3-3.0 GHz, or even higher frequencies, such as 3.0 GHz and greater, as compared to existing adapters that operate at frequencies from 0-1.2 GHz. This is an emerging requirement for current and future RF connectors. If cross-sections are taken perpendicular to the line of signal travel path, the cross-sections remain considerably similar around the ninety-degree bend through the cavity. The electrical signal can traverse that distance with minimum radio frequency interference. Accordingly, the first signal blocking portion 72 and the second signal blocking portion 66 minimize radio frequency interference caused by the change in direction of a signal through the conductive portion 16.
With respect to the angled coaxial cable adapter 12 of
As shown in
With respect to the angled coaxial adapters 12 shown in
The exemplary adapters of
As illustrated, in some embodiments, the signal wave blocking portion 84 may not extend completely around the conductive members. In view of the wavelengths of the higher frequency RF signal waves, a signal wave blocking portion 84 that extends only part of the way, for example, about half way, around the conductive members may be effective to prevent, block, or limit the first and second RF signal waves 80, 82 from entering the third signal wave receiving portion 64.
As a result, the adapter 12 can operate at higher frequencies, such as 1.3-3.0 GHz, or even higher frequencies, as compared to existing adapters that operate at frequencies from 0-1.2 GHz. This is an emerging requirement for current and future RF connectors. If cross-sections are taken perpendicular to the line of signal travel path, the cross-sections remain considerably similar around the ninety-degree bend through the cavity. The electrical signal can traverse that distance with minimum radio frequency interference. Accordingly, the first signal blocking portion 72 and the second signal blocking portion 66 minimize radio frequency interference caused by the change in direction of a signal through the conductive portion 16.
While multiple exemplary, non-limiting embodiments have been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the disclosure in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims and the legal equivalents thereof.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/423,044 filed Nov. 6, 2022, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63423044 | Nov 2022 | US |