This patent application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-180742 filed on Aug. 3, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to coaxial connectors where coaxial plugs are connected and connector devices including the coaxial connectors. More specifically, the present invention relates to a coaxial connector mounted on a board and a connector device including the coaxial connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a coaxial connector configured to transfer a signal or electric power has been widely used for a computer or between boards. It is normal practice that the coaxial connector is mounted on the board. One kind of the coaxial connector is where a plug is connected in a direction perpendicular to a plane surface of the board. Another kind of the coaxial connector is where the plug is oriented in a direction substantially the same as the plane surface of the board and is connected in a right angle direction. Connecting the plug oriented in the direction substantially the same as the plane surface of the board in the right angle direction is called a right angle connection. The coaxial connector which can make the right angle connection has been useful for an actual design and has been developed.
An invention of a connector unit for a high frequency radio which realizes the right angle connection has been discussed in, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2004-304313. This connector unit includes a movable contact and a fixed contact. In a state where a signal contact of a plug is inserted, only the movable contact is connected with the plug and an external antenna is used. In a state where the signal contact of the plug is not inserted, the movable contact and the fixed contact are connected and an internal antenna is used.
However, in the connector unit described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2004-304313, a contact part is fixed by solder or the like. Hence, repairing or maintenance of the connector unit may be difficult. In addition, a ground contact does not sufficiently surround a signal contact. Therefore, characteristic impedance in the signal transmission may be high so that it may be difficult to achieve impedance matching. In addition, since there is no means by which a signal transmission path of the ground contact can be made sufficiently wide, it may be difficult to correspond to a high speed (high frequency) signal transmission.
Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide a novel and useful coaxial connector and connector device including the coaxial connector solving one or more of the problems discussed above.
More specifically, the embodiments of the present invention may provide a coaxial connector whereby removal from a board or impedance matching can be easily achieved and which can correspond to high speed transmission and a connector device including the coaxial connector.
Another aspect of the embodiments of the present invention may be to provide a coaxial connector where a plug having a coaxial structure is connected in a direction substantially parallel with a board, the board being where the coaxial connector is mounted, the coaxial connector including:
a signal contact having one end connected to a plug pin and another end bent or curved toward the board; and
a ground contact having a substantially cylindrical shaped main body part, the main body part surrounding a part of the signal contact, the ground contact being connected to a plug side ground member by a first connecting part formed at one end of the main body part, the ground contact being connected to the board by a second connecting part formed at another end of the main body part,
wherein the second connecting part includes
wherein the end part of the arm part comes in contact with the head end part of the center member by fixing a housing to the board so that a part of the arm part is pressed and makes contact with an electrode of the board due to an elastic force generated at the arm part.
Another aspect of the embodiments of the present invention may be to provide a connecting device, including the above-mentioned coaxial connector, and a plug having the plug side ground member connected to the ground contact due to an elastic restoring force.
According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a coaxial connector whereby removal from a board or impedance matching can be easily achieved and which can correspond to high speed transmission, and a connector device including the coaxial connector.
Additional objects and advantages of the embodiments are set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.
A description is given below, with reference to
First a connector device 1 of the embodiment of the present invention is discussed.
A pair of the coaxial connectors 10, as a set, is used and mounted on a board 100 (see
The coaxial connector 10 includes a housing 20 and plural contacts 30 provided at the housing 20.
The housing 20 is a molded product made of thermoplastic resin such as LCP (liquid crystal polymer). The housing 20 includes piercing holes 24 (see
Each of the contacts 30 corresponds to a coaxial plug 70 to be connected. The contact 30 includes a signal contact 40 (see
First, the plug 70 is discussed.
The coaxial cable has a structure where a copper core line which is a signal line situated in a center position, an insulator made of resin, a shield line made of a braided wire, and a protection film made of resin are stacked in this order. The copper core line of the coaxial cable is connected to the plug pin 71. The shield line is connected to the ground member 72.
As shown in
The ground contact 50 is made of a contact material such as phosphor bronze. The ground contact 50 includes the first connecting part 51 and a second connecting part 53 (see
The first connecting part 51 of the ground contact 50 is divided into four parts extending from, for example, the main part 52. The head end of the first contacting part 51 is bent outwardly so that a guide part 51A is formed. By the guide part 51A, the ground member 72 of the plug 70 can be easily inserted into the ground contact 50. In addition, the first connecting part 51 of the ground contact 50 is pressed from an inside of the first connecting part 51 by the ground member 72 of the plug 70 so as to be able to be elastically deformed outwardly.
With this structure, when the plug 70 is inserted into the coaxial connector 10, the ground member 72 of the plug 70 is elastically deformed inwardly and the first connecting part 51 of the ground contact 50 is elastically deformed outwardly. By restoring forces of the ground member 72 of the plug 70 and the first connecting part 51 of the ground contact 50, the plug 70 and the coaxial connector 10 are stably fixed to each other.
At this time, the first connecting part 51 of the ground contact 50 comes in contact with the ground member 72 of the plug 70 at two portions, namely a head end and a base side so as to be electrically connected to the ground member 72 of the plug 70. Because of this, it is possible to prevent a stub from being formed at a ground signal transmission path so that mixture of noise in a high frequency transmission can be prevented.
Next, a signal contact 40 is discussed.
The signal contact 40 includes a first connecting part 41 and a second connecting part 43. The first connecting part 41 is formed at one end of a main body part 42. The second connecting part 43 is formed at another end of the main body part 42.
The first connecting part 41 is configured to sandwich the plug pin 71 of the plug 70 (see
The first connecting part 41 of the signal contact 40 may not have a fork-shaped configuration as shown in
In addition, three sides, namely left and right sides and a bottom side (side where the substrate 100 is provided) of the second connecting part 43 of the signal contact 40 are surrounded by the second connecting part 53 of the ground contact 50 having the above-mentioned structure. The second connecting part 43 of the signal contact 40 projects, via a piercing part 53Aa formed in the second connecting part 53 of the ground contact 50, toward the board 100.
Here, a structure of the second connecting part 53 of the ground contact 50 surrounding the three sides of the second connecting part 43 of the signal contact 40 is discussed.
As shown in
In the center member 53A, a bottom plate part 53Ab, side wall parts 53Ac and 53Ad, and a head end connecting part 53Ag are formed in a body. The bottom plate part 53Ab extends from the main body part 52 of the ground contact 50 so as to face the second connecting part 53 of the ground contact 50. The side wall parts 53Ac and 53Ad extend and are bent from corresponding sides of the bottom plate part 53Ab. By the head end connecting part 53Ag, the side wall parts 53Ac and 53Ad are connected to each other in the vicinity of the head end of the center member 53A. A concave part 53Ab is formed in the head end connecting part 53Ag where the second connecting part 43 of the signal contact 40 passes.
The arm parts 53B and 53C extend and are bent from the side wall parts 53Ac and 53Ad of the center member 53A. The arm parts 53B and 53C are formed to extend along the center member 53A in a head end direction (which is a direction opposite to a direction indicated by an arrow in
The configuration of the second connecting part 53 of the ground contact 50 discussed above is made by stamping a plate member as a base member by pressing and then bending the plate member to form the designated configuration.
As shown in
The contacts 30 of the coaxial connector 10 having the above-discussed structure are connected to the board 100 as shown in
As shown in
By pushing the housing 20 toward the board 100, the second connecting part 43 of the signal contact 40 and the arm parts 53B and 53C of the ground contact 50 are pressed to the board 100. When the housing 20 is fixed to the board 100 by the bolts 22 or the like, by the elastic restoring force, the second connecting part 43 of the signal contact 40 and the arm parts 53B and 53C of the ground contact 50 are pressed to and make contact with the signal terminal 101 and the ground terminals 102A and 102B of the board 100. As a result of this, the second connecting part 43 of the signal contact 40 and the arm parts 53B and 53C of the ground contact 50 are stably connected to the signal terminal 101 and the ground terminals 102A and 102B of the board 100.
As a result of this, the signal line (core line) of the cable is electrically connected to the signal terminal 101 of the board 100 via the signal contact 40 so that the signal transmission is performed. In addition, the shield line of the cable is connected to the ground terminals 102A and 102B of the board 100 via the ground contact 50 so that ground connection is made. In the coaxial connector 10 of the embodiment of the present invention, since it is not necessary to perform soldering or the like to connect the coaxial connector 10 to the board 100, it is possible to easily remove the coaxial connector 10 from the board 100 so that repairing or maintenance can be easily performed.
Next, a structure of the second connecting part 53 of the ground contact 50 is further discussed. As shown in
In the coaxial connector 10 of the embodiment of the present invention, since the first connecting part 41 and the main body part 42 of the signal contact 40 are surrounded by the first connecting part 51 and the main part 52 of the ground contact 50, it is possible to prevent disturbance from entering the plug pin 71 and the signal contact 30.
The second connecting part 43 of the signal contact 40 is surrounded by two surfaces (three surfaces if the bottom plate part 53Ab is included), a first surface formed by the side wall part 53Ac of the ground contact 50 and a second surface formed by a side wall part 53Ad. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention compared to a case where a member of the signal contact projecting to the board side is not surrounded by the ground member, it is possible to more effectively prevent the entry of the disturbance into the plug pin 71 and the signal contact 30.
In addition, the ground contact 50 is close to the signal contact 40 along the entirety of the signal contact 40. Therefore, it is possible to easily achieve impedance matching of the signal contact 40. As a result of this, impedance matching of the coaxial connector 10 can be easily achieved.
Furthermore, as shown in
In the coaxial connector 10 of the embodiment of the present invention discussed above, since the contact member is stably connected to the board without soldering, it is possible to easily perform repairing and maintenance.
Even if the mounting error is generated when the signal contact 40 and the ground contact 50 are provided at the housing 20 or even if a manufacturing error is generated in the housing 20, the signal contact 40, the ground contact 50, and other parts, such error is cancelled by elastic deformation of the second connecting part 43 of the signal contact or the arm parts 53B and 53C of the ground contact 50.
Furthermore, since the contact points are in pressing contact, it is possible to precisely achieve electric connection. Because of this, it is possible to improve the connection reliability between the coaxial connector 10 and the board 100.
In addition, the second connecting part 43 of the signal contact 40 is surrounded by two or more surfaces, so that it is possible to effectively prevent disturbance from entering into the plug pin 71 and the signal contact 30. Hence, it is possible to easily achieve the impedance matching of the coaxial connector 10.
Furthermore, since plural of the ground transmission paths are provided, it is possible to achieve the impedance matching of the ground contact 50. Hence, it is possible to prevent noise from entering at the time of high speed transmission.
Thus, according to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a coaxial connector whereby removal from a board or impedance matching can be easily performed and which can correspond to high speed transmission and a connector device including the coaxial connector.
In the connector device 1 of the embodiment of the present invention, two parts, namely the head end and the base side, of the first contact part 51 of the ground contact 50 come in contact with the ground member 72 of the plug 70 so that the first connecting part 51 of the ground contact 50 and the ground member 72 of the plug 70 are electrically connected to each other. Hence, it is possible to prevent a stub from being formed at a ground signal transmission path so that mixture of noise can be prevented in a high frequency transmission.
All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority or inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
For example, as shown in
With this structure, as shown in
According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a coaxial connector where a plug having a coaxial structure is connected in a direction substantially parallel with a board, the board being where the coaxial connector is mounted, the coaxial connector including a signal contact having one end connected to a plug pin and another end bent or curved toward the board; and a ground contact having a substantially cylindrical shaped main body part, the main body part surrounding a part of the signal contact, the ground contact being connected to a plug side ground member by a first connecting part formed at one end of the main body part, the ground contact being connected to the board by a second connecting part formed at another end of the main body part, wherein the second connecting part includes a center member surrounding two or more surfaces of the signal contact, the center member having a hole part pierced by the bent or curved portion of the signal contact, the center member having a cross section of a substantially rectangular shape without one side; and an arm part extending from a side part of the center member, the arm part having an end part separated from and facing a head end part of the center member, wherein the end part of the arm part comes in contact with the head end part of the center member by fixing a housing to the board so that a part of the arm part is pressed and makes contact with an electrode of the board due to an elastic force generated at the arm part.
According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a coaxial connector whereby removal from a board or impedance matching can be easily performed and which can correspond to high speed transmission and a connector device including the coaxial connector.
Two of the arm parts may be provided at corresponding side parts of the center member. A plurality of sets of the signal contact and the ground contact may be provided. The first connecting part may be connected to the plug side ground member at least two portions, a base side and a head end of the first connecting part.
According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a connecting device, including the above-mentioned coaxial connector, and a plug having the plug side ground member connected to the ground contact due to an elastic restoring force.
The present invention can be applied to the business of manufacturing computers or their peripheral devices.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2009-180742 | Aug 2009 | JP | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3201721 | Voelcker | Aug 1965 | A |
5532659 | Dodart | Jul 1996 | A |
6705875 | Berghorn et al. | Mar 2004 | B2 |
6947011 | Kukita et al. | Sep 2005 | B2 |
6976873 | Taguchi | Dec 2005 | B2 |
7695289 | Sato et al. | Apr 2010 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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2004-304313 | Oct 2004 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20110028033 A1 | Feb 2011 | US |