The subject matter herein relates generally to electrical connector assemblies, and more specifically, to connector assemblies for coaxial cables.
In the past connectors have been proposed for interconnecting coaxial cables. Generally, coaxial cables have a circular geometry formed with a central conductor (of one or more conductive wires) surrounded by a cable dielectric material. The dielectric material is surrounded by a cable braid (of one or more conductive wires) that serves as a ground, and the cable braid is surrounded by a cable jacket. In most coaxial cable applications, it is preferable to match the impedance between source and destination electrical components located at opposite ends of the coaxial cable. Consequently, when sections of coaxial cable are interconnected by connector assemblies, it is preferable that the impedance remain matched through the interconnection.
Today, coaxial cables are widely used. Recently, demand has arisen for radio frequency (RF) coaxial cables in automotive applications. The demand for RF coaxial cables in the automotive industry is due in part to the increased communications content within automobiles, such as AM/FM radios, cellular phones, GPS, satellite radios. Blue Tooth™ compatibility systems and the like. The wide applicability of coaxial cables demands that connected coaxial cables maintain the impedance at the interconnect ion.
Conventional coaxial connector assemblies include plug and receptacle assemblies that mate together. The assemblies include plastic housings, metal outer shields, dielectrics and metal center contact assemblies. The assemblies receive and retain coaxial cable ends, and each of the outer shields enclose the dielectric housings. Electrical termination to the braid of the coaxial cable is completed by positioning the braid between inner and outer ferrules. The ferrules are normally manufactured from a metal material. The center contact assemblies engage the center conductors of the coaxial cable. When the plug and receptacle assemblies are mated, the housings are engaged, the outer shields are interconnected, the dielectrics are engaged and the center contact assemblies are interconnected. Some coaxial cable connectors are further enclosed in a plastic housing to secure the connection and prevent accidental uncoupling.
However, as transmission rates increase, impedance matching problems may arise due to the size, orientation, and placement of the cables, center contact assemblies, and plug and receptacle assemblies of coaxial connector assemblies. Additionally, conventional coaxial connector metal outer shields may be die cast or screw machined and require excessive time and costs to produce.
Thus a need remains for a coaxial connector assembly capable of controlling the electrical characteristics through the interconnection in a cost effective and reliable manner. Another need remains for a cost effective means for forming coaxial connector assemblies.
In one embodiment, a coaxial cable connector is provided. The connector includes a housing and a subassembly. The subassembly includes a cable receptor including a receptor portion configured to receive a cable, and an outer contact formed integrally with and extending axially from the receptor portion. The outer contact configured to electrically couple to an outer conductor of the cable. A dielectric is positioned within the outer contact of the cable receptor. A center contact assembly is positioned within the dielectric and configured to electrically couple to an inner conductor of the cable. A cable retainer is configured to couple to the receptor portion of the cable receptor. The cable retainer has at least one cable retention contact configured to retain the cable.
In another embodiment, a coaxial cable connector is provided. The connector includes a housing and a subassembly configured to rotate within the housing. The subassembly includes a cable receptor including a receptor portion configured to receive a cable, and an outer contact formed integrally with and extending axially from the receptor portion. The outer contact configured to electrically couple to an outer conductor of the cable. A dielectric is positioned within the outer contact of the cable receptor. A center contact assembly is positioned within the dielectric and configured to electrically couple to an inner conductor of the cable. A cable retainer is configured to couple to the receptor portion of the cable receptor. The cable retainer has at least one cable retention contact configured to retain the cable. A lock is configured to retain the subassembly within the housing and prevent axial movement of the subassembly with respect to the housing.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property.
The center contact assembly 112 includes a center contact assembly tip 132 and a crimp barrel 134. The crimp barrel 134 crimps to the inner conductor 130 of the cable 108. The center contact assembly tip 132 of the center contact assembly 112 extends axially from the crimp barrel 134. The center contact assembly 112 is positioned within the dielectric 116 of the jack connector 100. The dielectric 116 is cylindrical in shape and includes a mating end 136 and a wire end 138. The wire end 138 is configured to receive the formed crimp barrel 134 of the center contact assembly 112. The transition between the crimp barrel 134 and the center contact assembly tip 132 includes at least one barb 144 that creates an interference fit with an inner latch (not shown) of the dielectric 116. The center contact assembly tip 132 of the center contact assembly 112 extends through and is axially centered within the mating end 136 of the dielectric. The center contact assembly tip 132 and the dielectric mating end 136 may be configured to FAKRA specifications, or the like, and are configured to mate with a plug having common specifications.
The outer contact assembly 114 includes a cable receptor 146 and a cable retainer 148. The cable receptor 146 and the cable retainer 148 are stamped and formed pieces. The cable receptor 146 is configured to receive the coaxial cable 108. The cable retainer 148 mates with the cable receptor 146 to retain the coaxial cable 108 therein. The cable retainer 148 includes at least one cable retention contact 202 (shown in
The dielectric 116 is configured to be received within the outer contact 150. The wire end 138 of the dielectric 116 is sized to be received within the wire end 154 of the outer contact 150. The mating end 136 of the dielectric 116 is sized to be received within the mating end 152 of the outer contact 150. The outer contact 150 is insulated from the inner contact 132 by the dielectric 116. The outer contact 150, the dielectric 116, and the center contact assembly 112 are configured to be mated with a corresponding electrical plug.
The jacket 124, cable braid 126, and cable dielectric 128 are configured to be stripped to expose the inner conductor 130 of the cable 108. The crimp barrel 134 of the center contact assembly 112 is configured to couple to the inner conductor 130 of the cable 108. The center contact assembly 112 is then positioned within the dielectric 116 and frictionally held in place by the barbs 144. The dielectric 116 is configured to position within the outer contact 150 so that the dielectric 116 isolates the center contact assembly 112 from the outer contact 150.
The housing 102 encloses the outer contact assembly 114. The housing 102 covers the outer contact assembly 114 and the center contact assembly 112. The wire end 106 of the housing 102 encloses the cable receptor 146 and the cable retainer 148 of the outer contact assembly 114. The mating end 104 of the housing 102 encloses the outer contact 150, the dielectric 116, and the center contact assembly 112 and is configured for mating with a corresponding plug. The mating end 104 may also include keys 157 and a catch 159′ for polarizing the mating end 104. The keys 157 and the catch 159 may be configured to FAKRA specifications and are configured to mate with a plug having common specifications.
The lock 120 is inserted adjacent the wire end 106 of the housing 102 to retain the outer contact assembly 114 within the housing 102. The lock 120 includes a retention ring 160 that prevents the outer contact assembly 114 from being dislodged from the housing 102 when the coaxial cable 108 is subjected to axial forces. In an exemplary embodiment, the lock 120 blocks axial movement, but allows the outer contact assembly 114 to rotate within the housing 102. Optionally, the outer contact assembly 114 may rotate 360 degrees within the housing 102.
The receptor portion 162 includes at least one window 176 configured to secure the cable receptor 146 to the cable retainer 148 (shown in
The cable retainer 148 includes at least one tab 192 configured to be received within the one or more windows 176 (shown in
The center contact assembly 312 includes a socket 332 and a crimp barrel 334. The crimp barrel 334 crimps to the inner conductor 330 of the cable 308. The socket 332 of the center contact assembly 312 extends axially from the crimp barrel 334. The center contact assembly 312 is positioned within the dielectric 316 of the plug connector 300. The dielectric 316 includes a mating end 336 and a wire end 338. The wire end 338 is configured to receive the formed crimp barrel 334 of the center contact assembly 312. The socket 332 of center contact assembly 312 extends through and is axially centered within the mating end 336 of the dielectric. The socket 332 and the dielectric mating end 336 are configured to mate with the center contact assembly tip 132 of the cable jack connector 100.
The outer contact assembly 314 includes a cable receptor 346 and a cable retainer 348. The cable receptor 346 and the cable retainer 348 are similar to the cable receptor 146 and the cable retainer 148, respectively, and include many of the same features and method of assembly. The cable receptor 346 and the cable retainer 348 are stamped and formed pieces. The cable receptor 346 is configured to receive the coaxial cable 308. The cable retainer 348 is positioned within the cable receptor 346 to retain the coaxial cable 308 therein. The cable retainer 348 includes at least one cable retention contact (not shown) that is similar to cable retention contact 204 and pierces a jacket and engages a cable braid of the coaxial cable 308. Optionally, the at least one cable retention contact also pierces a cable dielectric of the coaxial cable 308. The cable retention contact electrically couples to a braid of the coaxial cable 308 to the outer contact assembly 314. The cable receptor 346 includes an outer contact 350. The outer contact 350 includes a mating end 352 and a wire end 354. The mating end 352 of the outer contact 350 is configured to mate with the outer contact 150 of the cable jack connector 100.
The dielectric 316 is configured to be received within the outer contact 350. The wire end 338 of the dielectric 316 is sized to be received within the wire end 354 of the outer contact 350. The mating end 336 of the dielectric 316 is sized to be received within the mating end 352 of the outer contact 350. The outer contact 350 is separated from the center contact assembly 312 by the dielectric 316. The outer contact 350, the dielectric 316, and the center contact assembly 312 form an electrical plug configured to be mated with the cable jack connector 100. The outer contact 350 is configured to engage the outer contact 150 of the cable jack connector 100. The dielectric 316 is configured to engage the dielectric 116 of the cable jack connector 100. The center contact 312 is configured to engage the center contact 112 of the cable jack connector 100.
The housing 302 encloses the outer contact assembly 314 and center contact assembly 312. The wire end 306 of the housing 302 encloses the cable receptor 346 and the cable retainer 348 of the outer contact assembly 314. The mating end 304 of the housing 302 encloses the outer contact 350, the dielectric 316, and the center contact assembly 312. The mating end 304 may also include slots 356 and 358 to mate with the keys 157 and the catch 159 of the cable jack connector 100.
The lock 320 is inserted into the wire end 306 of the housing 302 to retain the outer contact assembly 314 within the housing 302. The lock 320 includes a retention ring 360 that prevents the outer contact assembly 314 from being dislodged from the housing 302 when the coaxial cable 308 is subjected to axial forces. The lock 320 blocks axial movement, but allows the outer contact assembly 314 to rotate within the housing 302. Optionally, the outer contact assembly 314 may rotate 360 degrees within the housing 302.
The jack connector 100 may be coupled to the plug connector 300 to form a coaxial cable connector assembly. In one embodiment, the jack connector 100 and the plug connector 300 are formed according to FAKRA specifications. In one embodiment, the jack connector 100 may couple to any plug formed to FAKRA specifications. Likewise, the plug connector 300 may couple to any jack formed to FAKRA specifications.
It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the various embodiments of the invention without departing from their scope. While the dimensions and types of materials described herein are intended to define the parameters of the various embodiments of the invention, the embodiments are by no means limiting and are exemplary embodiments. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the various embodiments of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second.” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are not written in means-plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function void of further structure.
This written description uses examples to disclose the various embodiments of the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various embodiments of the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the various embodiments of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if the examples have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if the examples include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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4799900 | Capp et al. | Jan 1989 | A |
6217381 | Kameyama | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6837743 | Ko | Jan 2005 | B2 |
7318730 | Miyazaki | Jan 2008 | B2 |
7762841 | Ho | Jul 2010 | B2 |