Patent Grant
11936145
The present invention relates to a compressible coaxial connector or adaptor which has controlled impedance. In particular, the invention relates to a compressible coaxial connector or adaptor which maintains favorable impedance while accommodating mating engagement variations between mating substrates.
Due to the increasing complexity of electronic components, it is desirable to fit more components in less space on a circuit board or other substrate. Consequently, the spacing between signal traces and contacts within circuit boards has been reduced, while the number of signal traces and contacts housed in the circuit boards has increased, thereby increasing the need for electrical connectors that are capable of handling higher and higher speeds and to do so with greater and greater densities.
Coaxial connectors and adaptors for providing interconnection between two mating connector halves or circuit boards is well known in the industry. Impedance within connectors used in high speed applications must be tightly controlled in order to maintain the integrity of the signal, particularly in miniature RF connectors. Impedance is controlled by maintaining accurate spacing between the inner conductor and the outer shell throughout the connector. As spacing between the two mating connector halves or circuit boards may vary due to manufacturing tolerances and the like, such connectors and adaptors need to be able to accommodate variation in mating distances between the two mating connector halves or circuit boards. Cable attached contacts such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,735,519 allow for the contact to absorb the differences in mating distance between the two mating connectors because at least one side is attached to a cable that can move with the spring loaded contact relative to the holding block (or module). For applications where contacts within both mating connectors are connected to substrates, maintaining accurate spacing between the inner and outer conductors (and therefore impedance) across the required mating distance variation becomes difficult.
It would, therefore, be beneficial to provide a coaxial connector or adaptor which is compressible and which enables impedance to be maintained across mating distance variations to stabilize signal integrity of board to board connections.
An embodiment is directed to a controlled impedance compressible electrical connector having a housing with at least one terminal receiving cavity which extends from a first surface of the housing to a second surface of the housing. A terminal assembly is positioned in each of the at least one terminal receiving cavities of the housing. The terminal assembly has a first fixed center terminal, a second movable center terminal, a fixed outer shell, a movable outer shell, and a resilient member. The terminal assembly is configured to allow impedance of the electrical connector to be maintained as the second movable center terminal and the movable outer shell are moved relative to the first fixed center terminal, the fixed outer shell and the housing.
An embodiment is directed to a controlled impedance compressible electrical connector for providing an electrical connection between a first mating component and a second mating component. The controlled impedance compressible electrical connector has a housing with at least one terminal receiving cavity extending therethrough. A terminal assembly is positioned in the at least one terminal receiving cavity. The terminal assembly includes a fixed center terminal, a movable outer shell, a movable center terminal and a resilient member. The movable outer shell is movable in the at least one terminal receiving cavity and the housing. The movable center terminal extends in the movable outer shell. The movable center terminal moves in unison with the movable outer shell. The relative spacing between the movable center terminal and the movable outer shell is maintained as the movable center terminal and the movable outer shell are moved. The resilient member exerts a biasing force on the movable outer shell. The movement of the movable outer shell and the movable center terminal relative to the fixed center terminal and the housing allows the controlled impedance compressible electrical connector to accommodate spacing variations between the first mating component and the second mating component. The impedance of the electrical connector is maintained as the movable center terminal and the movable outer shell are moved relative to the fixed center terminal and the housing.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the illustrative embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
The description of illustrative embodiments according to principles of the present invention is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description of embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation unless explicitly indicated as such. Terms such as “attached,” “affixed,” “connected,” “coupled,” “interconnected,” and similar refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.
Moreover, the features and benefits of the invention are illustrated by reference to the preferred embodiments. Accordingly, the invention expressly should not be limited to such embodiments illustrating some possible non-limiting combination of features that may exist alone or in other combinations of features, the scope of the invention being defined by the claims appended hereto.
An illustrative controlled impedance compressible electrical connector or adaptor 10, as shown in
A first shoulder 24 extends into the terminal receiving cavity 14 from the housing 12. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the first shoulder 24 extends inward about the entire circumference of the terminal receiving cavity 14. However, other configurations of the first shoulder 24 may be used. The first shoulder 24 is positioned between the first surface 16 and the second surface 18.
A second shoulder 26 extends into the terminal receiving cavity 14 from the housing 12. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the second shoulder 26 extends inward about the entire circumference of the terminal receiving cavity 14. However, other configurations of the second shoulder 26 may be used. The second shoulder 26 is positioned between the first surface and the second surface and proximate the first surface 16. In the embodiment shown, the second shoulder 26 is provided on the cover 22 of the housing 12.
A terminal assembly 30 is positioned in each of the at least one terminal receiving cavities 14 of the housing. As shown in
The first fixed center terminal 32 has a first mating section 44 and a second mating section 46. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the first mating section 44 is a pin and extends from the second surface 18 in a direction away from the first surface 16. The first mating section 44 is configured to make an electrical connection to a substrate (not shown). The second mating section 46 is a female receptacle for receiving an end of the second movable center terminal 34 therein. An insulator 42a is positioned between the first mating section 44 and the second mating section 46. The insulator 42a extends about the circumference of the first fixed center terminal 32. The insulator 42a is dimensioned to extend from the first fixed center terminal 32 to a wall 48 of the terminal receiving cavity 14. The insulator 42a properly positions the first fixed center terminal 32 in the terminal receiving cavity 14 and retains the first fixed center terminal 32 therein. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the first fixed center terminal 32 is formed from beryllium copper, but other materials having the appropriate conductive and strength characteristics may be used, such as, but not limited to phosphor bronze. The insulator 42a may be made from polytetrafluor oethylene (PTFE) or other materials having the appropriate insulative and strength characteristics.
The second movable center terminal 34 has a first mating section 50 and a second mating section 52. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the first mating section 50 is a pin. The first mating section 50 is configured to make an electrical connection to the second mating section 46 of the first fixed center terminal 32. The second mating section 52 of the second movable center terminal 34 is a female receptacle for receiving an end of a mating contact 54 of a second substrate 56. The second movable center terminal 34 has sections of different diameters including a first reduced diameter section 58 and a second reduced diameter section 60. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the second movable center terminal 34 is formed from beryllium copper, but other materials having the appropriate conductive and strength characteristics may be used, such as, but not limited to phosphor bronze.
A second insulator 42b is positioned in the first reduced diameter section 58. The second insulator 42b extends about the circumference of the first reduced diameter section 58. The second insulator 42a is dimensioned to extend from the second movable center terminal 34 to the movable outer shell 38. The second insulator 42b properly positions the second movable center terminal 34 in the movable outer shell 38 and retains the second movable center terminal 34 therein.
A third insulator 42c cooperates with the second reduced diameter section 60. The third insulator 42c extends about the circumference of the second reduced diameter section 60. The third insulator 42c is dimensioned to extend from the second movable center terminal 34 to the movable outer shell 38. The third insulator 42c properly positions the second movable center terminal 34 in the movable outer shell 38 and retains the second movable center terminal 34 therein.
The fixed outer shell 36 has a conductive wall 62 and a back wall 64. The conductive wall 62 and a back wall 64 form a first terminal receiving cavity 66. The first terminal receiving cavity 66 is dimensioned to receive the first mating section 50 of the second movable center terminal 34 and a portion of the movable outer shell 38 therein. The back wall 64 has an opening 68 which is dimensioned to allow the first mating section 50 of the second movable center terminal 34 to extend therethrough and mate with the second mating section 46 of the first fixed center terminal 32. A mounting shoulder or projection 70 extends from the conductive wall 62 in a direction away from the first terminal receiving cavity 66. The mounting projection 70 cooperates with the first shoulder 24 of the housing 12 to properly position and secure the fixed outer shell 36 in the terminal receiving cavity 14.
In the illustrative embodiment shown, the movable outer shell 38 includes a first movable outer shell 74 and a second movable outer shell 76. However, other configurations of the movable outer shell 38 may be used. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the first movable outer shell 74 and the second movable outer shell 76 are formed from beryllium copper, but other materials having the appropriate conductive and strength characteristics may be used, such as, but not limited to phosphor bronze.
The first movable outer shell 74 has a tubular configuration with a conductive outer wall 77. The outer wall 77 has a first terminal receiving portion 78 with a first inside diameter of D1, a second terminal receiving portion 80 with a second inside diameter of D2 and a third terminal receiving portion 82 with a third inside diameter D3. The third inside diameter D3 is larger than the second inside diameter D2, and the second inside diameter D2 is larger than the first inside diameter of D1.
The first terminal receiving portion 78 is configured to receive the first reduced diameter section 58 of the second movable center terminal 34. The second terminal receiving portion 80 is configured to receive the first reduced diameter section 58 and the second insulator 42b. The second terminal receiving portion 80 cooperates with the second insulator 42b to properly position the second movable center terminal 34 in the movable outer shell 38 and retains the second movable center terminal 34 therein. The third terminal receiving section 82 is configured to receive a portion of the second movable outer shell 76 and the second movable center terminal 34.
The second movable outer shell 76 has a tubular configuration with a conductive outer wall 84. The outer wall 84 has a first terminal receiving portion 86 with an inside diameter of D4 and a second terminal receiving portion 88 with an inside diameter of D5. The inside diameter D4 is slightly larger than the inside diameter D5. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the inside diameter D5 is approximately equal to the third inside diameter D2 of the first movable outer shell 74, however, other configurations may be used.
The second terminal receiving portion 88 of the second movable outer shell 76 is configured to receive the second mating section 52 of the second movable center terminal 34. The first terminal receiving portion 86 of the second movable outer shell 76 is configured to receive the portion of the second movable center terminal 34 which is proximate the second mating section 52. The first terminal receiving portion 86 is also configured to receive the third insulator 42c. A shoulder 90 of the first terminal receiving portion 86 cooperates with the third insulator 42c to properly position the second movable center terminal 34 in the movable outer shell 38 and retains the second movable center terminal 34 therein. The first terminal receiving portion 86 is also configured to be received in the third terminal receiving section 82 of the first moveable outer shell 74. An outer projection or shoulder 92 is provided on the second movable outer shell 76 to facilitate the proper positioning of the second movable outer shell 76 relative to the first movable outer shell 74.
The spring 40 extends between the fixed outer shell 36 and the movable outer shell 74. In the embodiment shown, the spring 40 extends between the mounting projection 70 of the fixed outer shell 36 and a shoulder 94 of the first movable outer shell 74 of the movable outer shell 38.
Prior to mating with a mating connector or substrate 56, the connector or adaptor 10 is in the position shown in
In the position shown in
In this position, the spring 40 is maintained in a slightly compressed position. Consequently, the spring 40 exerts a force on the mounting projection 70 to bias that fixed outer shell 36 against the first shoulder 24 of the housing 10. In addition, the spring 40 exerts a force on the shoulder 94 of the first movable outer shell 74 of the movable outer shell 38 to bias the projection 92 of the second movable outer shell 76 against the second shoulder 26 of the housing. In so doing, the terminal assembly 30 is maintained in its initial or unmated position by the force of the spring 40. In the initial or unmated position, a space or pocket 67 is provided in the terminal receiving cavity 66 between the first shoulder 24 of the housing 12 and the free end 69 of the conductive outer wall 77 of the first movable outer shell 74.
As the adaptor 10 and terminal assembly 30 are moved into engagement with the second substrate 56, the second terminal receiving portion 88 of the second movable outer shell 76 is moved into engagement with an outer shell 55 on the second substrate 56, as shown in
When fully inserted, as shown in
As the terminal assembly 30 is moved to the position shown in
In particular, as the terminal assembly 30 is moved from the first position shown in
The configuration of, and particularly the spacing of: the reduced diameter section 58 of the second movable center terminal 34 in the first terminal receiving portion 78 of the first movable outer shell 74; the reduced diameter section 58 of the second movable center terminal 34 and the second insulator 42b in the second terminal receiving portion 80 of the first movable outer shell 74; the second mating section 52 of the second movable center terminal 34 in the second terminal receiving portion 88 of the second movable outer shell 76; and the second movable center terminal 34 which is proximate the second mating section 52 and the third insulator 42c in the second terminal receiving portion 88 of the second movable outer shell 76 are calculated such that the impedance in each of these sections matches the impedance in each of the other sections. This allows the signals to be transmitted across each of the sections and across the terminal assembly 30 with little or no loss in signal integrity.
During movement of the terminal assembly 30 from the first position shown in
As the terminal assembly 30 is moved from the first position shown in
In addition, the use of the movable terminal assembly 30 with the biasing spring 40 allows for the adaptor 10 and terminal assembly 30 to provide a controlled and favorable impedance between mating connectors or substrates even when there are mating engagement variations between mating substrates due to manufacturing tolerances and the like. As the terminal assembly 30 is configured to move as described above, the impedance of the terminal assembly 30 is controlled regardless of the distance that the first mating section 50 of the second movable center terminal 34 is moved into the second mating section 46 of the first fixed center terminal 32. As the first movable outer shell 74, the second movable outer shell 76 and the second movable center terminal 34 are moved in unison, and as the spacing between the components is maintained regardless of the position in the terminal receiving cavity 14, the impedance is consistently maintained regardless of the position. This allows the adaptor 10 and movable terminal assembly 30 to accommodate variations in mating distance between the two mating connectors or substrates because of manufacturing tolerances in the connectors/substrates and the systems in which they are used. The impedance is controlled in the present invention by maintaining accurate spacing between the inner fixed center conductor or terminal 32, the inner movable center conductor or terminal 34, the fixed outer shell 34 and the movable outer shell 36 throughout the connector.
While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be used with many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, sizes, materials and components and otherwise used in the practice of the invention, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from the principles of the present invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims, and not limited to the foregoing description or embodiments.
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