Patent Application
20230307858
This disclosure generally relates to high frequency coaxial cable interconnection devices.
The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
In cable TV and other RF coaxial cable distribution systems, a main distribution cable is used bring video, telephony, and data to a customers' facility. The main distribution cable often uses specialized pin connectors to reliably connect devices to the main distribution cable. These devices include optical nodes to convert an optical signal to RF signal, RF amplifiers to amplify low signals, filters to optimize a RF frequency response, and multi-taps and splitters to divide the RF signal to multiple outputs.
As the bandwidth of the RF coaxial cable distribution system increases, the receptacle for receiving the specialized pin connector needs to be improved for usable frequencies to 1.8 GHz and beyond. Devices in current use have a seizure screw to compress perpendicularly and contact the specialized pin connector. These receptacles have a frequency limitation and are often not usable at higher frequencies due to the inherent capacitance of the interconnect that causes undesired signal attenuation and reflection at high frequencies.
Additionally, the RF coaxial cable distribution system can be an aerial cable where the main distribution cable is attached to telephone poles or an underground cable where the main distribution cable is buried underground. In an aerial cable distribution system, the connection points to the device is typically in a horizontal orientation where the distribution cable is in-line with the device. In an underground cable distribution system, the connection point to the device is typically in a vertical orientation where the buried distribution cable comes up to the surface and is connected to the device input and continues down underground through the device output. The device in the underground installation is typically enclosed in a protective enclosure box located on the property of a customer.
Prior art uses RF connectors for some of this interface but is more expensive. The present invention provides a low cost, high frequency receptacle contact for cable TV pin connectors with a bandwidth of 3 GHz or higher and provides a receptacle contact that can accommodate aerial and underground installation with a single receptacle contact.
According to the techniques of this disclosure, there is described herein a coaxial cable pin receptacle suitable for high frequency and high power signals.
Because of the critical nature of the electrical connection made by the receptacle 20, the pin receptacle is designed to have a minimum of 1000-1500 grams of pull force (gripping force to pull out a pin from the contact) to ensure a reliable connection. The pin needs to support 15 to 20 amperes of AC power. Material must, therefore, be selected to avoid corrosion and have minimum contact resistance. The contact area with the coaxial connector pin 61 is roughly the diameter of the central portion of the flexible connection plate 26, which in an example shown in
In some cases, certain features described herein in the context of separate implementations may also be combined and implemented in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation may also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination may in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.
While operations may be depicted in the drawings as occurring in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all operations be performed
Various implementations have been described in connection with the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the figures may not necessarily be drawn to scale. As an example, distances or angles depicted in the figures are illustrative and may not necessarily bear an exact relationship to actual dimensions or layout of the devices illustrated.
The scope of this disclosure encompasses all changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications to the example embodiments described or illustrated herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. The scope of this disclosure is not limited to the example embodiments described or illustrated herein. Moreover, although this disclosure describes or illustrates respective embodiments herein as including particular components, elements, functions, operations, or steps, any of these embodiments may include any combination or permutation of any of the components, elements, functions, operations, or steps described or illustrated anywhere herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend.
The term “or” as used herein is to be interpreted as an inclusive or meaning any one or any combination, unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Therefore, herein, the expression “A or B” means “A, B, or both A and B.” As another example, herein, “A, B or C” means at least one of the following: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C. An exception to this definition will occur if a combination of elements, devices, steps, or operations is in some way inherently mutually exclusive.
As used herein, words of approximation such as, without limitation, “approximately, “substantially,” or “about” refer to a condition that when so modified is understood to not necessarily be absolute or perfect but would be considered close enough to those of ordinary skill in the art to warrant designating the condition as being present. The extent to which the description may vary will depend on how great a change can be instituted and still have one of ordinary skill in the art recognize the modified feature as having the required characteristics or capabilities of the unmodified feature. In general, but subject to the preceding discussion, a numerical value herein that is modified by a word of approximation such as “approximately” may vary from the stated value by ±0.5%, ±1%, ±2%, ±3%, ±4%, ±5%, ±10%, ±12%, or ±15%.
As used herein, the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc. may be used as labels for nouns that they precede, and these terms may not necessarily imply a particular ordering (e.g., a particular spatial, temporal, or logical ordering). As an example, a system may be described as determining a “first result” and a “second result,” and the terms “first” and “second” may not necessarily imply that the first result is determined before the second result.
As used herein, the terms “based on” and “based at least in part on” may be used to describe or present one or more factors that affect a determination, and these terms may not exclude additional factors that may affect a determination. A determination may be based solely on those factors which are presented or may be based at least in part on those factors. The phrase “determine A based on B” indicates that B is a factor that affects the determination of A. In some instances, other factors may also contribute to the determination of A. In other instances, A may be determined based solely on B.
This U.S. Non-Provisional patent application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/324,341, filed on Mar. 28, 2022, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63324341 | Mar 2022 | US |
