Patent Application
20180358757
The invention generally relates to coaxial connector assemblies, particularly a method of forming a shielded electrical terminal and a shielded electrical terminal formed by this method.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various described embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.
The problem of leakage of the electrical field from a shielded electrical terminal is solved by forming an inner shield that defines a plurality of contact springs and forming an outer shield over the inner shield that at least covers the openings in the inner shield associated with the contact springs.
In the following description, orientation terms such as “longitudinal” will refer to the mating axis X while “lateral” refers to an axis perpendicular to the mating axis, which is not necessarily the transverse axis. Furthermore, terms relating to “top” “bottom”, “upper”, and “lower” are to be understood relative to an axis perpendicular to the mating axis X, which is not necessarily the vertical axis. As used herein the terms “front” and “forward” refer to a lateral orientation from the first connector towards the second connector and the terms “back”, “rear”, “rearward”, and “behind” refer to a lateral orientation oriented from the second connector towards the first connector.
STEP 102, CUT A TERMINAL PREFORM HAVING AN INNER SHIELD PREFORM AND AN OUTER SHIELD PREFORM FROM A SHEET OF METAL, includes cutting a terminal preform 14 from a sheet of metal (not shown), such as a copper alloy, defining a single plane, as illustrated in
STEP 104, FORM A PLURALITY OF RESILIENT CONTACT SPRINGS, includes forming a plurality of resilient contact springs 30 by forming a plurality of parallel rectangular apertures or openings 32 in the inner shield preform portion 16 as shown in
STEP 106, FORM THE INNER SHIELD PREFORM INTO AN INNER SHIELD, includes forming the inner shield preform portion 16 into an inner shield 36 defining a generally cylindrical shield cavity 38 about a longitudinal axis X as shown in
STEP 108, FORM THE OUTER SHIELD PREFORM INTO AN OUTER SHIELD, includes forming the outer shield preform portion 18 into an outer shield 42 by folding the narrowed connecting strip 22 between the inner shield 36 and the outer shield preform portion 18 such that the outer shield preform portion 18 is folded back over at least a portion of the inner shield 36 that includes contact springs 30 and then bending the outer shield preform portion 18 into a generally cylindrical shape that covers at least the plurality of openings 32 as illustrated in
While the illustrated example of the female shield terminal 10 has a cylindrical shape with a round cross section, other embodiments may be envisioned having square, rectangular, or elliptical cross sections.
As illustrated in
Accordingly a method 100 of forming a female shield terminal 10 configured to receive a corresponding male shield terminal 12 and a female shield terminal 10 formed by this method 100 is provided. The female shield terminal 10 provides the benefit of reduced leakage of the electrical field from the female shield terminal 10 resulting in improved radio frequency performance of the female shield terminal 10. The female shield terminal 10 also provides the benefits of lower manufacturing costs compared to comparable machined or cast shield terminals.
While this invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiments thereof, it is not intended to be so limited, but rather only to the extent set forth in the claims that follow. 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 configure a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Dimensions, types of materials, orientations of the various components, and the number and positions of the various components described herein are intended to define parameters of certain embodiments, and are by no means limiting and are merely prototypical embodiments.
Many other embodiments and modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the following claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
As used herein, ‘one or more’ includes a function being performed by one element, a function being performed by more than one element, e.g., in a distributed fashion, several functions being performed by one element, several functions being performed by several elements, or any combination of the above.
It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. are, in some instances, used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first contact could be termed a second contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a first contact, without departing from the scope of the various described embodiments. The first contact and the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the same contact.
The terminology used in the description of the various described embodiments herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description of the various described embodiments and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
As used herein, the term “if” is, optionally, construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [a stated condition or event] is detected” is, optionally, construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [the stated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the stated condition or event],” depending on the context.
Additionally, while terms of ordinance or orientation may be used herein these elements should not be limited by these terms. All terms of ordinance or orientation, unless stated otherwise, are used for purposes distinguishing one element from another, and do not denote any particular order, order of operations, direction or orientation unless stated otherwise.
This application claims the benefit under 35 USC § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/516,866 filed on Jun. 8, 2017, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62516866 | Jun 2017 | US |
