The invention relates to a multi coaxial connector system for radio frequency (RF) signals including a plurality of RF connectors.
US 2019/0312394 A1 discloses a ganged coaxial connector assembly. A pair of shells holds a plurality of mating connector pairs. The electrical contact system of each connector pair has a seal between each connector and its counter connector. Sealing is established each time, when the connectors of a connector pair are mated. This requires comparatively high plugging and unplugging forces which multiply with the number of connectors in a shell to very high total forces for plugging or unplugging a shell. To apply the high forces and to hold the connectors in predetermined axial positions, in embodiments with more than four connectors, the connectors are spring loaded. The space holding the springs and the space surrounding the connectors is not sealed, such that water may penetrate therein. When this water freezes, the spring does no more work, such that the sealing between the connectors may be affected. Further, freezing water expands and may damage the connector assembly. The locking mechanism comprising a latch and locking pin is outside of the connector and may freeze too. It is difficult to remove ice from the small parts such as the locking pins without damaging them. Finally, it may no more be possible to disconnect the coaxial connector assembly.
Embodiments of the invention provide a multi coaxial RF connector system having improved robustness, which is easy to connect and disconnect with lower forces and can be manufactured for reduced costs. Further, the connector system should be usable under freezing conditions.
In an embodiment, a RF multi connector system includes a RF multi plug connector and a RF multi socket connector matching to the RF multi connector.
The multi connector and the multi counter connector may hold a plurality of individual connectors, which may be coaxial RF (radio frequency) connectors. These coaxial connectors may be plug connectors, socket connectors, or hermaphroditic connectors. The multi plug connector comprises a housing for holding the individual RF connectors at predetermined positions. The multi socket connector comprises a further housing matching to the multi plug connector and which further comprises a plurality of positions for holding individual RF connectors. The connector holding positions of the multi socket connector match to the connector holding positions of the multi plug connector, such that the multi plug connector and the multi socket connector can be mated. The individual RF connectors at the multi plug connector and the multi socket connector are selected such that matching connector pairs exist. For example, an individual RF socket connector may be at a certain position at the multi plug connector, whereas an individual RF plug connector is at the corresponding position of the multi socket connector. There may be any order of plug and socket connectors and hermaphroditic connectors within the multi plug connector and the multi socket connector, as long as they match together. In addition, there may be other connectors, for example for grounding or for signal transmission.
The multi plug connector comprises a connector support protrusion which may have a shape matching to a connector support recess of a multi socket connector. The connector support protrusion may completely fit into the connector support recess, when the connectors are mated. The connector support protrusion may have cylindrical shape and may further have a circular, elliptical, rectangular or squared cross section. The multi plug connector and the multi socket connector may have a cylindrical shape with a locking mechanism at its center. All individual RF connectors may be arranged in a circle. Groups of RF connectors may be arranged in different circles. Basically, connectors may be arranged in one or in a plurality of circles around the center. In another embodiment, a plurality of the first connectors and a plurality of second connectors is arranged in a row or in a plurality of rows.
For higher frequencies, the dimension of the individual RF connectors decrease in size, and the structure of these connectors gets more and more delicate. Therefore, a straight insertion of the connectors when connecting the multi plug connector to the multi socket connector is necessary. Tilting or jamming of the connectors must be avoided under any circumstances. The centralized locking mechanisms together with the circular arrangement of the individual RF connectors results in a comparatively symmetric shape of the connector. The closing force is applied by the central locking mechanism, and therefore an even force distribution to the circularly arranged individual connectors is ensured. Furthermore, positioning and guiding grooves and notches may be provided in the multi plug connector and the multi socket connector. These grooves and notches further provide a straight guidance when connecting the multi plug connector with the multi socket connector.
To compensate for minor mechanical tolerances, the individual RF connectors may be fixed to their positions of the multi socket connector and the individual RF connectors at the multi plug connector may be mounted tiltable and/or movable in a radial direction thereto. This movability may only be within a comparatively small range which may be less than 2 mm, less than 1 mm, or less than 0.5 mm. An axial mobility is not required and may not be desired.
The central locking mechanism may comprise a threaded key and slot lock which is a combination of a thread and a key and slot connection. This will allow to engage the thread at a certain position and to generate a comparatively large distance of movement with a small angle of rotation. The locking mechanism may comprise a lock rotor at the multi plug connector and the lock stator at the multi socket connector. The rotor is rotatable and may be operated by a locking knob which may cover a larger section of the top surface of the multi plug connector or even all the top surface thereof. The lock stator may be fixed to the multi socket connector.
There may be a plurality of positioning notch/groove pairs which improve guidance when mating the connectors and may make multi plug connector/multi socket connector pairs unique, such that individual connectors cannot be combined with other connectors having notches and/or grooves at other position.
In an embodiment, at least one first coaxial RF connector may include a first sealing between a shaft of the at least one first coaxial RF connector and the plug connector housing. Further, at least one second coaxial RF connector may include a second sealing between a shaft of the at least one second coaxial RF connector and the socket connector housing. Also, at least one housing seal may be provided between the plug connector housing and the socket connector housing. There may be further housing seals such as a rotor seal to seal further openings into the housing, if for example a rotor is penetrating the housing.
Here, the interior of the connector housing including the connectors is sealed against dust, debris, humidity, and water from the outside. Therefore, no water may penetrate into the contact systems of the connectors. Further, no water may penetrate into the surrounding of the connectors, such that the connector may be operated (connected and disconnected) even at freezing temperatures, as no ice may block internal parts of the connector.
In an embodiment, there may be a combined seal for sealing the shafts of all of the at least one first coaxial RF connectors and the plug connector housing. The combined seal may also provide a seal of the rotor against the housing. Therefore, the combined seal is a combination of first sealing and second sealing.
Also, a solid locking knob on top of the connector can easily be cleaned from ice and be operated with thick globes. There exist no small parts outside the connector, which may be blocked by ice. The whole locking mechanism is embedded into the housing, such that it cannot freeze. In an embodiment, a key and slot locking mechanism may be provided to hold first coaxial RF connectors in the plug connector housing and/or second coaxial RF connectors in the socket connector housing. The mechanism may include a locking key at the connector and a locking slot at the housing. Such a locking mechanism simplifies insertion and/or exchange of the connectors into the housing.
In another embodiment, a locking mechanism using a slotted ring which may have a chamfered edge and is compressed for insertion of the connector, may be provided. When the connector is in place, the ring expands into a groove which is in the housing and locks the connector into the housing.
Further, a coaxial RF connector may be held by a nut on a thread on the shaft of the coaxial RF connector in the socket connector housing or the plug connector housing.
The embodiments of key and slot, slotted ring and nut do not need a spring for axially moving the connector.
The housings of the multi connector and the multi counter connector may comprise metal and/or a dielectric material such as a plastic or polymer material or the connectors may be coated with such a material at all contact surfaces which may enter into contact with the other connector. The connector housings may exclusively comprise of a dielectric material or multiple dielectric material. They may not comprise any metal or low impedance electrically conductive material. The only electrical connection between the multi connector and the multi counter connector may be by the coaxial RF connectors. This may improve passive intermodulation characteristics even if used in the close proximity of a radiating antenna.
The first and second coaxial RF connectors may be any combination of plug and socket connectors. In an embodiment, the RF multi connector system comprises only coaxial RF connectors, but there may be at least one or a low number of other connectors, for example power or signal connectors including optical connectors.
The abbreviation RF for radio frequency is used also for microwave.
In general, the features of the multi plug connector may be exchanged with the multi socket connector.
In the following, the invention will be described by way of example, without limitation of the general inventive concept, on examples of embodiment and with reference to the drawings.
Generally, the drawings are not to scale. Like elements and components are referred to by like labels and numerals. For the simplicity of illustrations, not all elements and components depicted and labeled in one drawing are necessarily labels in another drawing even if these elements and components appear in such other drawing.
While various modifications and alternative forms, of implementation of the idea of the invention are within the scope of the invention, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and are described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and related detailed description are not intended to limit the implementation of the idea of the invention to the particular form disclosed in this application, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
In
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At the multi socket connector 300, at least one of the second connectors 390 is provided. These second connectors match to corresponding first connectors at the multi plug connector. The second connectors 390 are attached to second cables 380 for coupling RF signals thereto. A cord grip 330 at the multi socket connector avoids pulling force directly to the connector.
In an embodiment, at least one first coaxial RF connector 290 may include a first sealing 279 between a shaft 291 of the at least one first coaxial RF connector and the plug connector housing. Further, at least one second coaxial RF connector 390 may include a second sealing 379 between a shaft 391 of the at least one second coaxial RF connector and the socket connector housing. Also, at least one housing seal 271 may be provided between the plug connector housing and the socket connector housing. There may be further housing seals such as a rotor seal 271 to seal further openings into the housing, if for example a rotor is penetrating the housing.
There may be a housing seal, which may be a sealing ring 270 between the multi plug connector 200 and the multi socket connector 300 or at least between the plug connector housing 210 and the socket connector housing 310 to seal the connectors against dust, debris, humidity, and water from the outside. A lock rotor 250 may lock the multi plug connector 200 and the multi socket connector 300.
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The connector support protrusion 240 has a shape matching to a connector support recess 340 of multi socket connector 300 which will be shown in one of the next figures. The connector support protrusion 240 may completely fit into the connector support recess 340, when the connectors are mated. The connector support protrusion 240 may have cylindrical shape and may further have a circular, elliptical, rectangular or squared cross section. There may be at least one positioning groove 211 which may interact with at least one positioning notch 311 of multi socket connector 300. There may be a plurality of such positioning notch/groove pairs which improve guidance when mating the connectors and may make multi plug connector/multi socket connector pairs unique, such that individual connectors cannot be combined with other connectors having notches and/or grooves at other position. In general, there may also be notches at the multi plug connector and grooves at the multi socket connector or vice versa. Furthermore, the lock rotor 250 is shown from its bottom side.
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This Figure also shows three positioning notches 311 which may interface with the positioning grooves 211 of the multi plug connector. Furthermore, the lock stator 350 is shown.
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The first coaxial RF connector 290 may comprise a first outer insulation 295 surrounding the first outer conductor 294. The first outer insulation 295 may center the first outer conductor 294 within the second outer sheath 395 and at the same time provides a galvanic insulation such that there is only one DC and low frequency current path of the outer conductors between the second outer conductor 394 and the first outer conductor 294.
This figure further indicates the distance 345 between the highest extension at front surface of multi socket connector 300 and the second outer sheath 395. So, the second coaxial RF connector 390 is set back within connector support recess 340 which provides a mechanical protection. Further, the distance 245 between the first coaxial RF connector 290 and the end of the connector support protrusion 240 is indicated. Also here, the first coaxial RF connector 290 is set back which provides a mechanical protection.
It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that this invention is believed to provide a RF multi connector system. Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the general manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described herein are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Elements and materials may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts and processes may be reversed, and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the invention. Changes may be made in the elements described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims.
100 RF multi connector system
102 RF multi connector system with combined seal
110 center axis
200 multi plug connector
210 plug connector housing
211 positioning groove
212 upper shell
213 lower shell
214 locks
218 orientation groove
219 assembly of connector housing shells
220 locking knob
221 rotation of locking knob
230 cord grip
240 connector support protrusion
241 connector recess
245 distance between first coaxial RF connector and connector support protrusion
250 lock rotor
251 rotor arm
252 rotor notch
253 seal groove
254 outer thread
255 thread grooves
256 rotor spring
257 support section
259 center axis
260 connector guidance bush
270 sealing ring
271 rotor seal
272 locking slot
279 first connector sealing ring
280 first cables
290 first coaxial RF connectors
291 shaft of first coaxial RF connector
292 locking key
293 first center conductor
294 first outer conductor
295 first outer insulation
297 groove in plug connector housing
298 slotted ring
300 multi socket connector
310 socket connector housing
311 positioning notch
320 mounting flange
321 flange screw hole
340 connector support recess
345 distance between second coaxial RF connector and multi socket connector
350 lock stator
354 inner thread
360 connector guidance socket
379 second connector sealing ring
380 second cables
390 second coaxial RF connectors
391 shaft of second coaxial RF connector
392 nut
393 second center conductor
394 second outer conductor
395 second outer sheath
400 combined seal
410 center seal section
420 connector seal sections
430 outer seal section
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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19211464.3 | Nov 2019 | EP | regional |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/EP2020/080805 | Nov 2020 | US |
Child | 17752267 | US |