Outer Conductor Sleeve For A Coaxial Electrical Connector

Abstract

An coaxial electrical connector sub-assembly having an outer conductor sleeve having a wall is substantially closed along a perimeter, a slot formed in the wall, and a spring finger integral with the wall and at least partially bounded by the slot, the spring finger having a free end configured to project into the outer conductor sleeve is disclosed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further details, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment together with the drawings, in which:

Prior Art FIG. 1 is an oblique view of an outer conductor sleeve according to the prior art;

Prior Art FIG. 2 is an oblique view of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an oblique view of a socket sub-assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an oblique view of the socket sub-assembly 1 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an orthogonal cross-sectional view of the socket sub-assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an orthogonal view or the socket sub-assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an oblique view of an outer conductor sleeve of the socket sub-assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is an oblique view of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an orthogonal view of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an orthogonal cross-sectional view taken at cutting line A-A of FIG. 9 of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is an orthogonal cross-sectional view taken at cutting line B-B of FIG. 9 of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is an orthogonal cross-sectional view taken at cutting line C-C of FIG. 9 of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 7;

FIG. 13 is an orthogonal cross-sectional view taken at cutting line D-D of FIG. 9 of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 7;

FIG. 14 is an orthogonal view of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 7;

FIG. 15 is an orthogonal cross-sectional view taken at cutting line E-E of FIG. 14 of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 7;

FIG. 16 is an orthogonal view of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 7;

FIG. 17 is an orthogonal cross-sectional view taken at cutting line F-F of FIG. 16 of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 7;

FIG. 18 is an oblique view of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 7;

FIG. 19 is an oblique view of an outer conductor sleeve according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is an oblique view of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is an orthogonal view of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is an orthogonal cross-sectional view taken at cutting line A-A of FIG. 21 of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 19;

FIG. 23 is an orthogonal cross-sectional view taken at cutting line B-B of FIG. 21 of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 19;

FIG. 24 is an orthogonal cross-sectional view taken at cutting line C-C of FIG. 21 of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 19;

FIG. 25 is an orthogonal cross-sectional view taken at cutting line D-D of FIG. 21 of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 19;

FIG. 26 is an orthogonal view of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 19;

FIG. 27 is an orthogonal cross-sectional view taken at cutting line E-E of FIG. 26 of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 19;

FIG. 28 is an orthogonal view of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 19;

FIG. 29 is an orthogonal cross-sectional view taken at cutting line F-F of FIG. 28 of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 19; and

FIG. 30 is an oblique view of the outer conductor sleeve of FIG. 19.

Claims

1. An outer conductor sleeve for a coaxial electrical connector sub-assembly, comprising: an outer conductor sleeve having a wall is substantially closed along a perimeter; anda slot formed in the wall; anda spring finger integral with the wall and at least partially bounded by the slot, the spring finger having a free end configured to project into the outer conductor sleeve.

2. The outer conductor sleeve according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of spring fingers extending substantially in an axial direction of the outer conductor sleeve;wherein the slot is substantially U-shaped.

3. The outer conductor sleeve according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of spring fingers extending substantially in an axial direction of the outer conductor sleeve;wherein the slot is substantially V-shaped.

4. The outer conductor sleeve according to claim 1, further comprising: a ring partially bounded by the slot and formed on an end of the outer conductor sleeve.

5. The outer conductor sleeve according to claim 4, further comprising: a contact sleeve formed in the outer conductor sleeve; anda support arm, at least partially bounded by the slot, connecting the ring to the contact sleeve.

6. The outer conductor sleeve according to claim 4, further comprising: a support indentation projecting from the support arm into the outer conductor sleeve, the support indentations configured to align a mating connector with respect to the outer conductor sleeve.

7. The outer conductor sleeve according to claim 4, further comprising: a plurality of ring indentations projecting from the ring and defining an inner diameter of the outer conductor sleeve;wherein the inner diameter defined by the ring indentations is greater than a smallest inner diameter defined by the free ends of a plurality of spring fingers.

8. The outer conductor sleeve according to claim 7, further comprising: a spring indentation, projecting from the spring finger into the outer conductor sleeve for electrically contacting a mating connector;wherein the spring indentation is located, in an insertion direction, behind the ring indentations.

9. The outer conductor sleeve according to claim 4, further comprising: a plurality of ring indentations projecting from the ring and defining an inner diameter of the outer conductor sleeve;wherein the inner diameter defined by the ring indentations is substantially the same or slightly smaller than an inner diameter defined by the free ends of a plurality of spring fingers.

10. The outer conductor sleeve according to claim 4, further comprising: a support indentation projecting from each of a plurality of support arms, the support indentations defining an inner diameter of the outer conductor sleeve;wherein the inner diameter defined by the support indentations is greater than a smallest inner diameter defined by the free ends of a plurality of spring fingers.

11. The outer conductor sleeve according to claim 10, further comprising: a spring indentation, projecting from the spring finger into the outer conductor sleeve for electrically contacting a mating connector;wherein the spring indentation is located, in an insertion direction, behind the support indentations.

12. The outer conductor sleeve according to claim 4, further comprising: a plurality of support indentations projecting from a plurality of support arms and defining an inner diameter of the outer conductor sleeve;wherein the inner diameter defined by the support indentations is substantially the same or slightly smaller than an inner diameter defined by the free ends of a plurality of spring fingers.

13. The outer conductor sleeve according to claim 1, further comprising: four spring fingers connected; andfour support arms, each at least partially bounded by at least one of a plurality of slots;wherein the spring fingers and support arms alternate in a circumferential direction around the outer spring.

14. The outer conductor sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the outer conductor sleeve is punched from sheet metal and welded.

15. The outer conductor sleeve according to claim 14, further comprising: a ring partially bounded by the slot and formed on an end of the outer conductor sleeve;wherein a weld point is located on the ring.

16. The outer conductor sleeve according to claim 14, wherein the welding is laser welding.

17. The outer conductor sleeve according to claim 1, further comprising: a contact sleeve formed in the outer conductor sleeve; andan aperture for fixing outer conductor sleeve in a housing of the coaxial electrical connector sub-assembly.

18. The outer conductor sleeve according to claim 1, further comprising: an inner conductor socket contact.

19. The outer conductor sleeve according to claim 1, further comprising: an inner conductor pin contact.

20. The outer conductor sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the coaxial electrical connector sub-assembly is a right-angle coaxial electrical connector sub-assembly.