Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6296492
-
Patent Number
6,296,492
-
Date Filed
Friday, March 30, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, October 2, 200122 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 439 188
- 439 63
- 439 247
- 439 248
- 439 289
- 439 700
- 439 824
- 439 578
- 439 607
- 439 609
- 200 51 R
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A compact receptacle for mating connection with a complementary coaxial plug connector. The receptacle is in use to be mounted on a mobile phone for switching a signal line from an internal antenna to a vehicle's external antenna when placed on a cradle in a vehicle in mating connection with the plug connector on the cradle. The receptacle has a dielectric mold carrying an outer conductor shield fitted on top of the mold, a single spring member, and a single fixed contact member. The conductor shield includes an electrode socket for connection with an outer conductor tube of the plug. The spring member integrally carries a center electrode for connection with a center conductor post of the plug, and a movable contact which forms a normally-closed switch with a fixed contact on the fixed contact member for the above signal switching.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a receptacle for a coaxial plug connector, and more particularly to such a receptacle of compact design.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As disclosed in WO 98/31078, a receptacle has been proposed in combination with a self-aligning coaxial plug connector to facilitate a one-touch connection, while compensating for misalignment of the plug and the receptacle. Particularly in the field of connecting a mobile phone to a cradle in a vehicle for switching a signal line from a phone's internal antenna to an external antenna installed on the vehicle, the receptacle on the side of the mobile phone is required to have a set of contacts for switching the signal line, in addition to a center electrode and an outer electrode respectively for connection with a center conductor post and an outer conductor tube of the plug connector. The above publication teaches the use of a pin as the center electrode projecting into a socket for receiving the plug end and two other separate parts, one being a spring member carrying a movable contact, and the other defining a fixed contact which is engageable with the movable contact to provide a normally-closed switch for switching the signal line. The pin is mounted to a dielectric mold to have its one end projecting into the socket and to have the other end engaged with the spring member so that, upon the pin comes into contact with the center conductor post, the pin pushes and deform the spring member resiliently for opening the contacts, thus establishing the signal line leading to an transceiver circuit of the mobile phone from the external antenna through the plug connector, the pin, and the spring member. As the pin and the spring member are arranged in tandem along the axis of the receptacle for enabling the above switching, the length of the pin adds an extra height dimension to the receptacle, which is a hindrance to making the receptacle compact. Further, the pin itself adds the number of discrete parts for assembly the receptacle, resulting in a manufacture cost increase.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above insufficiency has been reduced in the present invention which provides an improved receptacle adapted for mating connection with a coaxial plug connector and capable of being made compact with a reduced manufacturing cost. The receptacle in accordance with the present invention comprises a dielectric mold having a cavity, an outer conductor shield fitted on top of the mold, a single spring member, and a single fixed contact member. The conductor shield is formed with an electrode socket for connection with an outer conductor tube of the coaxial plug connector. The electrode socket has at its axial end a bottom with a center opening which communicates with the cavity of the mold. The outer conductor shield includes a ground terminal lug projecting outwardly of the mold for electrical connection with an external circuit. The spring member is mounted to the mold and has a center electrode resiliently movable along the axis of the socket. The center electrode extends from the cavity into the center opening of the socket for pressed contact with a center conductor post of the coaxial plug connector. The spring member carries a movable contact which is disposed within the cavity and is movable together with the center electrode, and includes a first signal terminal lug projecting outwardly of the mold for electrical connection with the external circuit. The fixed contact member is also mounted to the mold and has a fixed contact which is normally engaged with the movable contact due to the bias of the spring member and is disengaged from the movable contact when the center electrode is depressed by the center conductor post of the coaxial plug connector. The fixed contact member includes a second terminal lug projecting outwardly of the mold for electrical connection with the external circuit. Thus, the receptacle can be assembled from only four discrete parts, while giving the signal line switching operation in response to receiving the coaxial plug connector. Further, since the center electrode extends integrally from the spring member into the socket for direct contact with the center conductor post of the coaxial plug connector, the receptacle can be dispensed with any additional separate contact member which would adds an extra length or height to the receptacle. Accordingly, the receptacle can be made compact particularly with respect to the height dimension and be assembled with the reduced manufacturing cost.
In the preferred embodiment, the outer conductor shield is supported onto the peripheral wall of the mold to project the bottom of the socket into the cavity. Thus, the mold can absorb a fraction of the socket length required for receiving the plug connector, thereby minimizing the height of the receptacle.
The spring member is preferably formed by a single metal sheet to have the center electrode integrally struck therefrom and the movable contact bulged therefrom, simplifying the structure of the combination of the center electrode and the movable contact for reduced manufacturing cost.
Further, the spring member may be formed with a first stab at an intermediate portion between the first terminal lug and the center electrode. The first stab is inserted into the mold for mounting the spring member to the mold. The movable contact is located at a portion adjacent the center electrode and opposite of the first stab from the center electrode so as to have sufficient stroke for opening the contacts.
The center electrode may be designed to have a resiliently deformable contact tip for pressed contact with the center conductor post of the coaxial plug connector.
Preferably, the movable contact is disposed within the cavity behind the bottom of the socket to be spaced from the center opening in a lateral direction perpendicular to the axis of the socket. Thus, the movable contact is concealed behind the bottom of the socket and to be protected from being jammed up by a foreign matter.
In order to give a sufficient stroke to the center electrode as well as the movable spring with a limited length of the spring member, the spring member is specially configured to have a bent portion extending between the first stab and the center electrode.
In the preferred embodiment, the center electrode is of an L-shaped configuration to have a vertical leg extending along the axis of the socket and a contact tip extending horizontally from one end of the leg in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the socket for direct contact with the center conductor post of the coaxial plug connector. Further, the contact tip may have a return bent tab extending back into the center opening to reduce a gap between the contact tip and the periphery of the opening so as to prevent the clogging of a foreign matter which would impede the movement of the center electrode.
In the meanwhile, thus configured receptacle can be suitably combined with the coaxial plug connector having a compact structure. The plug connector includes a mount base adapted to be fixed to a mounting structure; and a coaxial plug having a longitudinal axis and supported to the mount base to project therefrom. The coaxial plug has an insertion end at one axial end thereof for mating connection with the receptacle and has an anchor end at the opposite axial end for connection with the coaxial cable. The outer conductor tube of the plug surrounds the center conductor post in an electrically insulating relation therefrom by means of a dielectric member fitted within the outer conductor tube. The dielectric member occupies a fraction of a space between the center conductor post and the outer conductor tube, thereby leaving an air layer extending along the length of the coaxial plug within the space. By provision of the air layer along the coaxial plug, the outer conductor tube can be spaced from the center conductor post by a reduced radial distance due to the large dielectric constant of the air layer, thereby making the plug and the complementary receptacle compact with respect to the radial dimension thereof.
The air layer can be realized by use of a specially configured dielectric member. For instance, the dielectric member is shaped into a barrel which surrounds the center conductor post and has rings spaced axially along the plug. The rings are held in close contact with the outer conductor tube to retain the barrel within the tube. The barrel has its outer surface spaced radially from the tube to leave the air layer extending along the plug between the axially spaced rings. Further, an additional air layer may be formed between the barrel and the center conductor post for minimizing the radial dimension of the plug.
These and still other objects and advantageous features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the embodiment, when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a receptacle in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is an exploded perspective view of the receptacle;
FIGS. 3
to
5
are respectively a top view, a vertical section, and a side view of the receptacle;
FIGS. 6 and 7
are vertical sections of the receptacle shown with a complementary coaxial plug connector, respectively;
FIG. 8
is a front view of a spring member utilized in the receptacle;
FIG. 9
is a vertical section of a modified receptacle;
FIGS. 10
to
12
are respectively a top view, a front view, and a bottom view of the coaxial plug connector;
FIG. 13
is a vertical section of a modified coaxial plug connector; and
FIG. 14
is a vertical section of a further modified coaxial plug connector.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to
FIGS. 1
to
5
, there is shown a receptacle
100
adapted to receive a complementary coaxial plug connector
10
in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The coaxial plug connector
10
is designed for connecting a coaxial cable
1
to the receptacle
100
, and is specifically adapted for detachable connection of a mobile phone to a cradle carried on a vehicle for hands-free operation in driving. More particularly, the combination of the coaxial plug connector
10
and the receptacle is used to switch a signal line from a phone's internal antenna to a vehicles external antenna for increasing the antenna gain when the phone is operated in the vehicle. The receptacle
100
is mounted on a mobile phone casing
90
, while the plug connector
100
is mounted on a cradle housing
190
. The receptacle
100
is shaped into a low-profile configuration and is received within a hole
91
of the thin-wall mobile phone casing
90
, as shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7
. The coaxial plug connector
100
comprises a mount base
20
supporting a coaxial plug
30
composed of a center conductor post
31
surrounded by a dielectric
40
, and an outer conductor tube
33
. The plug
30
defines an insertion end at its one axial end for mating engagement into an electrode socket
134
in the receptacle
100
, and defines an anchor end at the opposite axial end for connection with the coaxial cable
1
.
As best shown in
FIG. 2
, the receptacle
100
consists of four separate parts, namely, a flat dielectric mold
110
, an outer conductor shield
130
, a spring member
150
, and a fixed contact member
160
. The mold
110
is shaped into a rectangular configuration having a closed bottom and a periphery surrounding a top open cavity
114
within which major portions of the spring member
150
and the fixed contact member
160
are received. The periphery of the mold
110
is defined by opposed end walls
111
and opposed side walls
112
joining the end walls. The conductor shield
130
is made of a copper to have a rectangular frame
131
and an integral annulus
132
projecting centrally from the top of the frame
131
and defining therein the electrode socket
134
which is a round recess having an upright axis for receiving the insertion end of the coaxial plug
30
. The annulus
132
has a top inclined guide face
133
which guides the insertion end of the plug
30
into the socket
134
to accommodate the misalignment between the plug connector
10
and receptacle
100
, as will be discussed hereinafter. Formed at the bottom of the socket
134
is an inward flange
135
for abutment against the end of the outer conductor tube
33
of the plug
30
. The inward flange
135
surrounds a round opening
136
through which the movable contact member
140
is exposed for connection with the center conductor post
31
of the plug
30
. The frame
131
is also integrally formed with a skirt
140
which overlaps the periphery of the mold
110
and is secured thereto by pressed engagement of projections
113
on opposite side walls
112
into corresponding notches
142
of the skirt
140
. Also integrally formed with the frame
131
are ground terminal lugs
143
which project horizontally outwardly from the bottom of the conductor shield
130
or the mold
110
for surface mounting of the receptacle
100
on a printed board in the mobile phone casing
90
. It is noted in this connection that, as shown in
FIG. 4
, the bottom of the socket
134
extends into the cavity
114
of the mold
110
when the conductor shield
130
is mounted on top of the mold, i.e., the periphery of the frame
131
is supported on top of the periphery of the mold
110
.
The spring member
150
is formed from a metal plate to have a resiliently deformable center electrode
151
and a movable contact
152
at one end, a first terminal lug
153
at the other end, and a bridge integrally joining the center electrode
151
and the terminal lug
153
. The terminal lug
153
is adapted for connection with the RF signal line of a transceiver circuit of the mobile phone which receives the RF signal selectively from the internal antenna of the mobile phone and the external antennal of the vehicle. As best shown in
FIGS. 2
,
4
and
8
, the bridge includes a vertical segment
154
upstanding from the terminal lug
153
, a horizontal segment
155
extending from the upper end of the vertical segment
154
, and a cantilever portion
156
extending from the horizontal segment
155
to the center electrode
151
for imparting the resilient deformability to the center electrode
151
. A pair of stabs
157
depend from the horizontal segment
155
and are press-fitted into a corresponding slit
115
of the mold
110
to mount the spring member
150
to the mold
110
such that the cantilever portion
156
is resiliently deformable within the cavity
114
, allowing the center electrode
151
and the movable contact
152
to move in the axial direction of the socket
136
. The center electrode
151
projects through the opening
136
into the socket
134
for pressed contact with the center conductor post
31
of the plug
30
. It is noted in this connection that the center electrode
151
projects into the socket
134
for successful connection to the counterpart center conductor post
31
which is required to be recessed from the top end of the outer conductor tube
33
for keeping the post
31
intact and avoiding the post from damaging a surrounding parts or injuring the human body. The terminal lug
153
extends outwardly from the bottom of the end wall
111
of the mold
110
in a coplanar relation with the ground terminal lug
143
.
The fixed contact member
160
is shaped into a Z-shaped configuration having a fixed contact
162
engageable with the movable contact
152
and a second terminal lug
163
extending outwardly from the bottom of the sidewall
112
of the mold
110
for connection with an internal antenna of the mobile phone. The fixed contact
162
is defined by a horizontal segment which is integrally connected to the terminal lug
163
through a vertical segment
164
. A pair of stabs
167
extend in a coplanar relation with the vertical segment
164
and are press-fitted into corresponding slits
116
in the mold
110
for mounting the fixed contact member
160
with the fixed contact
162
kept in contact with the movable contact
152
, as shown in FIG.
4
.
The mold
110
is formed in the external surface of the opposite end walls
111
respectively with a first vertical groove
121
and a second vertical groove
122
each running the full height of the end walls for receiving the vertical segment
154
of the spring member
150
and the vertical segment
164
of the fixed contact member
160
, respectively. Thus, the first and second terminal lugs
153
and
163
extend horizontally outwardly from the lower end of the grooves
121
and
122
. The end walls
111
have inward convexes
123
and
124
of which height is slightly lower than the end wall for bearing the horizontal segment
155
of the spring member
150
and the horizontal segment
162
of the fixed contact member
160
, respectively, as best shown in FIG.
4
. The first and second grooves
121
and
122
are open to the cavity
114
only through horizontal channels respectively defined above the inward convexes
123
and
124
. Therefore, after the shield
130
is assembled to the mold
100
, the grooves
121
and
122
are made to communicate with the cavity
114
only through the clearance between the channels and the corresponding horizontal segments
155
and
162
received therein.
The shield
130
has a first extension
137
and a second extension
138
which depend from the rectangular plane of the frame
131
to points immediately upwardly of the first terminal lug
153
and the second terminal lug
163
, while overlapping the major portions of the corresponding vertical segments
154
and
164
, respectively in an electrically spaced relation therefrom, as best shown in FIG.
4
. Thus, the individual grooves
121
and
122
fitted with the vertical segments
154
and
164
are closed by the extensions to a considerable extent, thereby leaving only a small air-escape passage leading from around the terminal lugs to the center opening
136
of the shield
130
through the cavity
114
. This is particularly advantageous for sucking the receptacle
100
by vacuum during an automated assembly of transporting the receptacle from a part line to an assembly line. The terminal lugs
153
and
163
are formed to have steps at portions immediately adjacent the lower ends of the extensions to keep a reduced clearance therebetween, while satisfying requirements of placing the terminal lugs
153
and
163
in alignment with the bottom of the mold
110
for surface mounting of the receptacle and of reducing an area of skirt
140
opposing the spring member
150
and the fixed contact member
160
for an optimum impedance matching.
It is noted in this connection that the extensions
137
and
138
of the shield
130
are defined between notches
145
and
146
in the skirt
140
which engage respectively with corresponding projections
125
and
126
for tightly securing the shield to the mold as well as to keep the extensions
137
and
138
in correct positions. The notches
145
and
146
are desirous also for reason of reducing the area of the skirt
140
to realize the optimum impedance matching between the shield
130
and the individual RF signal lines, i.e., the spring member
150
and the fixed contact member
160
. Also for making the impedance matching, the stabs
157
and
167
of the spring member and the fixed contact member may be perforated to reduce a capacitance between these members and the skirt of the shield
130
. The mold
110
has a stopper stand
117
extending immediately below the bent contact tip of the center electrode
151
which bears the contact tip depressed by the center conductor post
31
of the coaxial plug
30
. It is noted in this connection that the contact tip and the associated vertical leg extending from the cantilever portion
156
are also given a resilient deformability which is additive to resilient deformability of the cantilever portion
156
for reliable pressed contact of the center electrode
151
with the center conductor post
31
of the coaxial plug
30
.
As shown in
FIG. 8
, the spring member
150
is formed to have the cantilever portion
156
bent for exhibiting an increased resiliently deformability within a limited length so that the center electrode
161
and the movable contact
152
are movable by a long stroke along the axis of the socket
134
, which contributes to reduce the radial size of the receptacle
100
. As shown in
FIG. 9
, the contact tip of the center electrode
151
may have a return bent tab
158
which extends back into the center opening
136
of the socket
134
for reducing a gap between the contact tip and the periphery of the opening for preventing clogging of a foreign matter which would impair the contact tip.
Although in the above description, the center electrode
151
and the movable contact
152
are both explained to be formed as integral parts of the spring member
150
, either one or both of these parts may be prepared separately from the spring member
150
and be subsequently assembled permanently thereto to make the spring member undividable.
Now referring back to
FIGS. 6 and 7
, and further to
FIGS. 10
to
12
, the structure of the coaxial plug connector
10
is explained in detail. Although the illustrated plug connector
10
is a good counterpart of the receptacle
100
as disclosed in this description, the receptacle
100
may be adapted for any other applicable types of coaxial plug connector. The plug connector
10
includes the coaxial plug
30
floatingly supported by the mount base
20
. The mount base
20
is disposed in a hole
191
formed in the cradle housing
190
, and is composed of a top and bottom open hollow cylinder
21
and a top cover
24
which is secured to the cylinder
21
and has a plurality of bent tabs
25
for engagement with an annular projection
192
at the bottom of the hole. The cylinder
21
has a rim
22
which abuts against a bottom periphery of the hole to fix the mount base
20
to the casing
90
in combination with the tabs
25
. The top cover
24
has an opening through which the coaxial plug
30
projects. The anchor end of the coaxial plug
30
extends through the bottom of the cylinder
21
and is coupled to a joint
60
for connection with the coaxial cable
1
having a center conductor
2
, a dielectric
3
, an outer conductor shield
4
, and the dielectric sheath
5
.
The joint
60
comprises a sleeve
61
aligned with the coaxial plug
30
and a coupling tube
64
integrally extending in a lateral direction perpendicular to the axis of the plug
30
. The sleeve
61
is secured to the anchor end of the coaxial plug
30
by engagement of an outer flange
34
at the anchor end with a corresponding catch
62
at the upper end of the sleeve
61
. The coupling tube
64
is dimensioned to have the outer conductor shield
4
of the coaxial cable
1
fitted therearound and to have the dielectric
3
inserted into a bore
65
of the tube
64
. For facilitating the connection with the cable
1
, the tube
64
has a tapered section
65
which forces the outer conductor shield
4
apart from the dielectric
3
. A dielectric ferrule
66
is wrapped around the shield
4
over the tube
64
and is squeezed on the tube by means of a strain bushing
67
for securely connecting the cable
1
to the joint
60
. Then, the center conductor
2
of the cable
1
is soldered to a stud
35
at the lower end of the center conductor post
31
by means of a soldering tool inserted into the sleeve through the bottom opening thereof. After the soldering connection, the bottom opening of the sleeve
61
is closed by a lid
68
. The joint is also formed around the upper end of the sleeve
61
with a stopper ring
69
which is engageable with the bottom end of the mount base
20
for limiting the axial movement of the coaxial plug
30
.
The coaxial plug
30
is floatingly supported to the mount base
20
by means of a slider
50
and a coil spring
65
so as to be axially depressed against the bias of the spring
55
. The slider
50
is in the form of a ring with a depending annular fringe
51
and is received within the cylinder
21
of the mount base
20
with the annular fringe
51
kept in sliding contact with the interior wall of the cylinder
21
to be slidable in the axial direction of the plug
30
and is urged by the spring
55
interposed between the slider
50
and an inner flange
23
at the bottom of the cylinder
21
. An opening
52
is formed centrally in the slider
50
to pass therethrough the plug
30
in such a manner as to allow the plug
30
to move freely relative the slider
50
in the lateral direction perpendicular to the axis of the plug within a limited extent. Formed at an axial center of the plug
30
is an integral collar
36
which rests on the slider
50
so that the plug
30
is movable axially together with the slider
50
under the urgence and against the bias of the spring
55
. The collar
36
is shaped into a conical configuration with an conical face
37
inclined with respect to the axis of the plug
30
and has a root annular section
38
dimensioned to be fit into a round opening
26
of the top cover
24
when the plug is in a non-depressed position as shown in FIG.
6
.
Thus, the plug
30
is movable axially together with the slider
50
relative to the mount base
20
as well as movable laterally relative to the slider
50
, thereby assuring successful mating engagement of the plug
30
into the electrode socket
134
of the receptacle even in the presence of a misalignment between the plug
30
and the receptacle
100
. When placing the mobile phone casing
90
on the cradle housing
190
in the presence of the misalignment, the plug
30
first comes engagement with an inclined guide face
133
leading to the socket
134
and is guided thereby to move laterally while being depressed axially into a correct position for mating connection with the socket
134
. In this sense, the slider
50
, the collar
36
, and the spring
55
constitutes an aligning mechanism which accommodates the misalignment for successfully connecting the plug
30
with the receptacle
100
. In the depressed position, the center conductor post
31
and the outer conductor tube
33
are kept pressed against a center electrode
151
and the electrode socket
134
, respectively for reliable electrical connection. When the plug
30
is correctly engaged into the socket
134
, the center conductor post
31
pushes the center electrode
151
to deform the spring member
150
, thereby opening the contacts for switching the signal line from the internal antenna of the mobile phone to the external antenna equipped on the vehicle.
Further, the inclined surface
37
of the collar
36
is cooperative with an inner periphery
27
of the top cover
24
of the mount base
20
around the opening
26
to realize a self-centering mechanism which enables the plug
30
to return to a lateral center position upon being disconnected from the receptacle
100
. After the plug
30
is disconnected from the receptacle
100
, i.e., released from the depressed position in which the plug
30
is offset laterally for mating connection with the receptacle
100
, the plug
30
is urged to move from the depressed position axially into the non-depressed position by the force of the spring
55
, during which the inclined surface
37
of the collar
36
comes into sliding contact with the inner periphery
27
around the opening
26
of the cop cover
24
so as to convert the axial movement of the plug into the lateral movement thereof. Whereby the root section
38
of the collar
36
is guided into the opening
26
of the top cover
24
for returning the plug into the lateral center position. Thus, the plug
30
can be centered by itself with an aid of the spring
55
. After being centered by engagement of the root section
38
into the opening
26
, the stopper ring
69
of the joint
60
abuts against the bottom end of the mount base
20
to retain the plug
30
in this position. Thus, in addition to the self-alignment function, the plug connector further includes the self-centering mechanism which causes the coaxial plug to return to the center position after the coaxial plug is disconnected from the receptacle. Accordingly, each time the coaxial plug is disconnected from the receptacle, it can be centered to the original center position, to be ready for next successful blind connection. In this sense, the illustrated coaxial plug connector is advantageously utilized in combination with the receptacle disclosed herein or with receptacle of other types. The collar
36
may be additionally formed at its lower end immediately behind the root section with a stopper annulus which abuts against the top cover
24
around the opening
26
when the plug is centered.
The cover plate
24
and the collar
36
are each made of a metal to have good resistance to friction wearing at the interface therebetween. The inner periphery
27
of the top cover
24
may be also inclined with respect to the axis of the plug or rounded in conformity to the inclined face of the collar
36
for smoothly centering the plug
30
. The collar
36
may be alternatively shaped into a pyramid having plural lateral inclined faces for sliding contact with the inner periphery of the opening
26
. Further, the collar
36
may be formed separately formed from the plug
30
and is secured thereto.
Turning back to
FIG. 6
, the coaxial plug
30
is made compact with regard to the radial dimension while retaining optimum impedance by interposing an air layer
48
between the center conductor post
31
and the outer conductor tube
33
. To provide the air layer
48
, the dielectric
40
is specially configured into a barrel
41
having a pair of retainer rings
42
at the axial end of the barrel
41
. The barrel
41
is inserted within the outer conductor tube
33
and is secured thereto by snugly engaging the rings
42
to the inside wall of the tube
33
. The barrel
41
has an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of the tube
33
so as to define the between the rings the air layer
48
extending along the axis of the plug
30
. The center conductor post
31
is snugly fitted within the barrel
41
.
In addition, as shown in
FIG. 13
, the barrel
41
may be shaped to have a larger inside diameter than the outside diameter of the center conductor post
31
to define therebetween an additional air layer
49
extending the full length of the plug
30
for further reducing the radial dimension of the plug
30
. With the use of thus configured plug
30
, the receptacle can be made compact accordingly. The lower end of the center conductor post
31
snugly fits into the ring
42
to be supported thereby.
FIG. 14
shows a further modified coaxial plug connector which is identical to the above embodiment except that the inner periphery
27
A of the top cover
24
A is inclined with respect to the axis of the plug
30
A for sliding contact with the outer edge of the ring-shaped collar
36
A. Like parts are designated by like reference numerals with a suffix letter of “A”. In this modification, the collar
36
A is guided into the opening
26
A by sliding engagement with the inclined inner periphery
27
A when the plug
30
A returns to the non-depressed position for centering the plug
30
A.
Claims
- 1. A receptacle adapted for mating connection with a coaxial plug connector, said receptacle comprising:a dielectric mold having a cavity; an outer conductor shield being fitted on top of the mold and formed with an electrode socket for connection with an outer conductor tube of the coaxial plug connector, said electrode socket having a axis and a bottom at one axial end, the bottom being formed with a center opening communicating with the cavity of the mold, said outer conductor shield having a ground terminal lug projecting outwardly of the mold for electrical connection with an external circuit; a single spring member mounted to the mold and having a center electrode resiliently movable along the axis of the socket, said center electrode extending from the cavity through the center opening of the electrode socket for pressed contact with a center conductor post of the coaxial plug connector, said spring member carrying a movable contact which is disposed within the cavity and is movable together with the center electrode, said spring member having a first signal terminal lug projecting outwardly of the mold for electrical connection with the external circuit; and a single fixed contact member mounted to the mold and having a fixed contact which is normally engaged with the movable contact by the bias of the spring member and is disengaged from the movable contact when the center electrode is depressed by the center conductor post of the coaxial plug connector, said fixed contact member having a second terminal lug projecting outwardly of the mold for electrical connection with the external circuit.
- 2. The receptacle as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe outer conductor shield is supported onto the periphery of the mold to project the bottom of the socket into the cavity of the mold.
- 3. The receptacle as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid spring member is formed by a single metal sheet to have the center electrode integrally struck therefrom and the movable contact bulged therefrom.
- 4. The receptacle as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid spring member is formed with a first stab at an intermediate portion between the first terminal lug and the center electrode, said first stab being inserted into the mold for mounting the spring member to the mold, said movable contact being located at a portion adjacent the center electrode and opposite of the first stab from the center electrode.
- 5. The receptacle as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid center electrode has a resiliently deformable contact tip for pressed contact with the center conductor post of the coaxial plug connector.
- 6. The receptacle as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid movable contact is disposed within the cavity behind the bottom of the electrode socket to be spaced from the center opening in a lateral direction perpendicular to the axis of the socket.
- 7. The receptacle as set forth in claim 4, whereinsaid spring member has a bridge extending integrally between the first stab and the center electrode, said bridge being bent with respect to the length of the spring member for giving an enhanced resiliency by which the center electrode is allowed to move along the axis of the socket.
- 8. The receptacle as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid center electrode is of an L-shaped configuration to have a vertical leg extending along the axis of the socket and a contact tip extending horizontally from one end of the leg in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the socket for direct contact with the center conductor post of the coaxial plug connector.
- 9. The receptacle as set forth in claim 8, whereinsaid contact tip has a return bent tab extending back into the center opening.
- 10. A combination of the receptacle recited in claim 1 and a coaxial plug connector for coupling a coaxial cable with the receptacle and comprising:a mount base adapted to be fixed to a mounting structure; and a coaxial plug having a longitudinal axis and supported to the mount base to project therefrom, said coaxial plug having an insertion end at one axial end thereof for mating connection with the receptacle and having an anchor end at the opposite longitudinal end for connection with the coaxial cable, the outer conductor tube of the plug surrounding the center conductor post in an electrically insulating relation therefrom by means of a dielectric member fitted within the outer conductor tube, said dielectric member occupying a fraction of a space between the center conductor post and the outer conductor tube, thereby leaving an air layer extending along the length of the coaxial plug within the space.
- 11. The combination as set forth in claim 10, whereinsaid dielectric member is shaped into a dielectric barrel surrounding the center conductor post, said barrel having rings which are spaced axially along the plug and are held in close contact with the outer conductor tube to retain the barrel within the tube, said barrel being spaced radially at a portion other than the rings from the outer conductor tube so as to leave the air layer extending along the plug between the axially spaced rings.
- 12. The combination as set forth in claim 11, whereinsaid dielectric barrel is spaced from the center conductor post to leave therebetween an additional air layer extending axially along the plug.
- 13. The combination as set forth in claim 10, whereinsaid coaxial plug connector includes: a spring which supports the coaxial plug floatingly to the mount base for urging the insertion end into pressed contact with the receptacle, an aligning mechanism which allows the coaxial plug to move in an axial direction thereof as well as in a lateral direction perpendicular to the axial direction for aligning the insertion end to the receptacle when mating the coaxial plug to the receptacle; and a self-centering means which causes said coaxial plug to return to a center position with respect to the lateral direction after the coaxial plug is disengaged from the receptacle.
- 14. The combination as set forth in claim 13, whereinsaid mount base has a top cover with an opening through which the coaxial plug extends, said self-centering means comprises a collar fixedly surrounding the coaxial plug at a portion intermediate between the insertion end and the anchor end, the top cover, and the spring, said top cover having an inner peripheral surface defining said opening, said collar having a root section which fits into said opening when the coaxial plug is in a non-depressed position as disengaged from the receptacle, said collar having a slide surface which comes into slide contact with the inner peripheral surface around the opening when said coaxial plug moves axially by the bias of the spring from a depressed position to the non-depressed position, at least one of the slide surface of the collar and the inner peripheral surface of the top cover being inclined with respect to the axial direction of the coaxial plug so as to translate the axial movement of the collar due to the bias of the spring into a lateral movement of the collar for guiding the root section of the collar into the opening, thereby centering the coaxial plug.
- 15. The combination as set forth in claim 14, whereinsaid collar is formed as an integral part of the outer conductor tube and is shaped into a conical configuration of which conical face defines the slide surface.
Priority Claims (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
12-099337 |
Mar 1920 |
JP |
|
12-099338 |
Mar 1920 |
JP |
|
12-157273 |
May 1920 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
5104325 |
Mitani et al. |
Apr 1992 |
|
6224407 |
Duquerroy et al. |
May 2001 |
|
6239385 |
Schwiebert et al. |
May 2001 |
|
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
WO 9831078 |
Jul 1998 |
WO |