The disclosure described herein generally relates to coaxial cable connectors and, in particular, to ultra-low profile coaxial cable connectors.
Coaxial cables are generally known, and which include transmission lines comprising at least one electrically conducting material, preferably in a tubal form that may function as one or more outer conductors, which surround and are separated from a central or inner conductor by one or more insulating elements. Common types of coaxial cables include micro coaxial cables, as well as RG6, RG11, and RG59 coaxial cables, each of which typically have a characteristic impedance of 50 or 75 Ohms. Coaxial cables thus function to couple radio frequency (RF) signals between an antenna and other RF components. Coaxial cables are used in various products to couple transceivers to an antenna and to enable data communications. Such products may include portable electronics devices that implement communication modules that are coupled to one or more antennas via a coaxial cable to enable various types of communications, such as Wi-Fi and/or cellular data communications.
Coaxial cables for such applications are typically fitted with a connecting element such as electrically conducting metal connector at both ends, with one end being coupled to the antenna and the other end being coupled to an RF component, which may include the aforementioned communication module. Thus, the communication module may have a mating coaxial receptacle for this purpose, which is often board-mounted (i.e. a printed circuit board (PCB) mount design). The coaxial cable connector is typically mounted to the mating coaxial receptacle via a 90-degree coaxial cable connector design to reduce the minimum height needed for installing the communication module in a particular device. For Wi-Fi communication modules, conventional regulatory-certified Wi-Fi module designs that implement on-board RF connectors have an overall thickness of 1.8 mm. However, current marketing trends for mobile devices such as tablets and thin and light personal computers (PCs) are driving a further reduction in the height dimension of communication module design.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present disclosure and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the techniques discussed herein.
In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosure. In the following description, reference is made to the following drawings, in which:
The present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawing in which an element first appears is typically indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the corresponding reference number.
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, exemplary details in which the disclosure may be practiced. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the various designs, including structures, systems, and methods, may be practiced without these specific details. The description and representation herein are the common means used by those experienced or skilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuitry have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure.
As discussed further herein, communication modules include a board (i.e. a PCB) and communication components, which are soldered or otherwise mounted to the PCB. The communication module also typically includes a metallic shield mounted over the communication components. Furthermore, the communication module includes the aforementioned PCB-mounted RF connector, which is alternatively referred to herein as a coaxial receptacle or a receptacle. The coaxial receptacle is configured to mate with a corresponding coaxial cable connector fitted onto the coaxial cable, which is alternatively referred to herein as a plug. The plug mates with the coaxial receptacle to couple the coaxial cable inner and outer conductors to the communication module, and thus to ensure that the appropriate communication signals are transferred between the communication module and the coupled antenna or other RF component. The communication module is identified with an overall profile or height that needs to be accommodated for its use in a particular electronic device. For conventional communication modules, this height is limited by the mated height of the coaxial cable plug and the coaxial receptacle.
Again, and as noted above, current marketing trends are driving a reduction in communication module height to facilitate thinner electronic devices. Previous solutions to reduce the communication module height (also referred to herein as profile or thickness) includes the use of smaller diameter coaxial cables, as the current coaxial cables used throughout the mobile electronics industry include both 1.13 mm and 0.81 mm diameter specifications. For 1.13 mm diameter coaxial cables, conventional coaxial cable connectors and receptacles have a mated height of 1.4 mm. For 0.81 mm coaxial cables, conventional coaxial cable plugs and receptacles have a reduced mated height of 1.2 mm. However, the use of 0.81 mm diameter coaxial cable solutions is not preferred, as such coaxial cables have a larger insertion loss (up to 2-3 dB) compared with 1.13 mm diameter coaxial cables. Furthermore, even the reduced mated height of 1.2 mm may be insufficient to meet present demands with respect to the overall module height, as additional clearance and tolerances are considered when mounting communication modules in electronic devices.
Therefore, the designs described herein address these issues by providing an ultra-low profile coaxial cable connector (i.e. plug) that facilitates a side or lateral coupling of the coaxial cable inner conductor and the center pin of an accompanying PCB-mounted coaxial receptacle. This is achieved by implementing a coaxial receptacle that sacrifices rotation of the coaxial cable connector when mated with the accompanying coaxial receptacle, as it is recognized that many applications do not require this rotation. The coaxial cable connector and coaxial receptacle designs implemented herein achieve a reduction in the mated height of the coaxial cable plug and receptacle to less than 1.0 mm for both 1.13 mm and 0.81 mm diameter coaxial cables. In both cases, the designs as discussed herein enable a further reduction in the total height of communication modules to 1.25 mm, thereby meeting the high demands for thinner electronic device designs.
The coaxial cable connector 110 may be comprised as any suitable combination of conductive and non-conductive components to facilitate a connection of any suitable type of coaxial cable to a mating receptacle. The cable connector 110 may be implemented as a plug or plug assembly as discussed herein, and may include an insert 102, a clamp 104, and an outer shell 106. The coaxial cable connector 110 as assembled in this manner mates with a coaxial receptacle 600, which includes a substrate or spacer 600.1, a ground terminal 600.2, and a center pin terminal 600.3 as shown in
With continued reference to
Additional detail regarding the insert 102 is shown in
Again, the slot 102.1 in the insert 102 is configured to receive the clamp 104. The clamp 104 is shown in further detail in
In this way, the clamp 104 functions to transfer signals between the center pin terminal 600.3 of the coaxial receptacle 600 and the inner conductor 201.4 of the coaxial cable 201. To do so, the clamp 104 comprises, at the second end 104.2, two arms 104.3, 104.4, which function to provide a clamping mechanism with respect to the center pin identified with the center pin terminal 600.3 of the coaxial receptacle 600. When mated with the coaxial receptacle 600 as discussed herein, the two arms 104.3, 104.4 are symmetrically disposed about the center pin of the center pin terminal 600.3. Thus, the clamp 104 is shaped at the first end 104.1 so as to provide electrical contact with the inner conductor 201.4 and, when mated with the coaxial receptacle 600, the clamp 104 is shaped at the second end 104.2 to also provide electrical contact with the center pin terminal 600.3 via contact with the center pin.
The two arms 104.3, 104.4 as shown in
Thus, when the cable connector 110 is mated with the coaxial receptacle 600, it ensured that the arms 104.3, 104.4 at the second end 104.2 of the clamp 104 electrically contact two opposite sides of the center pin of the center pin terminal 600.3. That is, the biased nature of the arms 104.3, 104.4 at the second end 104.2 of the clamp 104 causes the two arms 104.3, 104.4 to provide a clamping force on two opposing sides of the center pin 600.3 when the coaxial cable connector 110 is mated with the coaxial receptacle 600. Moreover, and as shown in
It is noted that the coaxial cable connector 110 implements a right angle or substantially (excepting for tolerances) 90-degree connection with the coaxial receptacle 600 via the use of the lateral coupling of the clamp 104, which is coupled to the inner conductor 201.4 and to the sides of the center pin of the center pin terminal 600.3 when the coaxial cable connector 110 is mated with the coaxial receptacle 600. In other words, the hole 102.2 of the insert 102 is configured to receive the center pin 600.3, which extends in one direction (such as the z-direction), and the clamp 104 is configured to receive the inner conductor 201.4, which extends in another direction (such as a direction within the x-y plane) into the first end 104.1. In this configuration, and due to the lateral coupling of the inner conductor 201.4 and the center pin of the center pin terminal 600.3 with the clamp 104 as discussed herein, these two directions may be perpendicular to one another.
It is noted that this configuration is in contrast to conventional right-angle coaxial cable connectors, which implement a connection from the inner conductor to the top of a mating coaxial receptacle center pin. That is, conventional 90-degree coaxial connectors mate with a coaxial receptacle center pin by coupling with the center pin from a “top” direction with respect to the direction of extension of the center pin. This conventional configuration requires that the inner conductor be routed above the coaxial receptacle, i.e. bent 90-degrees to extend downward from above to couple with the mating coaxial receptacle center pin. The bending of the inner conductor in this manner results in a higher profile of the coaxial cable connector. The coaxial cable connector 110 as disclosed herein nullifies such disadvantages by obviating the need for such “overhead” cable routing via the implementation of the lateral coupling mechanism provided by the clamp 104. This lateral coupling mechanism functions to establish electrical contact with the inner conductor 201.4, as well as the center pin of the center pin terminal 600.3 by providing a clamping force on two opposing sides of the center pin of the center pin terminal 600.3 when the coaxial cable connector 110 is mated with the coaxial receptacle 600.
The use of the lateral coupled clamp 104 as discussed herein thus facilitates an ultra-low profile mated height of the coaxial cable connector 110 and the coaxial receptacle 600. The details of the mated height specifications that may be achieved with respect to the mated coaxial cable connector 110 and coaxial receptacle 600 are further discussed below. However, to ensure that a thinner communication module height may be retained for larger coaxial cables (such as 1.13 mm diameter coaxial cables), it is noted that the use of the lateral coupled inner conductor 201.4 with the clamp 104 may result in a further modification to how such coaxial cables may be routed with respect to the coaxial cable connector 110.
That is, and referring now to
Again, the coaxial cable connector 110 includes an outer shell 106. Turning now to
The outer shell 106 further includes a cutout or opening 106.3 in the mating portion 106.1. The cutout 106.3 may be any suitable shape and/or dimension that matches or aligns with (excepting for tolerances) the opening in the ground ring of the ground terminal 600.2 of the coaxial receptacle 600 when mated therewith, as discussed herein and in further detail below with respect to
The coaxial receptacle 600 is shown in further detail in
Although three ground tabs are shown in
The coaxial receptacle 600 may be of any suitable footprint, size, and/or shape to mate with the coaxial cable connector 110 as discussed herein. In one non-limiting scenario, the coaxial receptacle 600 has footprint dimensions identified with an M.2 plug-compatible Radio Frequency Coaxial Connector (RFCC). The footprint dimensions of the coaxial receptacle 600 may be same or substantially similar to (i.e. excepting for tolerances) to a conventional RFCC receptacle as shown in
However, although the footprint dimensions of the coaxial receptacle 600 may be the same as a conventional RFCC receptacle, the lateral coupling of the inner conductor 201.4 and the central pin, which is facilitated by the clamp 104 as discussed herein, results in modifications to the RFCC receptacle as shown in
The opening in the ground ring may be of any suitable size that may be expressed as an angle of an arc that is swept out by the opening. The opening of the ground ring as shown in
Thus, the use of the ground ring opening and the lateral coupling of the center pin to the clamp 104 results in an inability to freely rotate the coaxial cable connector 110 once mated with the coaxial receptacle 600. However, this lack of rotation is acceptable given the higher priority of significantly reducing the mated height of the coaxial cable connector 110. As shown in
When the coaxial cable connector 110 is mated with the coaxial receptacle 600 in this manner, the maximum above the board height is 0.950 mm, which again is measured from the bottom of the coaxial receptacle 600 to the top of the outer shell 106. Furthermore, the maximum below the board height is 0.200 mm, which is the result of the offset of the inner conductor 201.4 as noted herein, and is measured from the bottom of the coaxial receptacle 600 to the bottom of the outer jacket 201.1 of the coaxial cable 201. This maximum below the board height is provided for the use of a 1.13 mm diameter coaxial cable, and would be less for the smaller diameter 0.81 mm coaxial cable.
As shown in further detail in
A coaxial cable connector is provided. With reference to
A coaxial receptacle is provided. With reference to
The following examples pertain to various techniques of the present disclosure.
An example (e.g. example 1) relates to a coaxial cable connector. The coaxial cable connector includes a clamp having a first end and a second end, the clamp being configured to electrically contact an inner conductor of a coaxial cable at the first end, and an electrically-insulating insert having (i) a slot configured to receive the clamp, and (ii) an opening configured to receive a center pin of a coaxial receptacle that is configured to mate with the coaxial cable connector, wherein the second end of the clamp is configured to electrically contact two sides of the center pin of the coaxial receptacle.
Another example (e.g. example 2) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. example 1), wherein the clamp is comprised of a single piece of electrically conductive material.
Another example (e.g. example 3) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 1-2), wherein the slot in the electrically-insulating insert captivates the clamp.
Another example (e.g. example 4) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 1-3), wherein the clamp comprises two arms that are symmetrically disposed about an axis that is aligned with the inner conductor of the coaxial cable when the inner conductor is received into the first end of the clamp.
Another example (e.g. example 5) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 1-4), wherein the first end of the clamp is configured to electrically contact the inner conductor.
Another example (e.g. example 6) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 1-5), wherein the second end of the clamp is configured to electrically contact the two sides of the center pin of the coaxial receptacle by providing a clamping force on two opposite sides of the center pin when the coaxial cable connector is mated with the coaxial receptacle.
Another example (e.g. example 7) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 1-6), wherein the clamp extends laterally in a plane that is flush with a top of the center pin when the coaxial cable connector is mated with the coaxial receptacle.
Another example (e.g. example 8) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 1-7), wherein: the opening in the electrically-insulating insert is configured to receive the center pin of the coaxial receptacle that extends in a first direction, the clamp is configured to receive the inner conductor into the first end of the clamp, the inner conductor extending in a second direction, and the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to one another.
Another example (e.g. example 9) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 1-8), further comprising: an outer metal shell configured to electrically contact an outer conductor of the coaxial cable, wherein the electrically-insulating insert is disposed in the outer metal shell.
Another example (e.g. example 10) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 1-9), wherein the coaxial receptacle comprises a ground ring having an opening through which the clamp is received when the coaxial cable connector is mated with the coaxial receptacle.
Another example (e.g. example 11) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 1-10), further comprising: an outer metal shell configured to electrically contact an outer conductor of the coaxial cable, wherein the outer metal shell includes an opening that aligns with the opening in the ground ring of the coaxial receptacle when the coaxial cable connector is mated with the coaxial receptacle.
Another example (e.g. example 12) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 1-11), wherein the opening in the ground ring corresponds to a 90 degree arc.
Another example (e.g. example 13) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 1-12), wherein a combined mated height of the coaxial cable connector when coupled to the coaxial receptacle is a maximum of 0.95 millimeters (mm).
Another example (e.g. example 14) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 1-13), wherein the coaxial cable has an outer diameter of 1.13 mm.
Another example (e.g. example 15) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 1-14), wherein the coaxial cable has an outer diameter of 0.81 mm.
An example (e.g. example 16) relates to a coaxial receptacle. The coaxial receptacle includes an electrically-insulating substrate, a ground terminal, and a center pin terminal, wherein the ground terminal comprises a ground ring having an opening through which a clamp is received when a coaxial cable connector is mated with the coaxial receptacle, and wherein the clamp couples an inner conductor of the coaxial cable to a center pin of the center pin terminal.
Another example (e.g. example 17) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. example 16), wherein the opening in the ground ring corresponds to a 90 degree arc.
Another example (e.g. example 18) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 16-17), wherein the coaxial cable connector comprises an outer metal shell configured to electrically contact an outer conductor of the coaxial cable to the ground terminal.
Another example (e.g. example 19) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 16-18), wherein the outer metal shell includes an opening that aligns with the opening in the ground ring of the coaxial receptacle when the coaxial cable connector is mated with the coaxial receptacle.
Another example (e.g. example 20) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 16-19), wherein a combined mated height of the coaxial cable connector when coupled to the coaxial receptacle is a maximum of 0.95 millimeters (mm).
An example (e.g. example 21) relates to a coaxial cable connector means. The coaxial cable connector means includes a clamping means having a first end and a second end, the clamping means being configured to electrically contact an inner conductor of a coaxial cable at the first end, and an electrically-insulating insert means having (i) a slot configured to receive the clamping means, and (ii) an opening configured to receive a center pin of a coaxial receptacle means that is configured to mate with the coaxial cable connector means, wherein the second end of the clamping means is configured to electrically contact two sides of the center pin of the coaxial receptacle.
Another example (e.g. example 22) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. example 21), wherein the clamping means is comprised of a single piece of electrically conductive material.
Another example (e.g. example 23) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 21-22), wherein the slot in the electrically-insulating insert captivates the clamping means.
Another example (e.g. example 24) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 21-23), wherein the clamping means comprises two arms that are symmetrically disposed about an axis that is aligned with the inner conductor of the coaxial cable when the inner conductor is received into the first end of the clamping means.
Another example (e.g. example 25) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 21-24), wherein the first end of the clamping means is configured to electrically contact the inner conductor.
Another example (e.g. example 26) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 21-25), wherein the second end of the clamping means is configured to electrically contact the two sides of the center pin of the coaxial receptacle means by providing a clamping force on two opposite sides of the center pin when the coaxial cable connector is mated with the coaxial receptacle.
Another example (e.g. example 27) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 21-26), wherein the clamping means extends laterally in a plane that is flush with a top of the center pin when the coaxial cable connector is mated with the coaxial receptacle.
Another example (e.g. example 28) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 21-27), wherein: the opening in the electrically-insulating insert is configured to receive the center pin of the coaxial receptacle means that extends in a first direction, the clamping means being configured to receive the inner conductor into the first end of the clamping means, the inner conductor extending in a second direction, and the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to one another.
Another example (e.g. example 29) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 21-28), further comprising: an outer metal shell configured to electrically contact an outer conductor of the coaxial cable, wherein the electrically-insulating insert is disposed in the outer metal shell.
Another example (e.g. example 30) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 21-29), wherein the coaxial receptacle means comprises a grounding means having an opening through which the clamp is received when the coaxial cable connector means is mated with the coaxial receptacle.
Another example (e.g. example 31) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 21-30), further comprising: an outer metal shell configured to electrically contact an outer conductor of the coaxial cable, wherein the outer metal shell includes an opening that aligns with the opening in the grounding means of the coaxial receptacle means when the coaxial cable connector means is mated with the coaxial receptacle.
Another example (e.g. example 32) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 21-31), wherein the opening in the grounding means corresponds to a 90 degree arc.
Another example (e.g. example 33) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 21-32), wherein a combined mated height of the coaxial cable connector means when coupled to the coaxial receptacle means is a maximum of 0.95 millimeters (mm).
Another example (e.g. example 34) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 21-33), wherein the coaxial cable has an outer diameter of 1.13 mm.
Another example (e.g. example 35) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 21-34), wherein the coaxial cable has an outer diameter of 0.81 mm.
An example (e.g. example 36) relates to a coaxial receptacle means. The coaxial receptacle means includes an electrically-insulating substrate means, a grounding means, and a center pin terminal means, wherein the grounding means comprises a ground ring having an opening through which a clamping means is received when a coaxial cable connector means is mated with the coaxial receptacle, and wherein the clamping means couples an inner conductor of the coaxial cable to a center pin of the center pin terminal.
Another example (e.g. example 37) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. example 36), wherein the opening in the ground ring corresponds to a 90 degree arc.
Another example (e.g. example 38) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 36-37), wherein the coaxial cable connector means comprises an outer metal shell configured to electrically contact an outer conductor of the coaxial cable to the grounding means.
Another example (e.g. example 39) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 36-38), wherein the outer metal shell includes an opening that aligns with the opening in the ground ring of the coaxial receptacle means when the coaxial cable connector is mated with the coaxial receptacle.
Another example (e.g. example 40) relates to a previously-described example (e.g. one or more of examples 36-39), wherein a combined mated height of the coaxial cable connector means when coupled to the coaxial receptacle means is a maximum of 0.95 millimeters (mm).
An apparatus as shown and described.
A method as shown and described.
The aforementioned description will so fully reveal the general nature of the implementation of the disclosure that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific implementations without undue experimentation and without departing from the general concept of the present disclosure. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed implementations, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance.
Each implementation described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every implementation may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same implementation. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an implementation, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other implementations whether or not explicitly described.
The exemplary implementations described herein are provided for illustrative purposes, and are not limiting. Other implementations are possible, and modifications may be made to the exemplary implementations. Therefore, the specification is not meant to limit the disclosure. Rather, the scope of the disclosure is defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures, unless otherwise noted.
The terms “at least one” and “one or more” may be understood to include a numerical quantity greater than or equal to one (e.g., one, two, three, four, [...], etc.). The term “a plurality” may be understood to include a numerical quantity greater than or equal to two (e.g., two, three, four, five, [...], etc.).
The words “plural” and “multiple” in the description and in the claims expressly refer to a quantity greater than one. Accordingly, any phrases explicitly invoking the aforementioned words (e.g., “plural [elements]”, “multiple [elements]”) referring to a quantity of elements expressly refers to more than one of the said elements. The terms “group (of)”, “set (of)”, “collection (of)”, “series (of)”, “sequence (of)”, “grouping (of)”, etc., and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, refer to a quantity equal to or greater than one, i.e., one or more. The terms “proper subset”, “reduced subset”, and “lesser subset” refer to a subset of a set that is not equal to the set, illustratively, referring to a subset of a set that contains less elements than the set.
The phrase “at least one of” with regard to a group of elements may be used herein to mean at least one element from the group consisting of the elements. The phrase “at least one of” with regard to a group of elements may be used herein to mean a selection of: one of the listed elements, a plurality of one of the listed elements, a plurality of individual listed elements, or a plurality of a multiple of individual listed elements.