Frequency selective low loss transmission line system

• US 20040257169A1
• Filed: 06/19/2003
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RFS Technologies Incorporated (Amphenol Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Nelson, James W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,882,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 333/35
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/44 comprising impedance matching means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/564 Corrugated cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/566 Hollow cables

Abstract

A frequency selective low loss transmission system for communicating a signal using a coaxial cable of one impedance to a device of different impedance. A connector with a matching transformer is integral to the connector which terminates with a standard interface. The invention also includes a coupling mechanism to couple the coaxial cable with the connector. The invention can also include series open stub conductors for capacitive coupling to the conductors of the coaxial cable. In addition to low losses over a broad frequency range, the connector facilitates connector installation due to the series open stub conductor while reducing cost and complexity of both coaxial cable and connector.

Claims

1. A coaxial electrical connector for mating a coaxial transmission line of first impedance having a center conductor and an outer conductor with an electrical device of second impedance, said connector comprising:

a substantially cylindrical outer conductor having spaced first and second end portions, and an elongate center portion intermediate said end portions, said cylindrical outer conductor having an axial bore therethrough;

a dielectric insulator fixed within said bore at said center portion;

a coupling mechanism mating said first coaxial transmission line to said substantially cylindrical outer conductor; and

an inner conductor within said insulator and extending coaxially within said bore, said inner conductor having first and second end portions corresponding to said first and second end portions of said cylindrical outer conductor and a center portion corresponding to said center portion of said cylindrical outer conductor, said first end portions interfitting with the coaxial transmission line such that said first end portion of said inner conductor mates with the center conductor, and said first end portion of said cylindrical outer conductor mates with the outer conductor, and said second end portions being mateable with the electrical device, wherein the substantially cylindrical outer conductor, inner conductor, and the dielectric insulator cooperatively provide for a transformer impedance for matching the first and second impedance, and wherein a transforming length of said center portions comprising a distance from a first impedance transition between the first impedance and the transformer impedance to a second impedance transition between the transformer impedance and the second impedance.

2. The coaxial electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the dielectric insulator comprises a dielectric bead and the transforming distance is from an abutting terminal end of the coaxial transmission line to an end of the dielectric insulator abutting the second portion.

3. The coaxial electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the transforming length of said center portions is substantially equivalent to an integral multiple of a quarter wavelength of a signal in the connector.

4. The coaxial electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the transforming length of said center portions is substantially equivalent to a quarter wavelength of a signal in the connector.

5. The coaxial electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the transforming length of said center portions is predetermined to minimize a variable standing wave ratio in said center portion to approximately 1.02:

1 for signals in the frequency band of 1850 to 1990 MHz.

6. The coaxial electrical connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first end portions of said inner conductor and cylindrical outer conductor is capacitively coupled to the center conductor and to the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line, respectively.

7. The coaxial electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, said connector further comprising at least one of an inner dielectric capacitively coupling a series open circuit inner stub to the center conductor of the coaxial transmission line and an outer dielectric capacitively coupling a series open circuit outer stub to the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line.

8. The coaxial electrical connector of claim 7, said connector comprising said outer dielectric capacitively coupling said series open circuit outer stub to said outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line, and further comprising an outer connector body, wherein a dielectric layer is disposed between said series open circuit outer stub and said outer connector body.

9. The coaxial electrical connector of claim 7, said connector comprising said series open circuit inner stub, said series open circuit outer stub, said inner dielectric, and said outer dielectric.

10. The coaxial electrical connector of claim 9 further comprising an outer connector body, wherein a dielectric layer is disposed between said series open circuit outer stub and said outer connector body.

11. The coaxial electrical connector of claim 7, wherein the transforming length of said center portions is predetermined to minimize a voltage standing wave ratio in said center portion for signals in the frequency band of 1700 to 2300 MHz.

12. The coaxial electrical connector of claim 1, wherein second portions comprise one of a standard N-type interface and a standard DIN 7-16-type interface.

13. A coaxial electrical connector for mating a coaxial transmission line of first impedance having a center conductor and an outer conductor with an electrical device of second impedance, said connector comprising:

a substantially cylindrical outer conductor having spaced first and second end portions, and an elongate center portion intermediate said end portions, said cylindrical outer conductor having an axial bore therethrough;

a coupling mechanism mating said first coaxial transmission line to said substantially cylindrical outer conductor;

a dielectric insulator fixed within said bore at said center portion; and

an inner conductor within said insulator and extending coaxially within said bore, said inner conductor having first and second end portions corresponding to said first and second end portions of said cylindrical outer conductor and a center portion corresponding to said center portion of said cylindrical outer conductor, said first end portions interfitting with the coaxial transmission line such that said first end portion of said inner conductor mates with the center conductor, and said first end portion of said cylindrical outer conductor mates with the outer conductor, and said second end portions being one of N-type cable interface and DIN-7-16-type cable interface to mate with the electrical device, wherein the substantially cylindrical outer conductor, inner conductor, and the dielectric insulator cooperatively provide for a transformer impedance for matching the first and second impedance, and wherein a transforming length of said center portions comprises a distance from a first impedance transition between the first impedance and the transformer impedance to a second impedance transition between the transformer impedance and the second impedance, said transforming length substantially equivalent to an integral multiple of a quarter wavelength of a signal in the connector.

14. The coaxial electrical connector of claim 13, wherein the dielectric insulator comprises a dielectric bead and the transforming distance is from an abutting terminal end of the coaxial transmission to an end of the dielectric bead abutting the second end portions.

15. The coaxial electrical connector of claim 13, wherein at least one of said first end portions of said inner conductor and cylindrical outer conductor is capacitively coupled to the center conductor and to the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line, respectively.

16. The coaxial connector as claimed in claim 13, said connector further comprising at least one of an inner dielectric capacitively coupling a series open circuit inner stub to the center conductor of the coaxial transmission line and an outer dielectric capacitively coupling a series open circuit outer stub to the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line.

17. The coaxial electrical connector of claim 16, said connector comprising said series open circuit inner stub, said series open circuit outer stub, said inner dielectric, and said outer dielectric.

18. A coaxial electrical connector for mating a coaxial transmission line of a first impedance to an electrical device of a second impedance, said connector comprising:

a first connecting portion including a first inner conductor and a first outer conductor for respectively electrically coupling with center and outer conductors of the coaxial transmission line;

a second connecting portion including a second inner conductor and a second outer conductor for electrically coupling with the electrical device;

an insulating means for electrically isolating said second inner conductor from said second outer conductor; and

a transformer means coaxially interposed between said first connecting portion and said second connecting portion and electrically coupled thereto for providing a matching impedance between the first impedance and the second impedance.

19. The coaxial connector of claim 18, wherein said transformer means comprising a length to minimize a variable standing wave ratio in said transformer means.

20. The coaxial connector of claim 19, wherein the coaxial connector further comprises at least one of:

a first capacitive coupling means for capacitively coupling said first inner conductor to the center conductor of the coaxial transmission line; and

a second capacitive coupling means for capacitively coupling said first outer conductor to the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line.

21. The coaxial connector of claim 20, said connector further comprising transmission line coupling means for coupling the coaxial transmission line to said connector.

22. The coaxial connector of claim 21, said second connecting portion comprising interfacing means for coupling said connector to the electrical device.

23. A system for communicating and conditioning a signal, said system comprising:

a coaxial transmission line of first impedance having a center conductor and an outer conductor;

an electrical device of second impedance; and

a coaxial electrical connector comprising;

a substantially cylindrical outer conductor having spaced first and second end portions, and an elongate center portion intermediate said end portions, said cylindrical outer conductor having an axial bore therethrough;

a coupling mechanism mating said first coaxial transmission line to said substantially cylindrical outer conductor;

a dielectric insulator fixed within said bore at said center portion; and

an inner conductor within said insulator and extending coaxially within said bore, said inner conductor having first and second end portions corresponding to said first and second end portions of said cylindrical outer conductor and a center portion corresponding to said center portion of said cylindrical outer conductor, said first end portions interfitting with the coaxial transmission line such that said first end portion of said inner conductor mates with the center conductor of the coaxial transmission line, and said first end portion of said cylindrical outer conductor mates with the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line, and said second end portions being shaped to comprise one of N-type and DIN-7-16-type interface for communicating with the electrical device, wherein the substantially cylindrical outer conductor, inner conductor, and the dielectric insulator cooperatively provide for a transformer impedance for matching the first and second impedance, and wherein a transforming length of said center portions comprises a distance from a first impedance transition between the first impedance and the transformer impedance to a second impedance transition between the transformer impedance and the second impedance.

24. The system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said outer conductor of said coaxial transmission line comprises a corrugated shape and said center conductor of said coaxial transmission line comprises a hollow tube.

25. The system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said electrical device comprises a device transmission line for communicating the connector to the electrical device, the device transmission line having the second impedance.