Coaxial connector assembly

• US 4,929,188 A
• Filed: 04/13/1989
• Issued: 05/29/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Original Assignee: M/A-COM Omni Spectra, Inc.
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen, Lionetto, Gene
• Primary Examiner(s): Pirlot, David
• Application Number:
  US07/337,363
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 439/345, 439/349, 439/351, 439/352, 439/355, 439/370, 439/578-585, 439/675, 439/851-858, 439/607, 439/827
• US Class Current: 439/349
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/17 with spring member on the pin
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/627 Snap or like fastening
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/40 specially adapted for high frequency

Abstract

A microminiature coaxial connector is described. The connector comprises a male half and a female half and an annular electrical spring contact member which functions to provide continuous annular outer conductor electrical contact and RFI suppression. The annular spring member provides continuous annular outer conductor contact between facing surfaces at said male and female surfaces even during slight conductor misalignment. The spring is retained on said female member by a groove adjacent the outer end thereof, the outer end thereof is tapered away from a collar defining the outer end of the groove towards its axis, and the male member is at least 5% larger in diameter than the diameter of said female member adjacent the collar and said spring member extends at least 5% beyond the diameter of said collar.

Claims

1. A micro-miniature coaxial connector comprising, in combination, a male half and a female half having facing surfaces, and an annular electrical spring contact member which functions to provide continuous annular outer conductor electrical contact and RFI suppression, wherein the annular spring member provides continuous annular outer conductor contact between facing surfaces at said male and female surfaces even during slight conductor misalignment, said spring being retained on said female member by a groove adjacent the outer end thereof, said outer end being tapered away from a collar defining the outer end of the groove towards its axis, an engaging diameter of outer end of said male connector half having a tapered surface adjacent to said tapered end of said female connector half to aid in aligning said halves when mating, said male member being at least 5% larger in diameter than the diameter of said female member adjacent the collar and said spring member extending at least 5% beyond the diameter of said collar;

and a snap ring of larger outer diameter than said male surface and of smaller inner diameter than said collar carried in a groove in said male surface into which the snap ring can expand when the female member is inserted into engagement with the male surface, said lock ring contrating into said groove behind the collar when said surfaces are in full engagement to lock said surfaces against axial movement.

2. A connector of claim 1, wherein said collar is at least 5% smaller in diameter than the interior diameter of said male member, so that when said male half and female half are axially aligned electrical contact is primarily through said spring element.

3. A connector of claim 1, and further comprising an electrically conductive elastomer gasket ring, carried on said male member against which said outer end taper of said female member may engage and compensates for misalignment of said male and female connector halves when fully engaged, providing continuous circumferential electrical contact and RFI suppression.

4. A micro-miniature coaxial connector comprising in combination an outer half and an inner half having facing surfaces, an annular electrical spring contact member which functions to provide continuous annual outer conductor electrical contact and RFI suppression, wherein the annular spring member provides continuous annular outer conductor contact between facing surfaces of said outer and inner halves even during slight conductor misalignment, said spring contact member being retained on one of said halves by a groove adjacent the outer end thereof, said outer end being tapered away from a collar defining the outer end of the groove, the inner surface of the outer half being at least five percent larger in diameter that the outer surface of the inner half, said measurements being adjacent the spring retaining collar, said spring member in its uncompressed state spanning a distance greater than the spacing between said inner and outer halves and being compressible to span the smaller spacing formed when said two inner and outer halves are assembled, and a snap ring carried by that one of the members which does not carry the spring member, the snap ring having an inner diameter greater than the collar diameter and an outer diameter greater than the collar diameter whereby when it passes over the collar it is retained by the collar against axial movement.

5. A micro-miniature coaxial connector comprising in combination an outer half and an inner half, an annular electrical spring contact member located in a groove adjacent an outer end thereof, said spring member in its uncompressed state spanning a distance greater than the spacing between said inner and outer halves and being compressible to span the smaller spacing formed when said two inner and outer halves are assembled, a conductive elastomer tapered ring contacted by a tapered end of said inner half and an inner diameter land in said outer half, and a snap ring to retain an assembled connector'"'"'s said outer half and inner half against axial movement.

6. A micro-miniature coaxial connector of claim 5, wherein said inner coaxial conductor can be fitted with said internal coaxial conductor pin, and said outer shield conductor fitted with said inner coaxial conductor socket, and reversibly with said inner conductor fitted with said conductor socket and said outer shield conductor fitted with said conductor pin.

7. A micro-miniature coaxial connector comprising in combination an outer half and an inner half, an annular electrical spring contact member located in a groove adjacent in outer end thereof, said spring member in its uncompressed state spanning a distance greater than the spacing between said inner and outer halves and being compressible to span the smaller spacing formed when said two inner and outer halves are assembled, a conductive elastomer tapered ring contacted by a tapered end of said inner half and an inner diameter land in said outer half, and a snap ring being engaged by a collar and a groove when said connector halves are joined.