Self-aligning RF push-on connector

• US 4,957,456 A
• Filed: 09/29/1989
• Issued: 09/18/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Olson, Mark, Quan, Clifton
• Primary Examiner(s): MCGLYNN, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US07/415,004
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578-585
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/631 for engagement only
• 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 24/44 comprising impedance matching means

Abstract

A self-aligning push-on coaxial RF connector assembly is disclosed. The male structure of the assembly includes a cross-slotted center conductor with a dielectric sleeve. The female structure of the assembly includes a feed-through device having a center conductor pin, a primary counterbored hole to the base of the feed-through, and a larger secondary pilot counterbored hole with a lead-in angle of about 15 degrees to the primary hole. The larger pilot hole allows for a substantial radial misalignment of the male and female structures. The center conductor pin is captured by the cross-slotted center conductor upon engagement. The dimensions of the assembly components are selected to provide a constant characteristic impedance throughout the connector assembly.

Claims

1. A self-aligning push-on coaxial RF connector assembly, comprising:

a female connector structure comprising a feed through conductor element supported by and extending through a dielectric member, an outer conductive structure for defining a primary opening surrounding said dielectric member and conductor element and for defining a pilot opening having a diameter somewhat larger than the diameter of said primary opening, the pilot opening communicating with the primary opening;

a male connector structure comprising a center conductor, a dielectric sleeve member having an axial opening formed therein for receiving the center conductor, the dielectric sleeve having an exterior dimension selected so that a portion of the sleeve can be inserted snugly into the primary opening of said female structure;

means for making electrical contact between the feed through conductor element of the female structure and the center conductor of the male structure when the sleeve and conductor are fully inserted into said primary opening; and

means for compensating the perturbation due to the oversizing of the pilot opening so that the transmission line provided by the connector assembly is characterized by a substantially constant characteristic impedance over the length of the assembly.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said outer conductive structure is tapered between said pilot and primary openings to define a lead-in angle between said pilot opening and primary opening to facilitate insertion of said dielectric sleeve into said primary opening.

3. The connector assembly of claim 2 wherein said lead-in angle is about 15°

.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for compensating comprises a region of said center conductor of said male structure having an enlarged diameter, the length of said region being substantially equal to the length of said pilot hole, and wherein said region is positioned along the axis of the center conductor to be coextensive with said pilot opening when the male structure is fully inserted in said female structure, said enlarged diameter being selected so that the coaxial transmission line defined by said connector assembly is characterized by a substantially constant characteristic impedance over the length of the assembly.

5. The connector assembly of claim 4 wherein the length of said pilot opening is about one-quarter wavelength at the center frequency of the frequency band of operation, whereby capacitances due to transmission line discontinuities created by the differences in the diameters of the primary and pilot holes are substantially cancelled out.

6. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the center conductor of said male structure is in turn electrically connected to the conductor of an airline transmission line.

7. A self-aligning push-on coaxial RF connector assembly, comprising:

a female connector structure comprising a feed through conductor element supported by and extending through a dielectric member, an outer conductive structure for defining a primary opening surrounding said dielectric member and conductor element and for defining a pilot opening having a diameter somewhat larger than the diameter of said primary opening, the pilot opening communicating with the primary opening;

the length of said pilot opening selected to be substantially one-quarter wavelength at the center frequency of the frequency band of interest;

a male connector structure comprising a center conductor, a dielectric sleeve member having an axial opening formed therein for receiving the center conductor, the dielectric sleeve having an exterior dimension selected so that a portion of the sleeve can be inserted snugly into the primary opening of said female structure;

said outer conductive structure of said female connector structure being tapered between said pilot and primary openings to define a lead-in angle between said pilot opening and primary opening to facilitate insertion of said dielectric sleeve member into said primary opening;

means for making electrical contact between the feed through conductor element of the female structure and the center conductor of the male structure when the sleeve and conductor are fully inserted into said primary opening; and

means for compensating the perturbation due to the oversizing of the pilot opening so that the transmission line provided by the connector assembly is characterized by a substantially constant characteristic impedance over the length of the assembly, said means comprising a region of said center conductor of said male structure having an enlarged diameter, the length of said region being substantially equal to the length of said pilot hole, and wherein said region is positioned along the axis of the center conductor to be coextensive with said pilot opening when the male structure is fully inserted in said female structure, said enlarged diameter being selected so that the coaxial transmission line defined by said connector assembly is characterized by a substantially constant characteristic impedance over the length of the assembly.