Shielded antenna connector

• US 5,835,071 A
• Filed: 09/25/1996
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Phelps, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Hoanganh T.
• Application Number:
  US08/719,790
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 343/906, 343/702, 343/900, 343/901, 439/916
• US Class Current: 343/906
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/526 Electromagnetic shields
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/50 mounted on a PCB [Printed Circuit Board]

Abstract

An improved RF antenna connector providing a shielded RF connection point is disclosed. The improved antenna connector consist of a metal housing which substantially surrounds a metal contact acting as an RF feed point connector. The metal contact is placed within the housing by connection to an insulating connector that slides into a chamber in the housing such that the metal contact is located within and substantially surrounded by the housing. The metal contact is also positioned to contact the RF feed points of an antenna and a printed circuit board.

Claims

1. An antenna connector comprising:

a housing defining a first interior chamber into which an antenna is inserted and a second interior chamber, the housing further engaging a ground plane of a printed circuit board such that the housing acts as a ground shield for the antenna within the first interior chamber and for the second interior chamber;

means for contacting an RF feed point of the antenna; and

an insulated insert connected to the means for contacting, the insulated insert configured for insertion into the second interior chamber of the housing such that the means for contacting engages the RF feed point of the antenna within the first chamber and the housing acts as a ground shield for the connection between the means for contacting and the RF feed point.

2. The antenna connector of claim 1 wherein the means for contacting further defines means for connecting with an RF feed of a printed circuit board.

3. The antenna connector of claim 1 wherein the housing further enables extension and retraction of a retractable antenna within the first interior chamber.

4. The antenna connector of claim 1 wherein the first interior chamber threadedly engages the antenna.

5. The antenna connector of claim 1 wherein the means for contacting comprises a formed metal contact.

6. The antenna connection of claim 5 wherein the insulated insert comprises a plastic connector inserted within the formed metal contact.

7. An antenna connector comprising:

a metal housing defining a first interior chamber for receiving an antenna and a second interior chamber, the housing acting as a ground shield for the second interior chamber when connected to a ground plane of a printed circuit board;

a formed metal contact for engaging an RF feed point of the antenna and an RF connector of the printed circuit board; and

an insulated connector inserted within the formed metal contact, the connector configured for insertion into the second interior chamber such that the formed metal contact engages the RF feed point of the antenna and is substantially surrounded by the metal housing such that the metal housing acts as a ground shield for the formed metal contact.

8. The antenna connector of claim 7 wherein the housing further enables extension and retraction of a retractable antenna within the first interior chamber.

9. The antenna connector of claim 7 wherein the first interior chamber threadedly engages the antenna.

10. The antenna connector of claim 7 wherein the housing comprises a cast metal conductor.

11. The antenna connector of claim 10 wherein the housing is plated to prevent oxidation and promote conductivity.

12. An antenna connector, comprising:

an RF feed connector for contacting an RF feed point of an antenna engaging the antenna connector;

a ground connector for engaging the ground plane of a printed circuit board; and

a housing substantially surrounding the RF feed connector and integral with the ground connector such that the housing forms a ground shield for the RF feed connector and the contacted RF feed point.

13. The antenna connector of claim 12 wherein the housing further comprises means for receiving a retractable antenna.

14. The antenna connector of claim 12, further including means for insulating the RF feed connector from the ground shield.