High frequency, blind mate, coaxial interconnect

• US 6,827,608 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2002
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications RF, LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Gilbert Incorporated (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hall, Richard D., Ellis, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRUC T
• Application Number:
  US10/227,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20040038586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578, 439/579, 439/580, 439/582, 439/638, 439/851, 439/852, 439/856, 439/654
• US Class Current: 439/578
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/542 Adapters

Abstract

A coaxial transmission medium connector is provided which includes an outer conductor portion for electrically coupling to the outer conductor of a coaxial transmission medium. The outer conductor portion includes a base portion, a plurality of cantilevered beams, and a plurality of slots extending about a longitudinal axis. Each of the cantilevered beams is coupled to the base portion at a transition portion and terminates at a distal end. A center conductor portion is disposed within the central bore of the outer conductor portion for electrically coupling to the inner conductor of the coaxial transmission medium. Related apparatus and methods are provided.

Claims

1. A coaxial transmission medium connector for connecting to a coaxial transmission medium to form a coaxial conduction path, the coaxial transmission medium having an inner conductor and an outer conductor, the coaxial transmission medium connector comprising:

an outer conductor portion for electrically coupling to the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission medium, the outer conductor portion comprising a base portion, a plurality of cantilevered beams and a plurality of slots, extending substantially circumferentially about a a longitudinal axis and defining a central bore, each of the cantilevered beams being coupled to the base portion at a transition portion and terminating at a distal end;

a center conductor portion disposed within the central bore for electrically coupling to the inner conductor of the coaxial transmission medium, the center conductor portion comprising a plurality of cantilevered tines circumferentially spaced about the longitudinal axis and forming a central socket therebetween, the center conductor portion and the outer conductor portion forming an annular cavity therebetween, wherein the plurality of cantilevered beams and the plurality of cantilevered tines are spaced apart; and

a cavity insert disposed within the central bore and fixed to the base portion of the outer conductor portion, wherein the center conductor portion is held within the central bore by the cavity insert.

2. A coaxial transmission medium connector according to claim 1, wherein:

each of the cantilevered beams comprises a respective radial inner surface and a respective radial outer surface; and

the respective radial inner surface of each of the cantilevered beams is obliquely angled relative to the longitudinal axis when the cantilevered beams are in an unbiased state.

3. A coaxial transmission medium connector according to claim 1, wherein:

each of the cantilevered beams comprises a respective radial inner surface and a respective radial outer surface; and

the respective radial outer surface of each of the cantilevered beams is obliquely angled relative to the longitudinal axis when the cantilevered beams are in an unbiased state.

4. A coaxial transmission medium connector according to claim 1, wherein each of the cantilevered beams comprises a respective external detent at the distal end of the respective cantilevered beam.

5. A coaxial transmission medium connector according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of slots comprise six of the slots.

6. A coaxial transmission medium connector according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of slots consists of six of the slots.

7. A coaxial transmission medium connector according to claim 1, wherein each of the cantilevered beams is coupled to the base portion at the transition portion and the transition portion comprises a non-orthogonal profile.

8. A coaxial transmission medium connector according to claim 7, wherein:

the base portion comprises an external surface;

each of the cantilevered beams comprises an external surface; and

the transition portion is positioned at the external surfaces of the base portion and each of the cantilevered beams.

9. A coaxial transmission medium connector according to claim 7, wherein the non-orthogonal profile comprises a curved profile.

10. A coaxial transmission medium connector according to claim 7, wherein the non-orthogonal provide comprises a radial profile.

11. A coaxial transmission medium connector according to claim 1, wherein the transition portion comprises a non-orthogonal profile for distributing stress in the outer conductor portion when the cantilevered beams are flexed radially inward.

12. A coaxial transmission medium connector according to claim 1, wherein the slots are circumferentially spaced uniformly relative to one another.

13. A coaxial transmission medium connector according to claim 1, wherein each of the cantilevered beams having a respective tapering profile with respect to the longitudinal axis that tapers in a direction away from the base portion, and wherein the tapering profile is continuous and constant.

14. A coaxial transmission medium connector according to claim 13, wherein the cantilevered beams each have a length;

and wherein the tapering profile spans at least 80 percent of the length of the cantilevered beams.

15. A coaxial transmission medium connector according to claim 1, wherein:

each of the distal ends is disposed substantially at an outer conductor portion reference plane; and

the center conductor portion comprises an end disposed substantially at a center conductor portion reference plane that is non-coplanar with the outer conductor portion reference plane.

16. A coaxial transmission medium connector according to claim 15, wherein the center conductor portion reference plane is longitudinally spaced from the outer conductor portion reference plane.

17. A coaxial transmission medium connector for connecting first and second coaxial transmission media to form a coaxial conduction path, each of the first and second coaxial transmission media having inner and outer conductors, the coaxial transmission medium connector comprising:

an outer conductor portion for electrically coupling the outer conductors of the first and second coaxial transmission media, the outer conductor portion being provided with a central bore, the outer conductor portion comprising

a base portion,

a plurality of first cantilevered beams and a plurality of first slots extending substantially circumferentially about a longitudinal axis and defining a first part of the central bore, each of the first cantilevered beams terminating at a first distal end, and

a plurality of second cantilevered beams and a plurality of second slots extending substantially circumferentially about the longitudinal axis and defining a second part of the central bore, each of the second cantilevered beams terminating at a second distal end, each of the first and second cantilevered

beams being coupled to the base portion; and

a center conductor portion disposed within the central bore for electrically coupling the inner conductors of the first and second coaxial transmission media, the center conductor portion comprising a plurality of first cantilevered tines circumferentially spaced about the longitudinal axis and forming a first central socket therebetween, the plurality of first cantilevered tines and the outer conductor portion forming a first annular cavity therebetween, wherein the plurality of first cantilevered beams and the plurality of first cantilever tines are spaced apart, the center conductor portion further comprising a plurality of second cantilevered tines circumferentially spaced about the longitudinal axis and forming a second central socket therebetween, the plurality of second cantilevered tines and the outer conductor portion forming a second annular cavity therebetween, wherein the plurality of second cantilevered beams and the plurality of second cantilever tines are spaced apart; and

a cavity insert disposed within the central bore and fixed to the base portion of the outer conductor portion, wherein the center conductor portion is held within the central bore by the cavity insert.

18. A coaxial transmission medium assembly comprising:

a coaxial transmission medium having an end and comprising

a center conductor provided in proximity to the end of the coaxial transmission medium,

an outer conductor provided in proximity to the end of the coaxial transmission medium; and

a terminal housing electrically coupled to the outer conductor, the terminal housing comprising an inner surface, the inner surface providing an inner receptacle chamber and a terminal housing opening communicating with the inner receptacle chamber; and

a coaxial transmission medium connector comprising;

an outer conductor portion for electrically coupling to the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission medium, the outer conductor portion comprising a base portion, a plurality of cantilevered beams and a plurality of slots, extending substantially circumferentially about a longitudinal axis and defining a central bore, each of the cantilevered beams being coupled to the base portion at a transition portion and terminating at a distal end;

a center conductor portion disposed within the central bore and electrically coupled to the center conductor of the coaxial transmission medium, the center conductor portion comprising a plurality of cantilevered tines circumferentially spaced about the longitudinal axis and forming a central socket therebetween, the center conductor portion and the outer conductor portion forming an annular cavity therebetween, wherein the plurality of cantilevered beams and the plurality of cantilevered tines are spaced apart; and

a cavity insert disposed within the central bore and fixed to the base portion of the outer conductor portion, wherein the center conductor portion is held within the central bore by the cavity insert.

19. A coaxial transmission medium assembly comprising:

a first coaxial transmission medium having a first end and comprising

a first center conductor provided in proximity to the first end,

a first outer conductor provided in proximity to the first end, and

a first terminal housing electrically coupled to the first outer conductor, the first terminal housing comprising a first inner surface, the first inner surface providing a first inner receptacle chamber and a first terminal housing opening communicating with the first inner receptacle chamber;

a second coaxial transmission medium having a second end and comprising

a second center conductor provided in proximity to the second end,

a second outer conductor provided in proximity to the second end, and

a second terminal housing electrically coupled to the second outer conductor, the second housing comprising a second inner surface, the second inner surface providing a second inner receptacle chamber and a second terminal housing opening communicating with the second inner receptacle chamber; and

a coaxial transmission medium connector connecting the first and second coaxial transmission mediums to form a coaxial conduction path, the coaxial transmission medium connector comprising

an outer conductor portion electrically coupling the outer conductors of the first and second coaxial transmission mediums, the outer conductor portion having a central bore and comprising a base portion and first and second biasing portions extending from the base portion, the biasing portions sharing a longitudinal axis and respectively terminating at a first distal end and a second distal end, the first and second distal ends respectively situated along a first outer conductor portion reference plane and a second outer conductor portion reference plane, the first biasing portion comprising a plurality of first cantilevered beams and a plurality of first slots extending substantially longitudinally from the first distal end for circumferentially spacing the first cantilevered beams apart from one another, the second biasing portion comprising a plurality of second cantilevered beams and a plurality of second slots extending substantially longitudinally from the second distal end for circumferentially spacing the second cantilevered beams apart from one another, wherein the first cantilevered beams are sufficiently resilient to allow sufficient flexure of the first cantilevered beams for inserting the first cantilevered beams through the first terminal housing opening and for receiving the first cantilevered beams against the first inner surface of the first inner receptacle chamber, and wherein the second cantilevered beams are sufficiently resilient to allow sufficient flexure of the second cantilevered beams for inserting the second cantilevered beams through the second terminal housing opening and for receiving the second cantilevered beams against the second inner surface of the second inner receptacle chamber,

a cavity insert received in the central bore of the outer conductor portion; and

a center conductor portion disposed within the central bore and electrically coupling the first and second center conductors to one another, the center conductor portion comprising a mounting portion supporting the cavity insert and electrically insulating the center conductor portion from the outer conductor portion, the center conductor portion terminating at a first leading end and a second leading end opposite to one another, the first leading end situated along a first center conductor portion reference plane and the second leading end situated along a second center conductor portion reference plane, wherein the first leading end comprises a plurality of first cantilevered tines circumferentially spaced about the longitudinal axis and forming a first central socket therebetween, the plurality of first cantilevered tines and the outer conductor portion forming a first annular cavity therebetween, wherein the plurality of first cantilevered beams and the plurality of first cantilevered tines are spaced apart, wherein the second leading end comprises a plurality of second cantilevered tines circumferentially spaced about the longitudinal axis and forming a second central socket therebetween, the plurality of second cantilevered tines and the outer conductor portion forming a second annular cavity therebetween, wherein the plurality of second cantilevered beams and the plurality of second cantilevered tines are spaced apart.

20. A method for assembling a coaxial transmission medium assembly, comprising:

providing a first coaxial transmission medium having a first end, the first coaxial transmission medium comprising a first center conductor, a first outer conductor, and a first terminal housing, the first center conductor and first center conductor provided in proximity to the first end, the first terminal housing electrically coupled to the first outer conductor and comprising a first inner surface, the first inner surface providing a first inner receptacle chamber and a first terminal housing opening communicating with the first inner receptacle chamber;

providing a second coaxial transmission medium having a second end, the second coaxial transmission medium comprising a second center conductor, second outer conductor, and a second terminal housing, the second center conductor and the second outer conductor provided in proximity to the second end, the second terminal housing coupled to the second outer conductor and comprising a second inner surface, the second inner surface providing a second inner receptacle chamber and a second terminal housing opening communicating with the second inner receptacle chamber;

providing a coaxial transmission medium connector for connecting the first and second coaxial transmission mediums to form a coaxial conduction path, the coaxial transmission medium connector comprising

an outer conductor portion for electrically coupling the outer conductors of the first and second coaxial transmission mediums, the outer conductor portion having a central bore and comprising a base portion and first and second biasing portions extending from the base portion, the first and second biasing portions sharing a longitudinal axis and respectively terminating at a first distal end and a second distal end, the first and second distal ends respectively situated along a first outer conductor portion reference plane and a second outer conductor portion reference plane, the first biasing portion comprising a plurality of first cantilevered beams and a plurality of first slots extending substantially longitudinally from the first distal end for circumferentially spacing the first cantilevered beams apart from one another, the second biasing portion comprising a plurality of second cantilevered beams and a plurality of second slots extending substantially longitudinally from the second distal end for circumferentially spacing the second cantilevered beams apart from one another,

a cavity insert located in the central bore of the outer conductor portion, and

a center conductor portion for electrically coupling the inner conductors of the first and second coaxial transmission mediums, the center conductor portion comprising a mounting portion supporting the cavity insert and electrically insulating the center conductor portion from the outer conductor portion, the center conductor portion terminating at a first leading end and a second leading end opposite to one another, the first leading end situated along a first center conductor portion reference plane and the second leading end situated along a second center conductor portion reference plane, wherein the first leading end comprises a plurality of first cantilevered tines circumferentially spaced about the longitudinal axis and forming a first central socket therebetween, the plurality of first cantilevered tines and the outer conductor portion forming a first annular cavity therebetween, wherein the plurality of first cantilevered beam and the plurality of first cantilevered tines are spaced apart, wherein the second leading end comprises a plurality of second cantilevered tines circumferentially spaced about the longitudinal axis and forming a second central socket therebetween, the plurality of second cantilevered tines and the outer conductor portion forming a second annular cavity therebetween, wherein the plurality of second cantilevered beams and the plurality of second cantilevered tines are spaced apart;

flexing the first cantilevered beams inward and inserting the first cantilevered beams through the first terminal housing opening;

receiving the inwardly flexed first cantilevered beams against the inner surface of the first inner receptacle chamber for electrically coupling the outer conductor portion to the outer conductor of the first coaxial transmission in medium;

electrically coupling the first center conductor to the first leading end of the center conductor portion;

flexing the second cantilevered beams inward and inserting the second cantilevered beams through the second terminal housing opening;

receiving the inwardly flexed second cantilevered beams against the second inner surface of the second inner receptacle chamber for electrically coupling the outer conductor portion to the outer conductor of the second coaxial transmission medium; and

electrically coupling the second center conductor to the second leading end of the center conductor portion.