Card edge coaxial connector

• US 6,935,866 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2002
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Khemakhem, M'hamed Anis, Lovaasen, Eric L., Kerekes, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harvey, James R.
• Application Number:
  US10/114,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20030186565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 439/581, 439/945, 439/105, 439/119, 439/947, 439/675, 439/580, 439/63, 439/629
• US Class Current: 439/63
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/721 cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/50 mounted on a PCB [Printed Circuit Board]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/54 Intermediate parts, e.g. adapters, splitters or elbows
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0515 Connection to a rigid planar substrate, e.g. printed circuit board

Abstract

An adapter having a housing, a ground clip and an adapter subassembly all located in the housing. The adapter subassembly includes a proximal portion that can be coupled to a coaxial connector and a distal portion that can be coupled to a printed circuit board. A central conductor in the form of an elongated shaft that runs through the subassembly and has a ball contact end for contacting a conductor located on a printed circuit board and the elongated shaft is tapered in a region near the bal contact.

Claims

1. A high frequency adapter for coupling a printed circuit board having a signal trace and ground, to a coaxial connector, the adapter comprising:

a housing designed to be removably coupled to the printed circuit board;

a ground clip located in a rear inner portion of the housing;

an adapter subassembly mounted to the housing comprising;

a contact having a proximal portion and a distal portion and an elongated shaft coupling the proximal portion to the distal portion wherein the distal portion is configured to mate with the coaxial connector and the proximal portion is configured to mate with the printed circuit board, wherein the elongated shalt includes a longitudinal axis and is tapered in the proximal portion and the proximal portion terminates in a ball contact wherein the ball contact is concentric with the elongated shaft about the longitudinal axis and slides over the signal trace on the printed circuit board and electrically couples the signal trace on the printed circuit board to the contact; and

wherein the ground clip slides over the ground on the printed circuit board to electrically couple the ground clip to the ground,

an insulator surrounding the contact; and

,

a conductive cylindrical connector surrounding the insulator wherein the contact is concentrically positioned within the conductive cylindrical connector, wherein the conductive cylindrical connector is electrically coupled to the ground clip and, wherein the contact is insulated from the ground clip.

2. An adapter according to claim 1 wherein the housing is made of plastic.

3. An adapter according to claim 1 wherein the housing is barrel shaped and has a front face having a pair of alignment pins extending parallel to one another.

4. An adapter according to claim 1 wherein the housing is barrel shaped and has a front face having a pair of parallel holes in which fit alignment pins located on a panel to properly align the housing with respect to the panel.

5. An adapter according to claim 1 wherein the housing has two or more adjacent barrels wherein each barrel houses an adapter subassembly.

6. An adapter according to claim 1 wherein the ground clip is press-fitted into the rear inner portion of the housing.

7. An adapter according to claim 1 wherein the contact is press-fitted into the insulator.

8. An adapter according to claim 1 wherein the ground clip is a spring having an elongated flat section, a first folded-over section coupled at one end to the elongated flat section, and a second folded-over section coupled at an opposite end of the elongated flat section wherein the first folded-over section has a free end that rides over the second folded-over section to provide a spring force to the clip so that when the adapter is coupled to the printed circuit board, the ground clip is compressed so that a portion of the ground clip mates with the ground on the printed circuit board.

9. An adapter according to claim 1 wherein the ball contact is elliptical in shape.

10. An adapter according to claim 1 wherein the ball contact has a central portion and end portions adjacent to the central portion wherein the ball contact is thickest at its central portion.

11. An adapter for coupling a printed circuit board to a coaxial connector, the adapter comprising:

a housing having a first end and a second end, the first end of the housing adapted to receive a conductive cylindrical connector that is constructed to mate with a coaxial connector, the second end of the housing having a printed circuit board receiving groove wherein the receiving groove is configured to slide over a portion of the printed circuit board, wherein the housing comprises a non-conductive material; and

a center conductor located within the housing, the center conductor having a ball shaped printed circuit board contacting end that slides over a conductive contact located on a first surface of the printed circuit board, the center conductor having a coaxial connector end opposite the printed circuit board contacting end and coupled thereto by an elongated shaft wherein the elongated shaft is tapered in a region remote from the coaxial connector end.

12. An adapter according to claim 11 wherein the housing is made of plastic.

13. An adapter according to claim 11 wherein the housing is barrel shaped and has a front face having a pair of alignment pins extending parallel to one another.

14. An adapter according to claim 11 wherein the housing is barrel shaped and has a front face having a pair of parallel holes in which fit alignment pins located on a panel to properly align the housing with respect to the panel.

15. An adapter according to claim 11 further comprising a plurality of center conductors, wherein the housing has a plurality of adjacent barrels wherein each barrel houses one of the center conductors.

16. An adapter according to claim 11 further comprising a ground clip located in the housing, the ground clip having a portion that slides over a ground on an opposite side of the printed circuit board from the conductive contact wherein the center conductor and ground clip secure the adapter to the printed circuit board when the printed circuit board is inserted in the second end of the housing without additional mechanical parts.

17. An adapter according to claim 11 wherein the ground clip is press-fitted into an rear inner portion of the housing.

18. An adapter according to claim 11 wherein the contact is press-fitted into an insulator located in the housing.

19. An adapter according to claim 16 wherein the ground clip is a spring having an elongated flat section, a first folded-over section coupled at one end to the elongated flat section, and a second folded-over section coupled at an opposite end of the elongated flat section wherein the first folded-over section has a free end that rides over the second folded-over section to provide a spring force to the clip so that when the adapter is coupled to the printed circuit board, the ground clip is compressed so that a portion of the ground clip mates with the ground on the printed circuit board.

20. An adapter according to claim 11 wherein the ball shaped printed circuit board contacting end of the center conductor comprises an elliptical shape.

21. An adapter according to claim 11 wherein the ball shaped printed circuit board contacting end of the center conductor comprises a central portion and end portions adjacent to the central portion wherein the ball shaped contacting end of the center conductor is thickest at its central portion.

22. A coaxial connector for a circuit board including a first major surface, a second major surface, and an edge comprising:

a housing having a first end and a second end, the first end of the housing including a conductive cylindrical connector that is constructed to mate with a coaxial connector, the second end including a slot disposed generally perpendicular to a reference line connecting the first end and the second end, the slot being adapted to receive the edge of the printed circuit board;

a center conductor located within the housing, the center conductor having a printed circuit board contacting end that slides over a signal contact located on the first major surface of the printed circuit board, the center conductor having a coaxial connector end opposite the printed circuit board contacting end;

a conductive clip located at the inner portion of the second end of the housing, wherein the conductive clip slides over a ground on the second major surface of the printed circuit board; and

wherein the center conductor is concentrically positioned within the conductive cylindrical connector, wherein the conductive clip is in electrical contact with the conductive cylindrical connector.

23. The coaxial connector according to claim 22, wherein the printed circuit board contacting end of the center conductor terminates in a ball contact.

24. The coaxial connector according to claim 22, wherein the housing includes a non-conductive portion positioned around the conductive cylindrical connector.

25. An adapter for coupling a printed circuit board to a coaxial connector, the adapter comprising:

a housing having a first end and a second end, the first end of the housing adapted to receive a conductive cylindrical connector that is constructed to mate with coaxial connector, the second end of the housing having a printed circuit board receiving groove wherein the receiving groove is configured to slide over a portion of the printed circuit board, wherein the housing is barrel shaped and has a front face having a pair of alignment pins which fit into a panel to properly align the housing with respect to the panel; and

a center conductor located within the housing, the center conductor having a ball shaped printed circuit board contacting end that slides over a conductive contact located on a first surface of the printed circuit board, the center conductor having a coaxial connector end opposite the printed circuit board contacting end and coupled thereto by an elongated shaft wherein the elongated shaft is tapered in a region remote from the coaxial connector end.

26. An adapter for coupling a printed circuit board to a coaxial connector, the adapter comprising:

a housing having a first end and a second end, the first end of the housing adapted to receive a conductive cylindrical connector that is constructed to mate with a coaxial connector, the second end of the housing having a printed circuit board receiving groove wherein the receiving groove is configured to slide over a portion of the printed circuit board, wherein the housing is barrel shaped and has a front face having a pair of holes in which fit alignment pins located on a panel to properly align the housing with respect to the panel; and

a center conductor located within the housing, the center conductor having a ball shaped printed circuit board contacting end that slides over a conductive contact located on a first surface of the printed circuit board, the center conductor having a coaxial connector end opposite the printed circuit board contacting end and coupled thereto by an elongated shaft wherein the elongated shaft is tapered in a region remote from the coaxial connector end.

27. An adapter for coupling a printed circuit board to a coaxial connector, the adapter comprising:

a housing having a first end and a second end, the first end of the housing adapted to receive a conductive cylindrical connector that is constructed to mate with a coaxial connector, the second end of the housing having a printed circuit board receiving groove wherein the receiving groove is configured to slide over a portion of the printed circuit board, wherein the housing has a plurality of adjacent barrels;

a plurality of center conductor, the center conductors having ball shaped printed circuit board contacting ends that slide over a conductive contact located on a first surface of the printed circuit board, the center conductor having a coaxial connector end opposite the printed circuit board contacting end and coupled thereto by an elongated shaft wherein the elongated shaft is tapered in a region remote from the coaxial connector end; and

wherein each barrel houses one of the center conductors.

28. An adapter for coupling a printed circuit board to a coaxial connector, the adapter comprising:

a housing having a first end and a second end, the first end of the housing adapted to receive a conductive cylindrical connector that is constructed to mate with a coaxial connector, the second end of the housing having a printed circuit board receiving groove wherein the receiving groove is configured to slide over a portion of the printed circuit board;

a center conductor located within the housing, the center conductor having a ball shaped printed circuit board contacting end that slides over a conductive contact located on a first surface of the printed circuit board, the center conductor having a coaxial connector end opposite the printed circuit board contacting end and coupled thereto by an elongated shaft wherein the elongated shaft is tapered in a region remote from the coaxial connector end; and

a ground clip located in the housing, the ground clip has a portion that slides over a ground on an opposite side of the printed circuit board from the conductive contact wherein the center conductor and ground clip secure the adapter to the printed circuit board when the printed circuit board is inserted in the second end of the housing without additional mechanical parts.

29. An adapter according to claim 28, wherein the ground clip is a spring having an elongated flat section, a first folded-over section coupled at one end to the elongated flat section, and a second folded-over section coupled at an opposite end of the elongated flat section wherein the first folded-over section has a free end that rides over the second folded-over section to provide a spring force to the clip so that when the adapter is coupled to the printed circuit board, the ground clip is compressed so that the ground clip mates with the ground on the printed circuit board.

30. A high frequency adapter for coupling a printed circuit board having a signal trace and ground, to a coaxial connector, the adapter comprising:

a housing designed to be removably coupled to the printed circuit board, wherein the housing is barrel shaped and has a front face having a pair of alignment pins extending parallel to one another;

a ground clip located in a rear inner portion of the housing;

an adapter subassembly mounted to the housing comprising;

a contact having a proximal portion and a distal portion and an elongated shaft coupling the proximal portion to the distal portion wherein the distal portion is configured to mate with the coaxial connector and the proximal portion is configured to mate with the printed circuit board, wherein the elongated shaft is tapered in the proximal portion and the proximal portion terminates in a ball contact wherein the ball slides over the signal trace on the printed circuit board and electrically couples the signal trace on the printed circuit board to the contact; and

wherein the ground clip slides over the ground on the printed circuit board to electrically couple the ground clip to the ground;

an insulator surrounding the contact; and

,

a conductive cylindrical connector surrounding the insulator wherein the contact is concentrically positioned within the conductive cylindrical connector, wherein the conductive cylindrical connector is electrically coupled to the ground clip, and wherein the contact is insulated from the ground clip.

31. A high frequency adapter for coupling a printed circuit board having a signal trace and ground, to a coaxial connector, the adapter comprising:

a housing designed to be removably coupled to the printed circuit board, wherein the housing is barrel shaped and has a front face having a pair of parallel holes in which fit alignment pins located on a panel to properly align the housing with respect to the panel;

a ground clip located in a rear inner portion of the housing;

an adapter subassembly mounted to the housing comprising;

a contact having a proximal portion and a distal portion and an elongated shaft coupling the proximal portion to the distal portion wherein the distal portion is configured to mate with the coaxial connector and the proximal portion is configured to mate with the printed circuit board, wherein the elongated shaft is tapered in the proximal portion and the proximal portion terminates in a ball contact wherein the ball slides over the signal trace on the printed circuit board and electrically couples the signal trace on the printed circuit board to the contact; and

wherein the ground clip slides over the ground on the printed circuit board to electrically couple the ground clip to the ground;

an insulator surrounding the contact; and

,

a conductive cylindrical connector surrounding the insulator wherein the contact is concentrically positioned within the conductive cylindrical connector, wherein the conductive cylindrical connector is electrically coupled to the ground clip, and wherein the contact is insulated from the ground clip.

32. A high frequency adapter for coupling a printed circuit board having a signal trace and ground, to a coaxial connector, the adapter comprising:

a housing designed to be removably coupled to the printed circuit board, wherein the housing has two or more adjacent barrels wherein each barrel houses an adapter subassembly;

a ground clip located in a rear inner portion of the housing;

an adapter subassembly mounted to the housing comprising;

a contact having a proximal portion and a distal portion and an elongated shaft coupling the proximal portion to the distal portion wherein the distal portion is configured to mate with the coaxial connector and the proximal portion is configured to mate with the printed circuit board, wherein the elongated shaft is tapered in the proximal portion and the proximal portion terminates in a ball contact wherein the ball slides over the signal trace on the printed circuit board and electrically couples the signal trace on the printed circuit board to the contact; and

wherein the ground clip slides over the ground on the printed circuit board to electrically couple the ground clip to the ground;

an insulator surrounding the contact; and

,

a conductive cylindrical connector surrounding the insulator wherein the contact is concentrically positioned within the conductive cylindrical connector, wherein the conductive cylindrical connector is electrically coupled to the ground clip, and wherein the contact is insulated from the ground clip.

33. A high frequency adapter for coupling a printed circuit board having a signal trace and ground, to a coaxial connector, the adapter comprising:

a housing designed to be removably coupled to the printed circuit board;

a ground clip located in a rear inner portion of the housing, wherein the ground clip is a spring having an elongated flat section, a first folded-over section coupled at one end to the elongated flat section, and a second folded-over section coupled at an opposite end of the elongated flat section, wherein the first folded-over section has a free end that rides over the second folded-over section to provide a spring force to the clip so that when the adapter is coupled to the printed circuit board, the ground clip is compressed so that a portion of the ground clip mates with the ground on the printed circuit board;

an adapter subassembly mounted to the housing comprising;

a contact having a proximal portion and a distal portion and an elongated shaft coupling the proximal portion to the distal portion wherein the distal portion is configured to mate with the coaxial connector and the proximal portion is configured to mate with the printed circuit board, wherein the elongated shaft is tapered in the proximal portion and the proximal portion terminates in a ball contact wherein the ball slides over the signal trace on the printed circuit board and electrically couples the signal trace on the printed circuit board to the contact; and

wherein the ground clip slides over the ground on the printed circuit board to electrically couple the ground clip to the ground;

an insulator surrounding the contact; and

,

a conductive cylindrical connector surrounding the insulator wherein the contact is concentrically positioned within the conductive cylindrical connector, wherein the conductive cylindrical connector is electrically coupled to the ground clip, and wherein the contact is insulated from the ground clip.