Integrated filter connector

• US 7,393,245 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2007
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Montena, Noah, Palinkas, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): NASRI, JAVAID H
• Application Number:
  US11/803,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20070281542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 439/620.03, 439/620.09, 439/620.1, 439/578, 439/620.22, 439/76.1
• US Class Current: 439/620.03
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/719 specially adapted for high frequency, e.g. with filters
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/42 comprising impedance matching means or electrical components, e.g. filters or switches

Abstract

An integrated filter connector apparatus that performs the functions of a coaxial cable connector component combined with the functions of an in-line signal conditioning component. The apparatus eliminates at least one exposed point of connection between a separate coaxial cable connector component and an in-line signal conditioning component. Elimination of such a point of connection likely reduces RF ingress into a signal path and likely reduces interference with a signal traveling through the signal path. Embodiments of the connector apparatus provide various types of connector interfaces.

Claims

1. A coax cable connector and filter assembly for coupling an end of a coaxial cable to a port, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric layer, the dielectric layer being surrounded by an electrically conductive material, and the conductive material being surrounded by a protective outer jacket, the connector and filter assembly comprising:

a connector body having a front body end and a rear body end and an internal surface defining a central passageway there between;

an electrical circuit having a front terminal at a first electrical end and a rear terminal at a second electrical end, the electrical circuit located within the central passageway;

a post having a front post end and a rear post end, the front post end disposed within the central passageway and the rear post end adapted to engage the electrically conductive material;

a compression member assembly having a front end and a rear end, and a throughbore, the front end configured for engagement with the inner surface of the central passageway, the rear end of the compression member assembly including a compression member being moveable with respect to the connector body from a first position permitting the insertion of the coaxial cable into the connector body to a second position to grasp the outer sheath of the coaxial cable;

the front body end configured for attachment to a coaxial port; and

a compression member cover surrounding a rear end of the compression member.

2. The connector and filter assembly of claim 1 where the compression member assembly further comprises an insert sleeve.

3. A filter assembly, comprising:

a printed circuit board having a filtering circuit and a ground plane thereon, the printed circuit board having two opposite ends, each opposite end of the printed circuit board having an electrical contact pad;

a front terminal and a rear terminal are electrically connected at each of the electrical contact pads at opposite ends of the printed circuit board, said rear terminal including a collet adapted to receive a central conductor of a coaxial cable;

a body having a front end, a rear end and an internal surface defining a central passageway there between, the central passageway receiving the printed circuit board;

a post having a front end and a rear end, the rear end adapted to engage an outer conductor of the coaxial cable, the front end disposed within the central passageway of the body;

a compression member having a front end, a rear end, and a throughbore, said rear end configured for engagement with the inner surface at the rear end of the body, the compression member being moveable with respect to said body from a first position permitting the insertion of a coaxial cable into the central passageway of the body to a second position grasping the outer layers of said coaxial cable; and

said front end being configured for attachment of the body to a port;

wherein the rear end of the post is adapted to be inserted beneath the outer conductor of the coaxial cable;

wherein the rear end of the post further includes a barbed portion.

4. The filter assembly of claim 3 further comprising a compression member cover surrounding the front end of the compression member.

5. The filter assembly of claim 4 further comprising an insert sleeve.

6. The filter assembly of claim 5 wherein the insert sleeve has an outwardly tapered rear end whereby, upon movement of the compression member to the second position, the compression member is inwardly radially deformed to compress the outer layers of the coaxial cable between the compression member and the barbed portion of the post.

7. A filter assembly, comprising:

a printed circuit board having a filtering circuit and a ground plane thereon, the printed circuit board having two opposite ends, each opposite end of the printed circuit board having an electrical contact pad;

a front terminal and a rear terminal are electrically connected at each of the electrical contact pads at opposite ends of the printed circuit board, said rear terminal including a collet adapted to receive a central conductor of a coaxial cable;

a body having a front end, a rear end and an internal surface defining a central passageway there between, the central passageway receiving the printed circuit board;

a post having a front end and a rear end, the rear end adapted to engage an outer conductor of the coaxial cable, the front end disposed within the central passageway of the body;

a compression member having a front end, a rear end, and a throughbore, said rear end configured for engagement with the inner surface at the rear end of the body, the compression member being moveable with respect to said body from a first position permitting the insertion of a coaxial cable into the central passageway of the body to a second position grasping the outer layers of said coaxial cable;

said front end being configured for attachment of the body to a port and to rotate independently of said body;

a nut and a nut retaining ring; and

a first groove on an internal surface of the nut, a second groove on an exterior surface of the body and the nut retaining ring disposed between said first and second grooves.

8. A filter assembly, comprising:

a printed circuit board having a filtering circuit and a ground plane thereon, the printed circuit board having two opposite ends, each opposite end of the printed circuit board having an electrical contact pad;

a front terminal and a rear terminal are electrically connected at each of the electrical contact pads at opposite ends of the printed circuit board, said rear terminal including a collet adapted to receive a central conductor of a coaxial cable;

a body having a front end, a rear end and an internal surface defining a central passageway there between, the central passageway receiving the printed circuit board;

a post having a front end and a rear end, the rear end adapted to engage an outer conductor of the coaxial cable, the front end disposed within the central passageway of the body;

a compression member having a front end, a rear end, and a throughbore, said rear end configured for engagement with the inner surface at the rear end of the body, the compression member being moveable with respect to said body from a first position permitting the insertion of a coaxial cable into the central passageway of the body to a second position grasping the outer layers of said coaxial cable; and

said front end being configured for attachment of the body to a port;

wherein the front end of the compression member includes an external flange configured to engage an edge at the rear end of the body for preventing further advancement of the compression member.

9. A filter assembly comprising:

a printed circuit board having two contacts;

a body having a front end, a rear end and structure supporting the printed circuit board, said rear end having a sleeve for receiving a prepared end of a coaxial cable, said coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric layer, the dielectric layer being surrounded by an electrically conductive material, and the conductive material being surrounded by a protective outer jacket;

a post at least partially disposed within the sleeve configured for engagement with the outer conductor of the cable;

a cable compression mechanism adapted to engage and grasp the outer jacket of the cable;

a collet electrically engaged to the first contact and adapted to receive the center conductor of a coaxial cable;

an insulator electrically isolating at least one contact from the body; and

a connector interface at the front end of the body adapted to engage a port.

10. The filter assembly of claim 9, wherein the body comprises a cylindrical housing and a header.

11. The filter assembly of claim 10 further comprising second insulator to electrically isolate a second contact from the body.

12. The filter assembly of claim 10 wherein a nut is engaged to a header at the front end of the body.

13. The filter assembly of claim 9 wherein the structure supporting the circuit board is a pair of opposing slots in the body.

14. The filter assembly of claim 9 wherein the sleeve is integral to the cylindrical housing.

15. The filter assembly of claim 9 wherein the sleeve is formed on the header.

16. The filter assembly of claim 9 wherein the interface comprises an internally threaded nut.

17. The filter assembly of claim 16 wherein the nut rotates independently of the body.

18. A filter assembly comprising a printed circuit board having a circuit for conditioning an electronic signal transmitted along a coaxial cable;

body means for housing and supporting the printed circuit board having a front end and a rear end;

cable compression means at the rear end of the body for receiving and grasping a prepared end of a coaxial cable having a central conductor;

conductor receiving means for electrically engaging the central conductor to the printed circuit board;

insulating means for electrically isolating the conductor receiving means from the body means; and

interface means for connecting the first end of the body to a port;

wherein cable compression means includes a sleeve at the rear end of the body adapted to receive the coaxial cable;

further comprising means for electrically engaging an outer conductor of the cable;

wherein the means for electrically engaging the outer conductor includes a post disposed at least partially within the sleeve.

19. The filter assembly of claim 18 wherein the cable compression means further includes a compression member adapted to be inserted into said sleeve.

20. The filter assembly of claim 18 wherein the interface means includes a nut rotatably engaged to the front end of the body.

21. The filter assembly of claim 18 wherein the body means includes a cylindrical housing and a header.