Electrostatic connector

• US 8,134,424 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation, Olympus Medical Systems Corporation (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawata, Susumu, Honda, Makoto, Kato, Shuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benny
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sumadiwirya, Hardadi
• Application Number:
  US12/257,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20090111315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 333/32, 333/33, 333/24.C, 333/254, 333/255, 333/260, 333/250
• US Class Current: 333/24.C
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/44 comprising impedance matching means

Abstract

A connector for transmitting signals using electrostatic coupling, comprises an inner first conductor portion and an outer first conductor portion respectively connected to two signal lines, an inner electrode portion having a facing area larger than the cross-sectional area of the inner first conductor portion in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the common axis, an outer electrode portion outside it, an inner second conductor portion for electrically connecting between the inner first conductor portion and the inner electrode portion, and an outer second conductor portion outside it, wherein the ratio of outer diameter of the inner second conductor portion to inner diameter of the outer second conductor portion is set to provide substantially fixed characteristic impedance at every position along the direction of the common axis.

Claims

1. A connector for transmitting signals with another electrode portion facing thereto insulated in terms of direct current using electrostatic coupling, comprising:

an inner first conductor portion and an outer first conductor portion respectively connected to two signal lines and arranged coaxially;

an inner electrode portion having a facing area larger than a cross-sectional area of the inner first conductor portion in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the common axis, and facing the other electrode portion;

an outer electrode portion arranged outside the inner electrode portion;

an inner second conductor portion for electrically connecting between the inner first conductor portion and the inner electrode portion; and

an outer second conductor portion arranged outside the inner second conductor portion for electrically connecting between the outer first conductor portion and the outer electrode portion,

wherein a ratio of outer diameter of the inner second conductor portion to inner diameter of the outer second conductor portion is set to provide substantially fixed characteristic impedance at every position of the inner second conductor portion and the outer second conductor portion along the direction of the common axis, and

wherein between the inner second conductor portion and the outer second conductor portion is arranged a dielectric in which a dielectric constant of a portion contacting with the outer second conductor portion is smaller than a dielectric constant of a portion contacting with the inner second conductor portion.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein air is used as the dielectric in the portion contacting with the outer second conductor portion, as well as a dielectric having a dielectric constant larger than the air is used as the dielectric in the portion contacting with the inner second conductor portion.

3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the inner first conductor portion and the outer first conductor portion are respectively connected to an inner signal line and an outer signal line of a coaxial cable.

4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the inner electrode portion and the outer electrode portion have a shape rotationally symmetrical about a central axis of the inner first conductor portion.

5. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a dielectric is respectively arranged between the inner first conductor portion and the outer first conductor portion, between the inner second conductor portion and the outer second conductor portion and between the inner electrode portion and the outer electrode portion.

6. The connector according to claim 5, wherein the dielectric includes fluorine-based resin.

7. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a value of outer diameter of the inner second conductor portion linearly increases along the direction of the common axis toward the inner electrode portion.

8. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a value of outer diameter of the inner second conductor portion non-linearly increases along the direction of the common axis toward the inner electrode portion.

9. A connector for transmitting signals with another electrode portion facing thereto insulated in terms of direct current using electrostatic coupling, comprising:

an inner first conductor portion and an outer first conductor portion respectively connected to two signal lines and arranged coaxially;

an inner electrode portion having a facing area larger than a cross-sectional area of the inner first conductor portion in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the common axis, and facing the other electrode portion;

an outer electrode portion arranged outside the inner electrode portion;

an inner second conductor portion for electrically connecting between the inner first conductor portion and the inner electrode portion; and

an outer second conductor portion arranged outside the inner second conductor portion for electrically connecting between the outer first conductor portion and the outer electrode portion,

wherein a ratio of outer diameter of the inner second conductor portion to inner diameter of the outer second conductor portion is set to provide substantially fixed characteristic impedance at every position of the inner second conductor portion and the outer second conductor portion along the direction of the common axis, and

wherein a dielectric is arranged between the inner second conductor portion and the outer second conductor portion such that a dielectric constant on the inner electrode portion side is small at a predetermined position toward the inner electrode portion along the direction of the common axis, as well as the ratio of outer diameter of the inner second conductor portion to inner diameter of the outer second conductor portion is set to be larger in the inner electrode portion side of the predetermined position.

10. The connector according to claim 9, wherein the inner first conductor portion and the outer first conductor portion are respectively connected to an inner signal line and an outer signal line of a coaxial cable.

11. The connector according to claim 9, wherein the inner electrode portion and the outer electrode portion have a shape rotationally symmetrical about a central axis of the inner first conductor portion.

12. The connector according to claim 9, wherein a dielectric is respectively arranged between the inner first conductor portion and the outer first conductor portion, between the inner second conductor portion and the outer second conductor portion and between the inner electrode portion and the outer electrode portion.

13. The connector according to claim 12, wherein the dielectric includes fluorine-based resin.

14. The connector according to claim 9, wherein a value of outer diameter of the inner second conductor portion linearly increases along the direction of the common axis toward the inner electrode portion.

15. The connector according to claim 9, wherein a value of outer diameter of the inner second conductor portion non-linearly increases along the direction of the common axis toward the inner electrode portion.

16. A connector for transmitting signals with another electrode portion facing thereto insulated in terms of direct current using electrostatic coupling, comprising:

an inner first conductor portion and an outer first conductor portion respectively connected to two signal lines and arranged coaxially;

an inner electrode portion having a facing area larger than a cross-sectional area of the inner first conductor portion in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the common axis, and facing the other electrode portion;

an outer electrode portion arranged outside the inner electrode portion;

an inner second conductor portion for electrically connecting between the inner first conductor portion and the inner electrode portion; and

an outer second conductor portion arranged outside the inner second conductor portion for electrically connecting between the outer first conductor portion and the outer electrode portion,

wherein a ratio of outer diameter of the inner second conductor portion to inner diameter of the outer second conductor portion is set to provide substantially fixed characteristic impedance at every position of the inner second conductor portion and the outer second conductor portion along the direction of the common axis, and

wherein a dielectric is arranged between the inner second conductor portion and the outer second conductor portion such that a dielectric constant gradually decreases toward the inner electrode portion side along the direction of the common axis, as well as the ratio of outer diameter of the inner second conductor portion to inner diameter of the outer second conductor portion gradually increases toward the inner electrode portion side along the direction of the common axis.

17. The connector according to claim 16, wherein between the inner second conductor portion and the outer second conductor portion is arranged a dielectric in which the dielectric constant of a portion contacting with the outer second conductor portion is smaller than the dielectric constant of a portion contacting with the inner second conductor portion.

18. The connector according to claim 16, wherein the inner first conductor portion and the outer first conductor portion are respectively connected to an inner signal line and an outer signal line of a coaxial cable.

19. The connector according to claim 16, wherein the inner electrode portion and the outer electrode portion have a shape rotationally symmetrical about a central axis of the inner first conductor portion.

20. The connector according to claim 16, wherein a dielectric is respectively arranged between the inner first conductor portion and the outer first conductor portion, between the inner second conductor portion and the outer second conductor portion and between the inner electrode portion and the outer electrode portion.

21. The connector according to claim 20, wherein the dielectric includes fluorine-based resin.

22. The connector according to claim 16, wherein a value of outer diameter of the inner second conductor portion linearly increases along the direction of the common axis toward the inner electrode portion.

23. The connector according to claim 16, wherein a value of outer diameter of the inner second conductor portion non-linearly increases along the direction of the common axis toward the inner electrode portion.

24. A connector for transmitting signals with another electrode portion facing thereto insulated in terms of direct current using electrostatic coupling, comprising:

an inner first conductor portion and an outer first conductor portion respectively connected to two signal lines and arranged coaxially;

an inner electrode portion having a facing area larger than a cross-sectional area of the inner first conductor portion in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the common axis, and facing the other electrode portion;

an outer electrode portion arranged outside the inner electrode portion;

an inner second conductor portion for electrically connecting between the inner first conductor portion and the inner electrode portion; and

an outer second conductor portion arranged outside the inner second conductor portion for electrically connecting between the outer first conductor portion and the outer electrode portion,

wherein a ratio of outer diameter of the inner second conductor portion to inner diameter of the outer second conductor portion is set to provide substantially fixed characteristic impedance at every position of the inner second conductor portion and the outer second conductor portion along the direction of the common axis, and

wherein difference between a signal transmission path length from a connection portion with the inner first conductor portion to a connection portion with the inner electrode portion in an outer surface of the inner second conductor portion and a signal transmission path length from a connection portion with the outer first conductor portion to a connecting portion with the outer electrode portion in an inner surface of the outer second conductor portion is set to be a predetermined value or less.

25. The connector according to claim 24, wherein the inner first conductor portion and the outer first conductor portion are respectively connected to an inner signal line and an outer signal line of a coaxial cable.

26. The connector according to claim 24, wherein the inner electrode portion and the outer electrode portion have a shape rotationally symmetrical about a central axis of the inner first conductor portion.

27. The connector according to claim 24, wherein a dielectric is respectively arranged between the inner first conductor portion and the outer first conductor portion, between the inner second conductor portion and the outer second conductor portion and between the inner electrode portion and the outer electrode portion.

28. The connector according to claim 27, wherein the dielectric includes fluorine-based resin.

29. The connector according to claim 24, wherein a value of outer diameter of the inner second conductor portion linearly increases along the direction of the common axis toward the inner electrode portion.

30. The connector according to claim 24, wherein a value of outer diameter of the inner second conductor portion non-linearly increases along the direction of the common axis toward the inner electrode portion.

31. A connector having a first connector and a second connector connected so as to face each other insulated in terms of direct current using electrostatic coupling,

at least one of the first connector and the second connector comprising:

an inner first conductor portion and an outer first conductor portion respectively connected to two signal lines and arranged coaxially;

an inner electrode portion having a facing area larger than a cross-sectional area of the inner first conductor portion in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the common axis, and facing an inner electrode portion of an opposite connector;

an outer electrode portion arranged outside the inner electrode portion;

an inner second conductor portion for electrically connecting between the inner first conductor portion and the inner electrode portion; and

an outer second conductor portion arranged outside the inner second conductor portion for electrically connecting between the outer first conductor portion and the outer electrode portion,

wherein a ratio of outer diameter of the inner second conductor portion to inner diameter of the outer second conductor portion is set to provide substantially fixed characteristic impedance at every position of the inner second conductor portion and the outer second conductor portion along the direction of the common axis, and

wherein between the inner second conductor portion and the outer second conductor portion is arranged a dielectric in which a dielectric constant of a portion contacting with the outer second conductor portion is smaller than a dielectric constant of a portion contacting with the inner second conductor portion.

32. The connector according to claim 31, wherein air is used as the dielectric in the portion contacting with the outer second conductor portion, as well as a dielectric having a dielectric constant larger than the air is used as the dielectric in the portion contacting with the inner second conductor portion.

33. A connector having a first connector and a second connector connected so as to face each other insulated in terms of direct current using electrostatic coupling,

at least one of the first connector and the second connector comprising:

an inner first conductor portion and an outer first conductor portion respectively connected to two signal lines and arranged coaxially;

an inner electrode portion having a facing area larger than a cross-sectional area of the inner first conductor portion in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the common axis, and facing an inner electrode portion of an opposite connector;

an outer electrode portion arranged outside the inner electrode portion;

an inner second conductor portion for electrically connecting between the inner first conductor portion and the inner electrode portion; and

an outer second conductor portion arranged outside the inner second conductor portion for electrically connecting between the outer first conductor portion and the outer electrode portion,

wherein a ratio of outer diameter of the inner second conductor portion to inner diameter of the outer second conductor portion is set to provide substantially fixed characteristic impedance at every position of the inner second conductor portion and the outer second conductor portion along the direction of the common axis, and

wherein a dielectric is arranged between the inner second conductor portion and the outer second conductor portion such that a dielectric constant on the inner electrode portion side is small at a predetermined position toward the inner electrode portion along the direction of the common axis, as well as the ratio of outer diameter of the inner second conductor portion to inner diameter of the outer second conductor portion is set to be larger in the inner electrode portion side of the predetermined position.

34. A connector having a first connector and a second connector connected so as to face each other insulated in terms of direct current using electrostatic coupling,

at least one of the first connector and the second connector comprising:

an inner first conductor portion and an outer first conductor portion respectively connected to two signal lines and arranged coaxially;

an inner electrode portion having a facing area larger than a cross-sectional area of the inner first conductor portion in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the common axis, and facing an inner electrode portion of an opposite connector;

an outer electrode portion arranged outside the inner electrode portion;

an inner second conductor portion for electrically connecting between the inner first conductor portion and the inner electrode portion; and

an outer second conductor portion arranged outside the inner second conductor portion for electrically connecting between the outer first conductor portion and the outer electrode portion,

wherein a ratio of outer diameter of the inner second conductor portion to inner diameter of the outer second conductor portion is set to provide substantially fixed characteristic impedance at every position of the inner second conductor portion and the outer second conductor portion along the direction of the common axis, and

wherein a dielectric is arranged between the inner second conductor portion and the outer second conductor portion such that a dielectric constant gradually decreases toward the inner electrode portion side along the direction of the common axis, as well as the ratio of outer diameter of the inner second conductor portion to inner diameter of the outer second conductor portion gradually increases toward the inner electrode portion side along the direction of the common axis.

35. The connector according to claim 34, wherein between the inner second conductor portion and the outer second conductor portion is arranged a dielectric in which the dielectric constant of a portion contacting with the outer second conductor portion is smaller than the dielectric constant of a portion contacting with the inner second conductor portion.

36. A connector having a first connector and a second connector connected so as to face each other insulated in terms of direct current using electrostatic coupling,

at least one of the first connector and the second connector comprising:

an inner first conductor portion and an outer first conductor portion respectively connected to two signal lines and arranged coaxially;

an inner electrode portion having a facing area larger than a cross-sectional area of the inner first conductor portion in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the common axis, and facing an inner electrode portion of an opposite connector;

an outer electrode portion arranged outside the inner electrode portion;

an inner second conductor portion for electrically connecting between the inner first conductor portion and the inner electrode portion; and

an outer second conductor portion arranged outside the inner second conductor portion for electrically connecting between the outer first conductor portion and the outer electrode portion,

wherein a ratio of outer diameter of the inner second conductor portion to inner diameter of the outer second conductor portion is set to provide substantially fixed characteristic impedance at every position of the inner second conductor portion and the outer second conductor portion along the direction of the common axis, and

wherein difference between a signal transmission path length from a connection portion with the inner first conductor portion to a connection portion with the inner electrode portion in an outer surface of the inner second conductor portion and a signal transmission path length from a connection portion with the outer first conductor portion to a connecting portion with the outer electrode portion in an inner surface of the outer second conductor portion is set to be a predetermined value or less.