Connector having electrical continuity about an inner dielectric and method of use thereof

• US 8,167,646 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2010
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Mathews, Roger D.
• Primary Examiner(s): NASRI, JAVAID H
• Application Number:
  US12/906,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20120094531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 439578-581, 439/271, 439/63
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5202 Sealing means between parts of housing or between housing part and a wall, e.g. sealing rings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/05 for coaxial cables
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A connector having a conductive member is provided, wherein the conductive member electrically couples a dielectric and a post, thereby establishing electrical continuity about an inner dielectric throughout the connector. Furthermore, the conductive member facilitates grounding through the connector, and renders an electromagnetic shield preventing ingress of unwanted environmental noise.

Claims

1. A connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric, the dielectric being surrounded by a foil layer, the foil layer being surrounded by a conductive grounding shield, the conductive grounding shield being surrounded by a protective outer jacket, the connector comprising:

a connector body attached to a post, wherein the post has a first end and a second end, the first end configured to be inserted into an end of the coaxial cable around the foil layer encompassing the dielectric and under the conductive grounding shield thereof;

a rotatable coupling element attached to the post; and

a conductive member positioned along an inner surface of the post facilitating continuous electrical communication between the foil layer and the post, when the first end of the post is inserted into the end of the coaxial cable around the foil layer encompassing the dielectric and under the conductive grounding shield thereof.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein a plurality of conductive members are located along the inner surface of the post.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector body includes a first end and a second end, the first end configured to deformably compress against and seal a received coaxial cable.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the conductive member is resilient.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the conductive member is rigid.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein a conductive seal is located proximate the second end of the connector body, and further wherein the seal is configured to provide a shield for preventing ingress of electromagnetic noise into the connector.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the conductive member is configured to provide a shield for preventing ingress of electromagnetic noise into the connector.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein the post has a notch proximate the second end, the notch accommodating a first surface of the conductive member, while a second surface of the conductive member maintains contact with the foil layer.

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein the post has a plurality of post notches.

10. The connector of claim 1, further comprising:

a conductive mating member, located proximate the second end of the post, wherein the conductive member facilitates grounding of the coaxial cable; and

wherein the conductive mating member forms a shield preventing ingress of electromagnetic noise into the connector.

11. The connector of claim 1, wherein the conductive member extends a distance from the post.

12. A connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric, the dielectric being surrounded by a foil layer, the foil layer being surrounded by a conductive grounding shield, the conductive grounding shield being surrounded by a protective outer jacket, the connector comprising:

a connector body attached to a post wherein the connector body includes a first end and a second end, the first end configured to deformably compress against and seal a received coaxial cable;

a rotatable coupling element attached to the post; and

a conductive member located along an inner surface of the post, wherein the conductive member facilitates the grounding of the coaxial cable by electrically coupling the foil layer to the post.

13. The connector of claim 12, wherein the post has a first end and a second end, the first end configured to be inserted into an end of the coaxial cable around the foil layer encompassing the dielectric and under the conductive grounding shield thereof.

14. The connector of claim 12, wherein the conductive member extends a distance from the post.

15. The connector of claim 12, wherein a conductive seal is located proximate the second end of the connector body, and further wherein the seal is configured to provide a shield for preventing ingress of electromagnetic noise into the connector.

16. The connector of claim 12, wherein the conductive member is configured to provide a shield for preventing ingress of electromagnetic noise into the connector.

17. The connector of claim 12, wherein the post has a notch proximate the second end, the notch accommodating a first surface of the conductive member, while a second surface of the conductive member maintains contact with the foil layer.

18. The connector of claim 12, further comprising:

a conductive mating member, located proximate the second end of the post, wherein the conductive member facilitates grounding of the coaxial cable; and

wherein the conductive mating member completes a shield preventing ingress of electromagnetic noise into the connector.

19. A connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric, the dielectric being surrounded by a foil layer, the foil layer being surrounded by a conductive grounding shield, the conductive grounding shield being surrounded by a protective outer jacket, the connector comprising:

a connector body having a first end and a second end, the first end configured to deformably compress against and seal a received coaxial cable;

a post attached to the connector body, wherein the post includes a first end and a second end, the first end configured to be inserted into an end of the coaxial cable around the foil layer encompassing the dielectric and under the conductive grounding shield thereof;

a port coupling element attached to the post; and

a plurality of conductive members, wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive members is positioned along an inner surface of the post, and further wherein the plurality of conductive members helps complete a shield preventing ingress of electromagnetic noise into the connector and facilitates grounding of the coaxial cable.

20. The connector of claim 19, wherein the plurality of conductive members comprise a first conductive member, a second conductive member, and a third conductive member.

21. The connector of claim 20, wherein the first conductive member is positioned to electrically couple the foil layer and the post.

22. The connector of claim 20, wherein the second conductive member is a conductive sealing member located proximate the second end of the connector body for electrically coupling and physically sealing the connector body and the threaded nut.

23. The connector of claim 20, wherein the third conductive member is a conductive mating member located proximate the second end of the post and facilitates an annular seal between the threaded nut and the post thereby electrical coupling the post and the threaded nut by extending therebetween an unbroken electrical circuit.

24. A connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric, the dielectric being surrounded by a foil layer, the foil layer being surrounded by a conductive grounding shield, the conductive grounding shield being surrounded by a protective outer jacket, the connector comprising:

a connector body having a first end and a second end, the first end configured to deformably compress against and seal a received coaxial cable;

a post attached to the connector body, wherein the post includes a first end and a second end, the first end configured to be inserted into an end of the coaxial cable around the foil layer encompassing the dielectric and under the conductive grounding shield thereof;

a port coupling element attached to the post; and

means for electrically coupling the post and the foil layer, thereby establishing electrical continuity about the dielectric.

25. A method for grounding a coaxial cable through a connector, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric, the dielectric being surrounded by a foil layer, the foil layer being surrounded by a conductive grounding shield, the conductive grounding shield being surrounded by a protective outer jacket, the method comprising:

providing a coaxial cable connector having a post positioned within a connector body of the coaxial cable connector;

positioning a first conductive member on an inner surface of the post, wherein the first conductive member contacts both the foil layer and the post establishing and maintaining electrical continuity;

fixedly attaching the coaxial cable to the connector; and

connecting the connector onto an interface port so that the first conductive member facilitates grounding through the connector.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the connector further includes a threaded nut, and a second conductive member electrically coupling and physically sealing the connector body and threaded nut.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the first conductive member extends a distance from the post to contact the surface of the interface port before the interface port contacts a mating surface of the post.

28. The method of claim 25, further including completing an electromagnetic shield by rotating the nut and threading it onto the conductive interface port.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the first conductive member electrically couples and physically seals at least a portion of the connector.