Low cost, high performance RF connector
First Claim
1. An electrical connector module adapted for RF signals, comprising:
- a lead frame providing a coplanar waveguide structure, the lead frame comprising;
at least one signal conductor; and
a plurality of ground conductors disposed adjacent the at least one signal conductor, wherein the conductors are arranged in an order comprising a first ground conductor of the plurality of ground conductors, the at least one signal conductor, and a second ground conductor of the plurality of ground conductors; and
at least one shield member parallel to the lead frame; and
at least one lossy region, each lossy region adjacent to a ground conductor of the plurality of ground conductors and adjacent and in contact with a planar shield member of the at least one planar shield members,wherein greater than 85% of the energy of an RF signal propagates along the coplanar waveguide structure.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An RF connector module and associated printed circuit board providing high isolation and controlled impedance at RF frequencies. The connector module may be manufactured using conventional manufacturing techniques, such as stamping, insert molding, multi-shot molding and interference fit between components, to provide low cost. A connector module constructed with these techniques may implement a co-planar waveguide structure, with conductive shields for isolation and lossy material to enforce co-planar propagation modes. The printed circuit board may similarly be manufactured using conventional manufacturing techniques, including drilling to form vias. As a result, an interconnection system may be manufactured with low cost. These techniques may be applied to provide performance, including in the form of isolation between RF signals, comparable to that provided by more expensive components.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An electrical connector module adapted for RF signals, comprising:
a lead frame providing a coplanar waveguide structure, the lead frame comprising; at least one signal conductor; and a plurality of ground conductors disposed adjacent the at least one signal conductor, wherein the conductors are arranged in an order comprising a first ground conductor of the plurality of ground conductors, the at least one signal conductor, and a second ground conductor of the plurality of ground conductors; and at least one shield member parallel to the lead frame; and at least one lossy region, each lossy region adjacent to a ground conductor of the plurality of ground conductors and adjacent and in contact with a planar shield member of the at least one planar shield members, wherein greater than 85% of the energy of an RF signal propagates along the coplanar waveguide structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An electrical connector module comprising:
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a lead frame providing a coplanar waveguide structure, the lead frame comprising; a signal conductor; and a plurality of ground conductors disposed adjacent the signal conductor; at least one shield member parallel to the lead frame; and at least one lossy region, each lossy region adjacent to a ground conductor of the plurality of ground conductors and adjacent to a planar shield member of the at least one planar shield members; wherein; a shield member of the at least one shield member comprises an opening therethrough; and the at least one lossy region extends through the opening; the electrical connector module further comprises an insulative housing with at least an intermediate portion of the lead frame being disposed within the insulative housing, the housing comprising a surface; the at least one lossy region extends through the surface; and the shield member is adjacent the surface. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An electrical connector module adapted for RF signals, comprising:
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a lead frame providing a plurality of coplanar waveguide structures, the lead frame comprising; a plurality of first type conductors, each first type conductor having a width less than a first width; and a plurality of second type conductors, each of the second type conductors having a width greater than a second width, the second width being greater than the first width, wherein each first type conductor is disposed between and adjacent to two second type conductors, such that the conductors are disposed in an order comprising a first second type conductor of the plurality of second type conductors, a first type conductor, and a second second type conductor of the plurality of second type conductors; and a plurality of lossy regions, each lossy region coupled to a second type conductor, wherein greater than 85% of the energy of an RF signal propagates along the plurality of coplanar waveguide structures. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An electrical connector module adapted for RF signals, comprising:
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a lead frame providing a plurality of coplanar waveguide structures, the lead frame comprising; a plurality of first type conductors, each first type conductor having a width less than a first width; and a plurality of second type conductors, each of the second type conductors having a width greater than a second width, the second width being greater than the first width, wherein each first type conductor is disposed between and adjacent to two second type conductors, and a plurality of lossy regions, each lossy region coupled to a second type conductor; a first planar conductive member parallel to the lead frame, the first planar conductive member being position on a first side of the lead frame; and a second planar conductive member parallel to the lead frame, the second planar conductive member being position on a second side of the lead frame, wherein; the first planar conductive member and the second planar conductive member are each coupled to lossy regions of the plurality of lossy regions; and each first type conductor is spaced from each of the first planar conductive member and the second planar conductive member by a distance of at least 0.5 mm, whereby less than 1% of the energy of an RF signal of a frequency of 1-3 GHz propagates in a parallel plate mode.
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Specification