Coaxial cable connector with integral RFI protection

• US 9,722,363 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2016
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Corning Optical Communications RF, LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lutz, William Bernard, Burris, Donald Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Duverne, Jean F
• Application Number:
  US15/019,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20160156134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 439578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6581 Shield structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/40 specially adapted for high frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/48 utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member H01R4/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0524 Connection to outer conductor by action of a clamping member, e.g. screw fastening means H01R9/0515 takes precedence

Abstract

A coaxial cable connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable to a terminal is disclosed. The connector has a coupler adapted to couple the connector to a terminal, a body assembled with the coupler and a post assembled with the coupler and the body. The post is adapted to receive an end of a coaxial cable. The post has an integral contacting portion that is monolithic with at least a portion of the post. When assembled the coupler and post provide at least one circuitous path resulting in RF shielding such that RF signals external to the coaxial cable connector are attenuated, such that the integrity of an electrical signal transmitted through coaxial cable connector is maintained regardless of the tightness of the coupling of the connector to the terminal.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable to a terminal, the coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, a dielectric surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the dielectric, and a jacket surrounding the outer conductor, the connector comprising:

a coupler comprising a front end, a rear end, a surface defining an inner bore disposed between the front end and the rear end, and a lip extending inwardly into the inner bore from the surface, the lip comprising an forward facing surface including a first step extending inwardly from the surface into the inner bore and a second step extending further inwardly into the inner bore from the first step lip, the coupler configured to couple the connector to the terminal;

a body assembled with the coupler, and

a post assembled with the coupler and the body, the post extending into the inner bore through the rear end of the coupler and comprising a shoulder opposing surfaces of the first and second steps of the lip of the coupler, wherein the post is configured to receive an end of a coaxial cable.

2. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein RF signals external to the coaxial cable connector are attenuated by at least about 50 dB in a range up to about 1000 MHz.

3. The coaxial cable connector of claim 2, wherein the RF signals external to the connector comprise RF signals that ingress into the connector.

4. The coaxial cable connector of claim 2, wherein the RF signals external to the connector comprise RF signals that egress out from the connector.

5. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein a transfer impedance measured from the outer conductor of the coaxial cable to the terminal through the connector averages less than about 0.24 ohms.

6. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the post comprises a flange and a contacting portion.

7. The coaxial cable connector of claim 6, wherein a first circuitous path includes a plurality of pairs of electromagnetically coupled faces established by at least one of the first step, the second step, the lip, the flange, the contacting portion and the shoulder, and wherein the first circuitous path attenuates of RF signals external to the connector.

8. The coaxial cable connector of claim 6, wherein the contacting portion is integral and monolithic with at least a portion of the post.

9. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the terminal comprises an equipment connection port, and wherein the coupler comprises a threaded portion configured to connect with a threaded portion of an equipment connection port, and wherein at least one thread of the coupler has a pitch angle different than a pitch angle of at least one thread of the equipment connection port.

10. The coaxial cable connector of claim 9, wherein the pitch angle of the thread of the coupler is about 2 degrees different than the pitch angle of the thread of the equipment connection port.

11. The coaxial cable connector of claim 9, wherein the pitch angle of the thread of the coupler is about 62 degrees, and the pitch angle of the thread of the equipment connection port is about 60 degrees.

12. The coaxial cable connector of claim 9, wherein the threaded portion of the coupler and the threaded portion of the equipment connection port, establish a second circuitous path that attenuates RF signals external to the connector.

13. A coaxial cable connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable to an equipment connection port, the coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, a dielectric surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the dielectric, and a jacket surrounding the outer conductor, the connector comprising:

a coupler comprising a front end, a rear end, a surface defining an inner bore disposed between the front end and the rear end, and a lip extending inwardly into the inner bore from the surface, the lip comprising a forward facing surface including a first step extending inwardly from the surface into the inner bore and a second step extending further inwardly into the inner bore from the first step, the coupler configured to couple the connector to the equipment connection port;

a body assembled with the coupler, and

a post assembled with the coupler and the body, the post extending into the inner bore through the rear end of the coupler and comprising a shoulder opposing surfaces of the first and second steps of the lip of the coupler and an integral contacting portion monolithic with at least a portion of the post, wherein the post is configured to receive an end of a coaxial cable.

14. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13, wherein RF signals external to the coaxial connector comprise at least one of RF signals that ingress into the connector and RF signals that egress out from the connector.

15. The coaxial cable connector of claim 14, wherein RF signals external to the coaxial cable connector are attenuated by at least about 50 dB in a range up to about 1000 MHz.

16. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13, wherein a transfer impedance averages about 0.24 ohms.

17. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13, wherein the coupler and post provide at least one circuitous path.

18. The coaxial cable connector wherein the at least one circuitous path comprises a first circuitous path and a second circuitous path.

19. The coaxial cable connector of claim 18, wherein the post comprises a flange and the first circuitous path is established by at least one of the first step, the second step, the lip, the flange, the contacting portion and the shoulder.

20. The coaxial cable connector of claim 18, wherein the coupler comprises a threaded portion configured to connect with a threaded portion of the equipment connection port, and wherein the threaded portion of the coupler and the threaded portion of the equipment connection port establish the second circuitous path.

21. The coaxial cable connector of claim 20, wherein at least one thread on the coupler has a pitch angle different than a pitch angle of at least one thread of the equipment connection port.