Connector Having A Grounding Member

• US 20190103710A1
• Filed: 07/31/2018
• Published: 04/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Krenceski, Mary, Mathews, Roger, Montena, Noah P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,446,983 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/658 High frequency shielding arrangements, e.g. against EMI [Electro-Magnetic Interference] or EMP [Electro-Magnetic Pulse] coaxial coupling devices specially adapted for high frequency H01R24/40; for flat or ribbon cable connectors H01R12/774; for coaxial cable H01R9/05
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6584 formed by conductive elastomeric members, e.g. flat gaskets or O-rings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6596 the conductive member being a metal grounding panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/40 specially adapted for high frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0512 Connections to an additional grounding conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0521 Connection to outer conductor by action of a nut
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49174 Assembling terminal to elongated conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 Contact or terminal manufacturing

Abstract

A grounding member for maintaining a ground path in a cable connector includes, in one embodiment, an inner core configured to flex when a force is applied to the grounding member during operation of the connector. The grounding member further includes an outer conductive coating applied to the inner core. The outer conductive coating is configured to flex from a first state to a second state when a force is applied to the grounding member, so as to maintain a conductive path through the connector when the outer conductive coating flexes between the first and second states during operation of the connector.

Claims

1. A connector comprising:

a body portion having a central bore and a first grounding member contact surface;

a post portion disposed within the central bore and having an outwardly projecting flange at one end configured to produce a first portion of a mating interface, the post portion having tubular sleeve at the other end configured to mechanically and electrically engage the prepared end of the coaxial cable;

a conductive coupling portion having an engagement surface at a first end configured to mechanically and electrically engage an interface port, a lip at a second end configured to produce a second portion of the mating interface, the first and second portions sliding along the mating interface to rotate about an elongate axis of the cable connector, and a second grounding member contact surface opposing the first grounding member contact surface; and

a conductive grounding portion comprising a compliant ring disposed between the first and second grounding member contact surfaces, the conductive grounding portion configured to produce an electrical path between the body portion and the conductive coupling portion.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first and second grounding member contact surfaces move axially relative to each other and slide over a surface of the conductive grounding portion as the coupling portion and the body portion move apart when the engagement surface of the coupling portion loosens relative to the interface port.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first grounding member contact surface of the body portion is an outwardly facing cylindrical surface and the second grounding member contact surface of the coupling portion is an inwardly facing cylindrical surface.

4. The connector of claim 3, wherein the outwardly facing cylindrical surface rotationally slides over a surface of the grounding portion as the engagement surface of the coupling portion is tightened over the interface port.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first and second grounding member contact surfaces produce a first RF cavity disposed radially outboard of the mating interface.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the compliant ring comprises an elastomeric ring loaded with a conductive particulate.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the compliant ring comprises an elastomer ring having a flexible core and a conductive outer coating.

8. The connector of claim 5, wherein the first RF cavity is disposed to one side of the mating interface and comprises a first compliant ring and wherein the coupling portion produces a second RF cavity disposed to the other side of the mating interface.

9. A connector for coupling a prepared end of a coaxial cable to an interface port, the connector comprising:

a body portion having a central bore and a first grounding member contact surface;

a post portion disposed within the central bore and configured to mechanically and electrically engage the prepared end of the coaxial cable;

a conductive coupling portion having an engagement surface at a first end configured to mechanically and electrically engage an interface port, and a second grounding member contact surface opposing the first grounding member contact surface; and

a conductive grounding portion configured to produce an electrical path between the body portion and the conductive coupling portion when the engagement surface of the coupling portion loosens relative to the interface port.

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein the post portion has an outwardly projecting flange at one end configured to produce a first portion of a mating interface, wherein the coupling portion includes a lip at a second end configured to produce a second portion of the mating interface, the first and second portions sliding along the mating interface to rotate about an elongate axis of the cable connector.

11. The connector of claim 9, wherein the conductive grounding portion comprising a compliant ring disposed between the first and second grounding member contact surfaces.

12. The connector of claim 9, wherein the first and second grounding member contact surfaces move axially relative to each other and slide over a surface of the conductive grounding portion as the coupling portion and the body portion move apart when the engagement surface of the coupling portion loosens relative to the interface port.

13. The connector of claim 9, wherein the first grounding member contact surface of the body portion is an outwardly facing cylindrical surface and the second grounding member contact surface of the coupling portion is an inwardly facing cylindrical surface.

14. The connector of claim 13, wherein the outwardly facing cylindrical surface rotationally slides over a surface of the grounding portion as the engagement surface of the coupling portion is tightened over the interface port.

15. The connector of claim 10, wherein the first and second grounding member contact surfaces produce a first RF cavity disposed radially outboard of the mating interface.

16. The connector of claim 11, wherein the compliant ring comprises an elastomeric ring loaded with a conductive particulate.

17. The connector of claim 11, wherein the compliant ring comprises an elastomer ring having a flexible core and a conductive outer coating.

18. The connector of claim 15, wherein the first RF cavity is disposed to one side of the mating interface and comprises a first compliant ring and wherein the coupling portion produces a second RF cavity disposed to the other side of the mating interface.