Abstract
A coaxial connecting member (1) for transmitting radio-frequency signals between a first and a second circuit board (2, 3) includes an inner conductor (4), an outer conductor (5) and an insulating member (6) arranged between the inner conductor (4) and the outer conductor (5). The inner conductor (4) and/or the outer conductor (5) comprise a first and a second end section (7, 8) to interconnect the inner conductor (4) to the first and the second circuit board (2, 3). The first and the second end section (7, 8) are interconnected to each other by at least one elastically deformable transversal section (9) to compensate axial and/or lateral misalignment of the first and the second circuit board (2, 3) with respect to each other.
Claims
1. A coaxial connecting member (1) for transmitting radio-frequency signals between a first and a second circuit board (2, 3) spaced a distance apart from each other, comprising: a. an inner conductor (4) and an outer conductor (5) extending in a direction of a center axis (11) and an insulating member (6) arranged between the inner conductor (4) and the outer conductor (5), wherein the inner conductor (4) is made from bent sheet metal and wherein the bent sheet metal in a longitudinal direction of the inner conductor (4) connects to each other along a joint (13), b. wherein the inner conductor (4) and/or the outer conductor (5) comprise i. a first and a second end section (7, 8) to interconnect the inner conductor (4) and/or the outer conductor (5) to the first and the second circuit board (2, 3) and ii. wherein the first and the second end section (7, 8) are interconnected to each other by a pattern of transversal sections (9) and stay sections (14) which are delimited from each other by slots (12) forming a meander shaped grid section (31).
2. The coaxial connection member (1) according to claim 1, wherein the meander shaped grid section (31) is elastically deformable to compensate axial and/or lateral misalignment of the first and the second circuit board (2, 3) with respect to each other.
3. The coaxial connection member (1) according to claim 1, wherein the inner conductor (4) and/or the outer conductor (5) comprise at least two meander shaped grid sections (31) interconnected to each other by at least one intermediate section (10).
4. The coaxial connection member (1) according to claim 3, wherein at least one intermediate section (10) is at least partially made from isolating material (21).
5. The coaxial connection member (1) according to claim 3, wherein the transversal sections (9) with respect to the center axis (11) of the coaxial connection member (1) are arranged opposite to each other.
6. The coaxial connection member (1) according to claim 1, wherein the meander shaped grid section (31) is forming part of an electrical filter.
7. The coaxial connection member (1) according to claim 1, wherein the inner conductor (4) and/or the outer conductor (5) has a tubular shape.
8. The coaxial connection member (1) according to claim 1, wherein the inner conductor (4) and/or the outer conductor (5) are made from one piece of material.
9. The coaxial connection member (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sheet metal along the joint (13) is interconnected to each other by a process out of the following group of processes: laser welding, soldering.
10. The coaxial connection member (1) according to claim 1, wherein the transversal sections (9) and/or the intermediate sections (10) are delimited from each other by at least one slot (12).
11. The coaxial connection member (1) according to claim 10, wherein the at least one slot (12) is arranged generally perpendicular with respect to the center axis (11).
12. The coaxial connection member (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one transversal section (9) is ring shaped.
13. The coaxial connection member (1) according to claim 1, wherein two transversal sections are interconnected to each other by a stay section (14).
14. The coaxial connection member (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one intermediate section (10) has a ring shaped cross-section.
15. The coaxial connection member (1) according to claim 1, wherein the inner and/or the outer conductor (4) comprises at least one fastening means (15) to fasten the inner and/or the outer conductor (4) with respect to an adjacent member (6).
16. The coaxial connection member (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or the second end section (7, 8) comprises at least one connecting element (17) to interconnect the inner conductor (4) to a circuit board (2, 3) or a cable.
17. The coaxial connection member (1) according to claim 1, wherein the outer conductor (5) comprises at least one strap-like shielding element (35) extending from an end edge (36) of the outer conductor (5) at least partially above a thereto related grid section (31).
18. The coaxial connection member (1) according to claim 17, wherein the insulating member (6) interacts with the at least one shielding element (35) from inside thereby pressing the terminal section (39) of the at least one shielding element (35) against the wall segment (33) forming an electrical contact.
19. The coaxial connection member (1) according to claim 1, wherein the outer conductor (5) has a polygonal cross section.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The herein described invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, which should not be considered limiting to the invention described in the appended claims.
(2) FIG. 1 shows a first variation of a coaxial connecting member according to the invention with a first and a second circuit board in a perspective view during mounting;
(3) FIG. 2 shows the coaxial connecting member according to FIG. 1 in a perspective, partially cut view;
(4) FIG. 3 shows an inner conductor of the coaxial connecting member according to FIG. 2 in a first perspective view;
(5) FIG. 4 shows the inner conductor according to FIG. 3 in a second perspective view;
(6) FIG. 5 shows the inner conductor according to FIG. 3 in a side view;
(7) FIG. 6 shows a second variation of a coaxial connecting member according to the invention in a perspective, partially cut view;
(8) FIG. 7 shows a third variation of a coaxial connecting member according to the invention in a perspective, partially cut view;
(9) FIG. 8 shows details of the third variation according to FIG. 7 in a magnified manner and partially cut;
(10) FIG. 9 shows an example of a conductor in an unwound manner;
(11) FIG. 10 shows two strip lines according to FIG. 9;
(12) FIG. 11 shows a first example of conductor having a tubular design;
(13) FIG. 12 shows a second example of a conductor having a tubular design;
(14) FIG. 13 shows an exploded view of fourth variation of a coaxial connecting member according to the invention;
(15) FIG. 14 shows a sectional view of the inner elements of the fourth variation according to FIG. 13;
(16) FIG. 15 shows a fifth variation of a coaxial connecting member according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(17) Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all features are shown. Indeed, embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to like components or parts.
(18) FIG. 1 illustrates a first variation of a coaxial connecting member 1 according to the invention, arranged between a first and a second circuit board 2, 3. In the final position, the first and the second circuit board are spaced apart from each other by a certain distance. In the shown drawing, the second circuit board 3 is shown in a detached manner. The direction of assembly is schematically indicated by a dotted line 16.
(19) FIG. 2 illustrates the coaxial connecting member 1 in more detail in a perspective, partially sectionized view. The coaxial connecting member 1 comprises a tubular inner conductor 4 and a tubular outer conductor 5 arranged coaxially with respect to center axis 11. An insulating member 6 is arranged between the inner conductor 4 and the outer conductor 5. The inner conductor 4 further features at least one fastening means 15 to fasten the inner conductor 4 with respect to the insulating member 6, respectively to an outer housing. In the shown variation, the fastening means is a flap 15 turned out above the outer contour of the tubular inner conductor 4.
(20) The insulating member 6 of the shown variation and as best visible in FIG. 2 has a two part-design comprising a first and a second part 18, 19, which during mounting are inserted into the outer conductor 5 encompassing the inner conductor 4. The first and the second part 18, 19 are interconnected to each other by a snap connection 20. The insulating member 6 comprises an opening 20 on the inside extending in axial direction in which the inner conductor 4 is arranged. The opening is shaped such that the inner conductor 4 can deform as foreseen without hindering influence. Depending on the design, the insulating member 4 can also be made in one piece.
(21) The tubular shape of the inner conductor 4 is preferably made from bent sheet metal. The sheet metal connects to each other along a joint 13 (see FIG. 3) in the longitudinal direction (z-axis) of the inner conductor 4. However, depending on the field of application, other shapes of the inner conductor 4 are also possible, as explained based on selected embodiments (see FIGS. 6 and 7) in more detail below. The outer conductor 5 can have a similar design. Therefore, what is said with respect to the inner conductor 4 may apply accordingly to the outer conductor 5. At the end, the combination of the inner and the outer conductor 4, 5 and the insulating member 6 are important for the performance.
(22) The inner conductor 4 comprises a first and a second end section 7, 8 to interconnect the inner conductor 4 to the first and the second circuit board 2, 3. For an even distribution of a contact pressure acting on the circuit boards and for electrical contact, the end sections 7, 8 each comprise a latch 17, which is bent inwardly extending to the center of the inner conductor 4. It establishes the contact to the boards 2, 3 along the centerline of the arrangement.
(23) FIGS. 3 to 5 are showing the inner conductor 4 in more detail. As it can be seen best in FIG. 5, which shows the inner conductor 4 in a side view, the inner conductor has a meander shape, comprising a sequence of at least one transversal section 9 with alternately arranged intermediate sections 10, transversal sections 9 and stay sections 14 forming a meander shaped grid section 31 interconnecting the first and the second end sections 7, 8. Two transversal sections 9 are hereby interconnected to each other by at least one intermediate section 10 and delimited by slots 12, which are arranged between the transversal sections 9 and the intermediate sections 10. The slots 12 are arranged in general perpendicular with respect to the center axis 11. The intermediate sections 10 have a ring shaped cross-section, meanwhile the transversal sections 9 are ring shaped such that the ring sections are mainly charged with bending forces when the inner conductor 4 is compressed in axial direction. The stay sections 14 are arranged between two transversal sections 9, to space the sections a distance apart from each other. The first and the second end section 7, 8 are in the shown variation interconnected to each other by a section, which comprises a pattern of transversal sections 9, intermediate sections 10 and stay sections 14 which are delimited from each other by slots 12 forming a meander shaped grid section 31. The stay sections 14 are arranged alternately with respect to the center axis 11. Other variations are possible. The slots 12, which, when looking at the inner conductor 4 in a side view, may, as shown here, extend in viewing direction completely across the cross section. Therefore, when looking at the conductor alone, it would be possible to look freely across the slots 12 despite the stay sections 14 which interconnect the transversal sections 9 in axial direction.
(24) As shown in FIG. 5, in a side view, the meander shaped grid section 31 typically form a meandering arrangement of transversal sections 9 and intermediate sections 10 in axial directions, with the transversal sections 9 and intermediate sections 10 generally extending parallel to each other. Between each two consecutive intermediate sections 10, two transversal sections 9 may be arranged in axial direction, with the transversal sections 9 being interconnected by a stay section 14 that generally extends in axial direction. A slot 12 that extends transverse to the axial direction may arranged between each two axially adjacent sections, thereby separating the sections. In the side view, each two slots 12 following each other axially can extend alternately from opposite sides transversely to the axial direction. The transversal sections 9 and the intermediate sections 10 may have different dimensions in the axial direction.
(25) FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a second variation of an inner conductor 4 for a coaxial connecting member 1 according to the invention. The inner conductor 4 is shown in a perspective, partially sectionized view. In addition to the previously discussed features, it comprises an intermediate section 10, with an insulating member 21, which is at least partially made from an insulting material and which is arranged in the electrical path of the signal to be transmitted. The combination causes that the inner conductor 4 acts as a filter for certain frequencies. Depending on the design a high pass filter, a low pass filter or a band pass filter results. The insulating members 21 are designed as sleeves, which are put together in axial direction with the adjacent elements. The insulating members 21 comprise on the inside a projecting edge 22 which extends into the adjacent intermediate section 10 and thereby centers the two elements with respect to each other. Depending on the design and the envisaged transmission behavior, an inverse arrangement can be foreseen.
(26) FIG. 7 illustrates a third variation of a coaxial connecting member 1 according to the invention, arranged between a first and a second circuit board 2, 3. In the final position, the first and the second circuit board are spaced apart from each other by a certain distance. In the shown drawing, the second circuit board 3 is shown in a detached manner. The direction of assembly is schematically indicated by a dotted line 16. The coaxial connection member 1 can be arranged in an opening 29 of an outer housing 30. The outer housing 30 can be designed as an electrical shielding device.
(27) FIG. 8 illustrates the coaxial connecting member 1 according to FIG. 7 in more detail in a perspective, partially cutaway view. The coaxial connecting member 1 comprises a tubular outer conductor 5. The inner conductor 4 has a pin-like design and comprises a spring-loaded pin arrangement 24 with a contact pin 25, which is arranged axially displaceable in a sleeve 27 against the force of a spring 26. The spring-loaded pin arrangement 24 in an assembled position interacts with the first and the second printed circuit board 2, 3 as schematically indicated in FIG. 7.
(28) An insulating member 6 consisting of multiple parts 18, 19, 21 is arranged between the inner conductor 4 and the outer conductor 5. The insulating member 6 has a two part-design comprising a first and a second part 18, 19, which encompass the inner conductor 4. The first and the second part 18, 19 are interconnected to each other by an additional insulating member 21, which is arranged, in the electrical path of the outer conductor 5 forming part of the intermediate section 10. The insulating member 6 comprises an opening 20 on the inside extending in axial direction in which the inner conductor 4 is arranged. The inner conductor 4 has a spherical end face 27, which allows tilting of the inner conductor in lateral direction.
(29) The inner conductor 4 comprises a first and a second end section 7, 8 to interconnect the inner conductor 4 to the first and the second circuit board 2, 3. For an even distribution of a contact pressure acting on the circuit boards and for electrical contact, the end sections 7, 8 each comprise contact points 28 distributed along the circumference and which in axial direction (z-axis) protrude above an end surface of the respective end sections 7, 8. The contact points 28 are foreseen to establish contact with a related circuit board 2, 3. Other variations are possible.
(30) FIG. 9 schematically shows in an exemplary manner a conductor 4, 5 according to the invention in an unrolled state. The meander-shaped slotted structure of the conductor 4, 5 behaves in collaboration with the surrounding parts of the coaxial connection member 1 like a planar microstrip line routed in meanders. FIG. 10 schematically indicates the analogy to two parallel microstrip lines with variating cross-sections comprising thinner sections 9 and thicker sections 10 which are electrical coupled at specific points 14. When properly designed, this structure in combination with the surrounding elements, can have the effect of a high order low pass filter and requires special dimensioning (over the whole range of movement) to fit the electrical requirements and avoid unwanted damping at the frequencies to transmit which is an important aspect to be able to simplify the connector. The structure can also be designed to create specific high pass, all pass or low pass filtering and by this integrate the filter function in the connector without the need of additional parts.
(31) FIGS. 11 and 12 are showing two samples of conductors 5, namely outer conductors 5 as shown in the variations of coaxial connection member 1 according to FIG. 1 (corresponding to FIG. 11) and FIG. 7 (corresponding to FIG. 12). The conductors 5 are having a tubular design extending in the direction of a center axis 11. They comprise a first and a second end section 7, 8 that are interconnected to each other by a pattern of transversal sections 9 and stay sections 12 delimited from each other by slots 12 forming a meander shaped grid section 31. The slots 12 which, when looking at the conductor in a side view, may, as shown here, extend completely across the cross section. Therefore, when looking at the conductor alone, it would be possible to look freely across the conductor 5 despite the stay sections 14 which interconnect the transversal sections 9 in axial direction. The conductors 5 are made from sheet metal. The pattern of the slots 12 are here punched out when the sheet metal is still in a flat state (see sample according to FIG. 9). Afterwards the sheet metal is bent to obtain the tubular structure. The sheet metal is interconnected along a joint 13.
(32) FIG. 13 is showing a fourth variation of a coaxial connection member 1 in a disassembled manner. With respect to the general description reference is made to the specification above, such that only special aspects are described hereinafter. FIG. 14 is showing the fourth variation according to FIG. 13 without outer housing 30 and spacer 32 which in the assembled position is arranged between the outer conductor 5 and the housing 30. As best cut view according to FIG. 14, the outer conductor 5 is having a polygonal cross section with in the shown variation five corners 34. The polygonal cross section of the outer conductor 5 results from flat wall segments 33 made from sheet metal which merge into each other by bends 34. At the first and the second end sections 7, 8 strap-like shielding elements 35 extend from an end edge 36. They are bent inwardly and extend on the inside of the outer conductor above a thereto related grid section 31 thereby reducing negative electromagnetic leakage from the outer conductor. The shielding elements 35 usually comprise an inwardly bent lead-in 37 which connects to the end edge 36 of the outer conductor 5 and which merges into a strap 38. The strap 38 extends above the related grid section 31. At the end opposite to the lead-in 37, the strap 38 may comprise a terminal section 39 which is bent outwardly away from the center axis 11 and which may form an electrical contact to the (non-slotted) wall segment 33 arranged underneath. The insulating member 6 may be designed to interact in the mounted position with the shielding elements 35 from the inside. The insulating member 6 can press on the strap 38 and/or the terminal section 39 which is thereby actively pressed from the inside against the wall segment 33 arranged on the outside and thereby forming an electrical contact.
(33) FIG. 15 is showing a fifth variation of a coaxial connection member 1 according to the invention between a first and a second circuit board 2, 3. With respect to the general description reference is made to the specification above, such that only special aspects are described hereinafter. The outer conductor 5 here comprises a square cross-section with four wall segments 33 which merge into each other by bends 34 each interconnecting two adjacent wall segments 33. The outer conductor comprises latches 17 which are here bent to the outward and which are foreseen to attach the outer conductor 5, respectively the coaxial connection member 1 to the first circuit board 2. Connection to the second circuit board is established by contact points 28.
(34) The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
