PLUG

Abstract

A plug, in particular a radio-frequency plug, includes a first contact element and a support element (dielectric), so that the first contact element is mechanically guided by the support element. The support element has a permittivity of less than 2. The support element has an aerogel or a foamed plastic or is formed by an aerogel or a foamed plastic.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A plug or a radio-frequency plug, comprising a first contact element and a support element so that the first contact element is mechanically guided by the support element, the support element having a permittivity of less than 2.

12. The plug according to claim 11, wherein the support element has an aerogel or is formed by an aerogel.

13. The plug according to claim 12, wherein a polymer aerogel is used as the aerogel.

14. The plug according to claim 12, wherein a polyimide aerogel is used as the aerogel.

15. The plug according to claim 14, wherein the support element has a permittivity in the range from 1.1 to 1.4.

16. The plug according to claim 11, wherein the support element has or is formed by a foamed plastic.

17. The plug according to claim 16, wherein a foamed PTFE or foamed PE is used as the foamed plastic.

18. The plug according to claim 11, wherein the support element has a density of less than 1 g/cm.sup.3, preferably less than 0.5 g/cm.sup.3 and in particular less than 0.2 g/cm.sup.3.

19. The plug according to claim 11, wherein the first contact element is formed in the manner of a pin that is surrounded circumferentially by the support element.

20. The plug according to claim 19, wherein the support element fills a space between the first and second contact elements.

Description

[0030] An exemplary embodiment of the invention will be explained in greater detail below, with reference to the drawings. The drawings show the following, in highly simplified illustrations:

[0031] FIG. 1: a front view of a plug, and

[0032] FIG. 2: an exploded side view of the plug.

[0033] In the drawings, parts that have the same effect are represented by the same reference numerals.

[0034] The plug 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is designed as a coaxial plug, for example for an application in the radio frequency range. The plug 2 has a central first contact element 4 as an inner conductor. The first contact element 4 is concentrically surrounded by a support element 6.

[0035] A second contact element 10 is arranged concentrically around the support element 6 and around the first contact element 4. The second contact element 10 forms an outer conductor of the coaxial plug in the exemplary embodiment. This means that the first contact element 4 and second contact element 10 form a space 12 in which the support element 6 is inserted and in the exemplary embodiment completely fills this space.

[0036] In the exemplary embodiment, the first contact element 4, support element 6 and second support element 10 are concentrically surrounded by a body 14. In the exemplary embodiment, the body 14 is designed as a union nut. The body accordingly serves to connect or link the plug 2, for example, to a corresponding mating connector (not shown here), which is designed, for example, as a plug or also as a connection to an electrical component, for example an oscilloscope. For this purpose, the body 14, for example, has a number of threads on one inner side 16 by means of which the plug 2 is screwed onto the mating connector. For better manipulability, an outer side 18 of the body 14 has a hexagonal contour. Alternatively or in addition, the outer side 18 has a knurling.

[0037] The support element 6 generally forms an insulating body and thus a dielectric. In the exemplary embodiment, the support element is designed as a highly porous body, in particular as an aerogel 8, and in particular as a polyimide aerogel. The support element 6 completely fills the space 12. Viewed in a longitudinal direction 20 (cf. FIG. 2), the support element 6 extends as far as the second contact element 10 (sleeve-shaped outer conductor); in contrast, the pin-shaped inner conductor (first contact element 4) protrudes in a longitudinal direction 20.

[0038] In the exemplary embodiment, the aerogel 8 in particular has a permittivity in the range 1.1 to 1.4. The permittivity of the support element 6 in the exemplary embodiment corresponds approximately to the permittivity of air (=1). In this way, permittivity-related interference with the transmitted signals is reduced.

[0039] The advantage of this configuration may be seen in the fact that due to the low permittivity , the plug 2 may be designed, for example at a predetermined characteristic impedance Z, to be smallercompared to conventional plugsand thus to have a smaller diameter D of the second contact element 10 (outer conductor) and a diameter d of the first contact element 4.

[0040] It is therefore possible to manufacture a plug 2 with a smaller diameter D than conventional plugs without disadvantageously impacting the signal transmission properties, for example the limit frequency or characteristic impedance. Meanwhile, the support element 6 retains its support function for mechanically stabilizing and guiding the first contact element 4, so that this element is protected against unintentional folding or bending, for example when plugging in the plug 2.

[0041] Alternatively to the aerogel 8, the support element 6 has a foamed plastic, for example a foamed PTFE or foamed PE, and in particular is formed therefrom.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows as a sketch of an exploded view of the plug 2. FIG. 2 shows, by way of example, the plug 2 before final assembly. In this case, for example, the first contact element 4 is inserted into the support element 6, for example to form a press fit. The support element 6 arranged concentrically around the first contact element 4 is then, or also previously, inserted into the second contact element 10, preferably likewise to form a press fit. Around the second contact element 10, the body 14 is arranged, which is designed as a union nut.

[0043] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above. The skilled person will also be able to derive other variants of the invention without departing from the subject matter of the invention. In particular, all the individual features described in connection with the exemplary embodiments may also be combined together in other ways without departing from the subject matter of the invention.