Method for producing a high-frequency connector and associated apparatus
11942744 ยท 2024-03-26
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
H01R12/714
ELECTRICITY
H01R43/16
ELECTRICITY
H01R12/73
ELECTRICITY
International classification
H01R43/00
ELECTRICITY
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for producing a high-frequency connector. The method includes producing a basic body part from a dielectric material by means of an additive manufacturing method. The basic body part has a bushing between a first end and a second end of a longitudinal extent of the basic body part and an end face at the first end for making contact with a mating connector. In addition, the method includes coating the dielectric basic body part with an electrically conductive layer and removing the electrically conductive layer in a region surrounding the bushing in each case at the end face at the first end and at the second end of the basic body part so as to form an electrically conductive coating on the outer conductor side and an electrically conductive coating on the inner conductor side. The present invention also relates to a high-frequency connector.
Claims
1. A method, comprising: providing a first connector component and a second connector component, wherein said first connector component comprises a dielectric first connector component body, a first inner conductor and a first outer conductor, said second connector component comprises a second inner conductor and a second outer conductor, said first connector component body comprises an elongate through-hole, said first connector component and said second connector component are structured such that said first connector component is mechanically engageable with said second connector component, said first connector component and said second connector component are structured such that, in an engaged state of said first connector component and said second connector component, said first inner conductor contacts said second inner conductor, said first connector component and said second connector component are structured such that, in said engaged state of said first connector component and said second connector component, said first outer conductor contacts said second outer conductor, said providing comprises forming said first connector component body, including said elongate through-hole, by an additive manufacturing process, said providing comprises depositing an electrically conductive material on at least a portion of a surface of said through-hole, and said electrically conductive material deposited on said surface of said through-hole constitutes at least a portion of said first inner conductor.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein: said first connector component body comprises a tubular portion, said providing comprises depositing an electrically conductive material on at least a portion of an exterior surface of said tubular portion, and said electrically conductive material deposited on said exterior surface of said tubular portion constitutes at least a portion of said first outer conductor.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein: said first connector component body comprises an engagement portion, said first connector component and said second connector component are structured such that, in said engaged state of said first connector component and said second connector component, said engagement portion engages an exterior surface of said second connector component, and an inner diameter of said engagement portion is substantially equal to an outer diameter of said tubular portion.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein: said providing comprises depositing an electrically conductive material on at least a portion of an interior surface of said engagement portion, and said electrically conductive material deposited on said interior surface of said engagement portion constitutes at least a portion of said first outer conductor.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein: said first connector component body comprises at least one hole, said providing comprises depositing an electrically conductive material on at least a portion of a respective interior surface of said at least one hole, and said electrically conductive material deposited on said a respective interior surface of said at least one hole electrically connects said electrically conductive material deposited on said interior surface of said engagement portion and said electrically conductive material deposited on said exterior surface of said tubular portion.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein: said first connector component body comprises an engagement portion, and said first connector component and said second connector component are structured such that, in said engaged state of said first connector component and said second connector component, said engagement portion engagingly extends into an interior of said second connector component.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein: said providing comprises depositing an electrically conductive material on at least a portion of at least one of an interior surface of said engagement portion and a generally outward-facing surface of said engagement portion, and said electrically conductive material deposited on said at least one of an interior surface of said engagement portion and a generally outward-facing surface of said engagement portion constitutes at least a portion of said first inner conductor.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein: a diameter of said interior surface of said engagement portion is substantially equal to a diameter of said through-hole.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein: a diameter of said generally outward-facing surface of said engagement portion is substantially equal to a diameter of said through-hole.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein: said first inner conductor is an inner conductor of a first generally coaxial conductor pair, said first outer conductor is an outer conductor of said first generally coaxial conductor pair, said second inner conductor is an inner conductor of a second generally coaxial conductor pair, and said second outer conductor is an outer conductor of said second generally coaxial conductor pair.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein: said depositing comprises depositing said electrically conductive material on substantially an entire surface of said dielectric first connector component body exposed to an ambient environment, said providing comprises removing a first portion of said electrically conductive material proximate to a first longitudinal end of said through-hole and removing a second portion of said electrically conductive material proximate to a second longitudinal end of said through-hole, said removing said first portion and said removing said second portion effects a disjoining of a first continuous region of said electrically conductive material from a second continuous region of said electrically conductive material, said first continuous region constitutes said first inner conductor, and said second continuous region constitutes said first outer conductor.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein: an overall diameter of said first connector component is on the order of micrometers.
13. The method of claim 1, comprising: moving said first connector component relative to said second connector component from a non-engaged state to said engaged state, wherein said first connector component and said second connector component are structured such that, in said non-engaged state, said first inner conductor is not in electrical connection with said second inner conductor.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein: at least one of said first connector component body and said second connector component body comprises a resilient engagement portion, and said first connector component and said second connector component are structured such that, in said engaged state of said first connector component and said second connector component, said resilient engagement portion exerts a retaining force against another of said first connector component body and said second connector component body as a result of a restoring force arising from an elastic deformation of said resilient engagement portion.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein: said first connector component body comprises a resilient portion, and said first connector component and said second connector component are structured such that, in said engaged state, said resilient portion presses said first inner conductor against said second inner conductor as a result of a restoring force arising from an elastic deformation of said resilient portion.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein: said first connector component body comprises a resilient portion, and said first connector component and said second connector component are structured such that, in said engaged state, said resilient portion presses said first outer conductor against said second outer conductor as a result of a restoring force arising from an elastic deformation of said resilient portion.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein: said first connector component body comprises a contact surface generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said first connector component body, a portion of said first inner conductor is situated on said contact surface, and said first connector component and said second connector component are structured such that, in said engaged state, said portion of said first inner conductor abuts a portion of said second inner conductor.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein: said first connector component body comprises a contacting surface generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said first connector component body, a portion of said first outer conductor is situated on said contacting surface, and said first connector component and said second connector component are structured such that, in said engaged state, said portion of said first outer conductor abuts a portion of said second outer conductor.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein: a portion of said first inner conductor is situated on said contact surface, and said first connector component and said second connector component are structured such that, in said engaged state, said portion of said first inner conductor abuts a portion of said second inner conductor.
Description
LIST OF CONTENTS OF THE DRAWING
(1) The present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments specified in the schematic figures of the drawing, in which:
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(33) The attached figures in the drawing are intended to impart further understanding of the embodiments of the invention. They illustrate embodiments and, in connection with the description, are used to explain principles and concepts of the invention. Other embodiments and many of the mentioned advantages can be seen from the drawings. The elements in the drawings are not necessarily shown true to scale with respect to one another.
(34) Identical, functionally identical and identically acting elements, features and components have each been provided with the same reference symbols in the figures in the drawing, where no mention is made to the contrary.
(35) The figures will be described contiguously and comprehensively below.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
(36) In the text which follows, the principle of the method in accordance with the present disclosure for producing a high-frequency connector will be explained with reference to
(37) In a first manufacturing step shown in
(38) Preferably, the geometry of the basic body part 1 is formed so as to be rotationally symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis 3 in order to realize concentricity between the inner conductor coating and the outer conductor coating of the high-frequency connector 2 with the basic body part 1 acting as insulator element. This concentricity is an essential prerequisite for optimized, in terms of high frequencies, transmission of an unbalanced high-frequency signal within the high-frequency connector. On the basis of this rotationally symmetrical basic geometry of the basic body part 1, in particular with a view to further mechanical and electrical functions and/or optimizations, additional technically expedient geometric modifications can be performed. In this case, comparatively complex technical geometries and miniaturized forms as far as into the micrometers and nanometers range can be realized by means of the use of additive manufacturing technologies in the production of the basic body part 1.
(39) In a further manufacturing step as shown in
(40) When using an electrochemical coating method, the dielectric basic body part 1 needs to be coated with an electrically conductive, preferably a metallic, starting layer by means of a non-electrochemical coating method. Thereupon, the actual metallic layer is constructed onto this starting layer.
(41) In addition, the dielectric basic body part 1 can have in each case a plurality of metallic layers over the entire surface or preferably selectively in certain regions in order to achieve particular mechanical and electrical properties by virtue of this multiple coating. There are increased mechanical and electrical requirements in particular in the contact-making regions 7.sub.11 and 7.sub.12 on the outer conductor side and on the inner conductor side of the high-frequency connector 2 with an associated high-frequency mating connector at the first end 6.sub.1 of the basic body part 1. For example, an additional gold layer in the two contact-making regions 7.sub.11 and 7.sub.12 advantageously has the effect of increased abrasion resistance and at the same time a lower contact resistance. Increased mechanical and electrical requirements which necessitate a multilayered coating may also be present, however, in the contact-making regions 7.sub.21 and 7.sub.22 on the outer conductor side and on the inner conductor side at the second end 6.sub.2 of the basic body part 1 which make contact, for example, with a further high-frequency mating connector.
(42) In the final, third manufacturing step, as shown in
(43) In this way, a high-frequency connector 2 for a high-frequency signal can be produced by means of three successive and typically automatable manufacturing steps. Individual-part manufacture for the inner conductor element, the insulator element and the outer conductor element and subsequent comparatively complex assembly are not required.
(44) A basic structure of a connector 2 for a differential high-frequency signal is shown in
(45) A further embodiment of a basic structure of a high-frequency connector 2 is shown in
(46) An increased layer thickness implemented by means of selective coating in a contact-making region 7.sub.11, 7.sub.12, 7.sub.21 and 7.sub.22 of the high-frequency connector 2 makes it possible to extend the service life of a high-frequency connector which gets ever shorter owing to abrasion in the contact-making region.
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(48) The contact-making region 7.sub.12 on the inner conductor side of a high-frequency connector 2 produced in such a way is realized by a coating 5.sub.2 on the inner conductor side applied to the end face 10 on the inner conductor side. This contact-making region 7.sub.12 on the inner conductor side forms end-face contact-making with a contact-making region 7.sub.12 on the inner conductor side, which is located on an opposite end face 10 of an associated high-frequency mating connector 2.
(49) The contact-making region 7.sub.11 on the outer conductor side of a high-frequency connector 2 produced in such a way is implemented by the coating 5.sub.1 on the outer conductor side on the inner lateral surface of the socket-shaped extension 9 of the basic body part 1. For this purpose, preferably the coating 5.sub.1 on the outer conductor side of the high-frequency connector 2 is guided from the outer lateral surface of the basic body part 1 via a plurality of slots 11, which are formed in the transition region 12 between the socket-shaped extension 9 and the basic body part 1 by means of the additive manufacturing method, onto the inner lateral surface of the socket-shaped extension 9. In this way, the coating 5.sub.1 on the outer conductor side is guided over the entire longitudinal extent of the high-frequency connector 2 with the same radial spacing with respect to the longitudinal axis 3 of the high-frequency connector 2 and therefore coaxially with respect to the coating 5.sub.2 on the inner conductor side. This contact-making region 7.sub.11 on the outer conductor side forms radially directed contact-making with a contact-making region 7.sub.11 on the outer conductor side, which is located on the outer lateral surface of an associated high-frequency mating connector 2.
(50) Electrical isolation between the contact region 7.sub.11 on the outer conductor side and the contact region 7.sub.12 on the inner conductor side is implemented by virtue of the fact that a region, located between the contact region 7.sub.11 on the outer conductor side and the socket-shaped extension 9, of the end face 10 of the basic body part 1 is not coated.
(51) The associated high-frequency mating connector 2 can be produced using a conventional manufacturing method. Alternatively, the high-frequency mating connector 2, as can be seen from
(52) The high-frequency mating connector 2 produced in accordance with the present disclosure in an additive manufacturing method is in this case a high-frequency connector 2 produced in accordance with the fourth variant of the production method with end-face contact-making, which will be explained further below. The end-face contact-making is in this case restricted to contact-making on the inner conductor side via a contact-making region 7.sub.12 on the inner conductor side since the contact-making on the outer conductor side is implemented by virtue of radial contact-making.
(53) In order to improve the contact-making on the outer conductor side between the high-frequency connector 2 and the associated high-frequency mating connector 2, in a preferred development of the fourth variant of the production method of a high-frequency connector as shown in
(54) With a view to good contact-making on the outer conductor side and good mechanical guidance, the inner diameter of the socket-shaped extension 9 plus the coating 5.sub.1 on the outer conductor side is matched to the outer diameter of the associated high-frequency mating connector 2. The length of the socket-shaped extension 9 should be dimensioned sufficiently to likewise ensure good guidance of the high-frequency mating connector 2 in the high-frequency connector 2. The inner lateral surface of the socket-shaped extension 9 of the basic body part 1 of the high-frequency connector 2 is used not only as the contact-making region 7.sub.11 on the outer conductor side, but also, in combination with the outer lateral surface of the high-frequency mating connector, as a guide region.
(55) In a second variant of the production method, a high-frequency connector 2 is produced with a pin-shaped extension 15 on the inner conductor side. The pin-shaped extension 15 of the basic body part 1 in this case protrudes in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the high-frequency connector beyond the end face 10 at the first end 6.sub.1 of the basic body part.
(56) In a preferred embodiment, the pin-shaped extension on the inner conductor side has a star-shaped structure. This star-shaped structure advantageously enables multiple contact-making between the pin-shaped extension 15 on the inner conductor side and an associated primarily socket-shaped inner conductor of an associated high-frequency mating connector 2.
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(58) The lamella-shaped regions 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, 16.sub.3 and 16.sub.4 of the pin-shaped extension 15 having a star-shaped structure are constructed on the basic body part 1 by means of the additive manufacturing method at the first end 6.sub.1 of the basic body part 1 in such a way that in each case two adjacent lamella-shaped regions 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, 16.sub.3 and 16.sub.4 each enclose an angle, preferably an identical angle. The angle results from the number n of lamella-shaped regions and corresponds to 360?/n. Therefore, the individual lamella-shaped regions within the pin-shaped extension 15 are oriented radially and therefore in the form of a star with respect to the longitudinal axis 3 of the high-frequency connector 2. The individual lamella-shaped regions 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, 16.sub.3 and 16.sub.4 are constructed in such a way that they are connected to one another in the region of the longitudinal axis 3. By virtue of the additive construction, in each case two adjacent lamella-shaped regions 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, 16.sub.3 und 16.sub.4 are each connected to the basic body part 1, preferably to the inner lateral surface of the hollow-cylindrical basic body part 1, spaced apart from one another at an angle of 360?/n.
(59) By virtue of the radially directed or star-shaped construction of the individual lamella-shaped regions 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, 16.sub.3 and 16.sub.4, a number of axial through-holes 17.sub.1, 17.sub.2, 17.sub.3 and 17.sub.4 corresponding to the number of lamella-shaped regions is formed in the pin-shaped extension 15. The entire pin-shaped extension 15 with all of its lamella-shaped regions 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, 16.sub.3 and 16.sub.4 is coated contiguously with the coating 5.sub.2 on the inner conductor side of the basic body part 1 via these axial through-holes 17.sub.1, 17.sub.2, 17.sub.3 and 17.sub.4.
(60) With a view to improved contact-making, i.e. preferably hemispherical contact-making, between the pin-shaped extension 15 on the inner conductor side of the high-frequency connector 2 and a socket-shaped inner conductor of the high-frequency mating connector 2, in each case one contact ridge 18 is constructed on the end face of each lamella-shaped region 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, 16.sub.3 and 16.sub.4. In the event of the presence of manufacturing tolerances and an axial offset or an angular offset between the high-frequency connector 2 and the high-frequency mating connector 2, the contact ridge 18 enables reliable contact-making with respect to an areal contact in an end-face segment of the individual lamella-shaped region.
(61) The radial cross-sectional profile of each individual lamella-shaped region, i.e. the form of the side faces of each individual lamella-shaped region, should be constructed with the aid of the additive manufacturing method in such a way that, firstly, simple insertion of the pin-shaped extension 15 on the inner conductor side of the high-frequency connector 2 into the socket-shaped form on the inner conductor side of the high-frequency mating connector 2 is possible. In addition, reliable contact-making on the inner conductor side is intended to be realized. Therefore, a concavely curved form as shown in
(62) In order to exert sufficient contact pressure of the contact ridge 18 at the end face of the individual lamella-shaped regions on the socket-shaped inner conductor of the high-frequency mating connector 2, the individual lamella-shaped regions 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, 16.sub.3 and 16.sub.4 are each designed to be elastic. Preferably, in this case through-bores 19 are formed in the individual lamella-shaped regions by means of the additive manufacturing method. Alternatively, the individual lamella-shaped regions can also be constructed using an elastic dielectric material.
(63) In the case of a high-frequency connector 2 which is manufactured in accordance with the first subvariant of the second variant of the production method, by way of summary radial contact-making therefore takes place on the inner conductor side between the individual lamella-shaped regions 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, 16.sub.3 and 16.sub.4 of the pin-shaped extension 15 of the basic body part 1, said regions forming the contact region 7.sub.12 on the inner conductor side of the high-frequency connector 2, with a contact region 7.sub.12 on the inner conductor side of the high-frequency mating connector 2. This contact region 7.sub.12 on the inner conductor side is located in the through-hole 4 on the inner lateral surface, provided with a coating 5.sub.2 on the inner conductor side, of the basic body part 1 belonging to the high-frequency mating connector 2.
(64) In order to realize the contact region 7.sub.11 on the outer conductor side of the high-frequency connector 2, the coating 5.sub.1 on the outer conductor side is guided over a specific region of the end face 10 at the first end 6.sub.1 of the basic body part 1. This contact-making region 7.sub.11 on the outer conductor side of the high-frequency connector 2 is located in an end-face contact with an opposite contact-making region 7.sub.11 on the outer conductor side, which is constructed on the outer conductor side at the end face 10 at the first end 6.sub.1 of the basic body part 1 belonging to the high-frequency mating connector 2. The high-frequency mating connector 2 can be produced using conventional manufacturing technology as well as using additive manufacturing technology.
(65) Electrical isolation between the contact region 7.sub.11 on the outer conductor side and the contact region 7.sub.12 on the inner conductor side is implemented by virtue of the fact that a region, located between the contact region 7.sub.11 on the outer conductor side and the pin-shaped extension 15, of the end face 10 of the basic body part 1 is not coated.
(66) The contact region 7.sub.12 on the inner conductor side of the high-frequency connector 2 forms additionally, in combination with the inner lateral surface of the socket-shaped inner conductor of the high-frequency mating connector 2, the guide region of the high-frequency connector.
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(68) In the case of the second subvariant belonging to the second variant as well, a pin-shaped extension 15 of the basic body part 1 is constructed with a star-shaped structure comprising a plurality of lamella-shaped regions 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, 16.sub.3 and 16.sub.4 constructed in the form of a star with respect to one another with the aid of an additive manufacturing method. In contrast to the first subvariant, the contact-making between the individual lamella-shaped regions 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, 16.sub.3 and 16.sub.4 and the inner conductor of the high-frequency connector 2 takes place laterally. For this purpose, in each case one contact ridge 18 is constructed on the two side faces of each lamella-shaped region 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, 16.sub.3 and 16.sub.4.
(69) Each of these preferably hemispherical contact ridges 18 on a lamella-shaped region 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, 16.sub.3 and 16.sub.4 of the pin-shaped extension 15 of the basic body part 1 belonging to the high-frequency connector 2 makes contact with an associated projection 20 in the lateral direction. Each individual projection 20 is constructed, by means of the additive manufacturing method, so as to protrude into the through-hole 4, starting from the hollow-cylindrical basic body part 1 of the high-frequency mating connector 2, in a region of the basic body part 1 which is adjacent to the first end 6.sub.1. The individual projections 20 are constructed in accordance with a high-frequency connector 2 which is produced in accordance with a preferred development of the fourth variant of the production method corresponding to
(70) At the same time, the individual projections are in this case constructed and formed within the hollow-cylindrical basic body part 1 in such a way that safe contact-making with the contact ridges 18 of the lamella-shaped regions, inserted adjacent in each case, of the high-frequency connector 2 is realized.
(71) Possible forms of the individual projections 20 are radial cross sections which are either conical or concavely curved, as indicated in
(72) The contact-making on the outer conductor side takes place via an end-face contact between a contact region 7.sub.11 on the outer conductor side on the end face 10 of the high-frequency connector 2 and an opposite contact region 7.sub.11 on the outer conductor side on the end face 10 of the high-frequency mating connector 2.
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(74) In the third subvariant belonging to the second variant, a pin-shaped extension 15 of the basic body part 1 is constructed with a star-shaped structure comprising a plurality of rib-shaped regions 21.sub.1, 21.sub.2, 21.sub.3 and 21.sub.4 constructed in the form of a star with respect to one another with the aid of an additive manufacturing method.
(75) The rib-shaped regions 21.sub.1, 21.sub.2, 21.sub.3 and 21.sub.4 of the pin-shaped extension 15 having a star-shaped structure are constructed on the basic body part 1, by means of the additive manufacturing method, at the first end 6.sub.1 of the basic body part 1 in such a way that in each case two adjacent rib-shaped regions 21.sub.1, 21.sub.2, 21.sub.3 and 21.sub.4 each enclose an angle, preferably an identical angle. The angle results from the number n of rib-shaped regions and corresponds to 360?/n. Therefore, the individual rib-shaped regions within the pin-shaped extension 15 are aligned radially and therefore in the form of a star with respect to the longitudinal axis 3 of the high-frequency connector 2. The individual rib-shaped regions 21.sub.1, 21.sub.2, 21.sub.3 and 21.sub.4 are constructed in such a way that they are connected to one another in the region of the longitudinal axis 3. By virtue of the additive construction, two adjacent rib-shaped regions 21.sub.1, 21.sub.2, 21.sub.3 and 21.sub.4 are connected to the basic body part 1, preferably on the inner lateral surface of the hollow-cylindrical basic body part 1, in each case spaced apart from one another at an angle of 360?/n.
(76) The star-shaped structure of the pin-shaped extension 15 comprising the individual rib-shaped regions 21.sub.1, 21.sub.2, 21.sub.3 and 21.sub.4 forms a number of axial through-holes 22.sub.1, 22.sub.2, 22.sub.3 and 22.sub.4 corresponding to the number of rib-shaped regions. The entire pin-shaped extension 15 with all of its rib-shaped regions 21.sub.1, 21.sub.2, 21.sub.3 and 21.sub.4 is coated contiguously with the coating 5.sub.2 on the inner conductor side of the basic body part 1 via these axial through-holes 22.sub.1, 22.sub.2, 22.sub.3 and 22.sub.4.
(77) The individual rib-shaped region of the pin-shaped extension 15 of the basic body part 1 has, radially inwards and radially outwards, in each case one concavely curved end face. In each case one contact ridge 23 is constructed on the end face, directed radially outwards, of each rib-shaped region 21.sub.1, 21.sub.2, 21.sub.3 and 21.sub.4 by means of the additive manufacturing method. Radial multiple contact-making with the contact-making region 7.sub.21 on the inner conductor side is realized on the inner lateral surface of the substantially hollow-cylindrical basic body part 1 of the high-frequency mating connector 2 via the contact ridges 23 of all of the rib-shaped regions 21.sub.1, 21.sub.2, 21.sub.3 and 21.sub.4. The high-frequency mating connector 2 can in this case be produced using conventional manufacturing technology or, as illustrated in
(78) In order to exert sufficient contact pressure of the contact ridge 23 at the end face of the individual rib-shaped regions on the contact-making region 7.sub.21 on the inner conductor side in the socket-shaped inner conductor of the high-frequency mating connector 2, the individual rib-shaped regions 21.sub.1, 21.sub.2, 21.sub.3 and 21.sub.4 are each designed to be elastic. In this case, through-bores 24 are preferably formed in the individual rib-shaped regions by means of the additive manufacturing method. Alternatively, the individual rib-shaped regions can also be constructed using an elastic dielectric material.
(79) In the case of the high-frequency connector 2, which is produced in accordance with the third subvariant, belonging to the second variant, of the production method, radial contact-making is realized on the inner conductor side. Similarly to the first and second subvariants of the second variant of the production method, end-face contact-making with the high-frequency mating connector 2 is implemented on the outer conductor side.
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(81) In the fourth subvariant belonging to the second variant, a pin-shaped extension 15 of the basic body part 1 comprising a plurality of regions 25.sub.1, 25.sub.2, 25.sub.3 and 25.sub.4 in the form of spring arms is constructed on the basic body part 1 with the aid of an additive manufacturing method.
(82) Each individual region 25.sub.1, 25.sub.2, 25.sub.3 and 25.sub.4 in the form of a spring arm of the pin-shaped extension 15 of the basic body part 1 is formed with its main dimension in the direction of the longitudinal axis 3 of the high-frequency connector 2. The individual regions 25.sub.1, 25.sub.2, 25.sub.3 and 25.sub.4 in the form of spring arms are constructed on the basic body part 1 with an angular offset preferably on the inner lateral surface of the hollow-cylindrical basic body part 1. In this case, in each case two adjacent regions 25.sub.1, 25.sub.2, 25.sub.3 and 25.sub.4 in the form of spring arms each enclose an angle of 360?/n when the pin-shaped extension 15 of the basic body part 1 contains a number n of regions in the form of spring arms.
(83) Since the individual regions 25.sub.1, 25.sub.2, 25.sub.3 and 25.sub.4 in the form of spring arms of the pin-shaped extension 15 of the basic body part 1 are not connected to one another in the region of the longitudinal axis 3 of the high-frequency connector 2, the pin-shaped extension 15 has a single through-hole 26. The through-hole 26 enables a complete and contiguous electrically conductive coating of each individual region 25.sub.1, 25.sub.2, 25.sub.3 and 25.sub.4 in the form of a spring arm with the coating 5.sub.2 on the inner conductor side of the substantially hollow-cylindrical basic body part 1.
(84) In each case one contact ridge 27 is constructed on the radially outwardly directed and concavely curved end face of each region 25.sub.1, 25.sub.2, 25.sub.3 and 25.sub.4 in the form of a spring arm by means of the additive manufacturing method. Radial multiple contact-making with the contact-making region 7.sub.21 on the inner conductor side is realized on the inner lateral surface of the substantially hollow-cylindrical basic body part 1 of the high-frequency mating connector 2 via the contact ridges 27 of all of the regions 25.sub.1, 25.sub.2, 25.sub.3 and 25.sub.4 in the form of spring arms. The high-frequency mating connector 2 can in this case be produced using conventional manufacturing technology or, as illustrated in
(85) Owing to their shaping elasticity, the individual contact regions 25.sub.1, 25.sub.2, 25.sub.3 and 25.sub.4 in the form of spring arms do not additionally need to be designed to be elastic by means of the additive manufacturing method.
(86) In addition to the radially oriented contact-making on the inner conductor side, end-face contact-making with the high-frequency mating connector 2 is realized on the outer conductor side in the high-frequency connector 2. This end-face contact-making on the outer conductor side is realized in an equivalent way to the first, second and third subvariants of the second variant of the production method.
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(88) In the case of a high-frequency connector 2 produced in accordance with the third variant of the production method, a sleeve-shaped extension 28 of the basic body part 1 is constructed on the inner conductor side on the basic body part 1 with the aid of the additive manufacturing method. This sleeve-shaped extension 28 protrudes in the direction of the longitudinal axis beyond the end face 10 at the first end 6.sub.1 of the basic body part 1.
(89) This sleeve-shaped extension 28 is formed in each case with a plurality of slots at its distal end in the direction of the longitudinal axis 3 of the high-frequency connector. In this way, a spring lug is formed between in each case two adjacent slots 29. The sleeve-shaped extension 28 therefore forms a sleeve which is designed to be elastic or sprung in each case in the radial direction. For improved radial contact-making, in each case one radially outwardly directed contact ridge 30 is constructed at the distal end of each individual spring lug with the aid of the additive manufacturing method.
(90) The sleeve-shaped extension 28 of the basic body part 1, with all of its spring lugs, is coated completely and contiguously with the coating 5.sub.2 on the inner conductor side on the inner lateral surface of the substantially hollow-cylindrical basic body part 1. Therefore, the sleeve-shaped extension 28 forms the contact region 7.sub.21 on the inner conductor side of the high-frequency connector 2.
(91) A contact region 7.sub.11 on the outer conductor side of the high-frequency connector 2 is in the form of an end-face contact region and is produced in a manner equivalent to all of the subvariants of the second variant of the production method.
(92) The contact-making on the inner conductor side takes place between the contact-making region 7.sub.12 on the inner conductor side of the high-frequency connector 2, which is formed from the individual contact ridges 30 running radially outwards on the spring lugs of the sleeve-shaped extension 28, and the contact-making region 7.sub.12 on the inner conductor side on the inner lateral surface of the basic body part 1 of the high-frequency mating connector 2. The contact-making region 7.sub.12 on the inner conductor side of the high-frequency mating connector 2 is preferably formed by a step 31 on the inner lateral surface at the first end 6.sub.1 of the basic body part 1. The radial extent of the step 31 substantially corresponds to the wall thickness of the sleeve-shaped extension 28 at its distal end in order to thus avoid a jump in diameter on the inner conductor side in the transition region between the high-frequency connector 2 and the high-frequency mating connector 2. Otherwise, an imperfection would be produced which impairs the transmission response of the high-frequency connector to a not inconsiderable extent.
(93)
(94) A high-frequency connector 2 produced in accordance with the fourth variant of the production method preferably makes contact with an associated high-frequency mating connector 2 on the inner conductor side and on the outer conductor side via in each case one end-face contact-making. Alternatively, only one end-face contact-making on the inner conductor side or only one end-face contact making on the outer conductor side is also possible. For this purpose, a contact-making region 7.sub.12 on the inner conductor side is produced at the end face 10 at the first end 6.sub.1 of the basic body part 1 by virtue of the coating 5.sub.2 on the inner conductor side on the inner lateral surface of the substantially hollow-cylindrical basic body part 1 being extended as far as into a region on the inner conductor side on the end face 10. In this case, the coating 5.sub.2 on the inner conductor side is guided so far into the end face 10 that there is a sufficiently large contact-making region 7.sub.12 on the inner conductor side. With a view to extending the life of the contact-making region 7.sub.12 on the inner conductor side in the end-face region, which has been subjected to a certain amount of abrasion owing to high connection cycles, the coating 5.sub.2 on the inner conductor side in the end-face region is preferably formed with a plurality of layers or with a relatively high layer thickness. In an equivalent manner, the contact-making region 7.sub.11 on the outer conductor side is produced by virtue of the coating 5.sub.1 on the outer conductor side being continued from the outer lateral surface of the basic body 1 into a sufficiently large region on the outer conductor side on the end face 10.
(95) In order to prevent an angular offset between the high-frequency connector 2 and the high-frequency mating connector 2 during end-face contact-making, in each case one sleeve-shaped or ring-shaped extension 32 of the basic body part 1 at the first end 6.sub.1 of the basic body part 1 is constructed on the inner conductor side and/or on the outer conductor side by means of an additive manufacturing method. In the direct vicinity of this sleeve-shaped or ring-shaped extension 32, a cavity 33 is formed in the basic body part 1 by means of an additive manufacturing method. The cavity 33 forms, with the ring-shaped or sleeve-shaped extension 32 on the end face 10, in each case one elastic termination of the basic body part 1 on the inner conductor side and on the outer conductor side. This elastic termination of the basic body part 1 can compensate for an angular offset between the two high-frequency connectors which have been inserted one inside the other. As an alternative to a ring-shaped or sleeve-shaped extension 32 of the basic body part 1, a plurality of preferably hemispherical extensions of the basic body part 1 is also possible. The plurality of preferably hemispherical extensions 32 of the basic body part 1 is in each case arranged on a circle, an ellipse or a rectangle in the outer conductor region and inner conductor region. In each case cavities 33 are formed in the basic body part 1 in the direct vicinity of the individual preferably hemispherical extensions 32 as well by means of an additive manufacturing method.
(96) In order to compensate for an axial offset between the high-frequency connector 2 and the high-frequency mating connector 2, a socket-shaped extension 34 is fastened to one of the two high-frequency connectors. This socket-shaped extension 34 may be, for example, a sleeve produced from an electrically insulating material, which, as is indicated in
(97) In addition to a high-frequency connector 2 having a contact region 7.sub.11 and 7.sub.12 on the outer conductor side and on the inner conductor side for simultaneous end-face contact-making on the outer conductor side and on the inner conductor side, a high-frequency connector 2 which has in each case one contact-making region for end-face contact-making only on the outer conductor side or only on the inner conductor side can also be produced by means of the fourth variant of the production method. This has already been explained above in the case of the high-frequency mating connectors 2, which are connectable with the high-frequency connectors 2 produced in accordance with all of the previously mentioned variants or subvariants of the production method (see in this regard:
(98) In addition to these previously mentioned embodiments based on the application of the additive manufacturing method for electrical contact-making and guidance of two high-frequency connectors which can be connected to one another, the additive manufacturing methods provide the further considerable advantage of implementing a high-frequency connector having a controlled impedance along its entire longitudinal extent. In particular the more complex geometric forms in the region of the extensions of the basic body part 1 can result in a deviation from a matched impedance. In order to compensate for this deviation from the impedance, other dielectric materials can be used in these critical regions of the basic body part 1 by means of the additive manufacturing method. The relative permittivity of these dielectric materials is changed in a suitable manner with respect to the relative permittivity of the dielectric material used in the rest of the impedance-matched regions of the basic body part 1. A changed absolute permittivity in these critical regions and therefore impedance matching over the entire longitudinal extent of the high-frequency connector 2 can also be achieved by means of suitable arrangement and suitable form of cavities in the dielectric basic body 1.
(99) A further technical function in addition to electrical contact-making and guidance which is quite essential in the case of high-frequency connectors consists in lock technology.
(100) For lock technology between two connectable high-frequency connectors which is realized by means of a screw connection, an external thread profile is formed on the outer lateral surface of the basic body part 1 by means of an additive manufacturing method. The coated external thread profile of the high-frequency connector 2 is screwed to an appropriately fitting internal thread profile of a union nut, which is mounted rotatably on a high-frequency mating connector 2. The union nut with its internal thread profile can be produced using conventional manufacturing technology or else using additive manufacturing technology with subsequent metallic coating.
(101) For a lock technology which is realized by means of a snap-action connection, one or more groove-shaped depressions are formed in the outer lateral surface of the basic body part 1 of the high-frequency connector 2, said depressions realizing a latching connection with associated latching tabs or latching hooks of the high-frequency mating connector 2.
(102) In addition to these embodiments of a lock technology, other lock technologies, such as, for example, a bayonet-type connection can also be realized by means of additive manufacturing technology. Finally, a magnetic connection between the high-frequency connectors with which contact is to be made is also possible by virtue of at least one magnet with a corresponding polarity being inserted in the basic body part 1 in the region of the first end 6.sub.1.
(103) The above-mentioned construction principles on the basis of the additive manufacturing method for electrical contact-making and guidance of a high-frequency connector 2 are similarly applicable to the electrical contact-making and guidance of a further high-frequency mating connector, a high-frequency cable or a high-frequency signal line structure on a printed circuit board, which is connected to the high-frequency connector 2 at the second end 6.sub.2 of the basic body part 1.
(104) Although the present invention has been described above completely with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments, it is not restricted to these exemplary embodiments, but can be modified in a variety of ways.
LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
(105) 1, 1 basic body part 2, 2 high-frequency connector, high-frequency mating connector 3 longitudinal axis 4, 4, 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2 through-hole 5, 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2, 5.sub.2.sup.1, 5.sub.2.sup.2 coating, coating on the outer conductor side and on the inner conductor side 6.sub.1, 6.sub.1, 6.sub.2 first end and second end 7.sub.11, 7.sub.21 contact-making region on the outer conductor side of the high-frequency connector 7.sub.12, 7.sub.22 contact-making region on the inner conductor side of the high-frequency connector 7.sub.11, 7.sub.12 contact-making region on the outer conductor side and on the inner conductor side of the high-frequency mating connector 8 connecting region 9 socket-shaped extension of the basic body part 10, 10 end face 11 slot 12 transition region 13 radially outwardly running contact ridge 14 cavity 15, 15, 15, 15 pin-shaped extension of the basic body part 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, 16.sub.3, 16.sub.4 lamella-shaped region 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, 16.sub.3, 16.sub.4 lamella-shaped region 17.sub.1, 17.sub.2, 17.sub.3, 17.sub.4 axial through-hole 18, 18 contact ridge 19 through-bore 20 projection 21.sub.1, 21.sub.2, 21.sub.3, 21.sub.4 rib-shaped region 22.sub.1, 22.sub.2, 22.sub.3, 22.sub.4 axial through-hole 23 contact ridge 24 through-bore 25.sub.1, 25.sub.2, 25.sub.3, 25.sub.4 region in the form of a spring arm 26 axial through-hole 27 contact ridge 28 sleeve-shaped extension of the basic body part 29 slot 30 outwardly running contact ridge 31 step 32 sleeve-shaped, ring-shaped or hemispherical extension of the basic body part 33 cavity 34.sub.1, 34.sub.2 region with coating removed at the first and second ends