Low passive intermodulation connector system

Abstract

A coaxial RF connector system comprises RF connectors with inner and outer conductors providing a galvanic contact. An outer conductor of a first connector has a plurality of longitudinal slits forming a plurality of spring-loaded contact elements which contact a solid outer conductor of a second connector. The first connector has a centering sleeve which is one monolithic part with the outer conductor for centering the solid outer conductor of the second connector. An insulation sleeve is provided between the centering sleeve and the solid outer conductor. This prevents a galvanic contact and improves PIM.

Claims

1. A coaxial RF connector system comprising: a coaxial RF connector and a coaxial RF counter connector, the coaxial RF connector comprising at least a first inner conductor defining a center axis of the coaxial RF connector, a single first outer conductor coaxial with the first inner conductor, and a first centering device located radially farther away from the center axis than the single first outer conductor, the first centering device having an outer surface coaxial with the first inner conductor, the coaxial RF counter connector comprising at least a second inner conductor, a second outer conductor coaxial with the second inner conductor, and a second centering device having an inner surface that is separated from an outer surface of the second outer conductor by a gap, said inner surface being coaxial with the second inner conductor, wherein, when mated, the first inner conductor and the second inner conductor provide an inner galvanic contact with each other, wherein, when mated, the single first outer conductor and the second outer conductor provide an outer galvanic contact with each other, wherein: (16a) the outer surface of the first centering device conforms to a shape and size of the inner surface of the second centering device such that, when mated, the first centering device matches the second centering device; and wherein: (i) the first centering device is electrically insulated from the single first outer conductor, and/or the second centering device is electrically insulated from the second outer conductor, or (ii) either an insulating sleeve or an insulating layer is included between the first centering device and the second centering device to insulate the first centering device from the second centering device, said insulating sleeve dimensioned to separate both (ii-1) corresponding first surfaces of the first and second centering devices that are mating and coaxial with one another and (ii-2) corresponding second surfaces of the first and second centering devices that are mating and transverse to the center axis.

2. A coaxial RF connector system according to claim 1, wherein: the first outer conductor comprises a first contact section having a bare metal surface and the second outer conductor comprises a second contact section having a bare metal surface, wherein the first and second contact sections are in galvanic contact when the coaxial RF connector and the coaxial RF counter connector are mated, and the first inner conductor comprises a third contact section having a bare metal surface and the second inner conductor comprises a fourth contact section having a bare metal surface, wherein the third and fourth contact sections are in galvanic contact when the coaxial RF connector and the coaxial RF counter connector are mated.

3. A coaxial RF connector system according to claim 1, wherein the first outer conductor is the first centering device.

4. A coaxial RF connector system according to claim 3, wherein the second centering device is a centering sleeve.

5. A coaxial RF connector system according to claim 4, wherein the centering sleeve forms one monolithic part with the second outer conductor.

6. A coaxial RF connector system according to claim 1, wherein the second outer conductor is a single second outer conductor and wherein the second centering device forms one monolithic part with said second outer conductor.

7. A coaxial RF connector system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first centering device and the second centering device comprises an electrically insulating material or an insulating layer.

8. A coaxial RF connector system according to claim 1, wherein the outer contour of the first centering device is a cylindrical contour, and the inner contour of the second centering device is a cylindrical contour, and the first centering device has an outer diameter that is smaller or larger than an inner diameter of the second centering device.

9. A coaxial RF connector system according to claim 1, wherein the second outer conductor has a tubular shape with a plurality of longitudinal slits, said slits extending to an end face of the second outer conductor and forming a plurality of spring-loaded contact elements.

10. A coaxial RF connector system according to claim 9, wherein when the coaxial RF connector and the coaxial RF counter connector are mated with one another, an end face of the first outer conductor and an end face of the second outer conductor form a gap therebetween.

11. A coaxial RF connector system according to claim 1, wherein the coaxial RF connector or the coaxial RF counter connector further comprises a locking nut or a locking sleeve.

12. A coaxial RF connector system according to claim 11, wherein the coaxial RF connector is a socket connector and comprises an inner conductor contact socket, and wherein the coaxial RF counter connector is a plug connector and comprises a counter connector inner conductor contact plug.

13. A coaxial RF connector system according to claim 11, wherein the coaxial RF connector is a plug connector and comprises an inner conductor contact pin, and wherein the coaxial RF counter connector is a socket connector and comprises a counter connector inner conductor contact socket.

14. A coaxial RF connector system according to claim 1, wherein the coaxial RF connector is a plug connector and comprises an inner conductor contact pin, and wherein the coaxial RF counter connector is a socket connector and comprises a counter connector inner conductor contact socket.

15. A coaxial RF connector system according to claim 1, wherein the coaxial RF connector is a socket connector and comprises an inner conductor contact socket, and wherein the coaxial RF counter connector is a plug connector and comprises a counter connector inner conductor contact plug.

16. A coaxial RF connector system according to claim 1, wherein when the coaxial RF connector and the coaxial RF counter connector are mated with one another, a gap exists between an end face of the first outer conductor and an end face of the second outer conductor.

17. A coaxial RF connector system according to claim 1, wherein the second centering device forms one monolithic part with the second outer conductor.

18. A coaxial RF connector system according to claim 1, wherein: the outer surface of the first centering device conforms to a shape and size of the inner surface of the second centering device such that, when mated, the first centering device matches the second centering device in contact therewith at the outer surface of the first centering device along the center axis; or an inner surface of the first centering device conforms to a shape and size of an outer surface of the second centering device such that, when mated, the first centering device matches the second centering device in contact therewith at the inner surface of the first centering device along the center axis.

19. A coaxial RF connector system according to claim 1, wherein the second centering device is located radially farther away from an axis of the coaxial RF counter connector than the second outer conductor.

20. A coaxial RF counter connector, comprising at least a counter connector inner conductor that includes a first contact section having a first bare metal surface, a single counter connector outer conductor, which comprises a second contact section having a second bare metal surface, the single counter connector outer conductor being arranged coaxially with the counter connector inner conductor, and a centering sleeve having an annular edge surface transverse to an axis of the coaxial RF counter connector and a) a cylindrical inner surface that has an inner contour coaxial with the counter connector inner conductor, or b) a cylindrical outer surface having an outer contour coaxial with the counter connector inner conductor, wherein: when the centering sleeve includes the cylindrical inner surface, such cylindrical inner surface contains an insulating sleeve comprising an electrically insulating material or layer, said insulating sleeve dimensioned to separate both (1) corresponding first surfaces of the first and second centering devices that are mating and coaxial with one another and (2) corresponding second surfaces of the first and second centering devices that are mating and transverse to the center axis.

21. A coaxial RF counter connector according to claim 20, wherein the counter connector outer conductor has an end face and the insulating sleeve covers a section of the centering sleeve in a radial direction from the end face.

22. A coaxial RF connector system comprising: a coaxial RF connector and a coaxial RF counter connector, the coaxial RF connector comprising at least a first inner conductor defining a center axis of the coaxial RF connector, a single first outer conductor coaxial with the first inner conductor, and a first centering device located radially farther away from the center axis than the single first outer conductor, the first centering device having an outer surface coaxial with the first inner conductor, the coaxial RF counter connector comprising at least a second inner conductor, a second outer conductor coaxial with the second inner conductor, and a second centering device having an inner surface that is separated from an outer surface of the second outer conductor by a gap, said inner surface being coaxial with the second inner conductor, wherein, when mated, the first inner conductor and the second inner conductor provide an inner galvanic contact with each other, wherein, when mated, the single first outer conductor and the second outer conductor provide an outer galvanic contact with each other, wherein: (39a) the outer surface of the first centering device conforms to a shape and size of the inner surface of the second centering device such that, when mated, the first centering device matches the second centering device; of (39b) an inner surface of the first centering device conforms to a shape and size of an outer surface of the second centering device such that, when mated, the first centering device matches the second centering device; and wherein: either an insulating sleeve or an insulating layer is included between the first centering device and the second centering device to insulate the first centering device from the second centering device, said insulating sleeve dimensioned to separate both (ii-1) corresponding first surfaces of the first and second centering devices that are mating and coaxial with one another and (ii-2) corresponding second surfaces of the first and second centering devices that are mating and transverse to the center axis.

23. A coaxial RF connector system according to claim 22, wherein the first outer conductor is the first centering device or the second centering device is a centering sleeve.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, the invention will be described by way of example, without limitation of the general inventive concept, on examples of embodiment and with reference to the drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a connector system.

(3) FIG. 2 is a simplified drawing of a connector and a counter connector.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a further embodiment of a connector system.

(5) FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of a connector system.

(6) FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of a connector system.

(7) Generally, the drawings are not to scale. Like elements and components are referred to by like labels and numerals. For the simplicity of illustrations, not all elements and components depicted and labeled in one drawing are necessarily labels in another drawing even if these elements and components appear in such other drawing.

(8) While various modifications and alternative forms, of implementation of the idea of the invention are within the scope of the invention, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and are described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and related detailed description are not intended to limit the implementation of the idea of the invention to the particular form disclosed in this application, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) In FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a coaxial RF connector system is shown in a mated state. A coaxial RF connector 100 may be held by elastic means 105 which may be a rubber ring in a first body 101 and a coaxial RF counter connector 200 may be held in a second body 201. The coaxial RF connector 100 has an inner conductor 110 arranged coaxially with respect to an outer conductor 120. The inner conductor 110 defines a center axis 190 and may be supported from the outer conductor 120 by a strut 160 preferably including an electrically insulating material (dielectric). The outer conductor 120 may have a cylindrical outer contour coaxial to the inner conductor 110 and thereby may form a first centering device 170.

(10) The coaxial RF counter connector 200 has an inner conductor 210 arranged coaxially with respect to an outer conductor 220 and supported by a strut 260 that preferably includes an electrically insulating material (dielectric). Furthermore, a centering sleeve 230 is provided. In this embodiment, the centering sleeve 230 is part of a coaxial conductor system together with the inner conductor 210. The centering sleeve 230 may be configured to hold the coaxial RF counter connector outer conductor. The centering sleeve 230 may have a cylindrical inner contour with circular cross section coaxial to the inner conductor 210 of the coaxial RF counter connector 200. At the inner contour of the centering sleeve 230 there is an electrically insulating material (dielectric material) 280, as shown. The insulating material may include a polymer such as PTFE (Polytetrafluorethylene, Teflon), PE (Polyethylene), Polyimide (Kapton) or an oxide or anodized layer or any other suitable material. The dielectric material may have the shape of a sleeve which may be inserted into the centering sleeve.

(11) In reference to FIG. 4, illustrating the presence of centering devices in an embodiment, first centering device 170 is shown to have an outer size smaller than the inner size of the second centering device 270, including the thickness of the dielectric material, such that the first centering device 170 matches into the second centering device 270. The matching centering devices allow for a good centering of the connectors. The dielectric material between the centering devices prevents a galvanic contact between the centering devices such that no intermodulation can take place.

(12) In FIG. 2, a simplified drawing of separated from one another connector 100 and counter connector 200 (similar to those illustrated in FIG. 1) is shown. The inner conductor may be part of a male coaxial RF connector and therefore may have a contact pin 112, which may include a contact section having a bare metal surface and extending towards a contact side 102 from which a coaxial RF counter connector may be attached. The outer conductor may have a contact section 123m which may have a bare metal surface and where it is contacted by the counter connector. At the end of the contact section 123 is an outer conductor end face 122. An at least partially conically shaped insertion section 124 may be provided, which simplifies insertion of a counter connector.

(13) The counter connector 200 may have an outer conductor with a plurality of longitudinal slits 226 extending from the outer conductor end face. The material of the outer conductor remaining between these slits may be configured as spring-loaded contact elements 228, which may produce a contact force in a radial direction with respect to the center axis 190. At the end of the spring-loaded contact elements 228 and aligned with an outer conductor end face 222 there may be formed contact element protrusions 224 for contacting the outer conductor of the coaxial RF connector 100 at the contact section 123. The contact element protrusions 224 may include a contact section having a bare metal surface. This results in a well-defined high contact force between the connectors, which reduces intermodulation. The counter connector inner conductor 210 may have a female contact socket 212, which may include a contact section having a bare metal surface adapted to match the inner conductor contact pin 112.

(14) In this embodiment, the counter connector 200 may have a centering sleeve 230, which may be configured as one monolithic part with the counter connector outer conductor 220. A dielectric sleeve 280 may be inserted into the centering sleeve 230. The dielectric sleeve 280 may include a cylindrical (with circular cross section) section 282 which may include radially arranged dielectric material, and a disc shaped section 281 which may include radially arranged dielectric material. The inner size or diameter of the counter connector centering sleeve 230 including the dielectric sleeve 280 (which is marked by reference number 229) is larger than or equal to the outer size or diameter 129 of the coaxial connector outer conductor 120.

(15) In FIG. 3, a related embodiment of a simplified coaxial RF connector system is shown. Here, a dielectric sleeve 180 may be held by the coaxial RF connector 100. The dielectric sleeve 180 having a thickness 185 may include a cylindrical (with a circular cross section) section 182 having a second length 187 (which section may include radially arranged dielectric material), and a disc shaped section 181 having a first length 186 (which disk may include radially arranged dielectric material). In a mated state between the RF connector 100 and the RF counter connector 200, as shown, the dielectric sleeve 180 may form a gap having essentially a depth corresponding to the sleeve thickness 185 between the outer conductor 120 of the coaxial RF connector 100 and the centering sleeve 230 of the coaxial RF counter connector 200. In a mated state, as shown, there may be a gap 250 between the outer conductor end face 122 the coaxial RF connector 100 and the outer conductor end face 222 of the coaxial RF counter connector 200. The presence of this gap prevents an at least partially undefined galvanic contact besides the well-defined galvanic contact between the contact element protrusions 224 and the contact section 123. Such configuration further improves PIM.

(16) In FIG. 4, another embodiment of a coaxial RF connector system is shown. Here, an outer sleeve 232 is provided at the counter connector outer conductor 220, which may even be one monolithic part with the outer conductor. In this embodiment, the outer sleeve 232 has no centering function, but may provide some shielding. Instead, a separate second centering device 270, which may include electrically insulating (dielectric) material may be provided at the coaxial RF counter connector 200. Further, a first centering device 170 may be provided at the coaxial RF connector 100. Again, the first centering device 170 may have an outer size smaller than the inner size of the second centering device 270 or the first centering device 170 may have an outer size larger than the inner size of the second centering device 270, such that the first centering device 170 matches into the second centering device 270.

(17) In an embodiment, at least one of the first centering device 170 and the second centering device 270 includes electrically insulating (dielectric) material, such that there is no galvanic connection between the connectors over the centering devices. In that case, a dielectric sleeve is not needed.

(18) In FIG. 5, another related embodiment of a coaxial RF connector system is shown. This embodiment is similar to the previous embodiment of FIG. 4, but there is no outer sleeve.

(19) It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that this invention is believed to provide a RF connector system. Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the general manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described herein are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Elements and materials may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts and processes may be reversed, and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the invention. Changes may be made in the elements described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(20) 100 coaxial RF connector 101 first body 102 contact side 105 elastic connector holding means 110 inner conductor 112 inner conductor contact pin 120 outer conductor 122 outer conductor end face 123 contact section 124 insertion section 129 outer diameter 130 contact sleeve 160 strut 170 first centering device 180 dielectric material 181 disc shaped dielectric material 182 cylindrical dielectric material 185 thickness of sleeve 186 first length of sleeve 187 second length of sleeve 190 center axis 200 coaxial RF counter connector 201 second body 210 counter connector inner conductor 212 counter connector inner conductor contact socket 220 counter connector outer conductor 222 outer conductor end face 224 contact element protrusion 226 longitudinal slit 228 spring loaded contact element 229 inner diameter 230 centering sleeve 232 outer sleeve 250 gap 260 strut 270 second centering device 280 dielectric sleeve of counter connector 281 disc shaped dielectric material 282 cylindrical dielectric material