Radio frequency connector and measurement system

Abstract

A radio frequency connector for establishing a radio frequency connection with a radio frequency device is described. The radio frequency connector includes a radio frequency connection interface, an interchangeable radio frequency adapter and a positioning member. The interchangeable radio frequency adapter is detachably attached with the radio frequency connection interface such that the interchangeable radio frequency adapter is configured to be detached from the radio frequency connection interface in a disassembled state of the radio frequency connector. The positioning member is configured to position the interchangeable radio frequency adapter with respect to the radio frequency connection interface in an assembled state of the radio frequency connector. The positioning member is detachably attached such that the positioning member is configured to be detached in the disassembled state of the radio frequency connector, thereby releasing the interchangeable radio frequency adapter with respect to the radio frequency connection interface. Further, a measurement system for radio frequency measurement is described.

Claims

1. A radio frequency connector for establishing a radio frequency connection with a radio frequency device, the radio frequency connector having a dissembled state, the radio frequency connector comprising: a radio frequency connection interface; an interchangeable radio frequency adapter providing at a free end a radio frequency interface configured to be connected to a radio frequency device, said interchangeable radio frequency adapter being put on said radio frequency connection interface such that said interchangeable radio frequency adapter accommodates said radio frequency connection interface at least partly, said interchangeable radio frequency adapter being detachably attached with said radio frequency connection interface such that said interchangeable radio frequency adapter is configured to be detached from said radio frequency connection interface in the disassembled state; a detachable positioning member configured to position said interchangeable radio frequency adapter with respect to said radio frequency connection interface in an assembled state of said radio frequency connector, wherein said positioning member is configured to be detached from the radio frequency connection interface in the disassembled state of the radio frequency connector, thereby also releasing said interchangeable radio frequency adapter with respect to said radio frequency connection interface; and a base comprising a passage into which said radio frequency connection interface and said interchangeable radio frequency adapter extend at least partly, said passage having a threaded section that interacts with a threaded section of said interchangeable radio frequency adapter via which said interchangeable radio frequency adapter is screwed in.

2. The radio frequency connector according to claim 1, wherein said positioning member also locks said interchangeable radio frequency adapter with respect to said radio frequency connection interface in said assembled state of said radio frequency connector.

3. The radio frequency connector according to claim 1, wherein said radio frequency connector comprises the base.

4. The radio frequency connector according to claim 3, wherein said positioning member is in engagement with said base in said assembled state of the radio frequency connector.

5. The radio frequency connector according to claim 4, wherein said engagement between said positioning member and said base is established by a threaded connection.

6. The radio frequency connector according to claim 1, wherein said positioning member accommodates said interchangeable radio frequency adapter circumferentially.

7. The radio frequency connector according to claim 1, wherein said interchangeable radio frequency adapter has a protrusion.

8. The radio frequency connector according to claim 7, wherein said positioning member has an inner shoulder portion that engages with said protrusion.

9. The radio frequency connector according to claim 1, wherein said positioning member has an outer rim portion to be engaged with a second radio frequency device with which the radio frequency connector establishes the radio frequency connection.

10. The radio frequency connector according to claim 1, wherein said radio frequency connection interface is a coaxial radio frequency connection interface.

11. The radio frequency connector according to claim 1, wherein said interchangeable radio frequency adapter is an interchangeable coaxial radio frequency adapter.

12. A measurement system for radio frequency measurement, said measurement system comprising; a radio frequency device with at least one radio frequency port and a radio frequency connector for establishing a radio frequency connection with the radio frequency device, wherein the radio frequency connector comprises a radio frequency connection interface, an interchangeable radio frequency adapter, a positioning member, and a base to which said positioning member is attached in an assembled state by a threaded connection, said interchangeable radio frequency adapter being detachably attached with said radio frequency connection interface such that said interchangeable radio frequency adapter is configured to be detached from said radio frequency connection interface in a disassembled state of the radio frequency connector; said positioning member being configured to position said interchangeable radio frequency adapter with respect to said radio frequency connection interface in the assembled state of said radio frequency connector; said base comprising a passage into which said radio frequency connection interface and said interchangeable radio frequency adapter extend at least partly in the assembled state of said radio frequency connector, said passage having a threaded section that interacts with a threaded section of said interchangeable radio frequency adapter via which, in the assembled state of said radio frequency connector, said interchangeable radio frequency adapter is screwed in; and said positioning member being configured to be detached from the radio frequency connection interface or the interchangeable radio frequency adapter in the disassembled state of the radio frequency connector, thereby releasing said interchangeable radio frequency adapter with respect to said radio frequency connection interface, wherein said radio frequency connector provides a sacrificial interface to the radio frequency device, thereby protecting the radio frequency port from mechanical damage, and wherein said radio frequency connection interface is established by said radio frequency port of said radio frequency device.

13. The measurement system according to claim 12, wherein said measurement system also comprises a second radio frequency device that is connected with the radio frequency connector.

14. The measurement system according to claim 13, wherein said second radio frequency device is connected with a free end of said interchangeable radio frequency adapter, said free end being located opposite to said radio frequency connection interface.

15. The measurement system according to claim 13, wherein said second radio frequency device is a probe device.

16. The measurement system according to claim 12, wherein said radio frequency device is an oscilloscope, a network analyzer, a signal generator, a signal analyzer or a spectrum analyzer.

17. The measurement system according to claim 12, further comprising a second interchangeable radio frequency adapter, wherein the second interchangeable radio frequency adapter has a different size compared to the interchangeable radio frequency adapter.

18. The measurement system according to claim 12, wherein said interchangeable radio frequency adapter providing at its free end a radio frequency interface to be connected by external devices, and said interchangeable radio frequency adapter being put on said radio frequency connection interface such that said interchangeable radio frequency adapter accommodates said radio frequency connection interface at least partly.

19. A radio frequency connector for establishing a radio frequency connection with a radio frequency device, the radio frequency connector having a dissembled state and an assembled state, the radio frequency connector, comprising: a radio frequency connection interface; an interchangeable radio frequency adapter, wherein said interchangeable radio frequency adapter is configured to be detachably attached with said radio frequency connection interface such that said interchangeable radio frequency adapter is detached from said radio frequency connection interface in the disassembled state; and a positioning member and a base to which said positioning member is attached in the assembled state of the radio frequency connector, said base comprising a passage into which said radio frequency connection interface and said interchangeable radio frequency adapter extend at least partly, said passage having a threaded section that interacts with a threaded section of said interchangeable radio frequency adapter via which said interchangeable radio frequency adapter is screwed in, said positioning member having an inner thread portion that interacts with an outer thread portion provided at said base such that said positioning member is screwed onto said base, said positioning member being configured to position said interchangeable radio frequency adapter with respect to said radio frequency connection interface in the assembled state, said positioning member having an inner shoulder portion that engages with a protrusion provided at an outer surface of said interchangeable radio frequency adapter, wherein interaction between said protrusion and said inner shoulder portion ensures that said interchangeable radio frequency adapter is aligned in a radial direction and the axial direction with respect to said radio frequency connection interface when said positioning member is attached to said base; said positioning member configured to be detachably attached such that said positioning member is able to be detached in the disassembled state of the radio frequency connector, thereby allowing detachment of said interchangeable radio frequency adapter with respect to said radio frequency connection interface.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of the claimed subject matter will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically shows a measurement system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic overview of a radio frequency connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of the radio frequency connector shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings, where like numerals reference like elements, is intended as a description of various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter and is not intended to represent the only embodiments. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided merely as an example or illustration and should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The illustrative examples provided herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the claimed subject matter to the precise forms disclosed.

(6) In FIG. 1, a measurement system 10 for radio frequency measurement is shown. The measurement system 10 comprises a (first) radio frequency device 12 that has at least one radio frequency port 14 that is associated with a radio frequency connector 16 as will be described later in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

(7) The measurement system 10 also comprises another, or second, radio frequency device 18 that can be connected with the radio frequency connector 16 associated with the radio frequency device 12 in order to establish a radio frequency connection.

(8) For instance, the second radio frequency device 18 is provided by a probe device that can be used for probing a device under test that provides a radio frequency signal to be analysed by the radio frequency device 12.

(9) Accordingly, the radio frequency device 12 may be an oscilloscope, a network analyser, a signal analyser or a spectrum analyser, etc. However, the radio frequency device 12 may also be a signal generator that generates a radio frequency signal to be transmitted via the radio frequency connector 16. Accordingly, the radio frequency device 12 corresponds to a test instrument.

(10) In FIGS. 2 and 3, the radio frequency connector 16 is shown in more detail. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, The radio frequency connector 16 comprises an interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 that has a free end 22 to be connected with the second radio frequency device 18. Hence, the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20, for example its free end 22, establish the radio frequency interface to be connected by external devices.

(11) The interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 is connected with a radio frequency connection interface 26 via its opposite end 24. As shown in FIG. 3, the radio frequency connection interface 26 may be established by the radio frequency port 14 of the radio frequency device 12, which is fixed.

(12) In addition, the radio frequency connector 16 has a positioning member 28 that is used to position the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 with respect to the radio frequency connection interface 26 as will be described later. In general, the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 as well as the positioning member 28 both are detachably attached such that they can be detached and removed if desired.

(13) The interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 can be replaced with another one, for instance a second interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20′ that is schematically shown in FIG. 1. The second interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20′ may have a different size compared to the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20. The size is associated with the respective free end 22 as this establishes the radio frequency interface for external devices. The opposite end 24 may be sized in a similar manner in order to ensure that the differently sized interchangeable radio frequency adapters 20, 20′ can be connected to the same radio frequency connection interface 26.

(14) Accordingly, the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 may be replaced in order to provide another sized radio frequency interface. Moreover, the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 may be replaced in order to provide a new one provided that the former one does not fulfil the respective specifications anymore while being worn after a certain period of time.

(15) As already mentioned, the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 is detachably attached with the radio frequency connection interface 26. However, the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 is secured by the positioning member 28 that also positions or rather aligns the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 accordingly while impinging the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 towards the radio frequency connection interface 26 in the assembled state of the radio frequency connector 16.

(16) In other words, the positioning member 28 positions and aligns the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 with respect to the radio frequency connection interface 26 such that the center axes of the positioning member 28 and the radio frequency connection interface 26 coincide.

(17) However, the positioning member 28 that is detachably attached also ensures that the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 is only released in case of detaching the positioning member 28 previously. Thus, the positioning member 28 locks the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 with respect to the radio frequency connection interface 26 in the assembled state of the radio frequency connector 16.

(18) The radio frequency connector 16 has a base 30 to which the positioning member 28 is attached in the assembled state. In other words, the positioning member 28 is in engagement with the base 30.

(19) As shown in FIG. 3, the engagement between the positioning member 28 and the base 30 is established by a threaded connection 32. The positioning member 28 has an inner thread portion 34 that interacts with an outer thread portion 36 provided at the base 30 such that the positioning member 28 can be screwed onto the base 30. This ensures that the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 gets aligned with respect to the radio frequency connection interface 26 while screwing the positioning member 28 onto the base 30. The thread portions 34, 36 are provided in a ring-shaped manner along the inner surface of the positioning member 28 and the outer surface of the base 30, respectively.

(20) In order to ensure the alignment of the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 with respect to the radio frequency connection interface 26, the positioning member 28 has an inner shoulder portion 38 that engages with a protrusion 40 provided at an outer surface of the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20.

(21) The interaction between the protrusion 40 and the inner shoulder portion 38 ensures that the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 gets aligned in a radial direction and/or axial direction concerning the radio frequency connection interface 26 when the positioning member 28 is screwed onto the base 30. When the positioning member 28 is screwed onto the base 30, the positioning member 28 is moved in an axial direction such that the inner shoulder portion 38 gets in contact with the protrusion 40.

(22) Since the inner shoulder portion 38 and/or the protrusion 40 are/is ring-shaped, the axial movement of the positioning member 28 results in an axial alignment as well as a radial alignment of the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20.

(23) As shown in FIG. 3, the positioning member 28 accommodates the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 circumferentially, wherein the positioning member 28 has a central opening 42 through which the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 partly extends in the assembled state, namely by its free end 22 to be connected with the second radio frequency device 18.

(24) Generally, the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 may be screwed into the base 30 previously, namely in an area associated with a passage 43 provided by the base 30. Accordingly, the base 30 and the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 establish a threaded connection that is supported by the positioning member 28 in order to position/align the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 accurately.

(25) In addition, the positioning member 28 has an outer rim portion 44 that can be engaged by the second radio frequency device 18. The outer rim portion 44 is used to centralize the second radio frequency device 18 and the radio frequency connector 16 with respect to each other when establishing the radio frequency connection between them. This ensures a secure radio frequency connection between the radio frequency connector 16 and the second radio frequency device 18.

(26) In addition, the positioning member 28 has outwardly extending engagement portions 46 that can be used for screwing the positioning member 28 onto the base 30. Hence, the attachment of the positioning member 28 as well as its detachment is simplified such that it can be done by the customer himself.

(27) Generally, the radio frequency connection interface 26 and/or the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 may be coaxial ones, thereby ensuring that a coaxial radio frequency connection is established between the radio frequency device 12 and the second radio frequency device 18 via the radio frequency connector 16.

(28) The positioning, alignment and/or locking of the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 due to the positioning member 28 ensures that the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 is always located in the predefined relative orientation with respect to the radio frequency connection interface 26, thereby ensuring optimal characteristics. In addition, the positioning member 28 directly interacts with the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 in order to align, position and/or lock the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20.

(29) Accordingly, an inadvertent detaching of the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 is avoided effectively since the positioning member 28 has to be detached previously in order to enable the detachment of the interchangeable radio frequency adapter 20 afterwards. Therefore, a secure and cost-efficient radio frequency connector 16 is provided.

(30) The present application may reference quantities and numbers. Unless specifically stated, such quantities and numbers are not to be considered restrictive, but exemplary of the possible quantities or numbers associated with the present application. Also in this regard, the present application may use the term “plurality” to reference a quantity or number. In this regard, the term “plurality” is meant to be any number that is more than one, for example, two, three, four, five, etc. The terms “about,” “approximately,” “near,” etc., mean plus or minus 5% of the stated value. For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “at least one of A and B” is equivalent to “A and/or B” or vice versa, namely “A” alone, “B” alone or “A and B.”. Similarly, the phrase “at least one of A, B, and C,” for example, means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B, and C), including all further possible permutations when greater than three elements are listed.

(31) The principles, representative embodiments, and modes of operation of the present disclosure have been described in the foregoing description. However, aspects of the present disclosure which are intended to be protected are not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further, the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. It will be appreciated that variations and changes may be made by others, and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variations, changes, and equivalents fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, as claimed.