Abstract:
A transmission assembly for remote or fixed applications which allow the transmission of high definition video via multiple 75 ohm high definition video coaxial signals in one cable assembly, the cable assembly having 75 ohm coaxial connectors for interconnect with a similar cable assembly, the 75 ohm coaxial connectors being housed in G-block style housings at each end of the cable assembly, the G-block style housing having locking latches secured thereto to insure the connection and prevent inadvertent or unintended disconnect.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Applicant claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/591,961, filed Jul. 29, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to high definition video systems, and in particular to an apparatus and method which allows the transmission of multiple 75 ohm high definition video coaxial signals in one cable assembly using 75 ohm coaxial connectors.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     The advent of high definition video systems has led to some problems in the ability to send multiple high definition video signals in a single cable assembly. Multiple coaxial cable assemblies which have been used in the past to transmit video signals normally contained 50 ohm or non rated cables and contacts which are not capable of high definition video transmission. The advent of high definition video systems, particular from remote or fixed locations which requires the interconnection of cables, there was a need for 75 ohm coaxial cable and connectors. Still further, there was a need to house the connections in an assembly which was easily secured to a like type assembly so that the necessary distance could be traversed for the remote or fixed application. Still further, the connectors had to be securable in a way that insured that there would be no inadvertent or unattended disconnect.  
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     An object of the present invention is to provide for the transmission of multiple 75 ohm high definition video coaxial signals in one cable assembly using 75 ohm coaxial connectors.  
         [0007]     A further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel transmission system of multiple 75 ohm high definition video coaxial signals in one cable assembly with 75 ohm coaxial connectors which secure a connection between cable assemblies and prevents inadvertent or unintended disconnects.  
         [0008]     A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a multi-channel high definition video interconnect for remote or fixed applications which would have application to high definition video, standard definition serial digital video, digital audio and high resolution analogue video applications.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     A transmission assembly for remote or fixed applications which allows the transmission of high definition video via multiple 75 ohm high definition video coaxial signals in one cable assembly, the cable assembly having 75 ohm coaxial connectors for interconnect with a similar cable assembly, the 75 ohm coaxial connectors being housed in G-block style housings at each end of the cable assembly, the G-block style housings having locking latches secured thereto to insure the connection and prevent inadvertent or unintended disconnect. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent, particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a male connector of a coaxial cable assembly of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view of a female connector of a coaxial cable assembly of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a male contact;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a female contact;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a cross section of joinder of a male contact and female contact; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an assembly of the present invention in which twisted pair contacts are utilized. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a male connector  10  of a 75 ohm high definition video coaxial signal cable assembly of the present invention. The male connector  10  comprises a shell connector  12  which consists of a housing  14  and a rear retainer  16 . Housing  14  and rear retainer  16  are secured by an appropriate securing means, such as a threaded fastener. The male socket modules  18  are secured within housing  14  and rear retainer  16  and positioned such that the modules  18  are recessed within the housing  14  so as to protect the male contacts  20  which protrude from the socket modules  18  exposing the actual contacts. Formed on housing  14  would be a polarizing rib  22  which ensures proper connection with a female connector as described hereafter. Secured to the rear of the shell connector  12  would be a cable housing  24  within which there are multiple 75 ohm transmission cables  26  which would terminate within housing  14  with respective 75 ohm male connector  10 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a female connector  30  of a 75 ohm high definition video coaxial signal cable assembly. Female connector  30  comprises a housing  32  composed of a shell connector (not shown) and a rear retainer  34  secured in a suitable fashion for instance by threaded fastener. Positioned within housing  32  are a plurality of pin modules  36  having female contacts  38  on their front face  40 . The front face  40  of the plurality of pin modules  36  is positioned flush with the front opening  42  of the front housing  32 . The front housing  32  also has a polarizing slot  44  for alignment and slidable receipt of a polarizing rib on the male connector  10 . Male connector  10  and female connector  30  would also have cooperable locking or retaining clips  46  on either their opposing side walls or on their top wall and bottom wall for securing male connector  10  and female connector  30 . It should also be noted that female connector  30  when mated with male connector  10  encompasses the housing  14  as opposed to the usual circumstance where the male connector encapsulates the female connector. The housing  14  of the male connector  10  and the housing  32  of female connector  30  when separated allow for the socket modules  36  and pin modules  18  to be retained within the respective housing, yet allow them to float in the housing to aid in the alignment of the male and female contacts when the housings are reconnected.  
         [0019]     The pin modules in the male connector are designed to be recessed within the connector housing to protect the male contacts  20  which protrude from the pin module  18 . This feature allows for the housing to align before the male contact  20  and female contact  28  to make contact thereby protecting the contacts from misalignment and damage. In the case of high definition video, the alignment and condition of the contacts are much more important than in standard definition video because the data rates are running at such higher frequency. Misalignment or damage to the contacts can cause degradation to the signal, thus increasing return loss and impedance mismatches.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a male contact  20  of the present invention, and  FIG. 4  is a side view of female contact  38 .  
         [0021]     Within each male and female housing, there are respective male and female modules  18  and  36 . The modules can be configured with any combination of either unbalanced coaxial contacts or twisted pair audio contacts commonly associated with high definition video. The modules are held in place in the housing, but are allowed to float to aid in alignment of the male/female connections.  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a partial cross section of the male/female contacts  20  and  38  secured together illustrating the manner in which the male contacts  20  and the female contacts  38  engage. The design of the male and female housings, and the male and female connector blocks allow the housings to align before the male contacts and female contacts make contact thereby protecting the contacts from misalignment and damage. In high definition video, the alignment and condition of the male and female contacts are much more important than in standard definition video because the data rates are running at much higher frequency. Misalignment or damage to the contacts can cause degradation to the signal, thus increasing return loss and impedance mismatches.  
         [0023]     The contacts are 75 ohm mcx type connectors. They are formed with a locking mechanism so as to snap fit into the respective connector modules. They are designed so that they can be removed from the blocks with a removal tool, yet simply inserted into the connector blocks with a slight push into place. The connectors are specifically designed to pass the 75 ohm high definition video signal.  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exploded view of a connector utilizing twisted pair contacts, male contacts  20 B and female contacts  38 B secured to respective wires and secured within modules  18 B and  36 B. The coaxial contacts are designed to work with commonly available high definition coaxial cable.  
         [0025]     An example of a housing that could be utilized in this application is the amp G block type  14  but other connector housings and shells could be similarly adapted for use with the high definition video contacts disclosed herein.  
         [0026]     The male/female connector housings are designed to daisy, chain 75 ohm mcx type cable so as to provide for high definition video from remote or fixed locations. However, the connector housings and connectors disclosed herein can be mounted at a cable end, a panel mount, an equipment back panel or any combination thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0027]     While the cable assembly has been developed to address problems associated with the advent of high definition video systems and the need to transmit multiple coaxial signals in one cable assembly from remote locations, the structure of the cable assembly will allow it to be used for the remote or fixed transmission of standard definition serial digital video, digital audio and high resolution analogue video.  
         [0028]     While the present invention has been described with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications or changes can be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore it is manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the claims and the equivalence thereof.