Abstract:
A board to board connection system is disclosed for RF signals, and comprises coaxial interconnection systems which interconnect a daughter card to a backplane.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject disclosure relates to a coaxial style connection system for interconnecting circuit boards such as a daughter board to a backplane. 
     RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/422,838, filed on Monday Apr. 13, 2009 (the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many different styles of connection systems are used to transmit radio frequency (RF) signals either in cable-to-cable connections or in board-to-board connections. One of the shortcomings of many of the present designs relates to the RF leakage between mated pairs. This shortcoming is multiplied when the lines are placed on a closer center-to-center line spacing. It would therefore be desirable to improve the channel-to-channel isolation. 
     The object of the present embodiment is to improve upon the channel-to-channel isolation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, an electrical connector assembly comprises a first connector assembly comprised of a first housing module having first and second faces, and a receiving opening extending at least partially between the first and second faces; and an electrical contact assembly positioned in the receiving opening of the first housing module and having a first contact interface being positioned internal to the receiving opening and a second contact interface, the electrical contact assembly floating within the receiving opening. A second connector assembly is included which is comprised of a second housing module having first and second faces, and a receiving opening extending at least partially between the first and second faces, the first contact interface of the second connector member being positioned in an opposed manner from the first face of the first housing module; and an electrical contact assembly positioned in the receiving opening of the second housing module and having a first contact interface being receivable internally of the receiving opening of the first housing module, and a second contact interface. The assembly further comprises a seal member positioned intermediate the first and second housings. 
     In another embodiment, an electrical connector assembly comprises a first connector member comprised of a first housing module having first and second connection interfaces, and a receiving opening extending at least partially between the first and second connection interfaces; and an electrical receptacle assembly positioned in the receiving opening of the first housing module and having a first contact interface being positioned internal to the receiving opening and a second contact interface, the electrical receptacle assembly comprising an outer ground conductor with an inner electrical terminal isolated from the outer ground conductor, and the electrical receptacle assembly being spring loaded towards the first interface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  discloses a connector plug assembly poised for receipt in a backplane connector; 
         FIG. 2  discloses a top perspective view of the connector plug assembly; 
         FIG. 3  discloses a bottom perspective view of the connector plug assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  discloses a cross-sectional view through lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 , without the contact assemblies in place; 
         FIG. 5  discloses an exploded view of the contact assembly for the connector plug assembly; 
         FIG. 6  discloses a cross-sectional view through lines  6 - 6  of  FIGS. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  discloses a cross-sectional view through lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  discloses an exploded view of the connector receptacle assembly; 
         FIG. 9  discloses a cross-sectional view through lines  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  discloses a cross-sectional view through lines  10 - 10  of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 11  discloses the assembly of the connector plug assembly; 
         FIG. 12  discloses a cross-sectional view through the connector plug assembly and connector receptacle assembly and poised for interconnection to each other; and 
         FIG. 13  is similar to that of  FIG. 12  showing the connector plug assembly and connector receptacle assembly assembled. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference first to  FIG. 1 , an electrical connector assembly is shown at  2  comprising a connector plug assembly  4  and a connector receptacle assembly  6 . As shown, connector plug assembly  4  is comprised of a coaxial plug contact assembly  8  and a housing module  10 . Connector receptacle assembly  6  is comprised of a coaxial receptacle contact assembly  12  and a housing module  14 . As it should be appreciated, connector plug assembly  4  is interconnectable to connector receptacle assembly  6  to interconnect the daughter board  16  and the backplane  18 . 
     With respect to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , connector plug assembly  4  is shown in greater detail. As shown, housing module  10  includes a first or front face  20  and a second or rear face  22  with receiving openings  24  extending between the first and second faces  20 ,  22 . As shown best in  FIG. 3 , coaxial plug contact assembly  8  is shown having a first contact interface  30  positioned adjacent to first face  20  and as best shown in  FIG. 2  has a second contact interface  32  positioned adjacent to second face  22 . 
     As shown best in  FIG. 4 , the receiving openings  24  are defined by a bored hole extending inwardly from the first face  20  and defines an enlarged opening portion  40  and a constricted opening portion  42 . Enlarged opening portion  40  opens onto first face  20  and constricted opening  42  opens onto second face  22 . The intersection of the enlarged opening  40  and a constricted opening  42  defines a shoulder  44  adjacent to second face  22 . With respect again to  FIG. 2 , housing module  10  further comprises a mounting portion  50  having mounting apertures  52 . 
     With respect now to  FIG. 5 , coaxial plug contact assembly  8  will be described in greater detail. Coaxial plug contact assembly  8  is comprised of inner plug housing portion  60 , outer plug housing portion  62 , insulator  64 , socket contact  66 , compression spring  68 , and retaining ring  70 . Inner plug housing portion  60  includes an L-shaped notch  80  having a longitudinally extending portion  82 , laterally extending portion  84 , and detent  86 . Inner plug housing portion  60  further includes a plurality of ground contacts  88  where the inner plug housing portion  60  is comprised of a conductive material such as a metal. As shown best in  FIG. 6 , inner plug housing portion  60  further includes an inner diameter at  90  defining a rearwardly facing shoulder at  92 . Inner plug housing portion  60  further includes inner diameter portion  96  which defines rearwardly facing edge  98 . 
     With respect again to  FIG. 5 , outer housing portion  62  includes a center diameter portion  100 , a ferrule  102  having a raised ring portion  104 , where the ferrule  102  has an inner diameter at  106  and which defines an end face at  108 . An enlarged ring portion  110  is positioned on central portion  100  and defines a forwardly facing surface  112 . Outer housing portion  62  also includes a receptacle portion  116  and as best shown in  FIG. 7 , includes an inner diameter at  118  and a reduced diameter at  120 . 
     With reference still to  FIG. 5 , insulator  64  includes an outer diameter at  122  and an internal opening at  124 . Socket contact  66  includes a first socket portion  130 , a second socket portion  132 , and first and second shoulders  134 ,  136 . Finally, locking ring  70  includes a circular ring portion  140  having engaging openings at  142  and locking lugs at  144 . 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , connector receptacle assembly  6  will be described in greater detail. As shown in  FIG. 8 , connector receptacle assembly  6  is shown with one of the coaxial receptacle contact assemblies  12  exploded from the housing module  14 . Housing module  14  includes first or front face  150 , second or rear face  152 , and receiving openings  154  extending between faces  150 ,  152 . Receiving openings  154  include a first diameter section  158 , defining an end face  160 , and opening portions  162  defined to receive a mating connector as further described herein. Housing module  14  also includes a mounting portion  170  having mounting apertures  172  and a flange portion  174 , where the mounting portion  170  cooperates with flange portion  174  for mounting to an opening in the back plane  18 , as further described herein. Coaxial receptacle contact assemblies  12  define a first contact interface  176 , and a second contact interface  178  ( FIG. 12 ). 
     With reference still to  FIG. 8 , coaxial receptacle contact assembly  12  is shown as comprised of receptacle housing portion  180 , pin terminal  182 , and insulators  184 ,  186 . As shown best in  FIG. 10 , receptacle housing module  180  includes a rear diameter portion  190 , first inner diameter portion  192 A, second inner diameter portion  192 B, lead-in portion  194 , and diameter portion  196  defining a rearwardly facing shoulder  198  as defined herein. 
     Pin terminal  182  includes first and second pin portions  200 ,  202 , and an intermediate diameter portion  204  defining edges  206 ,  208 . Insulator  184  is comprised of a through opening  210  while insulator  186  includes a through opening  212 . As also shown in  FIG. 8 , coaxial receptacle contact assemblies  12  further includes D-ring seals  188  which are conductively compressive members. D-ring seals  188  could be made from a material such as a fluoro-silicon or a silicon rubber which is impregnated with conductive particles such as silver. 
     The assembly of the connector plug assembly  4  and the connector receptacle assembly  6  will be assembled as follows. With respect again to  FIG. 5 , coaxial plug contact assembly  8  will be described. Socket contact  66  is first inserted into opening  124  such that insulator  64  is trapped between shoulders  134 ,  136 . The combination of the insulator  64  and socket contact  66  is then inserted into the inner diameter  90  ( FIG. 6 ) of the inner plug housing portion  60  until insulator  64  abuts shoulder  92 . Inner plug housing portion  60 , together with insulator  64  and socket contact  66 , can then be positioned over outer plug housing portion  62  such that inner diameter portion  96  ( FIG. 6 ) is received over ferrule  102 . It should be understood that this connection is a semi-permanent connection and can be made by known means such as interference fit, soldering, sweat fitting, threadable connection, or the like. When in position, insulator  64  abuts end face  108  to trap insulator in position between housing portions  60 ,  62 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 11 , this assembly may now be positioned into housing module  10  with diameter portion  100  being positioned into constricted openings  42  ( FIG. 4 ). Compression spring  68  may now be received over inner plug housing portion  60  and retaining ring  70  may now be positioned in a longitudinal sense with the locking lugs  144  aligned with the longitudinally extending portions  82  of the L-shaped recess  80 . It should be appreciated that a tool may grip the engaging openings  142  and the locking ring  70  may be pushed longitudinally inward, compressing compression spring  68  until such time as the locking lugs  144  reach the laterally extending sections  84  whereupon the locking ring  70  may be rotated such that lugs  144  travel in laterally extending sections  84  to the detent  86  where the locking ring is locked in place. As shown in  FIG. 12 , compression spring  68  is compressively sprung between shoulder  44  of housing module  10  and locking ring  70 , spring loading coaxial plug contact assembly  8  towards first face  20  of module  10 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 8 , coaxial receptacle contact assembly  12  is assembled by inserting pin contact  182  into through opening  210 , and inserting insulator  186  with through opening  212  over pin terminal  182 . This assembly may now be received within the inner diameter  192 B ( FIG. 10 ) of receptacle housing  180  until such time as it is received against rearwardly facing shoulder  198  ( FIG. 10 ). This positions pin portion  200  adjacent to inner diameter portion  192 A. This assembly may now be received in housing module  14  with rear diameter portion  190  ( FIG. 10 ) received in first diameter section  158  ( FIG. 9 ), and into the position shown in  FIG. 12 . This positions pin portion  202  within inner diameter portion  192 B and positions D-ring seal  188  adjacent to first face  150 . 
     The two connector assemblies  4  and  6 , and their associated boards  16 ,  18 , may now be brought into mating engagement into the configuration shown in  FIG. 13 . In this configuration, and as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , pin portion  200  engages first socket contact portion  130  and ground contacts  88  contact the inner diameter portion  192 A of receptacle housing portion  180 . 
     It should also be appreciated that this interface, that is, the position where the first contact interface  30  of coaxial plug contact assembly  8  interfaces with the first contact interface  176  ( FIG. 8 ) of coaxial receptacle contact assembly  12 , occurs within receiving openings  24 , recessed from first face  20 . This interface is also within a metal hosing module  10 . It should also be appreciated that coaxial plug contact assembly  8  is spring loaded towards coaxial receptacle contact assembly  12 . As shown, forwardly facing surfaces  112  of coaxial plug contact assembly  8  is spaced from second face  22 , and as shown, the nominal spacing is in the range of 40 to 50 millimeters allowing coaxial plug contact assembly  8  to spring loadably float within receiving opening  24  by that amount. This ensures that each of the ground contacts  88  is continuously and fully engaged within inner diameter portion  192 A of receptacle housing portion  180 . This also accounts for any discrepancy between the multiple contacts as to their various longitudinal positions. Finally, as shown, D-ring seal  188  is shown compressed between faces  20  and  150  which isolates the space between the surfaces as well as the space between individual receiving openings  24 . All of these items either individually or in the aggregate increase the channel-to-channel isolation of the connection between connector plug assembly  4  and connector receptacle assembly  6 . 
     As should be appreciated the housing modules  10 ,  14  are comprised of conductive material and may be metallic for EMI/RFI purposes. It should also be appreciated that the coaxial plug contact assembly  8  and the coaxial receptacle contact assembly  12  each carry (and interconnect) an RF signal comprised of a signal and a ground, and that each signal is isolated from the other by way of the insulators  64 ,  184  and  186 . Further more, it should be appreciated that the first diameter section  158  and pin portion  200  together define a receptacle for the interconnection of a mating connector  250  as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . In a like manner, and as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , inner diameter  118  and socket portion  132  define a receptacle for the interconnection of a mating connector (not shown). It also be appreciated that the interconnection to a mating connector such as  250  need not be made through a receptacle interface, but could be any form of connection, such as bayonet, screw in, etc. 
     While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.