Abstract:
A two-part connector can be achieved for high performance situations using blind-mate insertion by using power activation. In one embodiment, the male and female portions of a standard RF connector can be securely mated so as to achieve high performance without the need for a screw type locking mechanism. Power activation is achieved, in one embodiment, by pneumatic actuation of a piston having fingers which engage an outer edge of a housing formed around the female portion of the connector so as to pull the female portion into a tight mating relationship with the male portion.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This disclosure relates to high performance connectors and more particularly to a high performance non-screw type connector having blind-mating capabilities and even more particularly to a blind-mate high performance RF connector. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Radio Frequency (RF) connectors are used in a number of situations for the transfer of high frequency signals across a separable connection. In some high performance applications, such as, for example, testing situations where high reliability is required, RF junction points must serve to transfer the RF signals without leakage, attenuation or discontinuity and without changing electrical characteristics. The problem is compounded when the connection is desired to be made by a single insertion of one portion of the connector to the other without requiring the connector portions to be screwed together. 
   In a typical high performance RF connection, one portion of the connector is screwed to the other. The screw mechanism imparts significant continuous mating pressure (sometimes in the order of several hundred pounds) on the connector portions causing them to remain firmly mated thereby yielding high reliability. 
   In some situations, such as, for example, when robots bring the portions of the connector together, it is desired to insert the male portion into the female portion with a straight-line motion. This straight-line motion enables blind-mating of the connector by eliminating the necessity for performing a circular screwing motion which would be necessary if the mating elements were to be screwed together. However, simply inserting the two portions together will not insure high performance because in such situations the respective connector portions can back away from one another or otherwise change their orientation, forming discontinuities and/or RF leakage. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A two-part connector can be achieved for high performance situations using blind-mate insertion by using power activation. In one embodiment, the male and female portions of a standard RF connector can be securely mated so as to achieve high performance without the need for a screw type locking mechanism. Power activation is achieved, in one embodiment, by pneumatic actuation of a piston having fingers which engage an outer edge of a housing formed around the female portion of the connector so as to pull the female portion into a tight mating relationship with the male portion. 
   The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which: 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show embodiments of a blind-mate connector pair in accordance with the teaching of the inventive concepts; 
       FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5  show in cut-away form various stages of mating with respect to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and 
       FIG. 6  shows an expanded view of one embodiment of a grasping arrangement employed with respect to the embodiments of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  show embodiments of a blind-mate connector pair in accordance with the teaching of the inventive concepts.  FIG. 1  shows one portion of the connector  10  in which the male portion (shown in subsequent FIGURES) of a standard RF connector is positioned. Connector  10  is constructed with crown  12  and post  11 . In the embodiment shown, the crown and post are circular but this is essentially a matter of esthetics and any shape can be employed. In situations where connector  10  is to be mounted in a fixed position with respect to another structure, such as would be necessary when a robot is used to mate the female portion of the connector (shown in  FIG. 2 ), ledge  104 , formed by crown  12  having a larger circumference in the embodiment shown than does post  11 , can be used to secure the fixed relationship. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by positioning ledge  104  against a flat surface (not shown) and using fasteners (not shown) through holes in the flat surface. The fasteners would engage screw sockets  103 . 
   The crown and post assembly can be constructed using two major portions, such that portion  13  can be rigidly affixed to post  11 . Portion  13  can then be attached to crown  12  by gasket  320  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). Two air inlets are shown in crown  10 , with inlet  101  allowing air into a port (shown in  FIG. 3 ) for engaging (as will be described) the female connector portion. Air inlet  102  is used for releasing the engagement. Note that while pneumatics is used in this embodiment, the concepts discussed herein can be used with hydraulics and/or electrical energy or a combination thereof. Note also that in some embodiments, a spring mechanism could be used to apply either the engagement or disengagement control force. Fingers  301  are used, as discussed hereinafter, to grasp distal end  203  of shell  22  of connector  20  ( FIG. 2 ) under control of engagement force provided via air inlet  101 . 
     FIG. 2  shows a second portion of connector  20  of the connector pair in which female portion  23  (shown more clearly in  FIG. 3 ) a standard RF connector is positioned within shell  22 . Shell  22  has, in one embodiment, sloping portion  21  used, as will be seen to facilitate shell  22  sliding into passageway  15  of connector portion  10  when connector  20  is positioned for insertion in mating relationship with connector  10 . 
     FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5  show in cut-away form various stages of mating with respect to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  FIG. 3  shows connector  20  coming into mating relationship with passageway  15  of connector  10 . The object of the full mating process is to have proximal end  351  of male RF connector  33  inserted into female end  350  of RF connector  23  and held in mated relationship for as long as necessary. 
   In operation, shell  22  surrounding connector  23  slides inside passageway  15 . This is facilitated by pressure applied by force F 1  pushing downward (toward the open end of passageway  15 ). Force F 1  can be generated by air forced into chamber  34  above piston  32 . When piston  32  moves toward the open end of passageway (also called slideway)  15 , gripping collet  30  is pushed downward which in turn (as will be discussed move fully with respect to  FIG. 6 ) allows collet fingers  301  to move away (back) from the center axis of the passageway and behind (as viewed from the center axis) interspersed fingers  310  of slip bushing  31 . As will be seen, this “opening” action on the part of fingers  301  is facilitated by cam bushing  35 . This then opens passageway  15  so as to allow the other surface of shell  22  to slide within the passageway. Shell  22  has an inner surface designed to rigidly grip and hold female RF connector  23 . 
     FIG. 4  shows RF connector portion  23  almost fully mated with RF connector portion  33 . Note that slope  21  of shell  22  is almost mated with slope  41  of passageway  15 . Note also that distal end  203  of shell  22  has now passed the ends of fingers  301  of gripping collet  30 . During the movement of shell  22  within passageway  15 , force F 1  was maintained both by air continually being forced into cavity  34  and maintained therein with the aid of o-rings  42 A,  42 B and  42 C. 
     FIG. 5  shows force F 1  having been released and force F 2  (in this embodiment being air forced into the bottom portion  51  of cavity  34 ) which serves to push piston  32  upward (away from the open end of passageway  15 ). Lip  520  of piston  32  engages overhang  521  of finger support  30  which in turn pulls fingers  301  upward along the passageway. Lips  60  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) at the ends of fingers  301  grip distal end  203  of shell  22  such that continued upward movement of piston  32  forces shell  22  upward toward male RF connector  23 . Force F 2  can be maintained as long as desired thereby applying pressure between the male and female RF connector portions so as to maintain a firm reliable contact therebetween. 
     FIG. 6  shows a blown-up cutaway of fingers  301  with lip  60  contacting end  203  of shell  22 . Cam bushing  35  is constructed such that when finger  301  is extended (under force F 1 ) the finger end rests under end  601  of the cam bushing. When finger  301  begins moving upward then chamfer  61  of the cam bushing working with chamfer  62  of finger  301  forces finger end out from behind interspersed finger  310  of slip bushing  31  and into gripping contact with distal end  203  of shell  22 . Finger  301  is thus controllably extended into the guideway. As finger  301  continues to be drawn inside passageway  15  by the upward movement of piston  32  operating from force F 2 , the mating relationship between connector portions  23  and  33  can be selectively controlled and maintained as desired. Note that while a chamfer on a bearing surface is shown, any number of mechanisms can be used to controllably extend one or more fingers or lips under the outer end of connector  20  to force completion of the mated relationship. For example, a pivoting lever could be used as could pins forced upward by air hydraulic or pneumatic pressure. 
   Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.