MECHANISM FOR CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING CLUSTER RF CONNECTOR

A clamp mechanism for an RF cluster connector enables multiple RF connections within a cluster connector to be engaged and disengaged in such a way that prevents damage to the conductors. It also eases the process of engaging and disengaging through the use of two lever arms that may be easily used by a technician in challenging locations (such as at the top of a cell tower) and in densely arranged RF ports (such as for a multi-user or massive MIMO antenna).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to wireless communications, and more particularly, to cluster connectors for coupling multiple RF (Radio Frequency) cables to multiport antennas.

Related Art

Modern cellular communications has experienced an explosion in demand for very high data rates per each mobile device (hereinafter user equipment or UE), as well as a massive increase in the number and types of devices. To meet the conflicting challenges of providing high data rates to an increasing number of devices, MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technologies have been developed to provide multiple simultaneous communication links between a given base station and a UE (e.g., Point-to-Point MIMO) and/or to provide spectrum reuse by enabling an antenna to establish individual narrow beams to individual UEs such that each narrow beam may use the same spectrum resources to multiple UEs simultaneously (e.g., Multi-User MIMO and Massive MIMO).

Each of these approaches requires an individual antenna to have numerous radiators per supported frequency band, and numerous RF ports to provide independent RF signals to different combinations of radiators. Massive MIMO, in particular, requires a large number of RF ports. The need for an increasing number of RF ports is further complicated by the demand to reduce the size of the antenna for dense urban deployments and improved wind loading.

More RF ports may be accommodated through the use of cluster connectors, in which four or more (for example) RF connections may be integrated within a single connector body. However, a complication arises in that each individual RF connection within a cluster connector may require considerable force, both for its connection as well as for its disconnection. The required force for connection/disconnection scales with the number of RF cables in a given cluster connector. The forces required for a single RF connection/disconnection may be as much as 15-20 lbs. Accordingly, the total force required for connection/disconnection for a cluster connector or many RF connections may be considerable. Further, each RF connection must support 30+ GHz frequencies and be free of problems such as passive intermodulation distortion (PIM). This requires a precise RF engagement mechanism that may be susceptible to damage if excessive forces, such as lateral or torsional forces, are applied during insertion and removal of the cluster connector. Additionally, in the case of a large number of RF ports (e.g., for a Massive MIMO antenna), it may be necessary to have multiple cluster connector ports disposed on the antenna in close proximity, thereby limiting access to each individual cluster connector for insertion and removal. This can be further complicated by the need to connect and disconnect these cluster connectors in the field, which may involve being at the top of a cell tower.

Accordingly, there is a need for an RF cluster connector mechanism that provides for easy, consistent, and reliable connection and disconnection of its constituent RF conductors, whereby the cluster connector may be in close proximity to other cluster connectors on the antenna, and whereby the antenna may be mounted at the top of a cell tower.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a Mechanism for Connecting and Disconnecting Cluster RF Connector that obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An aspect of the present disclosure involves an RF cluster connector. The connector comprises a connector body having a plurality of apertures configured to hold a corresponding one of a plurality of RF connector bodies, each RF connector body having a RF connector conductor combination; a plurality of lever arms rotatably coupled to the connector body at a corresponding pivot pin disposed on the connector body; and a plurality of draw arms, each rotatably coupled to a corresponding lever arm by an arm link pin at a proximal end, each of the plurality arms having a bearing pin disposed on a distal end, wherein each of the plurality of bearing pins are configured to engage with a corresponding dual hook structure on a cluster port, each dual hook structure having a upper first hook and a lower second hook, wherein each bearing pin is configured to press against the upper first hook when engaging the plurality of RF connector conductor combinations to their corresponding RF port conductor combinations, and wherein each bearing pin is configured to press against the lower second hook when disengaging the plurality of RF connector conductor combinations from their corresponding RF port conductor combinations.

Another aspect of the present disclosure involves an RF cluster port having a port body. The port body comprises a plurality of apertures configured to hold a corresponding one of a plurality of RF port conductor combinations; and a plurality of dual-hook structures, each dual hook structure having a upper first hook and a lower second hook, wherein the upper first hook is configured to have a first pressure applied to it by a corresponding bearing pin of a cluster connector when engaging the plurality of RF port conductor combinations to a corresponding plurality of RF connector conductor combinations, and wherein the lower second hook is configured to have a second pressure applied to it by the corresponding bearing pin of the cluster connector when disengaging the plurality of RF port conductor combinations from the corresponding plurality of RF connector conductor combinations.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the mechanism for connecting and disconnecting a cluster RF connector with reference to the accompanying figures. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents

FIG. 1is a cutaway view of a configuration100of an exemplary cluster connector105fully engaged with a cluster port110according to the disclosure. As illustrated, an RF cable115, which is mechanically engaged with the body of cluster connector105such that connector center conductor120is mechanically and electrically coupled with center conductor receptacle125of RF port130within cluster port110.

AlthoughFIGS. 1-10illustrate a single RF connection between RF cable115and RF port130within cluster connector105and cluster port110, it will be understood that there may be multiple parallel RF connections (RF cable115and RF port130), and that one is shown for convenience of illustration. In an exemplary embodiment, cluster connector105and cluster port110may have four or five counterpart RF connections. Some of these RF connections may be identical (e.g., all having the same RF cable115, center conductor120, and RF port130). Alternatively, some of them may have different RF cable types (e.g., conductor diameters), and one or more may have a non-RF cable connection and may instead have a cable intended for digital communication or DC electrical power. Further, one or more may instead have a fiber optic cable, in which case the connection may be a fiber optic interface. It will be understood that such variations are possible and within the scope of the disclosure.

FIG. 2is a cutaway view of an exemplary cluster connector105with its clamp mechanism in the engaged position, according to the disclosure. The clamp mechanism of cluster connector105includes two lever arms205, each of which rotatably engage with the body of cluster connector105at pivot point220. Each lever arm205has an arm link pin215, which engages lever arm205with a corresponding draw arm210such that the lever arm205and draw arm210may rotate relative to each other. Each arm link pin215may include a torsional biasing spring (not shown) that biases the angular orientation of the corresponding draw arm210toward the center axis of cluster connector105. Each draw arm210has a bearing pin225, which is configured to engage with the cluster port110, which is described further below. Further, given that lever arm205is configured to rotate around pivot point220, a combination of rotations around pivot point220and arm link pin215may enable draw arm210to translate as well as rotate, as is described further below.

The body of cluster connector105may mechanically engage with an RF connector body240, which may be held in place within the body of cluster connector105by a connector gasket235. RF connector body240may include an outer conductor230, which surrounds center conductor120. The center conductor120is configured to mechanically and electrically couple with the center conductor receptacle125of cluster port110, and the outer conductor230is configured to mechanically and electrically couple with the outer conductor interface325of cluster port110. As used herein, the center conductor120and outer conductor230may be referred to as an RF connector conductor combination, and the center conductor receptacle125and outer conductor interface325may be referred to as an RF port conductor combination. Further as stated above, cluster connector105may have a plurality of RF connector bodies240, each coupled to a corresponding RF cable115.

FIG. 3is a cutaway view of an exemplary cluster port110according to the disclosure. Cluster port110has a port body that has a plurality of apertures configured to hold a corresponding plurality of RF ports130that electrically and mechanically couple with the corresponding plurality of RF connector conductor combinations. Cluster port110has an interface gasket330, which may be in the form of a ring and is configured to compress as it engages with cluster connector105when being coupled and decoupled. Cluster port110has a plurality of dual hook structure305, each corresponding to a draw arm210, and each having an upper first hook310and a lower second hook315. Each dual hook structure305is configured to engage with a corresponding bearing pin225in a manner described further below.

Lever arms205, draw arms210, and dual hook structures305may be formed of metal or polymer.

FIG. 4is a cutaway view of cluster connector105in an initial (first) position of a sequence for coupling with cluster port110. As illustrated, the body of cluster connector105is brought into contact with the cluster port110such that the male interface of RF connector body240is aligned with outer conductor interface325. At this stage, the bearing pins of draw arms210may be in contact with the body of cluster port110above respective dual hook structures305, and the cluster connector105may have a remaining translation distance d to be fully engaged with cluster port110.

FIG. 5is a cutaway view of cluster connector105in a second position of a sequence for coupling to cluster port110. The illustrations ofFIGS. 4-8may be snapshots of a single motion made by a technician (not shown) who—at the stage depicted inFIG. 5—is rotating lever arms205outward from the center axis of cluster connector105. In doing so, the lever arms205rotate around their respective pivot pins220and thus push draw arms210downward as they rotate relative to the lever arms205around respective arm link pins215. As the draw arms210rotate and translate downward, the bearing pins225translate along the upper surface of the dual hook structures305. Due to the torsional bias provided at arm link pin215, bearing pins225are drawn toward the center axis of cluster connector105, and thus also toward the center axis of cluster port110. Further, as illustrated, at the stage depicted inFIG. 5, the remaining translation distance d is reduced as the cluster connector105and cluster port110come together.

FIG. 6is a cutaway view of cluster connector105in a third position of a sequence for coupling to cluster port110. At this stage, the technical is continuing to rotate downward lever arms205, which are illustrated at approximately 90 degrees from a center axis of the cluster connector105and cluster port110. With the continued rotation of lever arms205, draw arms210have translated downward to where their respective bearing pins225have entered the apertures of dual hook structures305, being drawn in by the torsional bias provided at arm link pin215.

FIG. 7is a cutaway view of cluster connector105in a fourth position of a sequence for coupling with exemplary cluster port110. As with theFIGS. 5 and 6, this illustration is a snapshot of a continuous motion made by an installing technician. Here, the technician is rotating lever arms205upward and toward the center axis of cluster connector105. As each lever arm205rotates around its respective arm link pin215, corresponding draw arm210is drawn upward such that its bearing pin225translated upward to where it engages with and applies pressure to upper first hook310. With this established, any further upward rotation of lever arms205causes the body of cluster connector105to translate downward, thereby causing outer conductor230to engage outer conductor interface325, and causing center conductor120to engage center conductor receptacle125.

FIG. 8is a cutaway view of exemplary cluster connector105in a final engaged position of a sequence for coupling to exemplary cluster port110. As illustrated, the technician has rotated lever arms205inward toward the center axis of cluster connector105until they have reached their respective resting position. The body of cluster connector105may have a pair of “hammer head” style tabs into which the end of the lever arm205snaps into place. Each lever arm205may also have a cam structure integrated into pivot pin220that requires a force to be applied manually to get the lever arm205to be initially rotated from its neutral position illustrated inFIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 8. At this state, the RF connector body240is fully engaged with RF port130. In other words, the RF connector conductor combination has fully engaged with its corresponding RF port conductor combination.

FIG. 9is a cutaway view of cluster connector105in a first position of a sequence for decoupling from cluster port110. As illustrated, the technician rotates lever arms105downward and away from the center axis of cluster connector105. In response, draw arms210rotate in turn around arm link pin215and translate toward cluster port105. This downward translation causes bearing pins of draw arms210to press against lower second hooks315of dual hook structures305within the body of cluster port110. This downward force against lower second hooks315causes cluster connector105to translate upward from cluster port110, thereby causing center conductor120to begin to decouple from center conductor receptacle125and outer conductor230to begin to decouple from outer conductor interface325.

FIG. 10is a cutaway view of cluster connector105in a second position of a sequence for decoupling from cluster port110. As illustrated, the technician continues to rotate the lever arms205downward, causing the bearing pins225to maintain pressure on lower second hooks315, thereby causing center conductor120to fully decouple from center conductor receptacle125and outer conductor230to fully decouple from outer conductor interface325.

Although not illustrated, in the final motion, after center conductor120has decoupled from center conductor receptacle125and outer conductor230has decoupled from outer conductor interface325, the technician may rotate lever arms205upward to return them to the positions illustrated inFIG. 2.

Although the term “position” is used with reference to the drawings, it will be understood that these images are snapshots of a fluid motion, and that the lever arms105(for example) need not be held or maintained in the positions illustrated inFIGS. 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10.

In an exemplary embodiment, cluster connector105and cluster port110may support four 2.2-5 connectors. Each of these connectors may require 15-20 lbs of force to engage and disengage. Accordingly, the total force required to engage and disengage cluster connector105and cluster port110may be 60-80 lbs.