Receptacle with an inner conductor surrounded by an outer conductor and an insulator having overhung portions

Described herein is a receptacle for coaxial connector whose outer shape is made small and short in height while ensuring reliability. The receptacle for coaxial connector includes an outer conductor having a tubular portion, a central conductor having a contact portion extending in an axis direction in an internal space of the tubular portion, and an insulator holding the outer conductor and the central conductor in an insulating state. A region of the central conductor other than a central-conductor drawing portion thereof has outwardly projected portions in planar view of the central conductor.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-194737 filed Aug. 25, 2009, and to Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-130626 filed Jun. 8, 2010, the entire contents of these applications being incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The inventions relate to a receptacle for coaxial connector, and more particularly, to a receptacle for coaxial connector whose outer shape is small and short in height.

BACKGROUND

As a receptacle for coaxial connector used for transmission of a high-frequency signal, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-221055 discloses a structure based onFIGS. 1A and 1B.

This receptacle for coaxial connector1has an exterior conductor10having a cylindrical portion, and a central conductor20including a contact portion extending in an axis line direction in an internal space of the cylindrical portion. The receptacle1is structured to integrally hold both the external conductor10and the central conductor20through a molded dielectric body (insulator)30in a lower section between both the conductors10and20.

A lock groove13as a stopper of a plug is formed in the cylindrical portion of the external conductor10. Further, in order to prevent the central conductor20from coming off from the dielectric body (insulator)30in a back surface direction by a stress at the time of plug attachment, a surface worked portion (recessed portion)22A is provided in an inward end portion of the central conductor20.

In the structure described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-221055, a resin is molded so as to cover an upper portion of the external conductor, and thus, a thickness of the external conductor and a thickness of the resin are accumulated, which increases outer dimensions of the product.

Further, a position of the lock groove13provided in the cylindrical portion of the external conductor as the stopper of the plug becomes higher by the accumulated thickness of the resin, which also increases a whole height in a state where the plug is attached to the receptacle.

Furthermore, there is a problem that a distance between the lock groove13of the cylindrical portion of the external conductor10and an upper surface of the dielectric body (insulator)30, which is a height needed to attach the plug, cannot be ensured.

SUMMARY

Embodiments consistent with the claimed invention provide a receptacle for coaxial connector in which an outer shape thereof can be made small and short in height while ensuring reliability.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a receptacle for coaxial connector includes an outer conductor having a tubular portion, a central conductor having a contact portion extending in an axis direction in an internal space of the tubular portion of the outer conductor, an insulator holding the outer conductor and the central conductor in an insulating state, and an overhanging region made of the outer conductor and the insulator and overhanging in a surface direction perpendicular to the axis direction of the tubular portion of the outer conductor. The outer conductor has an outer-conductor overhanging portion, which is arranged in the overhanging region, and overhangs outward from a bottom of the tubular portion in the surface direction perpendicular to the axis direction of the tubular portion except for a predetermined section. The central conductor has a central-conductor drawing portion, which is arranged in the predetermined section inside the overhanging region, and is drawn out in a direction perpendicular to the axis direction of the tubular portion. The insulator has an insulator overhanging portion, which is arranged in the predetermined section inside the overhanging region, and partially covers the central-conductor drawing portion. In a plan view of the central conductor, a region other than the central-conductor drawing portion of the central conductor has a site projected in a radial direction and a non-projected site.

According to a more specific exemplary embodiment, the receptacle for coaxial connector may have a through-hole in the site projected in the radial direction.

In another more specific exemplary embodiment, the site projected in the radial direction may be a wing-like projected portion.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a receptacle for coaxial connector includes an outer conductor having a tubular portion with a center axis, a central conductor having a contact portion extending in a first direction of the center axis and surrounded by the tubular portion, and an insulator provided between the central conductor and the outer conductor to form an integrated structure and insulate the central conductor from the outer conductor. The central conductor has a central-conductor drawing portion extending outboard of the tubular portion in a second direction perpendicular to the center axis and plural members projecting outward about the center axis in said second direction.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, a receptacle for coaxial connector includes an outer conductor having a tubular portion with a center axis, a central conductor having a contact portion extending in a first direction of the center axis and surrounded by the tubular portion, and an insulator provided between the central conductor and the outer conductor to form an integrated structure and insulate the central conductor from the outer conductor. The central conductor has a central-conductor drawing portion extending outboard of the tubular portion in a second direction perpendicular to the center axis, and plural through-holes in a portion surrounding the contact portion with the insulator provided in the through-holes.

These structures increase a contact area of the central conductor with the insulator, so that the central conductor can be prevented from coming off from the insulator.

Accordingly, a receptacle for coaxial connector can be constructed small and short in height with a high mechanical strength.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A configuration of a receptacle for coaxial connector according to a first exemplary embodiment is described with reference toFIGS. 2 to 5.

FIGS. 2A to 2Bare cross-sectional views of a receptacle for coaxial connector (hereinafter, simply referred to as a receptacle)101and a plug for coaxial connector (hereinafter, simply referred to as a plug)110to be attached to or detached from the same.FIG. 2Ashows a state where the receptacle101and the plug110are separated, andFIG. 2Bshows a state where they are attached.

The receptacle101includes an outer conductor40having a tubular portion41, a central conductor501having a contact portion51extending in an axis direction in an internal space of the tubular portion41of the outer conductor40, and an insulator61holding the outer conductor40and the central conductor501in an insulating state.

The central conductor501includes a central-conductor drawing portion52, which is drawn out in a direction perpendicular to an axis (shown as an alternating long and short dash line) direction of the tubular portion of the outer conductor40. Moreover, the outer conductor40includes an outer-conductor overhanging portion42, which overhangs outward from a bottom of the tubular portion41in directions perpendicular to the axis direction of the tubular portion41of the outer conductor40except for (so as to avoid) a position through which the central-conductor drawing portion52passes.

As will be described later, an overhanging region extending in the perpendicular directions from the tubular portion41of the outer conductor40includes a region where an insulator overhanging portion of the insulator61exists, and a region where the outer-conductor overhanging portions42exists when seen in a thickness direction. A thickness dimension tb of the insulator overhanging portion and a thickness dimension to of the outer-conductor overhanging portion42are almost the same.

Also, a thickness dimension of a section of the central-conductor drawing portion52including a thickness of the insulator is the same as the thickness dimension tb of the insulator overhanging portion.

The plug110includes an outer conductor71and an inner conductor81, and in the state where the plug110is attached to the receptacle101as shown inFIG. 2B, the outer conductor71of the plug110comes into contact with the tubular portion41of the outer conductor40of the receptacle101, and the inner conductor81of the plug110comes into contact with the contact portion51of the central conductor501of the receptacle101.

As shown inFIG. 2A, a groove S is formed in an outer circumferential surface of the tubular portion41of the outer conductor40, and a protruded portion P is formed in an inner circumferential surface of the outer conductor71of the plug110, respectively, so that both are engaged.

In this manner, since the thickness dimension tb of the overhanging portion of the insulator61is almost equal to the thickness dimension to of the outer-conductor overhanging portion42and the section of the central-conductor drawing portion52, a distance between a lower end surface of the outer conductor71of the plug110, and upper surfaces of the outer-conductor overhanging portion42and the section of the central-conductor drawing portion52of the receptacle110can be sufficiently ensured.

FIGS. 3A to 3Dare views showing a configuration of the receptacle101,FIG. 3Abeing an exploded perspective view of the receptacle,FIG. 3Bbeing a perspective view of the whole receptacle101,FIG. 3Cbeing a cross-sectional view of the receptacle101, going through a center in a lateral direction of the central conductor501(along a straight line X-X inFIG. 3B), andFIG. 3Dbeing a cross-sectional view of the receptacle101, going through a center in a longitudinal direction of the central conductor501(along a straight line Y-Y inFIG. 3B).

As shown inFIG. 3A, the outer conductor40includes the tubular portion41, and outer-conductor overhanging portions42a,42band42coverhanging outward from the bottom of the tubular portion41in a surface direction perpendicular to the axis direction of this tubular portion41. Moreover, the central conductor501includes the contact portion51extending in the axis direction in the internal space of the tubular portion41of the outer conductor40, and the central-conductor drawing portion52, which is drawn out in the direction perpendicular to the axis direction of the tubular portion41of the outer conductor40.

The outer-conductor overhanging portions42a,42b,42cof the outer conductor40are formed except for (so as to avoid) the position through which the central-conductor drawing portion52passes.

The insulator61has a shape that holds the outer conductor40and the central conductor501in an insulating state by resin molding, and has the insulator overhanging portion in a region where the outer-conductor overhanging portions42a,42b,42cdo not exist. Moreover, the insulator overhanging portion partially covers the central conductor drawing portion52.

As shown inFIG. 3B, the overhanging region (substantially square) extending in the perpendicular directions from the tubular portion41of the outer conductor40includes the region where only the insulator overhanging portion of the insulator61exists, and the region where only the outer-conductor overhanging portions42a,42b,42cexist when seen in the thickness direction. That is, on the upper surfaces of the outer-conductor overhanging portions42a,42b,42c, the insulator is not arranged. Accordingly, the thickness of the insulating overhanging portion of the insulator61and the thickness of the outer-conductor overhanging portions42a,42b,42care almost the same.

The above-described structure can reduce a height from a bottom surface of the receptacle to the upper surface of the insulator overhanging portion, thereby decreasing the thickness of the overhanging region, which dominates the outer shape of the receptacle. For example, while in the conventional structure shown inFIG. 1, a height dimension of the receptacle is 0.27 mm, it can be reduced to 0.12 mm according to this embodiment. With this, the outer shape of the product can be made small and short in height.

Moreover, a cavity needs to be formed in the conventional structure by working in order to mold the resin on an upper surface of a terminal. By contrast, a shape of the insulator (resin) in embodiments consistent with the claimed invention is simple, which can cut a manufacturing cost of a metal mold.

Furthermore, the resin is molded in the conventional structure on the upper surface of the terminal, resulting in complicated resin flow. In embodiments consistent with the claimed invention, the shape of the insulator (resin) is simple, which makes it difficult to cause defective molding (short shot) by entangled air or the like.

As shown inFIG. 2, a thickness dimension tc of the insulator61inside the outer-conductor tubular portion41is larger than the thickness dimension tb of the insulator61in a region outside the outer-conductor tubular portion41. This increases integration strength of the insulator61and the central conductor501.

FIG. 4is a front view when seen from a drawing direction of the central-conductor drawing portion52. As shownFIG. 4, there are provided taper portions TP1in which a cross-sectional shape of border portions between the insulator61and the outer-conductor overhanging portions42a,42bis a shape tapered from the upper surfaces of the outer-conductor overhanging portions42ato lower surfaces thereof,42b. This shape is similar in a relationship between the outer-conductor overhanging portion42cand the insulator61shown inFIGS. 3A to 3D.

Moreover, there are also provided taper portions TP2in which a cross-sectional shape of border portions between the insulator61and the center-conductor drawing portion52is a shape tapered from a lower surface of the central-conductor drawing portion52to an upper surface thereof.

The above-described structure allows the central-conductor drawing portion52to be locked with the insulator61, thereby preventing the central-conductor drawing portion52from coming off from the insulator61in a bottom surface direction. Similarly, the insulator61is locked with the outer-conductor overhanging portions42a,42b, thereby preventing the insulator61from coming off in the bottom surface direction. It is true of the outer-conductor overhanging portion42cin the center.

FIG. 5Ais a top view of the central conductor501,FIG. 5Bis a front view of the same,FIG. 5Cis a cross-sectional view along a straight line X-X shown inFIG. 5A,FIG. 5Dis a right side view of the same, andFIG. 5Eis a cross-sectional view along a straight line Y-Y shown inFIG. 5A.

The central conductor501has wing-like projected portions54a,54b,54cin planar view of the central conductor501in a region other than the central-conductor drawing portion52.

The above-described structure increases a contact area of the central conductor501with the insulator61, thereby enhancing an anchor effect to surely prevent the central conductor501from coming off from the insulator61.

Moreover, the projected portions54a,54cof the central conductor501each have terminal ends warped upward. Furthermore, in a terminal end portion of the projected portion54b, there is provided a taper portion TP3in which a cross-sectional shape of a border portion with the insulator61is a tapered shape from a lower surface to an upper surface. Thus, even if a downward stress is applied to the central conductor501, the projected portions54a,54care surely locked with the insulator61. Thus, the central conductor501can be surely prevented from coming off downward.

Furthermore, since the projected portions54a,54b,54cand the insulator61are engaged, displacement in a rotational direction with the contact portion51of the central conductor501serving as a central axis is hardly caused. When the plug is separated from the receptacle, even if the plug is separated while rotating the same, the central conductor501can be prevented from being separated from the insulator61.

Since the warped shape of the projected portions54a,54cis formed by bending work, the thickness is constant. As a result, the strength of these portions that come into a contact with, and are engaged with the insulator, is not decreased.

The structure described above can prevent the central conductor501and the insulator61from coming off from the outer conductor40by the stress when the plug110shown inFIGS. 2A and 2Bis attached.

Embodiments of the outer conductor40and the central conductor501do not need to be formed into complicated shapes (embossed shapes) in order to prevent the slip-off of the central conductor from the insulator and the slip-off of the insulator from the outer terminal at the time of plug insertion, and thus the end surfaces of the outer-conductor overhanging portions42, the central-conductor drawing portion52, and the wing-like projected portions54a,54b,54ccan be easily molded by press molding such as coining process, swaging process, side force process and the like.

FIG. 6is a top view of a central conductor502including a receptacle according to a second exemplary embodiment.

The central conductor502includes the contact portion51extending in the axis direction in the internal space of the tubular portion of the outer conductor (not shown inFIG. 6), and the central-conductor drawing portion52is drawn out in the direction perpendicular to the axis direction of the tubular portion of the outer conductor.

Moreover, the central conductor502has wing-like projected portions55a,55bin planar view of the central conductor502in the region other than the central-conductor drawing portion52. The wing-like projected portions55a,55bare each formed into a battledore shape, whose terminal end expands.

The other configurations are similar to those described in the first exemplary embodiment.

The above-described structure increases a contact area of the central conductor502with the insulator, so that the central conductor502can be surely prevented from coming off and being separated from the insulator.

FIG. 7is a top view of a central conductor503included by a receptacle according to a third exemplary embodiment.

The central conductor503includes the contact portion51extending in the axis direction in the internal space of the tubular portion of the outer conductor (not shown inFIG. 7), and the central-conductor drawing portion52is drawn out in the direction perpendicular to the axis direction of the tubular portion of the outer conductor.

Moreover, the central conductor503has wing-like projected portions56a,56b,56c,56d,56e,56f, and56gprovided in a substantially radial arrangement in planar view of the central conductor503in the region other than the central-conductor drawing portion52.

The other configurations are similar to those described in the first exemplary embodiment.

The above-described structure increases a contact area of the central conductor503with the insulator, so that the central conductor503can be surely prevented from coming off and being separated from the insulator.

FIGS. 8A,8B are top views of respective central conductors504A,504B included by a receptacle according to a fourth exemplary embodiment.

The central conductors504A,504B shown inFIGS. 8A,8B each include the contact portion51extending in the axis direction in the internal space of the tubular portion of the outer conductor (not shown inFIGS. 8A and 8B), and the central-conductor drawing portion52is drawn out in the direction perpendicular to the axis direction of the tubular portion of the outer conductor.

Moreover, the central conductors504A,504B each have wing-like projected portions57a,57bin planar view of the central conductors504A,504B in the region other than the central-conductor drawing portion52.

In each of the projected portions57a,57bof the central conductor504A, circular through-holes SH are formed. In each the projected portions57a,57bof the central conductor504B, triangular through-holes SH are formed.

The other configurations are similar to those described in the first exemplary embodiment.

Since in the above-described configurations, the insulator (resin) is filled into the through-holes SH, inner surfaces of the through-holes SH act effectively, and thus, contact areas between the central conductors504A,504B and the insulators are increased, so that the central conductors504A,504B can be surely prevented from coming off and being separated from the insulators.

FIG. 9is a top view of a central conductor505included by a receptacle according to a fifth exemplary embodiment.

The central conductor505shown inFIG. 9includes the contact portion51extending in the axis direction in the internal space of the tubular portion of the outer conductor, and the central-conductor drawing portion52(not shown inFIG. 9) is drawn out in the direction perpendicular to the axis direction of the tubular portion of the outer conductor. In a flange-like portion around the contact portion51, a plurality of through-holes SH are arranged radially.

The other configurations are similar to those described in the first exemplary embodiment.

Since in the above-described configuration, the insulator (resin) is filled into the through-holes SH, inner surfaces of the through-holes SH act effectively, and thus the contact area between the central conductor505and the insulator is increased. Accordingly, the central conductor505can be prevented from coming off and being separated from the insulator.

FIG. 10is a top view of a central conductor506included by a receptacle according to a sixth exemplary embodiment.

The central conductor506includes the contact portion51extending in the axis direction in the internal space of the tubular portion of the outer conductor (not shown inFIG. 10), and the central-conductor drawing portion52is drawn out in the direction perpendicular to the axis direction of the tubular portion of the outer conductor.

Moreover, the central conductor506has projected sites58a,58b, which are projected in a radial direction outward from the center of the central conductor, and a non-projected site Vo in planar view of the central conductor506in the region other than the central-conductor drawing portion52.

The other configurations are similar to those described in the first exemplary embodiment.

The through-holes as shown in the fourth exemplary embodiment or in the fifth exemplary embodiment can be formed in the projected sites58a,58b.

The above-described configuration increases a contact area of the central conductor506with the insulator, so that the central conductor506can be prevented from coming off and being separated from the insulator.

As shown in this sixth exemplary embodiment, the projected portions are not necessarily wing-like, but provision of a site projected in the radial direction and a non-projected site in planar view of the central conductor can be sufficient.