Connector with surface mount signal pin

In various embodiments, a coaxial radio frequency (RF) connector has a circuit board surface mount signal pin that forms no sharp angles (and especially no sharp right angles) as it leads down from an axis of the connector to the level of a printed circuit board 44 to which the signal pin 18 is to be surface mounted. The signal pin is flat and has a first section, a second section and a third section. The first section extends axially from the first end of the signal pin housing. The second section is a transition from the first section to the third section and has a filleted interior corner and a corresponding rounded exterior corner providing a gradual transition between a direction in which the first section extends to a different direction in which the third section extends. The third section then forms a downward curve around an axis that is substantially parallel to an axis of the first section.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The technical field relates to electrical connectors, and more particularly to electrical connectors for cables.

Signal integrity, flexibility and resilience of electrical connectors mounted on printed circuit boards is important for the performance of electronic equipment including such connectors.

Shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2is an example of a traditional surface mount radio frequency (RF) coaxial connector2. The signal pin4extends from the connector housing6and then angles sharply down to the level of a printed circuit board8to which the signal pin4is to be surface mounted. Signal integrity and flexibility is compromised by the shape and design of the traditional signal pin4shown.

Thus, a surface mount RF coaxial connector is needed that provides improved signal integrity, flexibility and resilience in manufacturing, installation and use of the connector.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a coaxial RF connector has a circuit board surface mount signal pin that forms no sharp angles (and especially no sharp right angles) as it leads down from an axis of the connector to the level of a printed circuit board44to which the signal pin18is to be surface mounted. The signal pin has a first section, a second section and a third section. The first section extends axially from the first end of the signal pin housing and the second section is a transition from the first section to the third section. The third section then forms a curve around an axis that is substantially parallel to an axis of the first section.

A receiving device including a printed circuit board and a radio frequency connector as described above conductively affixed to the printed circuit board is provided.

A circuit board surface mount signal pin as described above for a radio frequency connector is also provided.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Shown inFIG. 3is a top right perspective view of a connector10with a surface mount signal pin18according to one example embodiment. The connector10is an electrical connector designed to work at radio frequencies in the multi-megahertz range. For example, the connector10may be a coaxial radio frequency (RF) connector configured to operably connect to a coaxial cable. In particular, the coaxial RF connector10shown inFIG. 3is an F connector configured to be surface mounted on a printed circuit board44(shown inFIG. 8) at a contact26of the signal pin18. This enables a coaxial cable to be operably connected to the printed circuit board44to provide a high speed signal connection to the printed circuit board44by operably connecting the coaxial cable at an opposite female or male end of the connector10. In one embodiment, the connector10provides electrical performance at approximately 75 ohms impedance, which may vary in other embodiments according to particular applications, requirements and standards.

The signal pin18forms no sharp angles (and especially no sharp right angles) as it leads down to the level of a printed circuit board44(shown inFIG. 8) to which the signal pin18is to be surface mounted. This improves signal characteristics of the signal pin18contact material as compared to signal pins of traditional connectors. The downwardly curved or arched section24also improves flexibility and resiliency during manufacturing of the connector10, during the installation of the connector in devices of which the connector10is a part, and also during the connection of an external coaxial cable to the connector10. For example, torque applied to the connector10during installation or during connection of an exterior cable to the connector10is better absorbed by the curved or arched section24than in traditional connectors.

The connector10has a housing13including a threaded barrel12which has an opening on a proximal end through which the signal pin18extends. A shoulder nut14may be fixedly or rotatably attached to the proximal end of the threaded barrel12. The shoulder nut14may also have a circular flange or collar16surrounding the opening. To provide additional stability and/or RF shielding of the connector10when mounted on the printed circuit board44(shown inFIG. 8), the shoulder nut14and collar16assembly may enable the connector10to be coupled to an additional bracket or RF shield fence (not shown) to be attached to the printed circuit board44. For example, the connector10may be coupled to the bracket or RF shield fence at a hole in the side of the bracket or RF shield fence through which the collar16extends.

The particular configurations and features of the barrel12, shoulder nut14and collar16may vary according to the particular applications, uses and environments in which the connector10is used. For example, in other embodiments, the barrel12may have no threading, or the shoulder nut14and/or collar16may be omitted. The configurations of the barrel12, shoulder nut14and collar16may vary in order to comply with various industry standards, performance requirements and different types of connections, printed circuit boards and brackets with which the connector10is to be used.

The signal pin18is made of a conductive material. For example, the conductive material may be copper, phosphor bronze, aluminum or any other conductive metal or material. The signal pin18has a first section20, a second section22and a third section24and is and is operably mounted within the barrel12. The first section20extends axially from the proximal end of the signal pin housing13that is surrounded by the collar16. The second section22is a transition from the first section20to the third section24and the third section24is curved or arched in a downward direction. In one embodiment, the first section20, second section22and third section24are formed integral with each other. However, in other embodiments, one or more of the sections may be affixed to each other in various conductive manners.

Referring next toFIG. 4, shown is a top left perspective view of the connector10according to one example embodiment. Note the signal pin18is flat (i.e., its width is greater than its thickness) and the first section20and second section22of the signal pin18share a common planar surface. The edges of the signal pin extending along the planar surface are straight in the first section20, but are then curved in the second section22to form a filleted interior corner34in the second section22and a corresponding rounded exterior corner32in the second section22as a transition between a direction in which the first section20extends to a different direction in which the third section24extends, thus avoiding forming sharp angles in the second section22and providing a gradual transition from the first section20to the third section24.

As shown inFIG. 4, the second section22of the signal pin18curves laterally in a first direction within the common planar surface of the first section20and second section22. The third section24then begins to curve downward in a clockwise direction below the common planar surface of the first section20and second section22. However, in other embodiments the second section22of the signal pin18may curve laterally in the opposite direction as that shown inFIG. 4and thus, the third section24having the curved or arched shape would instead extend generally downward in a counterclockwise direction.

The width28of the signal pin18at the first section20is larger than the width30of the signal pin18at the third section24. Note, however, the width of the signal pin18at the second section22gradually transitions from the width28of the signal pin18at the first section20to the width30of the signal pin18at the third section24to avoid forming any sharp angles in the transition. In one embodiment, the width28of the signal pin18at the first section20is 2.1 mm and the width30of the signal pin at the third section24is 1 mm, but these widths may vary in other embodiments according to different particular applications, performance requirements and standards.

The third section24has a subsection26at the end of the third section24. The subsection26is a contact that has a planar surface substantially parallel to a planar surface of the printed circuit board44(shown inFIG. 8) to which the signal pin18is to be surface mounted by soldering or otherwise conductively affixed.

Referring next toFIG. 5, shown is a front elevation view of the connector10according to one example embodiment. InFIG. 5, the thickness38of the signal pin18may be seen clearly. The thickness38of the signal pin18is substantially the same in each section of the signal pin18. In one embodiment, the thickness38is 0.25 mm, but the thickness38may vary in other embodiments according to different particular applications, performance requirements and standards.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 5, the curved or arched third section24has a circular arc with a radius36of approximately half the distance between the bottom planar surface of the second section22of the signal pin18and a top planar surface of the printed circuit board44(shown inFIG. 8) on which the connector10is to be surface mounted. Thus, the arc radius36may vary as a function of the vertical distance between the second section22of the signal pin18and a top planar surface of the printed circuit board44on which the connector10is to be surface mounted. For example, a larger distance between the second section22of the signal pin18and a top planar surface of the printed circuit board44would result in a larger radius36. In other alternative embodiments, the arc of the curved or arched third section24may have a parabolic, elliptical or other curved or compound curved shape such that there are also no sharp angles formed in the signal pin18as the signal pin18leads down to the level of a printed circuit board44to which it is to be surface mounted.

Note the signal pin contact26has a planar surface substantially parallel to a top planar surface of the printed circuit board44and is at a level slightly lower (e.g., 0.25 mm lower) than the lower surface of the shoulder nut14. However, in other embodiments, the signal pin contact26may be at the same level or different level than the lower surface of the shoulder nut14so long as some clearance is provided between the printed circuit board44to which the connector10is to be mounted and the lower surface of the shoulder nut14should the printed circuit board44extend that far. In one embodiment, the signal pin contact26has a tip with a length52of 0.5 mm and a total length54of 2.8 mm. The signal pin contact26is substantially parallel to the top planar surface of the printed circuit board44. The signal pin contact tip length52and total length54may both vary in other embodiments according to particular applications, requirements and standards, including, among others, those of particular printed circuit boards or solder pads.

Referring next to bothFIG. 6andFIG. 7, shown are a top plan view and a bottom plan view, respectively, of the connector10according to one example embodiment. As can be seen clearly inFIG. 6, the arc of the filleted interior corner34has a radius smaller than the radius of the arc of the rounded exterior corner34. In one embodiment, the arc of the filleted interior corner34has a radius that is equal to or larger than approximately half the width30of the curved third section24of the signal pin18and the arc of the rounded exterior corner32has a radius that is equal to or larger than approximately half the width28of the first section20of the signal pin18. However, the arc of the filleted interior corner34and the arc of the rounded exterior corner32may vary in other embodiments to the extent that there are no sharp angles formed in signal pin18in the second section22providing a gradual transition from the first section20to the third section24.

Also shown is an axis40of the connector10and a parallel axis42around which the third section24of the signal pin18curves. Parallel axis42around which the third section24of the signal pin18curves is in a different vertical plane than the connector axis40. In one embodiment the total length50of the connector10from the distal end of the connector10to the centerline of the signal pin18is 22.4 mm, but may vary in other embodiments depending on the width30of the curved third section24of the signal pin18and according to particular applications, requirements and standards, including, among others, those of particular printed circuit boards.

In another embodiment, the axis around which the third section24of the signal pin18curves may be perpendicular to the connector axis40. In this embodiment, the signal pin18extends axially from the housing13in both the first section20and the second section22and then curves downward to the level of a printed circuit board to which the signal pin18will be affixed.

Referring next toFIG. 8, shown is a top right perspective view of the connector10surface mounted on a printed circuit board44. In one embodiment, the connector10is conductively and operably affixed to a planar surface of the printed circuit board44at solder pad46. In other alternative embodiments, the connector10may be conductively and operably affixed to the printed circuit board44in other manners such as by through holes in the printed circuit board44.

To provide additional stability and/or RF shielding of the connector10when mounted on the printed circuit board44, the shoulder nut14and collar16assembly may enable the connector10to be coupled to an additional bracket or RF shield fence (not shown) to be attached to the printed circuit board44. For example, the connector10may be coupled to the bracket or RF shield fence at a hole in the side of the bracket or RF shield fence through which the collar16extends.

An assembly including the connector10and printed circuit board44may be operably included in various electronic devices and communication devices including, but not limited to receiving devices, set-top boxes, televisions, home electronics, computers, satellite equipment, network equipment and any other device to which a cable may be connected.

While various embodiments have been described hereinabove, it is to be appreciated that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention(s) presently or hereafter claimed.