Capacitive coupled connector

Abstract: A capacitive coupled connector (1) comprises, an insulative dielectric skirt section (25), a conductive shell (2) within the insulative body (25), an insulative dielectric liner section (26) within the conductive shell (2), a conductive contact (4) extending within the liner section (26), and a conductive clip (5) retaining capacitor elements (46 and 47) in pressure contact with the shell (2), and an insulative outer skirt section (25) and the insulative dielectric liner section (26) form a complex insulative body (3) having interconnecting sections (27 and 28) through apertures (23 and 24) in the shell (2).

Description: The invention relates to an electrical connector for connection to a conductive panel, the connector providing a capacitive coupling to the panel and a voltage discharge path. U.S. Patent 4,884,982 discloses a capacitive coupling including a conductive clip adapted to the outer profile of an electrical connector and providing a capacitive coupling with multiple conduction paths through capacitor elements held by the clip in pressure engagement with a conductive shell of the connector; the clip further providing a voltage discharge path between the clip and the shell. The connector with the capacitive coupling feature is easily substituted for the standard connector for use in an allotted confined space. The conductive clip is inset along the outer limits of the outer profile of the connector. The clip holds the electrical capacitor elements in pressure engagement against the conductive shell of the connector to provide capacitive coupling of the shell and an external conductive panel contacting the connector. The clip exerts a spring force to maintain pressure engagement of the capacitor elements against the shell. The clip further provides a voltage discharge path between the clip and the shell. U.S. Patent 3,932,020 discloses a connector having concentric conductor elements which are accurately anchored within a dielectric molding as part of the molding process. The present invention relates to a connector having a capacitive coupling feature, being adapted to be mounted with a metal chassis or housing over the connector, and having means to ground the connector to the chassis. An objective of the present invention is to provide a connector having a complex insulative body which may be manufactured more economically than capacitive connectors currently known. The present invention provides a capacitive coupled electrical connector as set forth in claim 1. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. According to the invention, a capacitive coupled electrical connector includes an insulative dielectric outer skirt encircling a conductive shell, and a complex insulative body. A method of manufacturing the complex insulative body is to form the body by injection molding in situ with the conductive shell of the connector. For an easier understanding of the invention reference will now be made by way of example to the following description and accompanying drawings. According to the drawings; FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a connector adapted for providing a capacitive coupling to a panel; FIGURE 1A is a perspective view of the conductive clip of the connector; FIGURE 2 is a section view of the connector taken along the line A-A of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the conductive shell disassembled from the connector of Figure 1; FIGURE 4 is a section view of the shell of Figure 3, taken along the line B-B; FIGURES 5 and 6 are perspective views of the combined insulative body and conductive shell, only, of the connector of Figure 1, along lines 90 degrees apart; FIGURE 7 is a section view of the connector of Figure 1 during assembly. With reference to Figures 1 and 2 is shown an electrical connector 1 for connection to a conductive panel. The connector 1 comprises a conductive shell 2, a complex insulative body 3, a conductive contact 4, and a conductive clip 5. Referring to Figures 1 through 7, conductive shell 2 has a substantially cylindrical-shaped body with upper cylindrical section 6 and beveled upper lip 7, lower cylindrical section 8 of smaller outer diameter which in connection one to another, forms outer shoulder 9 and inner shoulder 10. Shell 2 is characterized by axial bore 11 with upper disconnect coupling chamber 12 and lower chamber 13 of smaller inner diameter than that of upper chamber 12 and with annular flange 14 meeting base 15 which is a round platform 16 with a plurality of integral conductive posts 17,18,19 and 20. The outer profile of connector 1 is characterized by cavities 21 and 22 formed within insulative body 3. Of particular significance with regard to the structure of shell 2 are apertures 23 and 24 through the wall of lower cylindrical section 8, which apertures 23 and 24 permit formation of complex insulative body 3, in accord with the present invention, and as hereinafter described. As particularly shown in Figures 5 and 6, insulative body 3 is characterized as a complex body in that it consists of a composite of interconnected sections, particularly, insulative dielectric outer skirt section 25, insulative dielectric liner section 26, and interconnecting sections 27 and 28, residing within the reticulate structure created by apertures 23 and 24 within conductive shell 2. Skirt section 25 has cavities 21 and 22 to receive capacitor elements 44 and 45, as hereinafter described. Liner section 26 extends within the axial stepped bore 11 concentrically of the shell 2. Lower portion 29 has stepped profile forming annular shoulder 30 engaging the front facing of annular flange 14. Forward portion 31 of the liner section 26 is of reduced diameter and projects concentrically into the disconnect coupling chamber 12 of shell 2. Conductive electrical contact 4, known as a center contact, extends coaxially within the liner along passageway 32, secured therein by the imposition of barbs 35,36,37 and 38 against the walls of passageway 32. The contact is of unitary construction stamped from a metal strip and formed into the shape of a fork. The fork tines 39 and 40 of contact 4 are resilient and terminate with jaws 41 and 42, with beveled leading edges 43 and 44 so designed to receive and retain a pluggable contact of a complementary electrical coupler. Contact 4 terminates in an elongated flat handle 45 of the fork shape for projecting through the housing of electrical equipment for establishing electrical contact. Connector 1 is adapted with a conductive clip 5 and multiple capacitor elements 46 and 47 to provide a capacitive coupling of the shell 2 with a conductive panel. As disclosed by U.S. Patent 4,884,982, the capacitive coupling will discharge a voltage from shell 2 to the conductive panel and will allow a voltage of the shell to be capacitive coupled with a corresponding voltage of the panel. According to Figures 1 and 1A, the clip 5 is fabricated from a stamped and formed unitary metal strip of relatively thin thickness. The clip 5 is an annular disc 48, fitting concentrically to conductive shell 2, resting on skirt section 25 of complex insulative body 3 and snapped in place by tabs 33 and 34 of insulative body 3. Helical arms 49,50,51 and 52, distributed along disc 48 and longitudinally thereto, extend from the disc 48, terminating with Hertz dots 53,54,55 and 56 to engage the panel and to establish conductive paths thereto. Beams 57 and 58, integral to the structure of the clip 5, extend from two sides, bending downward and folded back to form U-shaped sections 59 and 60, resilient, to provide biasing surfaces 61 and 62. The U-shaped sections 59 and 60 are inset with receptacles 29 and 30 of insulative body 3 to engage and hold capacitor elements 46 and 47. Clip 5 exerts a spring force to maintain pressure engagement of each corresponding capacitor element 44 and 45 within the shell 2 and with clip 5. With particular reference to Figures 5, 6 and 7, an aspect of the present invention relates to a method for assembling the connector 1. Conductive center contact 4 is inserted into receiving passageway 32 within the dielectric liner section 26 of the complex insulative body 3. Capacitive elements 46 and 47 are inserted within cavities 21 and 22 of the outer profile of the shell 2. The shell 2 is encircled with the conductive clip 5 and the capacitor elements 46 and 47 are secured within the cavities 21 and 22 by the compression of biasing surfaces 61 and 62. Characteristic of the method is that the insulative dielectric outer skirt section 25 and the insulative dielectric line section 26 are simultaneously molded together, in situ or in place with the conductive shell 2 and through the apertures 23 and 24, of the shell 2 to produce the combination of the unitary complex insulative body 3 formed from the skirt section 25, liner section 26 and interconnecting dielectric sections 27 and 28, reticulated within the structure of shell 2.

Claims: A capacitive coupled electrical connector for mounting to a conductive panel, comprising: an insulative outer skirt section (25), a conductive shell (2) within the skirt section (25) and having a cylindrical wall (6), an insulative liner section (26) within the conductive shell (2), a conductive contact (4) extending coaxially within the liner section (26), electrical capacitor elements (46,47) inset within the outer profile of the connector, a conductive clip (5) retaining the capacitor elements (46,47) in pressure contact with the shell, and contact surfaces of the clip establishing a capacitive electrical coupling of the shell and the panel, characterized in that; the conductive shell (2) has apertures (23,24) through its cylindrical wall (6), and the liner section (26) has sections (27,28) extending through the apertures (23,24) in the cylindrical wall (6) interconnecting the skirt section (25) and the liner section (26) as a unitary body. The electrical connector of claim 1, characterized in that; the conductive clip (5) is an annular disc residing on the skirt section (25) and encircling the conductive shell (2). The electrical connector of claim 2, characterized in that; the clip (5) is an annular disc having helical arms (49,50,51,52) circumferential to the disc and with clip fingers (59,60) retaining the capacitor elements (46,47) in pressure contact with said shell (2). The electrical connector of claim 3, characterized in that; the clip fingers (59,60) are folded back. The electrical connector of claim 3 or 4, wherein each helical arm terminates with a hertz dot to provide single point contact for a conductive path to the conductive panel. The electrical connector of claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that; the skirt section (25) and the liner section (26) are molded within the shell (6) and through the apertures (23,24) of the shell (6).

Inventors: CAPP RANDOLPH ERIC, SMITH TRACY LEE, CAPP, RANDOLPH ERIC, SMITH, TRACY LEE
Applicants: WHITAKER CORP, THE WHITAKER CORPORATION
Application year: 1991
Main classification: H01R17
IPC codes: H01R13, H01R24