Abstract:
To attain the advantages of and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, a connector for an antenna is provided. The connector comprises a nut, insulator, contact pin, sleeve, and a captive housing. The connector is such that the housing can be positioned and angled relatively to a radio frequency device as desired and then locked in place by tightening the nut (or interface) on the device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to antennas and, more particularly, a connector to attach antennas to devices.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Many antennas today are externally connected to a device. These conventional connectors are typically free spinning and held in place by a washer and adaptor. The adaptor is snapped into the housing. As those of skill in the art know, the conventional connector is expensive and difficult to manufacture, assemble, and use. Thus, it would be desirous to provide an improved antenna connector.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     To attain the advantages of and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, a connector for an antenna is provided. The connector comprises a nut, insulator, contact pin, sleeve, and a captive housing.  
         [0004]     The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0005]     The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an antenna having a connector consistent with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section of the antenna shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a blow up of the cross-section of the connector portion of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of  FIG. 3 ; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  shows a cross-section of a sleeve and an insulator for  FIGS. 3 and 4  in more detail. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]     The present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.  1  to  5 . While the present invention is described with reference to a conventional antenna, one of ordinary skill in the art would now recognize many antenna designs could be used with the present connector including, for example, a dipole antenna, a multi-band PCB antenna, a planar antenna (directional or omni-directional), or the like. Generally, the connector is useful with an elbow style, such as, when a 90 degree connection is necessary or desired, although the connector is useful with any angle of connection.  
         [0012]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an antenna  100  consistent with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Antenna  100  includes a radiating portion  102  and a connector portion  104 . Antenna  100  includes an elbow  106  between radiating portion  102  and connector portion  104 . While elbow  106  is shown at an angle A of 90 degrees, other angles are of course possible ranging from zero degrees to a radiating portion  102  bent back over connector portion  104  or an angle about 180 degrees.  
         [0013]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a cross-section of antenna  100  including radiating portion  102 , connector portion  104 , and elbow  106  is shown in more detail. Antenna  100  includes a housing  202  about radiating portion  102 , elbow  106 , and connector portion  104 . Radiating portion  102  includes housing  202 , a coaxial cable  204 , and a counterpoise  206 . Coaxial cable  204  includes at least an outer jacket  208  and a central conductor  210 . Coaxial cable  204  may be held in place by brackets  212  placed in housing  202 .  
         [0014]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an enlarged cross-section of connector  104  is shown.  FIG. 4  is consistent with  FIG. 3 , but shown in an exploded view for ease of reference. Connector  104  comprises a portion of housing  202 . Housing  202  has an inner surface  302  and an outer surface  304 . Housing  202  has an opening  306  defined by an inner surface edge  308  and an outer surface edge  310 . Extending from inner surface edge  308  is a recess  312 . Recess  312  extends a distance d 1  to a protrusion  314  having a recess side  316  and a channel side  318  opposite recess side  316 . Recess side  316  and channel side  318  are a distance d 2  apart. A channel  320  resides substantially adjacent channel side  318  of protrusion  314 . Channel  320  has a width d 3 . While the present invention refers to channels and protrusions, other types of engaging elements could be used, such as, for example, grooves, ribs, bearing surfaces, or the like.  
         [0015]     Connector  104  also includes a RP-SMA interface  300  having a proximate end  322  that fits in opening  306  and a distal end  324  that is connectable to an RF device, such as, a wireless gateway. Although shown with threads  326 , the interface  300  could be any desired RF connector interface, as one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize on reading the disclosure. Proximate end  322  has an opening  328  defined by a proximate end edge  330 . Proximate end  322  also has an inner wall  332  and an outer wall  334 . Outer wall  334  has a first protrusion  336  substantially adjacent edge  330  and a second protrusion  338  a distance d 2  from first protrusion  336 . First protrusion  336  has a width d 3 , corresponding to channel  320 . First protrusion  336  and second protrusion  338  define a proximate end channel  340 . As can be seen from  FIG. 3 , first protrusion  336  resides in channel  320 , protrusion  314  resides in channel  340 , and second protrusion  338  resides in recess  312 .  
         [0016]     As arranged, interface  300  can freely rotate in housing  202 . The rotation is guided by the above identified protrusions, channels, and recess. When locked, a frictional engagement is formed between housing  202 , the ribs, and channels to inhibit rotation, as will be explained in more detail below.  
         [0017]     As best seen in  FIG. 4 , the radiating element is connected to an inner sleeve  402  that resides within connector portion  104 . In the case of the coaxial radiating element, outer jacket  208  is connected to sleeve  402 . Central conductor  210  extends through an insulator  404  separating conductor  210  from sleeve  402 . While the connection between outer jacket  208  and sleeve  402  can be made using a number of conventional techniques, it is envisioned that braids  208   b  of the outer jacket  208  would be frictionally engaged between the abutment of sleeve  402  and insulator  404 . Further, a central conductor  210  would be crimped to a conducting pin  406  at proximate end  408  and extend through insulating material  404 . While not shown, conducting pin  406  would be designed to attach to a corresponding connector on the device (not shown) at a distal end  410  thereof.  
         [0018]     Sleeve  402  also has a terminating edge  416  at a distal end  418  thereof. Terminating edge  416  is positioned such that terminating edge  416  engages lip L when the connector is assembled. As best seen in  FIG. 5 , at least one dimple  436 , divot, groove, or the like is formed on sleeve  402  and insulator  404 . The at least one dimple  436  engages at least one protrusion  356  on inner surface  302 . Protrusion  356  engages dimple  436  so that sleeve  402 , insulator  404 , and housing  202  cannot rotate with respect to each other. Further, pin  410  connected to insulator  404  cannot rotate with respect to insulator  404  and cannot, therefore, rotate with respect to housing  202  either. Thus, when RP-SMA interface  300  rotates, as explained below, antenna is not strained, twisted, or the like.  
         [0019]     When unconnected to a device, interface  300  spins as described above. When tightened onto a device, such as a wireless gateway, force is applied to insulator  404  and transmitted to sleeve  402 . This force is further transmitted to housing  202  by contact between sleeve  402  proximate end  408  to housing  202 . This force serves to push housing  202  opposite the direction of tightening of RP-SMA interface  300 , causing a resisting force to be transmitted from housing  202  to interface  300  via ribs and channels  320 ,  318 ,  314 ,  336 , and  340 . This resisting force causes friction between housing  202  and interface  300 , such that when interface  300  is fully tightened, housing  202  no longer freely rotates relative to interface  300 . In this manner, housing  202  can be positioned at any relative angle as desired then locked into place.  
         [0020]     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.