Patent Publication Number: US-5158483-A

Title: Antenna connector and concealed test jack

Description:
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/141,813, filed Jan. 11, 1988, and now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention pertains to connectors, and more particularly to a combination antenna connector and test jack suitable for use in a portable radio housing. 
     Portable radio transceivers are usually equipped with an antenna connector and an R.F. test jack. The antenna connector typically includes a threaded aperture into which a threaded stud at the base of an antenna is inserted. To measure the performance of the radio, the test jack provides a direct connection between test equipment and the antenna port (i.e., the output of the transmitter in the transmit mode, or the input of the receiver in the receive mode) of the radio transceiver. The test jack typically includes a set of normally closed contacts that are connected between the antenna port and the antenna connector, such that the antenna is automatically disconnected when a plug is inserted into the test jack. Although the test jack can be mounted within the radio housing, this would undesirably require removal of the radio from the housing to connect test equipment to the test jack. Therefore, in addition to the antenna connector, the test jack is usually mounted on the exterior of the radio housing and is typically provided with a removable dust cap. 
     The recent trend in the portable radio market, however, has been towards phyiscally smaller radios. As radio designs become smaller and smaller, there is less space on the housing to position both the antenna connector and the test jack. Accordingly, the invention described below permits direct access to the test jack without requiring removal of the radio from its housing or the removal of a protective dust cap. More importantly, the present invention occupies no more space on the surface of the housing than is required for the antenna connector. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, the invention is an antenna connector and concealed test jack that includes a radio housing with an aperture. A bushing with a threaded aperture is connected to the housing such that the threaded aperture is aligned with the housing aperture. A jack is connected to the housing and aligned with the threaded aperture of the bushing. The antenna connector and test jack is constructed and arranged such that the base of an antenna can be inserted through the housing aperture and threaded into the bushing aperture. Provided the antenna is not positioned in the apertures, a plug can be inserted through both apertures and inserted into the jack. 
     In another embodiment, the invention also includes an electrically conductive spring clip in contact with the bushing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the antenna connector and concealed test jack. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bushing. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In FIG. 1, a cross sectional view of the antenna connector and concealed test jack is illustrated. Referring to this figure, a housing 102 includes a main portion 102a and a top portion 102b which attaches to the main portion. Housing 102 is preferably made from a plastic material that can be readily ultrasonically welded, such as polycarbonate. The top portion 102b of housing 102 includes an antenna aperture 102c. A bushing 104 having a threaded aperture 104a is positioned in a recess 102d on the inside of top housing portion 102b. Threaded aperture 104a is aligned with housing aperture 102c, that is, threaded aperture 104a is positioned over housing aperture 102c such that the base of an antenna 106 can be inserted through the housing aperture and then threaded into the bushing aperture. Bushing 104 is preferably made from stainless steel and is ultrasonically welded to top housing portion 102a. Bushing 104 also includes a spring contact tab 104b, as illustrated in the perspective view of FIG. 2. 
     A connector jack 108 is mounted on a circuit board 110, and the circuit board is attached to housing 102. (More specifically, circuit board 110 and housing top 102b attach to a non-illustrated rectangular frame, and the frame is inserted into and attached to main housing 102a.) Jack 108 is aligned with threaded aperture 104a and top housing aperture 102c, that is, the opening in the jack is positioned over the apertures such that a mating plug can be inserted through both apertures and then into the jack. Jack 108 is preferably a miniature, spring contact, circuit board mounted socket, such as a Singatron Enterprise P/N SJ-251-N. An electrically conductive spring clip 112 is attached to circuit board 110 and contacts tab 104b. Clip 112 is preferably made from beryllium copper. 
     Electrically, the antenna port (i.e., the output of the transmitter and the input of the receiver) of a radio transceiver is connected to jack 108. Jack 108 also includes a set of normally closed contacts. The antenna port is also connected to one of these contacts while the other contact is connected to clip 112. Clip 112 is electrically connected to tab 104b of bushing 104. Under normal operation, the base of an antenna 106 is inserted through top housing aperture 102c and then threaded into bushing aperture 104a. Thus, an electrical connection is formed from the antenna port of the radio transceiver, through the normally closed contacts of jack 108, to clip 112 and bushing 104, and, finally, to the base of antenna 106. 
     To test the radio transceiver, the antenna 106 is first removed from apertures 104a and 102c. Next, a mating plug (not illustrated) is inserted through both apertures 102c and 104a, and then into jack 108, thereby providing a direct connection between the antenna port of the radio transceiver and any test equipment that is connected to the mating plug. In addition, when the mating plug is inserted into the jack, the normally closed contacts in the jack are opened up, thereby disconnecting the antenna port of the transceiver from bushing 104. This prevents any short circuits that might result if the mating plug were to contact bushing 104.