Patent Publication Number: US-7217160-B2

Title: Adapter for high frequency signal transmission

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to adapters and, more particularly, to a connector shaped adapter for high frequency signal transmission with improved characteristics. 
     2. Related Art 
     A conventional adapter  10  for interconnecting, for example, a connector  70  of a testing instrument and a connector  70  of a device (e.g., mobile phone) to be tested is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Within the cylindrical adapter  10 , there are provided a central transmission rod  20  and a plastic ring  30  formed between the transmission rod  20  and an inner surface of the adapter  10 . The transmission rod  20  is, thus, fastened by the ring  30 . However, its manufacturing process is time consuming and cost ineffective. 
     Another conventional adapter  40  of such type is shown in  FIG. 3 . Front and rear cylindrical sections  50  are formed of polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE), such as sold under the trademark TEFLON, and within an inner surface of the adapter  40 . A central transmission rod  60  passes through the PTFE sections  50  and is, thus, fastened by the PTFE sections  50 . However, the insulative PTFE sections  50  may absorb signals transmitted along the transmission rod  60 , resulting in a decrease of the transmission efficiency. For increasing the transmission efficiency (e.g. wireless transmission), it is possible to increase power. However, a power increase may threaten health of nearby people due to electromagnetic radiation. Thus, a need for improvement exists. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an adapter including a body including a first bore provided at one end, an intermediate second bore having a diameter larger than that of the first bore, and a third bore provided at the other end and having a diameter larger than that of the second bore. A first shoulder is provided between the first and the second bores, and a second shoulder is provided between the second and the third bores. A first PTFE block is adapted to be received in the second bore. A second PTFE block is adapted to be received in the third bore and includes a metal ring having a toothed member secured onto one portion of the second PTFE block. A central transmission rod includes an intermediate toothed ring provided on its outer surface, a first port provided at one end and inserted through said first PTFE block until said first PTFE block is against the toothed ring, a second port provided at the other end and inserted through said second PTFE block until a portion of the toothed ring is within the second PTFE block, and a tapered protrusion formed around the first port and protruding from the first PTFE block. The transmission rod is placed into the body so that there are air spaces around the tapered protrusion and between the first and second PTFE blocks. Thus, the contact area of the body and the first and second PTFE blocks is decreased, and air fills said spaces so as to create air insulation. 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a broken-away perspective view of a conventional adapter; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view showing the adapter in  FIG. 1  interconnecting two connectors; 
         FIG. 3  is a broken-away perspective view of another conventional adapter; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of an adapter according to the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a broken-away perspective view of the adapter in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a broken-away perspective view of the adapter in  FIG. 4  connected to a connector of a testing instrument; 
         FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  with the second PTFE block and the metal ring both slightly altered in another configuration; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the adapter in  FIG. 4  having its appearance altered to resemble a connector for a computer&#39;s motherboard; 
         FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 8  with the adapter having its appearance altered to resemble a transverse connector; 
         FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 8  with the adapter having its appearance altered to resemble an L-shaped connector; 
         FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 8  with the adapter having its appearance altered to resemble an upright connector; 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded view of a second preferred embodiment of an adapter according to the invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a broken-away perspective view of the adapter in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIGS. 14 and 15  are sectional views showing a first configuration of the adapter in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a sectional view showing a second configuration of the adapter in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a sectional view showing a third configuration of the adapter in  FIG. 12 ; and 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a transmission rod according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 to 11 , an adapter  5  for high frequency signal transmission in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. As shown in  FIG. 4  specifically, the adapter  5  comprises a body  1  having a hollow cylinder, a first PTFE block  2 , a central transmission rod  3 , and a second PTFE block  4 . Within the cylinder of the body  1 , there are provided a first bore  11 , a second bore  12  having a diameter larger than that of the first bore  11 , and a third bore  13  having a diameter larger than that of the second bore  12 . A first shoulder  14  is between the first and the second bores  11  and  12 , and a second shoulder  15  is between the second and the third bores  12  and  13 . The first PTFE block  2  is fitted within the second bore  12  and has a length shorter than that of the second bore  12 . 
     The transmission rod  3  comprises an intermediate toothed ring  31  on its outer surface, a female port  32  at one end, and a male port  33  at the other end. Note that the transmission rod  3  may have two male ports  33  at both ends, two female ports  32  at both ends, or a female port  32  and a male port  33 . The second PTFE block  4  is fitted within the third bore  13  and includes a metal ring  41  having a toothed section  42  on one edge adjacent the second PTFE block  4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5  specifically, in assembly, the first PTFE block  2  is inserted into the second bore  12  from the female port  32  until the first PTFE block  2  is against the toothed ring  31 . The protrusion of the transmission rod  3  from the first PTFE block  2  forms a tapered protrusion  34 . The male portion  33  of the transmission rod  3  is inserted through the second PTFE block  4  until most portions of the toothed ring  31  are within the second PTFE block  4 . Finally, the transmission rod  3  with the first and second PTFE blocks  2  and  4  is snugly inserted into the body  1  until the first PTFE block  2  is stopped by the first shoulder  14  and set within the second bore  12 , the second PTFE block  4  is stopped by the second shoulder  15  and set within the third bore  13 , and the tapered protrusion  34  is disposed in the first bore  11 . The metal ring  41  is set into an annular gap between the second PTFE block  4  and an inner surface of the third bore  13 , with the toothed member  42  secured onto the second PTFE block  4  enhancing friction so as to prevent the first and second PTFE blocks  2  and  4  and the transmission rod  3  from rotating in the body  1 . Spaces  51  filled with air are respectively created in the first bore  11  and between the first and second PTFE blocks  2  and  4  to act as air insulation. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6  specifically, the adapter  5  is connected to a connector  6  of a testing instrument (not shown) in which one end of a central conductor  61  is inserted into the female port  32  for electrical connection. The space  51  is adapted to decrease a contact area of the transmission rod  3  and the body  1 , resulting in an increase of the transmission efficiency. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8  specifically, the adapter according to the first preferred embodiment of the invention is modified to resemble a connector for a computer&#39;s motherboard. As shown in  FIG. 9  specifically, the adapter is again modified to resemble a connector of a coaxial cable. As shown in  FIG. 10  specifically, the adapter is again modified to resemble an L-shaped coaxial connector. As shown in  FIG. 11  specifically, the adapter is again modified to resemble an antenna connector. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7  specifically, both of the second PTFE block  4  and the metal ring  41  are slightly altered in another configuration in which the second PTFE block  4  has its thickness reduced to about half. The metal ring  41  has an inwardly extended rim  43  engaged with the second PTFE block  4  so as to prevent the second PTFE block  4  from becoming loose and so as to create another space  51  filled with air to act as air insulation. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 12 to 18 , an adapter  5 ′ for high frequency signal transmission in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  specifically, the adapter  5 ′ comprises a hollow cylindrical body  1 ′ having an intermediate enlargement. Within the body  1 ′, there are provided a room  11 ′, a reduced section  12 ′ at one side of the room  11 ′ and an annular flange  13 ′ at a predetermined section of the room  11 ′. The adapter  5 ′ further comprises a first PTFE block  2 ′, a central transmission rod  3 ′, and a second PTFE block  4 ′. 
     The transmission rod  3 ′ comprises an intermediate ring  31 ′. Each end of the transmission rod  3 ′ is formed into a female port  32 ′. Two opposite slits  33 ′ are provided at each of the two female ports  32 ′. Note that the transmission rod  3 ′ may have two male ports  33  at both ends, or a female port  32 ′ at the one end and a male port  33  at the other end in other embodiments. 
     The transmission rod  3 ′ has a front half inserted through the first PTFE block  2 ′ and a rear half inserted through the second PTFE block  4 ′ until the first and second PTFE blocks  2 ′ and  4 ′ are, respectively, against the ring  31 ′ so that the first PTFE block  2 ′ and the second PTFE block  4 ′ are spaced by the ring  31 ′. The transmission rod  3 ′ is then inserted into the body  1 ′ until the first PTFE block  2 ′ is against the reduced section  12 ′. The second PTFE block  4 ′ is stuck because of the flange  13 ′. Thus, a space  51 ′ filled with air acting as air insulation is created in a space defined by the ring  31 ′, the first PTFE block  2 ′, the second PTFE block  4 ′, and an inner wall of the room  11 ′. Thus, one of the female ports  32 ′ is level with the second PTFE block  4 ′ to form a PTFE terminal  14 ′, and the other of the female port  32 ′ protrudes from the first PTFE block  2 ′ to the reduced section  12 ′ and forms another space  51 ′ filled with air acting as air insulation, so as to form an air terminal  15 ′. Therefore, the adapter  5 ′ has two different types of insulative ends. 
     As shown in  FIG. 14  specifically, a connector  6 ′ of a testing instrument is a terminal  61 ′ filled with air (i.e., air terminal  61 ′) and a connector  7 ′ of a device to be tested includes a PTFE terminal  71 ′. The PTFE terminal  14 ′ of the adapter  5 ′ is connected to the PTFE terminal  71 ′ of the connector  7 ′ of the device to be tested. A male port  73 ′ of a transmission rod  72 ′ of the device to be tested is inserted into one of the female ports  32 ′ of the transmission rod  3 ′ of the adapter  5 ′. The air terminal  15 ′ of the adapter  5 ′ is connected to the air terminal  61 ′ of the connector  6 ′ of the testing instrument. The male port  63 ′ of the transmission rod  62 ′ is inserted into the other of female ports  32 ′ of the transmission rod  3 ′ of the adapter  5 ′. Both ends of the adapter  5 ′ are connected to the insulative members. As an end, test data is more accurate, and its result is, thus, more reliable. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 13–15  specifically, a first configuration of the adapter  5 ′ is shown. Two ends of the transmission rod  3 ′ of the adapter  5 ′ may be modified to have two male ports  34 ′, two female ports  32 ′, or a male port  34 ′ at the one end and a female port  32 ′ at the other end. Also, a connector  8 ′ is connected to male port  34 ′ of the adapter  5 ′. As a result, it is possible of configuring both ends of the adapter  5 ′ to have different insulative members. 
       FIG. 16  shows a second configuration of the adapter  5 ′. Changing the thickness of the second PTFE block  4 ′ will configure both ends of the adapter  5 ′ as air terminals  15 ′. Both ends of the transmission rod  3 ′ of the adapter  5 ′ will form spaces  51 ′ filled with air to act as air insulation. Further, both ends of the transmission rod  3 ′ of the adapter  5 ′ may be implemented as two male ports  34 ′, two female ports  32 ′, or a male port  34 ′ at the one end and a female port  32 ′ at the other end. 
       FIG. 17  shows a third configuration of the adapter  5 ′. Eliminating the reduced section  12 ′ and the flange  13 ′, and fitting the first PTFE block  2 ′ and the second PTFE block  4 ′ in the body  1 ′ will configure both ends of the adapter  5 ′ as PTFE terminals  14 ′. Also, the ends of the transmission rod  3 ′ of the adapter  5 ′ may be implemented as two male ports  34 ′, two female ports  32 ′, or a male port  34 ′ at the one end and a female port  32 ′ at the other end. 
     As shown in  FIG. 18  specifically, a pair of slits  33  are provided at either female port  32 ′ of the transmission rod  3 ′ to facilitate the pressing of the female ports  32 ′. By pressing the female ports  32 ′ to be tapered ends, the fastening is more reliable. 
     While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.