Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a coaxial connector with capacitive coupling. This connector has dielectric coated surfaces between the connectors and does not provide a galvanic contact and cannot provide a good grounding.

<CIT> discloses a coaxial connector with dielectric coated surfaces between the connectors, which not provide a galvanic contact and cannot provide a good grounding.

<CIT> discloses a coaxial connector system designed for low passive intermodulation. A plug connector has a spring-loaded outer connector for contacting the solid side wall of a socket connector. Due to a precision contact design and high contacting forces between the plug connector and the second connector, a low passive intermodulation is achieved.

<CIT> discloses a fully galvanic coaxial connector system.

The problem to be solved by the invention is to provide a coaxial RF connector with improved passive intermodulation characteristics. The RF connector should be usable for multi-connector assemblies, where a large number of connectors are used. In addition, the connector should have such a shielding that it may be used within a radiation field of an antenna.

Solutions of the problem are described in the independent claims. The dependent claims relate to further improvements of the invention.

A coaxial RF connector system includes a coaxial RF connector and a coaxial RF counter connector matching to the coaxial RF connector. The RF connector system provides a galvanic contact, when the coaxial RF connector is mated to the coaxial RF counter connector. Such a connector provides a good shielding and grounding and may be used in a broad range of frequencies starting from DC. Therefore, the inner conductors of both connectors form a galvanic contact and further the outer conductors of both connectors form a galvanic contact. The inner conductors are insulated from the outer conductors.

A coaxial RF connector, which may be a plug connector, a socket connector, or a hermaphroditic connector, has a housing, an inner conductor and an outer conductor. The inner conductor defines by its center a center axis of the connector. The outer conductor is arranged coaxially around the center or inner conductor and may hold the center conductor by at least one strut comprising electrical insulation material or an insulation layer. A connector housing may be a part of the outer conductor. There may be at least one means for mechanically fastening a plug connector to a socket connector or two hermaphroditic connectors together.

The invention works with any type of inner conductor and outer conductor, provided, the outer conductor of the RF connector and the outer conductor of the RF counter connector are in contact and preferably in galvanic contact with each other when mated.

The coaxial RF connector includes a first centering device which may be at the outer conductor. It may be part of the outer conductor or attached thereto. The first centering device may have an outer contour coaxial to the inner conductor. The outer contour may be cylindrical and may have a circular cross section or conical. It may also have any other suitable shape like a protrusion with a squared or hex cross section.

In an embodiment, there may be multiple inner and outer conductors within a common centering device.

The coaxial RF counter connector includes a second centering device which may be at the outer conductor of the coaxial RF counter connector. It may be part of the outer conductor or attached thereto. The second centering device may have an outer contour coaxial to the inner conductor. The outer contour may be cylindrical and may have a circular cross section or conical. It may also have any other suitable shape like a protrusion with a squared or hex cross section.

The shapes of the centering devices are adapted to each other, such that the first centering device matches into or on the second centering device, when the connectors are mated. In the case of cylindrical contours, the first centering device may have an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the second centering device.

A large number of tests have shown, that, even if a RF connector provides a good low-PIM outer conductor connection, RF currents may flow through other paths like connector housing parts or centering parts of the connectors. If these other parts only provide a marginal electrical connection, this may lead to an increase of PIM. This problem is often solved, at least partially, by providing high locking forces between the connectors, such that there is a good contact between the housing parts. This still does not guarantee a perfect electrical connection between the housing parts. A major problem arises in multi-connector assemblies, which, for example, may be used to connect antenna panels. Here, it is very difficult to achieve high contact forces at all components of the connectors.

The embodiments are based on the concept of avoiding RF currents flowing through housing parts or other parts by electrically insulating them. If there is only a capacitive connection between such parts, a small current may still flow, but no intermodulation is generated. Therefore a very low PIM may be achieved.

To ensure, that there are no significant further currents from the outer conductors are flowing through alternate paths, which may increase PIM, the first centering device is electrically (galvanically) insulated from the second centering device. There may remain only some capacitive coupling. There may be an insulating (dielectric) material, which may be a polymer like PTFE (Polytetrafluorethylene, Teflon), PE (Polyethylene), Polyimide (Kapton) or an oxide or anodized layer or any other suitable material between the centering devices.

There may be a narrow gap between the centering devices when the connectors are mated. The gap which may comprise the insulating material, may have a thickness between <NUM> and <NUM>, between <NUM> and <NUM> or between <NUM> and <NUM>. There may be an overlap between the centering devices which may be the depth of the gap which may be between <NUM> and <NUM> or between <NUM> and <NUM> or between <NUM> and <NUM>. A narrower and deeper gap may result in a better shielding.

In an embodiment, the first centering device may be electrically insulated from the RF connector outer conductor, and/or the second centering device may be electrically insulated from the RF counter connector outer conductor. Here, at least one of the centering devices may include an electrically insulating material. They may also be entirely made of such an insulating material.

In a further embodiment, an insulating sleeve may be included between the first centering device and the second centering device. Here, the sizes or diameters of the centering devices have to be adapted accordingly, such that the insulating sleeve fits in between the centering devices. The insulating sleeve may be attached to or be part of either one or both of the centering devices.

All embodiments herein relate to connectors and a connector system providing galvanic contact, such that a low ohmic resistance for DC is established between the inner conductors of mated connectors and between outer conductors of mated connectors. Further mechanical parts like centering devices are insulated to prevent any dc current from flowing through other paths than the outer conductor contacts and the inner conductor contacts.

Accordingly, the coaxial RF connector outer conductor may comprise a first contact section having a bare metal surface and the coaxial RF counter connector outer conductor may comprise a second contact section having a bare metal surface wherein the first and second contact sections are in galvanic contact, when the coaxial RF connector and the coaxial RF counter connector are mated. Further the coaxial RF connector inner conductor comprises a third contact section having a bare metal surface and the coaxial RF counter connector inner conductor comprises a fourth contact section having a bare metal surface wherein the third and fourth contact sections are in galvanic contact, when the coaxial RF connector and the coaxial RF counter connector are mated.

In an embodiment, the outer conductor of a Coaxial RF connector is a first centering device and has a cylindrical outer contour coaxial to the inner conductor. The coaxial RF counter connector may include a centering sleeve having a cylindrical inner contour coaxial to the inner conductor of the centering sleeve. Furthermore, an insulating sleeve may be provided between the outer conductor, and the centering sleeve. The outer conductor of the coaxial RF connector may have an outer diameter smaller or larger than the inner diameter of the centering sleeve and the outer conductor fits into or on the centering sleeve together with the insulating sleeve. The insulating sleeve may comprise any insulating material as mentioned above. Such capacitively coupled centering devices may provide an improved shielding due to the additional conductive structure around the outer conductor. Furthermore, such embodiments may be used in the radiation field of antennas, as the connector does not generate intermodulation from signals coupled from the outside to the connector.

The centering sleeve may be one part with the outer conductor of the counter connector. The counter connector outer conductor may have a tubular shape with a plurality of longitudinal slits as described in more detail above.

In an embodiment, the outer conductor of a coaxial RF connector may have a tubular shape without or with a plurality of slits in a longitudinal direction parallel to the center axis. The slits may have a length in a range between <NUM>- to <NUM>-times the diameter of the outer conductor. The slits may extend to an end or an end face of the outer conductor. This end may be oriented to a contact side of the connector. A counter connector may be connected at the contact side for making an electrical connection. There may be any number of slits between <NUM> and <NUM>, preferably between <NUM> and <NUM>. The outer conductor together with the slits may comprise a plurality of protrusions at their ends which may form a plurality of spring-loaded contact elements. These contact elements may produce a counterforce if a force is applied in a radial direction with respect to the center axis.

The RF counter connector may comprise a counter connector inner conductor defining a center axis of the connector, and counter connector outer conductor which is arranged coaxially to the counter connector inner conductor. Preferably, the counter connector outer conductor has a tubular shape without or with slits as mentioned above. If the RF connector has an outer conductor with slits, the RF counter connector may have an outer conductor without slits and vice versa. The RF counter connector outer conductor may have a counter connector outer conductor end face. The counter connector outer conductor end face may have a circular outer contour and a size adapted to match to the RF connector outer conductor. To improve PIM performance, there may be a gap between the outer conductor of the coaxial connector and the counter connector outer conductor end face in an axial direction when both connectors are mated. There may be only a single electrical current path from the coaxial connector outer conductor via the spring-loaded contact elements into the mating conductor.

In an embodiment, a coaxial RF counter connector comprises at least a counter connector inner conductor, a counter connector outer conductor coaxial to the counter connector inner conductor, and a centering sleeve. The centering sleeve may have a cylindrical inner surface with an inner contour coaxial to the inner conductor. An insulating sleeve comprising electrically insulation material may be included at the cylindrical inner surface of the centering sleeve. In another embodiment, the centering sleeve may have a cylindrical outer surface with an outer contour. An insulating sleeve comprising electrically insulation material may be included at the cylindrical outer surface of the centering sleeve.

In an embodiment, the counter connector outer conductor has an end face and the insulating sleeve may cover a section of the centering sleeve in a radial direction from the end face.

In a further embodiment any one or both connectors may be embedded into a housing or into housing parts.

A multi-connector assembly may include a plurality of Coaxial RF counter connectors and/or Coaxial RF connectors - all types further referred to as connector.

To ensure a proper electrical contact, it may be desired to hold a connector in a fixed position relative to the counter connector, to which the connector should be coupled or mated to transfer electrical signals or power. The connector may be held by a connector housing which may comprise further attachment components or by a larger unit, for example a transmitter housing into which the connector is integrated. At least one connector may be held flexible in a housing or parts thereof. At least one coaxial RF connector may be held flexible in a first housing component whereas at least one coaxial RF counter connector may be fixed in a second housing component. A precise alignment of the connectors is achieved by the centering sleeves.

In an embodiment, the coaxial connector comprises a locking sleeve forming a quick-lock mechanism which may be coaxial to the outer conductor.

In a further embodiment, the coaxial RF connector may comprise a locking nut which may be held by the housing or the outer conductor. The locking nut may have an inner thread which may engage with an outer thread of a counter connector, such that the connector may be locked to the counter connector by rotating the nut and engaging the threads.

In a further embodiment, the RF counter connector may comprise a locking thread which may match to a locking nut of the coaxial RF connector as described above.

In an embodiment, the coaxial RF connector is a plug connector and it comprises a contact pin at the inner conductor. The outer conductor may be a sleeve without slits.

In a further embodiment, the coaxial RF counter connector may be a socket connector and comprises a counter connector inner conductor contact socket which is at the end of the counter connector inner conductor and mates with the inner conductor contact pin.

In another embodiment, the centering device may comprise at least one and preferably two pins mechanically connected to one of the connectors and at least one corresponding bush, mechanically connected to the other of the connectors, into which the at least one pin fits. The pin may be an elongated piece of material, e.g. a small rod, which may have a cylindrical shape and which may have a tapered tip to simplify insertion into the bush. The bush may be a tubular structure providing an opening to insert the pin. The pin may match closely into the bush. The pin and/or the bush may be mounted outside of the outer conductor of the respective connector. The length of the pin may be selected such, that the pin is guided by the bush at a distance of the connectors, where the connectors do not touch each other. The pin and/or the bush may comprise electrical insulation material, such that no galvanic (conductive) connection may be provided between the pin and/or the bush. The pin and/or the bush may be made of insulating material or have a coating thereof. Preferably the pin is of metal and the bush is of insulating material. There may be one pin at each connector and a bush matching to the pin of the opposing connector.

In general, the plug and socket configuration may be reversed or a hermaphroditic connector configuration may be used for the inner conductor. This has no or only a negligible influence on the outer conductor configuration disclosed herein.

In an embodiment, a coaxial RF connector is a connector for electrically connecting RF lines and for coupling radio frequency (RF) signals. An outer conductor is arranged coaxially around an inner conductor. For coupling such RF signals, the connector must have a predetermined characteristic impedance which may be <NUM> Ohm. The connector must also have low insertion losses and low return losses. This requires beyond a high conductivity, a coaxial RF connector to have a conductor structure which maintains the characteristic impedance over the full length of the connector with minimal deviations. This means that essentially the capacitance must be constant over the full length of the connector. Therefore, at each point of the conductor structure, a certain relation between the diameter of the inner conductor and the distance between outer conductor and inner conductor must be maintained. Here, also the dielectric constant of a material between the inner conductor and the outer conductor must be considered.

Coaxial HV (high voltage) connectors are in most cases not suitable for RF signals. Such HV connectors provide a symmetrical, coaxial structure to maintain an even field distribution, but it is not essential to have a certain characteristic impedance and further to maintain such a characteristic impedance constant over the full length of the connector. Therefore, the design of HV connectors is less critical.

In <FIG>, a first embodiment of a coaxial RF connector system is shown in a mated state. A coaxial RF connector <NUM> may be held by elastic means <NUM> which may be a rubber ring in a first body <NUM> and a coaxial RF counter connector <NUM> may be held in a second body <NUM>. The coaxial RF connector <NUM> has an inner conductor <NUM> and arranged coaxially thereto an outer conductor <NUM>. The inner conductor <NUM> defines a center axis <NUM> and may be supported from the outer conductor by a strut <NUM> preferably including an electrically insulating material (dielectric). The outer conductor <NUM> may have a cylindrical outer contour coaxial to the inner conductor <NUM> and thereby may form a first centering device <NUM>.

The coaxial RF counter connector <NUM> has an inner conductor <NUM> and arranged coaxially thereto an outer conductor <NUM> and supported by a strut <NUM> preferably including an electrically insulating material (dielectric). Furthermore, a centering sleeve <NUM> is provided. In this embodiment, the centering sleeve <NUM> is part of a coaxial conductor system together with the inner conductor <NUM>. The centering sleeve may hold the coaxial RF counter connector outer conductor. The centering sleeve <NUM> may have a cylindrical inner contour with circular cross section coaxial to the inner conductor <NUM> of the coaxial RF counter connector <NUM>. At the inner contour of the centering sleeve <NUM> an electrically insulating material (dielectric material) <NUM> is provided. The insulating material may include a polymer like PTFE (Polytetrafluorethylene, Teflon), PE (Polyethylene), Polyimide (Kapton) or an oxide or anodized layer or any other suitable material. The dielectric material may have the shape of a sleeve which may be inserted into the centering sleeve.

The first centering device <NUM> has an outer size smaller than the inner size of the second centering device <NUM>, including the thickness of the dielectric material, such that the first centering device <NUM> matches into the second centering device <NUM>. The matching centering devices allow for a good centering of the connectors. The dielectric material between the centering devices prevents a galvanic contact between the centering devices such that no intermodulation can take place.

In <FIG>, a simplified drawing of a connector <NUM> and a counter connector <NUM> similar to the previous embodiment is shown. The inner conductor may be part of a male coaxial RF connector and therefore may have a contact pin <NUM> which may include a contact section having a bare metal surface and extending towards a contact side <NUM> from which a coaxial RF counter connector may be attached. The outer conductor may have a contact section <NUM> which may have a bare metal surface and where it is contacted by the counter connector. At the end of the contact section <NUM> is an outer conductor end face <NUM>. An at least partially conically shaped insertion section <NUM> may be provided, which simplifies insertion of a counter connector.

The counter connector <NUM> may have an outer conductor with a plurality of longitudinal slits <NUM> extending from the outer conductor end face. The remaining material between these slits may form spring-loaded contact elements <NUM> which may produce a contact force in a radial direction with respect to the center axis <NUM>. At the end of the spring-loaded contact elements <NUM> and aligned with an outer conductor end face <NUM> may be contact element protrusions <NUM> for contacting the outer conductor of the coaxial RF connector <NUM> at the contact section <NUM>. The contact element protrusions <NUM> may include a contact section having a bare metal surface. This results in a well-defined high contact force between the connectors, which reduces intermodulation. The counter connector inner conductor <NUM> may have a female contact socket <NUM>, which may include a contact section having a bare metal surface adapted to match the inner conductor contact pin <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the counter connector <NUM> may have a centering sleeve <NUM>, which may be one part with the counter connector outer conductor <NUM>. A dielectric sleeve <NUM> may be inserted into the centering sleeve <NUM>. The dielectric sleeve <NUM> may comprise a cylindrical (with circular cross section) section <NUM> which may include radially arranged dielectric material, and a disc shaped section <NUM> which may include radially arranged dielectric material. The inner size or diameter of the counter connector centering sleeve <NUM> including the dielectric sleeve <NUM> which is marked by reference number <NUM> is larger or equal to the outer size or diameter <NUM> of the coaxial connector outer conductor <NUM>.

In <FIG>, another simplified embodiment of a coaxial RF connector system is shown. Here, a dielectric sleeve <NUM> is held by the coaxial RF connector <NUM>. The dielectric sleeve <NUM> having a thickness <NUM> may comprise a cylindrical (with circular cross section) section <NUM> having a second length <NUM> which may include radially arranged dielectric material, and a disc shaped section <NUM> having a first length <NUM> which may include radially arranged dielectric material. In a mated state, the dielectric sleeve <NUM> may form a gap having essentially a depth corresponding to the sleeve thickness <NUM> between the outer conductor <NUM> of the coaxial RF connector <NUM> and the centering sleeve <NUM> of the coaxial RF counter connector <NUM>. In a mated state, there may be a gap <NUM> between the outer conductor end face <NUM> the coaxial RF connector <NUM> and the outer conductor end face <NUM> of the coaxial RF counter connector <NUM>. This gap prevents an at least partially undefined galvanic contact besides the well defined galvanic contact between the contact element protrusions <NUM> and the contact section <NUM>. This further improves PIM.

In <FIG>, another embodiment of a coaxial RF connector system is shown. Here, an outer sleeve <NUM> is provided at the counter connector outer conductor <NUM>, which may even be one part with the outer conductor. In this embodiment, the outer sleeve <NUM> has no centering function, but may provide some shielding. Instead, a separate second centering device <NUM>, which may comprise electrically insulating (dielectric) material may be provided at the coaxial RF counter connector <NUM>. Further, a first centering device <NUM> may be provided at the coaxial RF connector <NUM>. Again, the first centering device <NUM> may have an outer size smaller than the inner size of the second centering device <NUM> or the first centering device <NUM> may have an outer size larger than the inner size of the second centering device <NUM>, such that the first centering device <NUM> matches into the second centering device <NUM>.

In an embodiment, at least one of the first centering device <NUM> and the second centering device <NUM> comprises electrically insulating (dielectric) material, such that there is no galvanic connection between the connectors over the centering devices. In that case, a dielectric sleeve is not needed.

Claim 1:
Coaxial RF counter connector (<NUM>), comprising at least
a counter connector inner conductor (<NUM>) which comprises a contact section (<NUM>) having a bare metal surface,
a counter connector outer conductor (<NUM>), which comprises a second contact section (<NUM>) having a bare metal surface, the counter connector outer conductor (<NUM>) being arranged coaxial to the counter connector inner conductor (<NUM>), and
a centering sleeve (<NUM>), the centering sleeve (<NUM>) having a cylindrical inner surface having an inner contour coaxial to the inner conductor (<NUM>) or a cylindrical outer surface having an outer contour coaxial to the inner conductor (<NUM>),
characterized in, that
an insulating sleeve (<NUM>) comprising electrically insulation material or insulation layer is included at the cylindrical inner or outer surface of the centering sleeve (<NUM>).