Patent Description:
Telecommunications systems often employ hardline connectors for data transfer between telecom components, e.g., a Remote Radio Unit (RRU) and a telecommunications sector antenna. These hardline connectors often employ an arrangement of spring-biased fingers/elements for making the requisite electrical connections, e.g., signal or electrical ground connections, from one connector to a mating connector. One type of connector, known as a <NUM>-<NUM> Connector, commonly employs a multi-fingered inner conductor socket surrounded by a multi-fingered outer connector basket which receive an inner conductor pin and an outer conductor sleeve, respectively, of an adjoining/opposing connector.

The geometric similarity between connectors, in combination with the difficulty associated with physically making an electrical connection, i.e., fifty (<NUM>) feet in the air, can cause Linemen to improperly/incorrectly join connectors. While connectors which do not properly mate will, in most instances, not be able to be joined (i.e., to affect a viable telecommunications connection), the attempt alone can damage or, otherwise distort, at least one of the conductors.

Particularly vulnerable are the fingers of the outer conductor basket. For example, a Mini-Din connector, which is also an RF connector used in the telecommunications industry, is sufficiently similar in appearance that one might inadvertently try to connect a Mini-Din plug to a <NUM>-<NUM> jack. Unfortunately, in applying force to establish the connection, the structure of the Mini-Din plug may press against and force outward the finger elements of the <NUM>-<NUM> outer conductor basket. Not only would this cause an improper RF connection, it would damage the <NUM>-<NUM> jack, requiring that it be replaced. Inasmuch as the connector is, most often, an integral component of an electronic component, e.g., a Remote Radio Unit or an antenna, a seemingly small amount of damage to the connector can incapacitate a very costly piece of telecommunications equipment, i.e., ranging from $<NUM> to $<NUM> to replace.

Therefore, a need exists to overcome, or otherwise lessen the effects of, the disadvantages and shortcomings described above.

<CIT> describes A coaxial connector configured to receive a mating connector. The assembly includes an inner contact; a dielectric spacer; and an outer contact, the dielectric spacer separating the inner contact and the outer contact. The outer contact includes an outer wall and a plurality of spring fingers, the spring fingers configured to deflect radially inwardly when the mating connector is mated. The connector further comprises blocking structure that prevents mating of a Mini-Din connector.

<CIT> describes a cable connector requiring a combination of push-on force with minimal torque for proper clamping and sealing to a target port. Such a connector device includes a rubber element that encircles metal contact fingers and which is compressible through tightening of a hand-operable nut to secure contact between the metal contact fingers and the target port. The device also includes a contact basket with at least one cut-out portion that, upon tightening of the nut noted above, deforms into latching engagement with the external threads of the subject port. In such a manner, the inventive cable connector provides a highly effective apparatus for signal transfer, reduced interference and noise ingress, and reliable moisture prevention. <CIT> discloses a connector used for data transfer, that has an insert to prevent plastic deformation of at least one of the spring-biased conductor elements during an improper mating to a counter connector. The problem is overcome by the connector assemblies of independent claims <NUM> and <NUM> as well as by the method of avoiding inadvertent improper coupling of independent claim <NUM>.

Additional features and advantages of the present disclosure are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Brief Description of the Drawings and Detailed Description.

In one embodiment of the disclosure, a connector is provided comprising a center or inner conductor, an outer conductor basket and an annular abutment/alignment guide disposed therebetween. The inner conductor socket transmits RF signals from one connector to another across a mating interface. The outer conductor basket comprises a plurality of axially projecting fingers operative to electrically ground the connector. The annular abutment comprises an outwardly facing abutment surface and an alignment guide disposed integrally with the annular abutment. The annular abutment surface projects from a base of the connector between the inner conductor and outer conductor basket. The alignment guide includes a flanged end portion projecting: (i) radially outboard from an upper or forward end of the annular abutment, and (ii) over, or forward of, the tip ends of each axially projecting basket finger. The annular abutment: (a) inhibits inward radial displacement of the axially projecting fingers, (b) prevents plastic deformation of the basket fingers upon annular abutment of a non-mating connector, and (c) aligns a mating connector so as to prevent damage to the basket fingers upon annular abutment of the mating connector.

In one embodiment, the annular abutment is integral with the connector base and in another embodiment, the annular abutment is separate from, and non-integral with the base. In the latter embodiment, the annular abutment is press-fit against an inwardly facing surface of the connector base.

A connector is described including first and second connectors or connector portions each comprising electrically-connecting inner and outer conductors. While the connector includes first and second mating connector portions, it should be understood and appreciated that, in the context used herein, a "connector" means either or both of the connector portions.

The following describes a connector, for example, a <NUM>-<NUM> connector, and a protective annular abutment for inhibiting, mitigating or reducing damage which may or can occur to a multi-fingered spring-biased outer conductor basket of the connector. The <NUM>-<NUM> connector <NUM> of the type described herein may have an impedance of about fifty Ohms (50Ω) with a frequency range of between about one Kilo-Hertz (<NUM>) to about six GigaHertz (<NUM>. ), although variations to the connector parameters are possible and within the scope of the disclosure. Such connectors are available for purchase under the model designations <NUM>-<NUM> from JMA Wireless Inc. , (a world-class industry leader in the design, fabrication, and supply of wireless RF telecommunications products) located in Liverpool, State of New York.

While the protective annular abutment is particularly useful for <NUM>-<NUM> connectors, it will be appreciated that the protective annular abutment, and the teachings associate therewith, are equally applicable to a wide-variety of telecommunications/signal connectors. The protective annular abutment of the present disclosure has utility upon assembly of the <NUM>-<NUM>. Specifically, the annular abutment prevents damage to the basket fingers by guiding a mating connector over the basket fingers, especially when the connectors are presented or mated at a large angle of inclination.

In <FIG>, a connector <NUM> includes a central or inner conductor <NUM> surrounded by an outer conductor basket <NUM> comprising a plurality of axially projecting basket fingers <NUM>. A protective annular abutment <NUM> is disposed in combination with the connector <NUM> and, in the described embodiment, projects from an annular base <NUM> of the connector <NUM>. As will be understood from the subsequent discussion, the annular abutment <NUM> may be a separate element, or component, with respect to the annular base <NUM>, or may be integrally formed therewith.

In <FIG>, the annular abutment <NUM> includes an outwardly facing abutment surface <NUM> and an alignment guide <NUM> integrally formed with an upper end portion <NUM> of the annular abutment <NUM>. The outwardly facing abutment surface <NUM> is configured to inhibit inward radial displacement of the axially projecting fingers <NUM>. The alignment guide <NUM> comprises a flanged portion projecting radially outboard from the upper end portion <NUM> of the annular abutment <NUM> and includes an alignment or guide surface <NUM> disposed over or forward of the tip ends 16t of the axially projecting fingers <NUM> of the outer conductor basket <NUM>. The guide surface <NUM> of the alignment guide <NUM> is configured to align a pair of connectors as they are joined together and caused to mate along an interface.

In <FIG> and <FIG>, the outwardly facing annular abutment surface <NUM> is disposed in opposing relationship to the back-side surface of the basket fingers <NUM>. In the described embodiment, the length L of the outwardly facing annular abutment surface <NUM> generally corresponds to the length dimension of the basket fingers <NUM>. Furthermore, the annular abutment surface <NUM> defines an angle α relative, or with respect, to the back-side surface of the basket fingers <NUM>. The angle α is shallow and is generally less than about seven degrees (<NUM>°), and, in the preferred description, is less than about five degrees (<NUM>°).

The annular abutment <NUM> defines a central bore <NUM> for receipt of the inner conductor or pin <NUM>, and, in the described embodiment, forms an annular ring or annular abutment <NUM> configured to engage, and center, the pin <NUM> within the annular abutment <NUM>. As such, only a small circumferential ring comes into contact with the signal transmitting pin <NUM>, thus minimizing the probability of inducing interference.

<FIG> depicts a view of the first and second connectors 10A and 10B being joined at a potentially problematic or damaging angle or inclination. The figure shows a tapered end <NUM> of an outer conductor ring <NUM> of the second connector 10B being guided into alignment by the surface <NUM> of the alignment guide <NUM>. As such, the tapered end <NUM> of the outer conductor ring <NUM> is guided over the tip ends 16t of the basket fingers <NUM> while the guide surface <NUM> promotes realignment of the connectors 10A and 10B.

<FIG> depict views of mating connectors <NUM>, i.e., a first connector 10A and a second connector 10B, being joined along a mating interface. In <FIG>, the alignment guide <NUM> of the first connector 10A centers the flared conductor sleeve or ring <NUM> of the second connector 10B upon insertion between the coupling member <NUM> and the basket fingers <NUM>. In <FIG>, the flared conductor ring <NUM> is fully inserted thereby causing the outwardly biased basket fingers <NUM> to contact the conductive inner surface <NUM> of the ring <NUM>. Therein, the annular abutment surface <NUM> inhibits inward radial displacement of the axially projecting fingers <NUM> of the outer conductor basket <NUM>.

The annular abutment <NUM> may be integrally formed with the body of the connector <NUM> or formed as a separate, isolated element. <FIG> shows the annular abutment <NUM> as an integral element, projecting from an annular base of the connector. Alternatively, the dashed lines of <FIG> and <FIG> show the annular abutment <NUM> as a separate element. In this embodiment, an outwardly facing press-fit surface <NUM> of the abutment <NUM> mates with an inwardly facing surface <NUM> of the connector body <NUM>, i.e., at the connector base <NUM>. The annular abutment <NUM> is preferably fabricated from a dielectric material so as to minimize its impact on the impedance properties of the connector <NUM>. That is, the annular abutment <NUM> should be fabricated from materials which maintain the impedance at the desired fifty Ohms (50Ω) within a frequency band of between about one Kilo-Hertz (<NUM>) to about six GigaHertz (<NUM>.

Another embodiment of the disclosure is depicted in <FIG> wherein the basket fingers <NUM> of one connector 10A are disposed between the inner conductor <NUM> and the annular abutment <NUM>. In this embodiment, the annular abutment <NUM> projects axially from the annular base <NUM> and is disposed radially outboard of the basket fingers <NUM>. An inwardly facing abutment surface <NUM> is spaced apart from, and opposes, the back-side surface of each axially projecting finger <NUM>. Furthermore, the annular abutment <NUM> includes an alignment guide <NUM> having a surface configured to guide a mating connector 10B over the tip end portion 16t of the basket fingers <NUM>. More specifically, the alignment guide <NUM> projects radially inwardly and is configured to be disposed over, or forward of, the tip end portion of each basket finger <NUM>.

Similar to the previously described embodiment, the annular abutment <NUM> prohibits outward plastic deformation of the basket fingers 16t while the alignment guide <NUM> is configured to prevent misalignment of the connectors <NUM> and damage to the basket fingers <NUM> as the first connector 10A is joined to the second connector 10B along a mating interface.

In summary, the annular abutment <NUM> protects the basket fingers <NUM> from being displaced radially, i.e., both inwardly and outwardly, beyond the elastic limits or properties of the basket fingers <NUM>. The abutment surface <NUM> of the annular abutment prevents the basket fingers <NUM> from being plastically deformed inwardly beyond the initial outward bias of the fingers <NUM>. That is, the basket fingers <NUM> are biased outwardly so as to form the angular relationship between the basket fingers <NUM> and the abutment surface <NUM>. The angle α is selected so as to maintain the outward angular bias of the basket fingers, i.e., without degrading or plastically deforming the basket fingers <NUM> inwardly. On the other hand, the alignment guide <NUM> of the annular abutment <NUM> also protects the basket fingers <NUM> from being displaced radially outwardly in a similarly damaging manner. Inasmuch as the guide surface <NUM> is disposed radially outboard of the tip ends 16t of the basket fingers <NUM>, a mating connector surface <NUM> may be forced over the basket fingers <NUM> rather than beneath, or under, the fingers <NUM>. As a result, a mating connector cannot be inserted in a manner which would plastically deform the basket fingers <NUM> outwardly, i.e., potentially damaging the fingers <NUM>.

Additional embodiments include any one of the embodiments described above, where one or more of its components, functionalities or structures is interchanged with, replaced by or augmented by one or more of the components, functionalities or structures of a different embodiment described above.

Claim 1:
A connector assembly having a connector and a mating connector (<NUM>) operative to transmit RF
signals across an interface, the connectors (<NUM>), comprising an inner conductor (<NUM>) surrounded by an outer conductor basket (<NUM>), the outer conductor basket (<NUM>) having a plurality of axially projecting fingers (<NUM>) separated by an axial slot between adjacent fingers (<NUM>);
an annular abutment (<NUM>) projecting axially from an annular base (<NUM>) between the inner conductor (<NUM>) and the outer conductor basket (<NUM>), wherein the annular abutment (<NUM>) comprises:
an outwardly facing abutment surface (<NUM>) opposing a back-side surface of the axially projecting fingers (<NUM>); and
an alignment guide (<NUM>) integral with the annular abutment (<NUM>);
wherein the outwardly facing abutment surface (<NUM>) is configured to prevent radially inward displacement, and plastic deformation, of the basket fingers (<NUM>), and
wherein the alignment guide (<NUM>) is configured to align the mating connector (<NUM>) upon joining both connectors (<NUM>), and
wherein the connector comprises a coupling member for coupling with the mating connector disposed radially outboard of the alignment guide (<NUM>) and the annular abutment (<NUM>)
characterised in that
the alignment guide (<NUM>) comprises a flanged end portion projecting radially outboard from the upper end portion (<NUM>) of the annular abutment (<NUM>) and configured to be disposed forward of the tip ends of each basket finger (<NUM>).