PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8333623-B2
Application Number: US-94293110-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Cable connector retention clips

Abstract:
Electrical devices may be tested using test equipment. A device may have an associated cable with a connector. The test equipment may have an associated cable with a connector. An adapter may have a pair of connectors. One of the adapter connectors may be connected to the connector of the cable associated with the device and the other of the adapter connectors may be connected to the connector of the cable that is associated with the tester. A retention clip may be attached to a groove in the adapter. Flexible members in the clip may each grasp an opposing side of the adapter within the groove. A retention member in the clip may bear against the connector on the cable that is associated with the device to hold the connectors for the device cable and the adapter together.

Claims:
1. A cable connector retention structure adapted to help hold a first cable connector and a second cable connector together, comprising:
 flexible portions that are operable to grasp the second cable connector; and 
 a retention member that is operable to bear against the first cable connector to hold the first cable connector to the second cable connector, wherein the retention member bears against the first cable connector in a first direction, and wherein the flexible portions bear against the second cable connector in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The cable connector retention structure defined in  claim 1 , wherein the cable connector retention structure further comprises flared portions in the flexible portions. 
     
     
       3. The cable connector retention structure defined in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible portions and the retention member comprise a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and metal. 
     
     
       4. The cable connector retention Structure defined in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible portions and the retention member comprise integral metal portions of a metal clip and wherein the flexible portions and the retention member have flared tips. 
     
     
       5. The cable connector retention structure defined in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible portions comprise a pair of curved members. 
     
     
       6. The cable connector retention structure defined in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible portions comprise a pair of flexible members with flared tips that are adapted to flex the flexible members away from each other when the cable connector retention structures are pressed onto the second cable connector along a longitudinal axis of the second cable connector. 
     
     
       7. A cable connector retention clip adapted to hold a first connector to a second connector, wherein the first and second connector are free of threads and wherein the second connector has a portion with a groove, comprising:
 first and second flexible members that are operable to grasp opposing sides of the groove; and 
 a connector retention structure that is connected to the first and second flexible members and that is operable to bear against the first connector to hold the first connector and second connector together. 
 
     
     
       8. The cable connector retention clip defined in  claim 7 , wherein the first and second flexible members comprise flared tips. 
     
     
       9. The cable connector retention clip defined in  claim 8  wherein the connector retention structure has a flared portion. 
     
     
       10. A method of maintaining a first cable in connection with a second cable using an adapter and a retention clip, wherein the first cable has a first radio-frequency connector, wherein the adapter has a second radio-frequency connector that is connected to the first radio-frequency connector and has a third radio-frequency connector, and wherein the second cable has a fourth radio-frequency connector that is connected to the third radio-frequency connector, the method comprising:
 grasping the adapter with a flexible portion of the clip; and 
 bearing against the first radio-frequency connector with a connector retention portion of the clip to hold the first radio-frequency connector and the second radio-frequency connector together. 
 
     
     
       11. The method defined in  claim 10 , wherein the flexible portion comprises a pair of opposing flexible members. 
     
     
       12. The method defined in  claim 11 , wherein the connector retention portion of the clip has a flared portion, the method further comprising:
 attaching the retention clip to the adapter by pressing the clip towards the adapter to cause the flared portion to ride up and over the first connector. 
 
     
     
       13. A cable connector retention structure adapted to help hold a first cable connector and a second cable connector together, comprising:
 a retention member that is operable to bear against the first cable connector to hold the first cable connector to the second cable connector; and 
 attachment mechanisms that attach the retention member to the second cable connector, wherein the attachment mechanisms are selected from the group consisting of: welds, solder, adhesive, screws, and rivets.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This relates to structures for holding cable connectors together, and more particular, to cable connector retention clips. 
     A variety of cables and connectors are used in modern electronic applications. For example, relatively large coaxial cables may be used to convey cable television signals. Smaller coaxial cables are often used in radio-frequency circuitry such as cellular telephones and computers. Miniature coaxial connectors can be provided at the ends of these small coaxial cables to allow the cables to be attached and detached from electronic equipment. 
     During testing, coaxial cable connectors may be used to connect a cable in a cellular telephone or other device that is being tested to a tester. In testing environments in which cables of different sizes are used, connectors may sometimes be used as adapters. For example, a connector with ports of different types can be used to form an interface between coaxial cables of different diameters. 
     It is generally desirable to securely attach cable connectors to each other. Accidental dislodgement of connectors and the cables to which the connectors are attached may interrupt testing and may damage sensitive equipment. Conventional miniature cable connectors are press fit together, so they may not always provide connections of sufficient stability. 
     It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved ways in which to secure cable connectors so that they cable connectors do not become accidentally disconnected during use. 
     SUMMARY 
     Electrical devices may be tested using test equipment. For example, an electronic device with radio-frequency circuitry may be tested using a radio-frequency tester. Cables may be used to convey radio-frequency signals from the device to the tester. 
     A radio-frequency cable that is associated with the device may have a radio-frequency connector. The test equipment that is used in testing the device may have an associated cable with a radio-frequency connector. An adapter may have a pair of radio-frequency connectors that are used in coupling the device cable and test equipment cable together. 
     One of the adapter connectors may be connected to the connector of the cable associated with the device and another of the adapter connectors may be connected to the connector of the cable that is associated with the tester. A retention clip may be attached to a groove in the adapter. Flexible members in the clip may each grasp an opposing side of the adapter. A retention member in the clip may bear against the connector on the cable that is associated with the device to hold the connectors for the device cable and the adapter together. 
     Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of an illustrative test system of the type that may contain cables with connectors in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of a cable connector and associated connector on an adapter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an illustrative clip that may be used in holding cable connectors together in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the illustrative clip of  FIG. 3  being used to hold cable connectors together in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another illustrative clip that may be used in holding cable connectors together in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the illustrative clip of  FIG. 5  being used to hold cable connectors together in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of an illustrative clip that has been attached to an adapter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of an illustrative clip that has been formed as an integral portion of an adapter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An illustrative system environment in which cables with connectors may be used is shown in  FIG. 1 . In the example of  FIG. 1 , system  10  is a test system in which test measurements are being made. If desired, cables with connectors may be used in other types of systems. The test system of  FIG. 1  is merely illustrative. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , test system  10  may include a device under test such as device under test  12 . Device under test  12  may include components such as components  14 . Components  14  may include integrated circuits, discrete electrical components, switches, connectors, and other circuit components. Components  14  may, for example, be mounted to a printed circuit board. Device under test  12  may be a printed circuit board, a partly or fully assembled electronic device (e.g., part or all of a tablet computer, desktop computer, laptop computer, computing equipment integrated into a computer monitor, cellular telephone, media player, or other electronic equipment), or other electronic equipment. 
     Cables such as cables  18  and  44  may be used to couple device under test  12  to external equipment such as tester  48 . During testing, circuitry such as circuitry in components  14  may generate signals that are evaluated by test equipment  48 . For example, circuitry  14  may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry that generates radio-frequency signals. It may be desirable to route the radio-frequency signals from circuitry  14  and device under test  12  to tester  48 , so that these signals can be measured. The results of this type of test measurement may allow a designer to made design modifications (e.g., in a scenario in which device  12  is a prototype) or may allow a technician to decide whether device  12  is performing sufficiently well to be shipped to end users (e.g., when device  12  is being evaluated at a test station in a manufacturing line). 
     In theory, a single cable could be used to connect device  12  to tester  48 . In practice, multiple cables are often used. In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , device under test  12  is coupled to tester  48  using a path that includes first cable  18  (e.g., a thin cable that is suitable for use in the interior housing of a cellular telephone or other device) and second cable  44  (e.g., a thicker cable that is suitable for attaching to tester  48  and being handled repeatedly by test personnel). 
     Cable  18  may be, for example, a cable with a diameter of less than 2 mm (e.g., 0.81 mm, 1.13 mm, 1.32 mm, 1.37 mm, etc.) and cable  44  may be, for example, a cable with a diameter of about 2-5 mm (as an example). 
     Cables  18  and  44  may have different terminating connectors. These connectors may be coupled to each other using an adapter such as adapter  38 . 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , cable  18  has a first end (end  20 ) having connector  16  and a second end (end  22 ) having connector  30 . Cable  44  may have a first end (end  56 ) having connector  46  and a second end (end  58 ) with a second connector (connector  42 ). Connector  16  of cable  18  may be a U.FL or W.FL connector (as an example) that is mated to a corresponding connector  50  in device  12 . Connectors of this type are compact and may not have room for threads and nuts (i.e., these connectors may be free of threads so that connections are formed by press fitting the connectors together). Connector  30  of cable  18  may likewise be a compact connector such as a U.FL or W.FL connector. As an example, connector  30  may be adapted to connect to connector  52  in device  12  during normal operation. During testing, connector  30  may be disconnected from connector  52  and attached to port  26  of adapter  38 . 
     Port  26  of adapter  38  may be, for example, a Hirose 
     U.FL (commonly referred to as U.FL) or Hirose W.FL (commonly referred to as W.FL) connector port that receives connector  30  (e.g., to form a press-fit connection). The other port of adapter  38  may be associated with a different type of connector. For example, the other port of adapter  38  may be a larger connector such as a SubMiniature version A (SMA) connector (i.e., adapter  38  may be an SMA-to-U.FL or SMA-to-W.FL adapter). The SMA connector port of adapter  38  may have threads  60  that screw into mating threads in connector  42  on cable  44 . Connector  42  may be, for example, an SMA connector. Connector  46  at end  56  of cable  44  may also be an SMA connector (as an example) and may mate with connector  54  in tester  48  (i.e., connector  54  may be an SMA connector). 
     In a configuration of this type, the relatively large diameter of cable  44  and the relatively larger sizes of connectors  42  and  46  help test personnel at tester  48  connect and disconnect cable  44  from equipment  48  and/or adapter  38 . SMA connectors have threads, so these connectors can be attached and detached from each other repeatedly as needed (e.g., by screwing and unscrewing threaded nuts in the SMA connectors). 
     The U.FL or W.FL connection schemes used in system  10  tend to be more delicate than SMA connectors (due to the miniature size and lack of threads in U.FL and W.FL connectors). Because these connections are small, they can be incorporated into compact enclosures. For example, connectors such as connectors  50  and  52  in device  12  may be surface-mounted components that are soldered to a printed circuit board in device  12 . 
     Adapter  38  forms a transition between connector  42  at end  58  of cable  44  and connector  30  at end  22  of cable  18 . The port of adapter  38  that has threads  60  and that is screwed into threaded connector  42  of cable  44  tends to form a connection that is more robust than the port of adapter  38  that is formed by connector  26 . 
     If care is not taken, cable  18  can become dislodged from adapter  38  as the components of system  10  are handled during testing. In particular, even relatively slight movements of cable end  22  in direction  62  (in the orientation of  FIG. 1 ) may cause cable connector  30  to separate from adapter port  26 . This can disrupt operation of test system  10  and may cause damage to the connectors or circuitry of system  10 . 
     To avoid undesirable disconnection between connector  30  and adapter port  26  of adapter  38  (or other connector that receives connector  30 ), a connector retention structure may be used. The connector retention structure may help hold connector  30  to the connector in port  26  of adapter  38  (or other such connector) during handling. 
     In the example of  FIG. 1 , connector retention structure  36  has been formed in the shape of a clip. The clip may be formed from a piece of flexible metal (e.g., spring metal), plastic, or other suitable materials. Connector retention portion  34  of clip  36  can be implemented using a flexible member that bears against the outermost surface of connector  30  to hold connector  30  in place against connector  26 . Flexible portion  64  of clip  36  may form engagement structures that mate with engagement structures on adapter  38 . Adapter  38  may, for example, have a groove such as groove  40  or other feature (e.g., a ridge, shoulder, tooling hole, protruding pin, etc.) that serves as an engagement structure. Portion  64  may have the shape of curved flexible member such as prongs that grasp adapter  38  within groove  40 . The grooved shape of groove  40  (or other such engagement structure) may help prevent portion  64  of clip  36  from slipping off of adapter  38  along its length. The curved shape of the prongs in portion  64  may be selected to surround and grasp the cylindrical surface of adapter  38  in groove  40 , so that clip  36  does not pull away from adapter  38  radially. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of a portion of adapter  38  and cable  22 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , cable  22  may be received within portion  24  of connector  30  (i.e., connector  30  may be pigtailed to cable  18 ). Connector  30  may mate with corresponding connector  26  on adapter  38  (sometimes referred to as dual-port connector  38  or connector  38 ). In the exploded view of  FIG. 2 , connectors  30  and  26  are disconnected. In the view of  FIG. 1 , connectors  30  and  26  have been connected to each other to allow measurements on device  12  and its circuitry  14  to be made using tester  48 . 
     A perspective view of an illustrative clip that may be used in holding cable connectors such as connectors  30  and  26  together is shown in  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , clip  36  may have a pair of flexible members such as prongs  64  having curved portions  66 A and  66 B. Curved portions  66 A and  66 B may have a width W that is less than the width of groove  40  of adapter  38  ( FIG. 1 ). This allows clip  36  to fit into groove  40  when attached to adapter  38 . To promote formation of a satisfactory attachment between clip  36  and adapter  38 , the radius of curvature of curved portions  66 A and  66 B (illustrated by radius R of  FIG. 3 ) may be selected to match the radius of curvature of adapter  38  in groove  40 . Tip portions  64 A and  64 B of prongs  64  may be flared outwards to facilitate expansion of prongs  64  away from each other and subsequent attachment of clip  36  to adapter  38  when clip  36  is moved towards adapter  38  in direction  70 . Vertical member  72  of clip  36  may be used to attach retention member  34  of clip  36  to prongs  64 . Flared region  74  of flexible member  34  may help portion  34  ride up and over connector  30  when clip  36  is pressed onto adapter  38 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the illustrative clip of  FIG. 3  being used to hold cable connector  30  and  26  together (i.e., to press connector  30  inwardly against connector  26  of adapter  38 ). 
     If desired, other connector retention structure configurations may be used.  FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an illustrative arrangement that may be used for clip  36  in which clip  36  is formed from a strip of metal in a W-shape and is adapted to be attached to adapter  38  by movement in downwards direction  84 . When pressed downwards against adapter  38  in direction  84 , flared tip portions  76  of flexible prongs  86  will cause prongs  86  to bend away from each other in directions  88  (i.e., in radially outward directions away from the longitudinal axis of adapter  38 ). Once clip  36  has been pressed into place on adapter  38 , prongs  78  (which may be formed form pieces of clip  36  that are bent inwardly from holes  80 ) may fit into groove  40  and may help retain clip  36  on adapter  38 . Portion  82  may form a connector retention structure that bears against the upper portion of connector  30  to hold connector  30  in place on adapter  38 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of clip  36  of  FIG. 5  after attachment to adapter  38  to hold connector  30  in place against connector port  26  of adapter  38 . 
     If desired, clip  36  may be formed from a combination of parts and/or materials (e.g., one or more metal members, one or more plastic members, one or more fiber-composite member, etc.). Connectors  30  and  16  need not be U.FL or W.FL connectors. Larger or smaller radio-frequency connectors or other suitable connectors may be used on cable  18  if desired (e.g., other connectors that are free of threads). Connectors  42  and  46  may be SMA connectors or may be larger or smaller radio-frequency connectors or other connectors on cable  18  (e.g., larger or smaller connectors with threads). 
     In the example of  FIG. 1 , adapter  38  has a first port with a connector (connector  26 ) that is adapted to mate with connector  30  and a second port with a connector (the connector associated with threads  60 ) that is adapted to mate with connector  42 . If desired, clip  36  may be used to hold connector  30  to a connector such as connector  26  that is pigtailed on the end of a cable such as cable  44  rather than being formed as part of an adapter. Connectors  50 ,  52 ,  26 ,  60  and  54  may be male connectors (as an example) and connectors  16 ,  30 ,  42 , and  46  may be female connectors (as an example). During testing, tester  48  may be coupled to circuitry such as circuitry  14  on device under test  12  or may be coupled to other circuitry in system  10  (e.g., another tester, a cable, an accessory, or other component that has a connector). System  10  may be used to perform tests or may be used to convey radio-frequency signals in connection with other suitable applications. 
     If desired, clip  36  may be attached to adapter  38  using welds, adhesive, screws or other fasteners, or other such attachment structures. Clip  36  may also, if desired, be formed as an integral portion of adapter  38  (e.g., by casting or machining clip  36  and adapter  38  from a unitary piece of material such as plastic, metal, etc.). 
     An illustrative configuration for clip  36  in which clip  36  is attached to adapter  38  is shown in  FIG. 7 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , clip  36  (e.g., a vertical portion of clip  36  or other suitable portion of clip  36 ) may be attached to adapter  36  using attachment mechanisms  100  (e.g., welds, solder, adhesive, screws, rivets, or other fasteners, etc.). In the  FIG. 7  example, clip  36  has been attached to a side portion of adapter  38 . This is merely illustrative. Clip  36  may be attached to adapter  38  (or other cable connector) along the top surface of adapter  38 , along a side surface, along other portions of adapter  38 , using more than one part of adapter  38 , etc. 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of an illustrative configuration for clip  36  in which clip  36  has been formed as an integral portion of adapter  38  (or other cable connector). Clip  36  and adapter  38  may, for example, be metal or plastic structures that are formed as a unitary part by casting these structures in the same mold (e.g., a metal mold, a plastic injection mold, etc.). 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20101109
Publication Date: 20121218
Grant Date: 20121218
Priority Date: 20101109
Inventors: NICKEL JOSHUA G.
HAYLOCK JONATHAN
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01R13/639", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/639", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 46020030