CN111224265A

CN111224265A - Connector with a locking member

Info

Publication number: CN111224265A
Application number: CN201811406189.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 汪云河; 宋志刚; 陈家辉; 周闯鹏; 戴子富; 翟鹏
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics Shanghai Co Ltd
Current assignee: Tyco Electronics Shanghai Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-11-23
Filing date: 2018-11-23
Publication date: 2020-06-02

Abstract

The invention discloses a connector, comprising: an outer conductor including first and second outer conductors slidingly assembled together; a center conductor disposed in the outer conductor and electrically isolated from the outer conductor; and an elastic member disposed outside the outer conductor and adapted to exert an axial thrust on the first outer conductor so that the first outer conductor can be brought into electrical contact with the first circuit board. The center conductor is a single, unitary component and includes: a body portion extending in an axial direction of the connector and having first and second ends; a contact portion located at a first end of the main body portion and protruding outward from the first end; and a spring portion connected between the second end of the main body portion and the contact portion, adapted to exert an axial thrust on the contact portion. In the present invention, since the center conductor is a single integral part, the problem of unstable electrical contact between two separate center conductor parts is avoided, and the number of parts is reduced, reducing the cost of the connector.

Description

Connector with a locking member

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly, to a coaxial rf connector.

Background

In the prior art, radio frequency coaxial connectors adapted to be connected between two circuit boards generally comprise an outer conductor, a center conductor, and an insulator. The center conductor is disposed in the outer conductor. An insulator is disposed between the outer conductor and the center conductor for electrically isolating the center conductor from the outer conductor.

In the prior art, the outer conductor typically includes a first outer conductor, a second outer conductor, and a first spring disposed between the first outer conductor and the second outer conductor. The first spring applies an axial pushing force to the first outer conductor so that the first outer conductor can be in electrical contact with one circuit board.

In the prior art, the central conductor generally has a spring type probe structure, including a first central conductor, a second central conductor, and a second spring disposed between the first central conductor and the second central conductor. The second center conductor has a cylindrical portion in which one end of the first center conductor is slidably inserted, and the second spring is compressed in the cylindrical portion of the second center conductor by the first center conductor. The second spring applies an axial pushing force to the first center conductor so that the first center conductor can be in electrical contact with one of the circuit boards.

Furthermore, in the prior art, an inclined contact surface is formed on the end of the first central conductor which is accommodated in the second central conductor. Under the action of the axial thrust exerted by the second spring, the contact surface of the first center conductor is in electrical contact with the inner wall surface of the second center conductor. However, when the circuit board vibrates or an external pushing force is applied to the first center conductor, the inclined contact surface of the first center conductor may be separated from the inner wall surface of the second center conductor, which may cause a problem in that the electrical contact between the first center conductor and the second center conductor is unstable.

Further, in the prior art, since the center conductor includes at least three separate parts, the number of parts of the connector is excessive, increasing the cost of the connector.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the above problems and disadvantages in the prior art.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector including: an outer conductor including a first outer conductor and a second outer conductor slidingly assembled together; a center conductor disposed in the outer conductor and electrically isolated from the outer conductor; and an elastic element, arranged outside the outer conductor, adapted to exert an axial thrust on the first outer conductor, so that the first outer conductor can be in electrical contact with the first circuit board. The center conductor is a single, unitary component, and the center conductor includes: a body portion extending in an axial direction of the connector and having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end; a contact portion located at the first end of the main body portion and protruding outward from the first end of the main body portion; and a spring portion connected between the second end of the main body portion and the contact portion, adapted to exert an axial pushing force on the contact portion so that the contact portion can be electrically contacted with the first circuit board.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the center conductor further includes a short-circuiting portion having one end connected to the contact portion and the other end in sliding electrical contact with the main body portion; the short circuit portion short-circuits the contact portion to the main body portion to prevent a signal current from flowing through the spring portion.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the spring portion is an elastic member bent in a wave shape, and the spring portion is elastically deformable by being pressed in an axial direction of the connector.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an arc contact protruding toward an outer surface of the main body portion is formed at a distal end of the shorting portion, the arc contact being in sliding electrical contact with the outer surface of the main body portion.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the body of the short-circuiting part has a plate shape.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the contact portion has an arc plate shape protruding outward, and a protruding rib-like contact adapted to electrically contact with the first circuit board is formed on the contact portion.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the main body portion has a frame shape having an inner space, and the spring portion is accommodated in the inner space of the main body portion.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the main body portion includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a third sidewall defining the inner space; the first side wall is located on a first side of the main body portion, and the second side wall is located on a second side of the main body portion opposite to the first side wall; the third side wall is positioned at a third side of the main body part and is connected between the first side wall and the second side wall; an opening is formed on a fourth side of the body portion opposite the third side wall.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the main body further comprises a fixing wall at the second end of the main body, the fixing wall being connected between the first and second side walls and located at the fourth side of the main body; one end of the spring part is connected to the fixing wall of the main body part, and the other end is connected to the contact part.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the main body further includes a pair of limiting fingers located at the first end of the main body, the pair of limiting fingers being located at the fourth side of the main body and connected to the first sidewall and the second sidewall, respectively, the pair of limiting fingers being used for limiting the other end of the spring part in the inner space of the main body.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the connector further comprises an insulating seat formed on the first outer conductor by insert molding; one end of the elastic element abuts against the insulating seat and is used for applying axial thrust to the first outer conductor.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first outer conductor comprises at least one electrical contact foot, which is exposed from a surface of the insulating seat for electrical contact with the first circuit board.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a raised electrical contact is formed on each of the electrical contact feet, the electrical contact being adapted to make electrical contact with an electrical contact pad on the first circuit board.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a first positioning flange is formed on an exterior of the second outer conductor, a second positioning flange is formed on an exterior of the insulator base, and both ends of the elastic member abut against the first positioning flange and the second positioning flange, respectively.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a through hole is formed on the insulating base, and the contact portion of the center conductor passes through the through hole and protrudes to the outside of the insulating base so as to be electrically contacted with the first circuit board.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the connector further comprises an insulator disposed between the outer conductor and the center conductor for holding the center conductor in the outer conductor and electrically isolated from the outer conductor.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a protrusion is formed on an outer wall of the second end of the body portion, a recess is formed on an inner wall of the insulator, and the protrusion of the body portion is snapped into the recess of the insulator.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the center conductor is a single integral part made by stamping and bending a single sheet of metal material.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, one end of the first outer conductor is slidingly inserted in the second outer conductor and is in electrical contact with the second outer conductor.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the second outer conductor is adapted to be electrically connected to a second circuit board, and the second end of the main body portion of the center conductor is adapted to be electrically connected to the second circuit board.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the second outer conductor is adapted to be electrically connected with the second circuit board in an electrical contact, soldering, plugging or screwing manner; the main body part of the central conductor is suitable for being electrically connected with the second circuit board in an electric contact, welding, plugging or threaded connection mode.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the connector is a radio frequency coaxial connector adapted to be electrically connected between the first circuit board and the second circuit board.

In each of the foregoing exemplary embodiments according to the present invention, since the center conductor of the connector is a single integral part, the problem of unstable electrical contact between two separate center conductor parts is avoided, and the number of parts of the connector is reduced, reducing the cost of the connector.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings, and may assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention.

Drawings

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a connector according to an example embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the connector shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the center conductor of the connector of FIG. 2;

fig. 4 shows another perspective view of the center conductor of the connector shown in fig. 2.

Detailed Description

The technical scheme of the invention is further specifically described by the following embodiments and the accompanying drawings. In the specification, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar components. The following description of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings is intended to explain the general inventive concept of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the invention.

Furthermore, in the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the disclosure. It may be evident, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in schematic form in order to simplify the drawing.

According to one general technical concept of the present invention, there is provided a connector including: an outer conductor including a first outer conductor and a second outer conductor slidingly assembled together; a center conductor disposed in the outer conductor and electrically isolated from the outer conductor; and an elastic element, arranged outside the outer conductor, adapted to exert an axial thrust on the first outer conductor, so that the first outer conductor can be in electrical contact with the first circuit board. The center conductor is a single, unitary component, and the center conductor includes: a body portion extending in an axial direction of the connector and having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end; a contact portion located at the first end of the main body portion and protruding outward from the first end of the main body portion; and a spring portion connected between the second end of the main body portion and the contact portion, adapted to exert an axial pushing force on the contact portion so that the contact portion can be electrically contacted with the first circuit board.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a connector according to an example embodiment of the invention; fig. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the connector shown in fig. 1.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector mainly includes:

outer conductors

110, 120, center conductor 200, and spring element 150. The

outer conductors

110, 120 include a first outer conductor 110 and a second outer conductor 120 that are slidingly assembled together. The center conductor 200 is disposed in the

outer conductors

110, 120 and is electrically isolated from the

outer conductors

110, 120. The resilient element 150 is arranged outside the

outer conductors

110, 120 and is adapted to exert an axial pushing force on the first outer conductor 110 such that the first outer conductor 110 may be in electrical contact with a first circuit board (not shown).

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the center conductor 200 of the connector of FIG. 2;

fig. 4 shows another perspective view of the center conductor 200 of the connector shown in fig. 2.

As shown in fig. 1-4, in the illustrated embodiment, center conductor 200 is a single, unitary component. The center conductor 200 mainly includes: a body portion 210, a contact portion 230, and a spring portion 220. The body portion 210 extends in the axial direction of the connector, and has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The contact portion 230 is located at a first end of the body portion 210 and protrudes outward from the first end of the

body portion

210, 220, 230. The spring portion 220 is connected between the second end of the body portion 210 and the contact portion 230 and is adapted to exert an axial pushing force on the contact portion 230 so that the contact portion 230 can make electrical contact with the first circuit board.

As shown in fig. 1-4, in the illustrated embodiment, center conductor 200 further includes a shorting section 240. The short 240 has one end connected to the contact 230 and the other end in sliding electrical contact with the body 210. The shorting portion 240 shorts the contact portion 230 to the body portion 210 to prevent signal current from flowing through the spring portion 220.

As shown in fig. 1-4, in the illustrated embodiment, the resistance of the short 240 is very small, while the resistance of the spring 220 is very high, much larger than the short 240. Therefore, the signal current directly flows through the short portion 240, and does not flow through the spring portion 220.

As shown in fig. 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the spring portion 220 is an elastic member bent in a wave shape. The spring portion 220 is elastically deformable under pressure in the axial direction of the connector.

As shown in fig. 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, an arc contact 240a protruding toward the outer surface of the body portion 210 is formed at the end of the short portion 240, and the arc contact 240a is in sliding electrical contact with the outer surface of the body portion 210.

As shown in fig. 1-4, in the illustrated embodiment, the body of the short 240 is plate-shaped.

As shown in fig. 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the contact portion 230 has an arc-shaped plate shape protruding outward, and a protruding rib-shaped contact 230a is formed on the contact portion 230, and the rib-shaped contact 230a is adapted to be electrically contacted with the first circuit board.

As shown in fig. 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the main body portion 210 has a frame shape having an inner space 201, and the spring portion 220 is accommodated in the inner space 201 of the main body portion 210.

As shown in fig. 1-4, in the illustrated embodiment, the body portion 210 includes a first sidewall 211, a second sidewall 212, and a third sidewall 213 that define an interior space 201. The first sidewall 211 is located on a first side of the body portion 210, and the second sidewall 212 is located on a second side of the body portion 210 opposite to the first sidewall 211; the third sidewall 213 is located at a third side of the body portion 210 and is connected between the first sidewall 211 and the second sidewall 212. An opening is formed on a fourth side of the body portion 210 opposite to the third side wall 213.

As shown in fig. 1-4, in the illustrated embodiment, the body portion 210 further includes a fixing wall 214 located at the second end of the body portion 210, the fixing wall 214 being connected between the first sidewall 211 and the second sidewall 212 and located at the fourth side of the body portion 210. The spring part 220 has one end connected to the fixing wall 214 of the body part 210 and the other end connected to the contact part 230.

As shown in fig. 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the main body 210 further includes a pair of limiting fingers 202 located at a first end of the main body 210, the pair of limiting fingers 202 being located at a fourth side of the main body 210 and connected to the first sidewall 211 and the second sidewall 212, respectively, the pair of limiting fingers 202 being used for limiting the other end of the spring part 220 in the inner space 201 of the main body 210.

As shown in fig. 1-4, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector further includes an insulator base 140, the insulator base 140 being insert molded over the first outer conductor 110; one end of the elastic member 150 abuts on the insulator seat 140 for applying an axial pushing force to the first outer conductor 110.

As shown in fig. 1-4, in the illustrated embodiment, the first outer conductor 110 includes at least one electrical contact pin 111, the at least one electrical contact pin 111 being exposed from a surface of the insulator base 140 for electrical contact with a first circuit board.

As shown in fig. 1-4, in the illustrated embodiment, a raised electrical contact 111a is formed on each electrical contact pin 111, the electrical contact 111a being adapted to make electrical contact with an electrical contact pad on a first circuit board.

As shown in fig. 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, a first positioning flange 152 is formed outside the second outer conductor 120, a second positioning flange 142 is formed outside the insulator base 140, and both ends of the elastic member 150 abut against the first positioning flange 152 and the second positioning flange 142, respectively.

As shown in fig. 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, a through hole 141 is formed on the insulating base 140, and the contact portion 230 of the center conductor 200 passes through the through hole 141 and protrudes to the outside of the insulating base 140 so as to be electrically contacted with the first circuit board.

As shown in fig. 1-4, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector further includes an insulator 160. An insulator 160 is disposed between the

outer conductors

110, 120 and the center conductor 200 for holding the center conductor 200 in the

outer conductors

110, 120 and electrically isolated from the

outer conductors

110, 120.

As shown in fig. 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, a convex portion 203 is formed on an outer wall of the second end of the body portion 210, a concave portion is formed on an inner wall of the insulator 160, and the convex portion 203 of the body portion 210 is snapped into the concave portion of the insulator 160.

As shown in fig. 1-4, in the illustrated embodiment, center conductor 200 is a single, unitary component made by stamping and bending a single sheet of metal material.

As shown in fig. 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, one end of the first outer conductor 110 is slidably inserted into the second outer conductor 120 and electrically contacts the second outer conductor 120.

As shown in fig. 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the second outer conductor 120 is adapted to be electrically connected to a second circuit board (not shown), and the second end of the main body portion 210 of the center conductor 200 is adapted to be electrically connected to the second circuit board.

As shown in fig. 1-4, in the illustrated embodiment, the second outer conductor 120 is adapted to be electrically connected to a second circuit board by electrical contact, soldering, plugging or screwing. Body portion 210 of center conductor 200 is adapted to be electrically connected to a second circuit board by electrical contact, soldering, plugging or threading.

As shown in fig. 1-4, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector is a radio frequency coaxial connector adapted to electrically connect between a first circuit board and a second circuit board.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described above are exemplary and can be modified by those skilled in the art, and that the structures described in the various embodiments can be freely combined without conflict in structure or principle.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the accompanying drawings, the embodiments disclosed in the drawings are intended to be illustrative of preferred embodiments of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the invention.

Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

It should be noted that the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the words "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A connector, comprising:

an outer conductor (110, 120) comprising a first outer conductor (110) and a second outer conductor (120) slidingly assembled together;

a center conductor (200) disposed in the outer conductor (110, 120) and electrically isolated from the outer conductor (110, 120); and

an elastic element (150) arranged outside said outer conductor (110, 120) and adapted to exert an axial thrust on said first outer conductor (110) so that said first outer conductor (110) can be in electrical contact with a first circuit board,

the method is characterized in that:

the center conductor (200) is a single integral component, and the center conductor (200) includes:

a body portion (210) extending in an axial direction of the connector, having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;

a contact portion (230) located at a first end of the body portion (210) and protruding outward from the first end of the body portion (210, 220, 230); and

a spring portion (220) connected between the second end of the body portion (210) and the contact portion (230) adapted to exert an axial pushing force on the contact portion (230) such that the contact portion (230) may be in electrical contact with a first circuit board.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein:

the central conductor (200) further comprises a short-circuit portion (240), one end of the short-circuit portion (240) is connected to the contact portion (230), and the other end of the short-circuit portion is in sliding electrical contact with the main body portion (210);

the shorting portion (240) shorts the contact portion (230) to the main body portion (210) to prevent a signal current from flowing through the spring portion (220).

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein:

the spring portion (220) is an elastic member bent in a wave shape, and the spring portion (220) is elastically deformable by being pressed in an axial direction of the connector.

4. The connector of claim 2, wherein:

an arc contact (240a) protruding toward the outer surface of the main body portion (210) is formed at the tip of the shorting portion (240), and the arc contact (240a) is in sliding electrical contact with the outer surface of the main body portion (210).

5. The connector of claim 4, wherein: the body of the short-circuiting part (240) is plate-shaped.

6. The connector of claim 2, wherein:

the contact part (230) is in the shape of an arc plate protruding outwards, a protruding rib-shaped contact (230a) is formed on the contact part (230), and the rib-shaped contact (230a) is suitable for being in electric contact with the first circuit board.

7. The connector of claim 2, wherein:

the main body portion (210) is frame-shaped and has an inner space (201), and the spring portion (220) is accommodated in the inner space (201) of the main body portion (210).

8. The connector of claim 7, wherein:

the main body portion (210) comprises a first sidewall (211), a second sidewall (212) and a third sidewall (213) defining the inner space (201);

the first sidewall (211) is located on a first side of the body portion (210), and the second sidewall (212) is located on a second side of the body portion (210) opposite the first sidewall (211); the third side wall (213) is located at a third side of the main body portion (210) and is connected between the first side wall (211) and the second side wall (212);

an opening is formed on a fourth side of the main body portion (210) that is opposite to the third side wall (213).

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein:

the body portion (210) further comprises a securing wall (214) at a second end of the body portion (210), the securing wall (214) being connected between the first sidewall (211) and the second sidewall (212) and located at a fourth side of the body portion (210);

one end of the spring part (220) is connected to the fixing wall (214) of the main body part (210), and the other end is connected to the contact part (230).

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein:

the main body part (210) further comprises a pair of limiting fingers (202) located at the first end of the main body part (210), the pair of limiting fingers (202) are located at the fourth side of the main body part (210) and are respectively connected to the first side wall (211) and the second side wall (212), and the pair of limiting fingers (202) are used for limiting the other end of the spring part (220) in the inner space (201) of the main body part (210).

11. The connector of claim 1, wherein:

the connector further comprises an insulating seat (140), the insulating seat (140) being formed on the first outer conductor (110) by insert molding;

one end of the elastic element (150) abuts against the insulating seat (140) for applying an axial thrust to the first outer conductor (110).

12. The connector of claim 11, wherein:

the first outer conductor (110) comprises at least one electrical contact pin (111), the at least one electrical contact pin (111) being exposed from a surface of the insulating seat (140) for electrical contact with the first circuit board.

13. The connector of claim 12, wherein:

a raised electrical contact (111a) is formed on each of the electrical contact feet (111), the electrical contact (111a) being adapted to make electrical contact with an electrical contact pad on the first circuit board.

14. The connector of claim 11, wherein:

a first positioning flange (152) is formed outside the second outer conductor (120), a second positioning flange (142) is formed outside the insulating base (140), and two ends of the elastic element (150) respectively abut against the first positioning flange (152) and the second positioning flange (142).

15. The connector of claim 11, wherein:

a through hole (141) is formed in the insulating base (140), and the contact portion (230) of the center conductor (200) passes through the through hole (141) and protrudes outside the insulating base (140) to be electrically contacted with the first circuit board.

16. The connector of claim 1, wherein:

the connector further includes an insulator (160), the insulator (160) being disposed between the outer conductor (110, 120) and the center conductor (200) for retaining the center conductor (200) in the outer conductor (110, 120) and being electrically isolated from the outer conductor (110, 120).

17. The connector of claim 16, wherein:

a convex part (203) is formed on the outer wall of the second end of the main body part (210), a concave part is formed on the inner wall of the insulator (160), and the convex part (203) of the main body part (210) is buckled in the concave part of the insulator (160).

18. The connector of claim 1, wherein:

the center conductor (200) is a single, unitary component made by stamping and bending a single sheet of metal material.

19. The connector of claim 1, wherein:

one end of the first outer conductor (110) is slidably inserted into the second outer conductor (120) and is in electrical contact with the second outer conductor (120).

20. The connector of claim 1, wherein:

the second outer conductor (120) is adapted to be electrically connected to a second circuit board, and the second end of the body portion (210) of the center conductor (200) is adapted to be electrically connected to the second circuit board.

21. The connector of claim 20, wherein:

the second outer conductor (120) is adapted to be electrically connected to the second circuit board in an electrical contact, soldering, plugging or screwing manner;

the body portion (210) of the center conductor (200) is adapted to be electrically connected to the second circuit board by electrical contact, soldering, plugging or screwing.

22. The connector of claim 1, wherein:

the connector is a radio frequency coaxial connector adapted to electrically connect between the first circuit board and the second circuit board.