DE60037216T2 - Protection against electrostatic discharge in a coaxial connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A coaxial connector (2) for mating with a complementary connector (8), the coaxial connector (2) having an insulative housing with a passageway therethrough an inner contact (26) positioned in the passageway and being resiliently biased (62) and moveable along the longitudinal axis, the inner contact (26) has a mating end (56) and a connecting end (64) opposite thereto with a shoulder (36) therebetween; an outer contact (14) mounted to the housing and generally concentric to the inner contact (26), the outer contact (18) having a grounding contact for connection to a ground and a coupling end (14) for mating with the complementary connector (8), the coupling end including a fixing surface therealong; and, an electrostatic discharge protection member (28) in contact with the fixing surface and located relative the inner contact (26) such that prior to mating with the complementary connector (8), the shoulder (36) contacts the electrostatic discharge protection (28) member and upon mating with the complementary connector (8), the inner contact (26) is displaced such that the shoulder (36) is moved out of contact with the electrostatic discharge protection member (28). <IMAGE>

Description

The The present invention relates to coaxial connectors, and more particularly on the protection against electrostatic discharges in a coaxial Interconnects.

It are various communication devices, such as cellular hand phones, having electrical connectors on their outer surface. This electrical Enable connectors the connection of the device to peripheral support devices such as battery chargers, Data communications equipment for example, modems and antennas, as in a receiving station would be housed in a motor vehicle. Although these connectors the usefulness of the communication device to increase even further they also bring problems. For example, it is possible that while the user carries a communication device with him, this build up a static charge. The connectors are a way into the Electronics of the communication device, over the the static charge present at the user or elsewhere in the device enter and damage the electronics. Although these devices are typical with circuits inside the electronics for protection against electrostatic Loads are provided, it is desirable to provide these also in the connector in electro-mechanical form, to further protect the electronics inside.

A coaxial connector according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from FR-A-2733348 known. In this document, a coaxial connector for surface mounting is disclosed. The coaxial connector includes a miniature housing that includes two horizontally protruding electrically conductive strips that are directly connected to a printed circuit. The strips extend horizontally in the interior of the housing and have a flexible closure and interruption area. A resilient inner conductor has an insulating protruding portion which causes the spring contacts to be forced apart to form the switching action.

From the US-A-5490033 For example, a coaxial connector comprising a protective member against electrostatic charges in contact with the mounting surface and disposed relative to the inner contact, such that prior to insertion into the mating connector, the inner contact removes the discharge protection member in response to resilient biasing of the connector Protective member against electrostatic discharges contacted, so that the electrostatic discharge protection element is moved so that its contact with the inner contact is interrupted.

An example of an electrical connector with electrostatic discharge protection is shown in FIG WO / 96/13926 disclosed. This is an input / output data style communication connector that is part of a pickup station that houses a cellular handset. In the disclosed connector, a plurality of contacts having a central elastic spring portion are biased against a shorting bar before being connected to the male connector. The shorting bar creates a grounding path that prevents a static charge from propagating through the exposed contacts of the connector and reaching the base station circuitry. After insertion into the complementary connector, the contacts are pushed away from the shorting bar. This provides adequate protection for input / output style connectors. However, other connectors are incorporated in devices of this type.

Such a connector is a coaxial connector as shown in FIG WO / 98/31078 disclosed. Although cellular telephones typically have their own antennas, when placed in a receiving station of a motor vehicle, the cellular telephone is connected to an auxiliary antenna which is part of the motor vehicle. Since these connectors also provide an entry gate into the electronics of the connector, it is desirable to provide electrostatic discharge protection in these as well.

It is desirable that the electrostatic discharge protection in easier and less expensive Manner is provided because the connectors used are of high quality quality are and desirable is not to increase the price of these products. Further, although it is known is an electrostatic discharge protection in a coaxial To provide connectors, it is more difficult both an electrostatic To accommodate discharge protection as well as a functional switching feature, as it is in these cellular uses needed becomes.

The above objects are achieved by providing a coaxial connector for insertion into a complementary connector having the features of claim 1. What is described is a coaxial connector comprising: an insulative housing having a passage therethrough and a mounting surface on the exterior thereof, the passage defining a longitudinal axis generally corresponding to the direction of insertion of the connectors; an inner contact positioned in the passage and resiliently biased by a spring member which inner contact is slidable along the longitudinal axis, the inner contact having a male end extending out of the passage and a connecting end opposite thereto with a shoulder therebetween; one on the housing on the mounting surface befes said outer contact being generally concentric with said inner contact, said outer contact having a grounding contact for connection to ground and a coupling end for insertion into said mating connector, said coupling end having a mounting surface thereon; and an electrostatic discharge protection member in contact with the mounting surface and positioned relative to the inner contact such that, prior to insertion into the complementary connector, the shoulder contacts the electrostatic discharge protection member and in response to the resilient bias of the electrostatic discharge inner contact and after insertion into the complementary connector of the inner contact is shifted so that the contact of the shoulder is interrupted with the protective element against electrostatic discharges.

One Advantage of this invention is that the electrostatic Discharge protection is provided in a simple manner.

One Another advantage of the invention is that by forming the coupling end of the external contact as a leadership cup the electrostatic discharge protection element disc-shaped a through inner opening for access to the inner contact can be formed, and then pressed into the coupling end becomes.

One In turn, another advantage of the invention is that, since the internal contact is displaceable within the passage by a switch contact aligned with the connection end of the inner contact is installed, a switching function is achieved.

in the Below is an example of the invention with reference to the following drawings are described, wherein:

1 a side view of an electrical connector according to the invention represents;

2 a plan view of the electrical connector of 1 represents;

3 a view of the underside of the electrical connector of 1 represents;

4 a partially cutaway side view of the electrical connector of 1 represents;

5 a partially cutaway side view accordingly 4 showing insertion into a complementary connector.

Referring first to 1 a coaxial connector according to the invention is generally included 2 shown. In this exemplary embodiment, the coaxial connector includes 2 a first coaxial connector 4 and a second coaxial connector 6 , The first coaxial connector 4 is on the connection to a complementary connector 8th ( 5 ), which would be received in a receiving station or other type of docking station (not shown). The second coaxial connector 6 could be used for an antenna that would normally be attached to the device. As described below, the antenna that normally connects to the second connector 6 is connected via a switching mechanism, when the complementary connector 8th the docking station is connected to it. In this embodiment, although the connector 2 both the first coaxial connector 4 as well as the second coaxial connector 6 includes, both of which are described below, it is not absolutely necessary, the second connector 6 install.

The connector 2 includes an insulating housing 10 which part of both the first and the second coaxial connector 4 . 6 forms. The first connector 4 includes an external contact 12 with a cup-like introduction section 14 for receiving the complementary connector 8th and a ground contact 16 for connection to earth. In addition, the connector includes 2 a signal contact 18 , The second coaxial connector 6 includes a conductive outer jacket 20 and a dome-shaped inner contact 22 , The conductive outer jacket 20 includes a grounding tongue 24 ,

Referring to 2 includes the first coaxial connector 4 an inner contact 26 , that within the outer contact 12 is housed. An electrostatic discharge protection element 28 sits inside the cup-shaped section 14 the external contact 12 , The electrostatic discharge protection element 28 is advantageously as a disc with an outer surface 20 trained in the outer contact 12 is pressed to a mounting surface 32 to contact. The electrostatic discharge protection element 28 also includes an inner hole 34 through which the inner contact 26 runs. Further, the inner contact includes 26 one shoulder 36 extending below the electrostatic discharge protection element 28 over the edge of the inner hole 34 also extends such that the shoulder 36 in contact with the electrostatic discharge protection element 28 stands, as described in detail below.

Referring to 3 includes the insulating housing 10 on the first coaxial connector 4 a passage 38 in which the inner contact 26 is arranged. The first coaxial connector 4 further includes an elastically biased switching contact 40 which is described in more detail below, and the signal contact 18 of the coaxial connector 2 having. The switching contact 40 also includes a contacting end 42 which is usually elastic to a tangent 44 a second switch contact 46 is biased with the second connector 6 is linked. The second switching contact 46 also includes an elastically biased tongue 48 that usually have a floor 50 of inner contact 22 touched.

Referring to 4 is the electrical connector 2 such that its functions can be described with greater clarity. As mentioned above, the electrical connector 2 a switching function, which is a first switching contact 40 and a second switching contact 46 take advantage of the fact that the connection to the second coaxial connector 6 usually to the signal contact 18 of the connector 2 is coupled. This is accomplished by providing a resilient tongue 48 of the second switch normally the ground 50 of inner contact 22 of the second coaxial connector 6 touched, and the elastic tongue 42 of the first switch contact 40 that the signal contact 18 includes, usually the tangents 44 of the second switch contact 46 touched. As can be seen, thereby the circuit between the second connector 6 and the signal contact 18 closed. It is important to know that though this connector 2 a second coaxial connector 6 provides that the switching function may also cause coupling with the internal antenna circuits or with other structures that are not coupled to an external device.

The electrostatic protective feature is in the first coaxial connector 4 built-in. The insulating housing 10 includes a passage 52 , which is a longitudinal axis 54 generally defined by arrow A in FIG 5 shown insertion corresponds to the inner contact 26 is within the passage 52 provided, such that a spigot 56 outward from a surface 58 of the electrostatic discharge protection element protrudes. The inner contact further includes a flange 60 with a shoulder trained on it 36 and is usually opposite a lower surface 64 of the electrostatic discharge protection element by an elastic spring element 62 biased. In this case, the elastic element 62 a coil spring inside the passage 52 is arranged. It would also be possible to use the first switching contact 40 for preloading the inner contact 26 to use. The inner contact 26 also includes a connection end 64 , In this embodiment, the inner contact 26 through the elastic element 62 from the switching contact 40 biased away, leaving a gap in between 66 is formed. Nevertheless, the electrostatic discharge protection element is needed because a static charge is the gap 66 can skip. The outer conductor 12 is on a mounting surface 68 of the insulating housing 10 attached so that it is generally concentric to the inner contact 26 runs, in a well-known manner in the coaxial technique.

Referring to 5 is the plug-in connector 8th in this illustration in the direction indicated by arrow A in the cup-shaped portion 14 the external contact 12 plugged in. The plug-in connector 8th includes an inner contact 70 , a concentric insulator 72 , an external contact 74 and a housing section 76 , The outer contact 74 includes elastic contact arms 78 with contact sections thereon 80 that the outer contact 12 of the connector 2 touch. As you can see, the inner ladder touches 70 of the plug-in connector 8th in response to plugging in the male connector 8th in the direction indicated by arrow A, the Einteckabschnitt 56 of inner contact 26 and shifts the inner contact 26 within the passage 52 generally along the longitudinal axis 54 , As a result of this shift, the coil spring 62 pressed together. In addition, the shoulder becomes 36 of the flange 60 from the electrostatic discharge protection element 28 moved away. In addition, now comes with respect to the switching function, the first switching contact 40 in contact with the connection end 64 of the contact 26 , This will be the first switching contact 40 pressed in such a way that the Kontaktierzunge 42 from the contacting tangent 44 of the second switch contact 46 is moved away. This causes the decoupling of the second coaxial connector 6 from the signal contact 18 ,

On This way, in a simple and effective way, an advantageous provided coaxial connector with electrostatic discharge protection. Of Further, this electrostatic discharge protection feature is easy be installed in a coaxial connector.

Claims (6)

Coaxial connector ( 2 ) for insertion into a complementary connector ( 8th ) comprising: an insulating housing ( 10 ) with a passage ( 38 ) and a mounting surface on its outside, the passage defining a longitudinal axis generally corresponding to the direction of insertion of the connectors; an inner contact ( 26 ), which is positioned in the passage and elastically by a spring element ( 62 ), which inner contact is displaceable along the longitudinal axis, the inner contact being an insertion end (12) extending out of the passage (10). 56 ) and a this gegenüberlie connecting end ( 64 ) with an intervening shoulder ( 36 ) having; a fixed to the housing on the mounting surface outer contact ( 12 ), which is generally concentric with the inner contact, which outer contact has a ground contact for connection to ground and a coupling end ( 14 ) for insertion into the complementary connector, the coupling end having a mounting surface ( 32 ) on this; characterized in that a protective element ( 28 ) is in contact with the attachment surface and positioned relative to the inner contact such that prior to insertion into the complementary connector, the shoulder contacts the ESD protection member and in response to the elastic bias of the inner contact and after Inserted into the complementary connector of the inner contact is shifted so that the contact of the shoulder is interrupted with the protective element against electrostatic discharges. Coaxial connector according to claim 1, wherein the protective element ( 28 ) against electrostatic discharges a disk with an outer surface ( 20 ) which engages in the mounting surface ( 32 ) of external contact ( 12 ), and the disc has an inner opening ( 34 ), through which the inner contact is accessible to the male connector. A coaxial connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the disc is in the outer contact ( 12 ) and engaged in the mounting surface ( 32 ) is brought. Coaxial connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner contact ( 26 ) a feather ( 62 ) included in the passage ( 38 ) of the housing ( 10 ) is positioned to elastically bias the contact. Coaxial connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connector further comprises a first switching contact ( 40 ) with an elastic end ( 42 ) for engaging a plug-in tangent ( 44 ) of the second switch contact ( 46 ) and a signal contact ( 18 ), wherein the inner contact, by being inserted into the complementary connector, deflects the first switching contact and thereby disrupts its engagement in the second switching contact. A coaxial connector according to claim 5, wherein the coaxial connector comprises a second coaxial connector ( 6 ) and the second switching contact ( 46 ) to the inner contact ( 22 ) is connected to the same.