EP1250731B1 - Coaxial electrical connector and assembly comprising same - Google Patents

Abstract

A coaxial electrical connector portion comprises a central conductor and an outer body (1) forming a ground contact and defining a cylindrical inside cavity. The central conductor is a metallized track (6) made on one face of a printed circuit insert (3), said printed circuit insert also carrying at least one metallized zone made on the face of the insert opposite from its face carrying said track (6) and/or on the face carrying it, said metallized zone(s) being electrically connected to ground and being in contact with the body (1) of said connector portion.

Description

The present invention relates to a coaxial electrical connector element as well as a coaxial electrical connector comprising such an element and also providing a switching function.

We already know many types of coaxial connectors that allow to connect a power line to another power line when the two elements connector are engaged one in the other.

Such connectors are in particular used in the field of telecommunications, in particular for connecting portable devices such as cell phones to a test device, or an outdoor antenna or equipment electronic especially when the mobile phone is to be used in a vehicle automobile.

The applicant company has already described in US-A-5,580,261 such a connector electric ensuring a switching function and comprising a first connector element comprising a central conductor and a ground conductor which surrounds the central conductor, being separated from the latter by an insulator, as well as a third conductor which is in electrical contact with the central conductor, the coupled state of the connector and a second connector element comprising a central conductor and an external earth conductor separated by an insulator, said second connector element being arranged for, when it is coupled with said first connector element, move the central conductor and the third apart conductor of the first connector element, and bringing the conductors into contact the two connector elements.

It was intended in this document that over most of its length, the third conductor of the first connector element is separated from the central conductor of this connector element by the ground conductor.

In another embodiment described in US-A-5,453,019, the central conductor and the third conductor of the first connector element are formed by two blades conductive elastic in mutual support in uncoupled position of the connector, and the central conductor of the second connector element supported on an extension of the insulation provided in this second connector element engages during coupling connector elements, between the two conductive elastic blades by spreading them apart.

In practice, the first connector element can be a socket mounted on a printed circuit board and the second connector element can be a plug mounted at the end of a coaxial cable and capable of engaging in the base.

Given the dimensions required by known structures, the first connector element forming a base is mounted on the printed circuit board according to an "edge card" arrangement, that is to say that the axis of the base is parallel to the card.

For accessibility reasons, it is desirable to be able to mount the element of connector forming a base perpendicular to the printed circuit board, as this is the case with the coaxial connector described in JP-A-10125410, which reduces the height available for the connector element in the object, such as a mobile telephone, in which he climbed.

Known coaxial electrical connectors cannot, in practice, be as miniaturized as you would like, while being designed economical, in particular due to the structure of the second connector element forming a plug, in particular taking into account the arrangement of the central conductor thereof and insulation that holds the central conductor. Known coaxial connectors therefore have a complementary connector element, forming a base, of relatively large dimension especially in the axial direction.

US-A-5 430 19 shows a connector element according to the preamble of claim 1.

The present invention proposes to provide a connector element electrical coaxial usable in particular in an electrical coaxial connector ensuring also a switching function, allowing to achieve a high degree of miniaturization while being economically designed, by a new realization of central contact. In addition, the connector element according to the invention ensures, when it is used with an excellent switching switching connector element radio isolation between the two power lines to be switched.

The present invention relates to an electrical connector element according to claim 1.

Two cavities are thus produced in the connector element according to the invention electromagnetically isolated, one transmitting the signal and the other having a function isolation from electromagnetic radiation.

The track forming a central contact according to the invention alone constitutes a microwave transmission line, in relation to the metallized zone or zones in contact with the mass.

Preferably the printed circuit board is held in the body in being engaged in diametrically opposite grooves of the inner wall of a extension of a narrowed section of said body.

The connector element may have a straight or angled shape.

The present invention also relates to an assembly according to claim 5.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique d'un élément de connecteur coaxial selon l'invention, agencé en fiche mise en place à l'extrémité d'un câble coaxial,
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective partiellement en coupe d'un élément de connecteur complémentaire de celui de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective partiellement en coupe des éléments des connecteurs des figures 1 et 2 en position assemblée,
• les figures 4 à 7 représentent des variantes de plaquettes de circuits imprimés utilisées dans l'élément de connecteur selon la figure 1.

Other advantages and optional features of the present invention will appear on reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the appended drawing in which:

• FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a coaxial connector element according to the invention, arranged in the form of a plug placed at the end of a coaxial cable,
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view partially in section of a connector element complementary to that of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view partially in section of the elements of the connectors of FIGS. 1 and 2 in the assembled position,
• FIGS. 4 to 7 represent variants of printed circuit boards used in the connector element according to FIG. 1.

The coaxial electrical connector element according to the invention illustrated in the Figure 1 comprises an outer body 1 forming a ground contact, defining internally a cylindrical cavity 2 in which is placed a plate of elongated rectangular circuit board 3.

As seen in Figure 1, the printed circuit board 3 is maintained by being retained at its end in two diametrically opposite grooves 4 made in the inner wall of an extension of the body, of narrowed section of shape cylindro-conical 5, the end edge of the plate 3 being at the level of the face end of extension 5.

The plate has on one of its faces a metallized track 6 extending substantially axially in the connector element once the plate 3 has been place therein, said track 6 extending from one end to the other or substantially from one end to the other of said plate. Different variants of this metallic track which constitutes the central conductor of the connector element in which it is mounted, are going to be described later with reference to Figures 4 and 6.

At its end opposite to that illustrated in FIG. 1, track 6 of the wafer is brought to be connected to a conductor of a connected element, in particular, as seen in Figure 3, the central conductor 7 of a coaxial cable having a external ground conductor 8, separated by an insulator 9 from the central conductor 7.

The body 1 of the connector element is arranged to receive in its cavity central 2 the coaxial cable as seen in figure 3.

It should be noted that in FIG. 3, for greater clarity, the metallic track of the printed circuit board 3 has not been shown.

The connector element shown in Figure 1 can be used in conjunction with a complementary connector element in the form of a base, illustrated in FIG. 2, for make a coaxial electrical connector to provide a switching.

The base illustrated in Figure 2, and which is found in the assembled position on Figure 3 comprises a cylindrical body 10 having a flared upper part 11 forming a ground conductor, capable of being fixed by lugs 12 to a ground line a printed circuit board, not shown, perpendicular to which is mounted the base.

The base comprises two conductive metal blades 13a, 13b bearing one against the other in the rest position, as seen in Figure 2, connected by tabs 14 to tracks of the printed circuit board (not shown), the blades 13a, 13b being separated from the body 10 of the base by insulating bodies 15.

When one wishes to carry out a commutation, one assembles the two elements connector, blade 13a then coming into contact with track 6 forming central contact, blade 13b coming into contact with the opposite face of the printed circuit board 3 which, as will be seen in connection with FIGS. 5 and 7, may or may not have a metallized face.

The track 6 of the plate 3 ensures in the switched position, illustrated in the Figure 3, electrical continuity between the blade 13a and the central conductor 7 of the cable coaxial.

Once the connector element fitted with the plate 3 is removed printed circuit of the base, the blades 13a and 13b return to mutual support.

The body 1 forming a ground contact can be made of a material conductive or, where appropriate, made of a non-conductive material metallized in the zones, interior and exterior respectively, in which, in the assembled position, it is brought into contact respectively with the ground conductor 8 of the coaxial cable and the body 10, 11 of the base, as well as in contact with the metallized areas forming contact of mass of the wafer which will be described in more detail below.

We now refer to Figures 4 and 5 which illustrate variants of metallization on the two respective faces of the circuit board printed 3.

Figures 4 and 5 correspond to an embodiment of the "stripline line" type.

Figures 4a, 4b, 4c illustrate variants of the metallized track 6 forming the central conductor of the connector element illustrated in FIG. 1.

In the three illustrated embodiments, the track has parts flared end, and therefore has, in plan view, a general shape of dumbbell. In the embodiment of FIG. 4a, the track 6 extends to the ends of the card.

The flared end portion has the advantage of ensuring electrical contact with the signal blade 13a of the complementary connector element, even in the event of wrong positioning. It was found that after a large number of maneuvers. the base plates could wear despite the coatings used. In this case, he may become difficult to obtain reliable contact in the unswitched position and illustrated in the figure 2.

To remedy this problem, the mode 6 can be implemented of FIG. 4b in which the flared end portion of track 6 is divided into two parts separated by a non-metallic area. Contact continues do on either side of the metallization but the central area of the blade is not not worn by friction on a metallic track of the printed circuit board. We thus keeps a very little worn area on the base plates. In the no position switched, these unworn areas come into contact with each other ensuring good electric contact. In the switched position, it is the worn areas of the blade which come into contact with the metallized parts of the wafer. We increase, thanks to this achievement, the life of the product in a way that can prove significant.

It is also possible to implement the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4c where the flared part of the metallized track 6 is slightly offset from the end edge of the card. This realization also makes it possible to modify the conditions friction and therefore wear.

The opposite side of the card, two embodiments of which are shown in Figures 5a and 5b is intended to come into contact with the opposite blade 13b of the base.

Advantageously, this face of the printed circuit board is metallized on its entire surface, the metallization 16 being apparent over the entire surface as illustrated in Figure 5a or covered in its central part with an insulating varnish as seen in FIG. 5b making it possible to keep the blade 13b of the base isolated. This extra thickness provided by the insulating varnish ensures better insulation between electrical tracks.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show alternative embodiments of the "line" type coplanar ".

The face of the plate comprising the metallized track 6 forming a contact central comprises a metallization 17 transforming the microwave line into a line of coplanar type.

The ground plane on the opposite face formed by a metallization 16 can be maintained by being coated if necessary with an insulating varnish as in the case of the figure 5b, (Figures 7b and 7c) or even deleted (Figure 7a) without too significant degradation of performance. In the case of a printed circuit board embodiment comprising faces as shown in Figures 6b and 7c, through holes 18 to the wall metallized, four in number in the example illustrated, can be arranged by highlighting communication the mass metallizations of the two opposite faces of the circuit board printed 3.

The present invention allows, thanks to the design of the element connector forming plug, as illustrated in Figure 1, to manufacture elements of complementary connector in the form of a very simple socket which can be obtained by mass production means, the body obtainable, by example, by deep drawing and the elastic blades by cutting.

When the connector element according to the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1 is used with a connector element such as a header, shown in Figure 2, to ensure a switching function, excellent insulation is obtained between the channels to the switched state, the insulator being in fact the body of the printed circuit board 3 provided metallizations. The use of such a thin printed circuit board as a metallic track support forming a central contact, makes it possible to reduce the size of the connector, in particular the connector element forming a base, by reducing in particular the length of the elastic blades thereof which, insofar as they undergo little deflection, during assembly can therefore be shorter. We obtains high mechanical endurance with wear occurring on the blades in different zones in switched and unswitched position, as explained above.

Although the invention has been described in connection with embodiments individuals, it is obvious that it is in no way limited to it and that we can bring it different variants and modifications without departing from the framework demands.

Claims (8)

1. Coaxial electrical connector element comprising a central conductor (6) and an external body (1) forming an earth contact, this body defining an internal cylindrical cavity (2), characterised in that the central conductor is a metallised track (6) produced on one face of a printed circuit board (3), said printed circuit board being positioned in this cavity and also comprising at least one metallised zone (16, 17) produced on the board face opposite that containing said track (6) and/or on the face containing this, said metallised zone or zones (16, 17) being electrically connected to earth and being in contact with the body (1) of said connector element.
2. Coaxial electrical connector element according to claim 1, characterised in that the metallised track (6) forming the central conductor comprises parts with expanded ends.
3. Coaxial electrical connector element according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said printed circuit board (3) has an elongated rectangular shape and is held in said body (1) by being arranged diametrically in its cylindrical cavity (2).
4. Coaxial electrical connector element according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the printed circuit board (3) is held in the body (1) by being engaged in diametrically opposed grooves (4) in the interior wall of an extension (5) of the narrowed section of said body.
5. Assembly of elements of electrical connectors allowing performance of a switching function, comprising a first connector element comprising centrally two elastic conductive blades (13a, 13b) which are mutually supporting in the decoupled position of the connector, and an external earth conductor (10, 11) which surrounds said blades and is separated from these by an insulator (15), characterised in that as second connector element it comprises a connector element according to any of the previous claims, so that on its coupling with the first connector element one of said elastic blades thereof can be separated from the other while creating an electrical contact between the one of said blades (13a) constituting the central conductor of the first connector element and the metallised conductive track (6) forming the central conductor of the second connector element.
6. Assembly according to claim 5, characterised in that said first connector element is a socket able to be fixed to a printed circuit board perpendicular thereto.
7. Assembly according to claim 6, characterised in that socket comprises a cylindrical body (10) which forms an earth conductor and is fitted with lugs (12) for fixing to an earth line of the printed circuit board.
8. Assembly according to claim 6, characterised in that the elastic blades (13a, 13b) are separated from the body (10) of the socket by insulating bodies (15) and comprise tabs (14) for fixing to the tracks of the printed circuit board.

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