GB2181905A - An electrical connector for use with attenuator switching apparatus - Google Patents
An electrical connector for use with attenuator switching apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2181905A GB2181905A GB08624148A GB8624148A GB2181905A GB 2181905 A GB2181905 A GB 2181905A GB 08624148 A GB08624148 A GB 08624148A GB 8624148 A GB8624148 A GB 8624148A GB 2181905 A GB2181905 A GB 2181905A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- switching apparatus
- attenuator
- connector members
- attenuator switching
- sockets
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
- H03H—IMPEDANCE NETWORKS, e.g. RESONANT CIRCUITS; RESONATORS
- H03H7/00—Multiple-port networks comprising only passive electrical elements as network components
- H03H7/24—Frequency- independent attenuators
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R29/00—Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
Landscapes
- Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
Abstract
The connector body includes contacts electrically interconnected in pairs. Preferably the body has two pairs of electrically interconnected sockets 6 or pins 58A, 58B and two dummy sockets 6A, 6B or blank pins 58C, the dummy sockets or blank pins enabling connection of the body to six corresponding spaced pins or sockets of an attenuator switching apparatus in one of two positions. An eyelet 34 for use in gripping the body may be provided. An arrow 32 on the body indicates the positions of the dummy sockets. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Attenuator switching apparatus
This invention relates to attenuator switching apparatus.
It is well known and recognised that attenuation to the correct level is most important where amplification of an electrical signal is required. Hitherto, the attenuation to the correct level has been done by wiring in required decibel sections by a field engineer. Electrical connections have had to be soldered and this is time consuming and often inconvenient.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide attenuator switching apparatus which is able to be used with attenuator apparatus to give required levels of attenuation in a simpler and easier manner than that currently used and mentioned above.
Accordingiy, this invention provides attenuator switching apparatus comprising a body member having a plurality of electrical connector members, two of the connector members being common connector members.
The attenuator switching apparatus may advantageously be used with the attenuator apparatus described in our UK patent specification No. 2172163A.
The attenuator switching apparatus may be produced in a particularly cost effective manner.
The body member may have a total of six of the connector members. The six connector members will usually be arranged in two rows of three connector members.
Two of the connector members at one end of the body member may be such that they are not used for effecting an actual electrical connection. These two connector members which are not used may, for example, be without electrically conducting inner metal parts. By omitting these electrically conducting inner metal parts, cost savings in manufacture may be afforded.
Usually, the connector members will be socket connector members but they can also be male connector members such for example as pins if desired. With socket connector members, the body member will usually be a block body member.
In one embodiment of the invention, the attentuator switching apparatus may comprise the body member, a plurality of sockets in the body member, electrical bridging members each for electrically connecting together one pair of the sockets, and a cover for sliding over the body member, each electrical bridging member and the sockets it connects then forming a pair of the socket connector members.
Usually, the body member will be rectangular. Other shapes however may be employed for the body member.
Electrical bridging members will usually not be provided in those of the sockets that are not to form part of the socket connector members.
Each socket may be formed as an open slot in the body member, there being one of the electrical bridging members provided in pairs of adjacent open slots, and the electrical bridging members being retained in their slots by the cover.
The cover may be provided with guide apertures, there being one guide aperture for each one of the sockets in the body member.
The cover may be provided with indicator means for indicating which way around the attenuator switching apparatus is to be used.
The indicator means may be a moulded arrow. The arrow may be moulded on a side of the cover. Preferably, the moulded arrow projects outwardly from a side of the cover.
The electrical switching apparatus may be provided with gripper means for enabling the electrical switching apparatus easily to be removed from the attenuator apparatus. During use, the attenuator apparatus may be located in confined spaces and the gripper means provides an easy and convenient way of gripping the attenuator switching apparatus and removing it from the attenuator apparatus, for example to achieve a desired attenuation value from the attenuator apparatus. Usually, the gripper means will be provided on the body member.
A presently preferred gripper means is a moulded eyelet.
The body member and the cover may be made of a plastics material. Nylon is a presently preferred plastics material.
The electrical bridging member will usually be made of a metal such for example as tin, copper or brass.
The attenuator switching apparatus may include separator means for preventing mis-connections between adjacent connector members on two separate pieces of attenuator apparatus. The separator means may be formed by a spacing between two adjacent connector members on the same piece of attenuator switching apparatus, which spacing is larger than the spacing between other connector members on the same piece of attenuator switching apparatus. Alternatively, the separator means may be formed by a rib provided on the outside of the attenuator switching apparatus.
The present invention also extends to the combination of the attenuator switching apparatus and attenuator apparatus.
Preferably, the attenuator apparatus is as described in our above mentioned UK patent specification No. 2172163A. The disclosure in our UK patent specification No. 21721-63A is incorporated herein by reference. The attenuator switching apparatus will enable the attenuator apparatus easily to be switched to give any desired attenuation value afforded by the attenuator apparstus.
The attenuator apparatus may be such that it may give from 0 to 31-1/2 decibel attenuation in half decibel steps. Various desired attenuation values in various desired appropriate permutations may be achieved.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of first attenuator switching apparatus;
Figure 2 is an exploded lengthwise sectional view of the attenuator switching apparatus shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is an underneath plan view of the body member shown in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is an underneath plan view of the cover shown in Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a top plan view of the electrical bridging member shown in Figure 2;
Figure 6 illustrates how electrical bridging members allow connections to be made when the electrical switching apparatus is placed on appropriate terminal pins of attenuator apparatus;
Figure 7 shows a resistance circuit for giving half decibel attenuation;;
Figure 8 shows schematically the connections afforded by the attenuator switching apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 5 as applied to Figure 7;
Figure 9 illustrates somewhat schematically how various connections can be made to give required attenuation values;
Figure 10 shows second attenuator switching apparatus;
Figure 11 is an end view of the attenuator switching apparatus shown in Figure 10;
Figure 12 is a side view of the attenuator switching apparatus shown in Figure 10; Figure 13 shows attenuator apparatus for receiving the attenuator switching apparatus of Figures 10,11 and 12, the attenuator apparatus having sockets for receiving pins on the attenuator switching apparatus.
Referring to Figures 1 to 5, there is shown attenuator switching apparatus 2 comprising a body member 4 having a plurality of electrical connector members in the form of sockets 6 and electrical bridging members 8. The electrical bridging members 8 are for electrically connecting together pairs of the sockets 6. A cover 10 is for sliding over the body member 4.
As shown, the body member 4 is rectangular with six sockets 6 arranged in two rows of three sockets 6. The sockets 6 in each row of three sockets 6 are connected by a cross channel 12. The cover 10 has guide apertures 14 which are arranged to align with the sockets 6.
The electrical bridging members 8 are waveshaped at one end 15 and they are provided with enclosed legs 16,18. The legs 16,18 are rectangular is cross section. The legs 16,18 are connected to the end 15 by side portions
17,19 respectively.
The cover 10 is rectangularand it has a through hole 20 which is appropriately sized so that the cover 10 is a close sliding fit on the body member 4.
By virtue of the cross channel 12, each pair of the sockets 6 forms an open U-shaped slot. As shown in Figure 3, two of the Ushaped slots (ie two pairs of adjacent sockets 6) are each provided with one of the electrical bridging members 8. The cover 10, by virtueof being a tight sliding fit on the body member 4, retains the electrical bridging members 8 in position and also hides the electrical bridging members 8 from view.
Figure 6 illustrates by means of the connecting lines how appropriate electrical connections can be madewith the attenuator switching apparatus 2.
Referring now to Figure 7, there is shown an arrangement of four resistances 22,24,26,28 which together give one half decibel attenuation. The resistances 22, 24, 26, 28 form part of attenuator apparatus. Referring to Figures 3, 7 and 8, the upper sockets 6 shown in Figure 3 can be labelled D, A and E as shown in Figure 8, and the lower sockets 6 shown in Figure 3 can be labelled
C, B and F as shown in Figure 8. The electrical connections that can be made are shown by single dotted lines and double dotted lines in Figures 7 and 8. Figure 9 further illustrates the type of electrical connection that can be made with reference to the front face of the attenuator switching apparatus as shown in the drawings.
The circuit lay out shown in Figure 7 repeats for each one half decibel variation in attenuation as indicated in Figure 7 by the arrows. The attenuator switching apparatus enables the appropriate resistances in the attenuator apparatus 30 to be by-passed as desired so that the resistances come out of the circuit. The attenuator switching apparatus effectively uses two common sockets. The use of the nonoperational or dummy sockets 6A, 6B in Figure 3 enables the attenuator switching apparatus 2 to be turned through 1800.
The attenuator switching apparatus 2 can be made very ecoromically as compared with existing known pieces of sttenuator apparatus.
This is especially so since the electrical bridging members are able to be left out from connecting the sockets 6A, 6B. The non-operational or dummy end of the attenuator switching apparatus 2 is provided with indicator means in the form of an arrow 32 which is formed as a moulded part of the cover 10. If desired, the operational end of the attenuator switching apparatus 2 can be provided with the arrow 32. As an alternative, the arrow 33 can be replaced by differently colouring one end of the attenuator switching apparatus, for example by using a colour spot or coloured line.
The attenuator switching apparatus may save engineers in the field considerable time since it will not be necessary to solder contacts together.
As indicated in our United Kingdom patent specification No. 2172163A, the various resistors required to give the desired attenuation values may be arranged in first and second resistor networks. The resistor networks may be arranged on substrates. The substrates may be attached as required to an appropriate printed circuit board. The substrates may be attached underneath or on top of the printed circuit board. The resistors may be provided on hard, flexible or semi-rigid printed circuit boards. The printed circuit boards may be single or multi-layer printed circuit boards, Thick or thin film technology may be employed in producing the attenuator apparatus.
Referring now to Figures 10 to 13, there is shown in Figure 13 attenuator apparatus 52 having a main body part 54 having sockets 55 as shown. The sockets 55 are appropriately connected by means of attenuator apparatus in the form of miniature plugs. One of the miniature plugs in shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12 as miniature plug 56. The plug 56 preferably has thin gold plated pins 58A, 58B and 58C which are moulded into a body part 60 of each plug 56, The pins 58A and 58B are individually provided with looped connections 62 as shown. The pins 58C are not provided with the looped connections and they are un-connected blank pins which act as key pins.
The idea of the two blank pins 58C is that there is no chance ofconnecting the plug 56 incorrectly when selecting attenuation on the main body 54 of the attenuator apparatus 52.
The plug 56 is such that it needs to be turned 1800 and then reinserted. If only four pins are present, the plug 56 could be inserted in any one of six positions, i.e 90" x 90" x 90" in the first four sockets and 90" x 90" x 90" in the second four sockets. With the plug 56, it can only be used in two directions, thereby avoiding having the plug 56 incorrectly inserted in other directions.
The plug 56 in effect becomes a male connecting member for use with the sockets 55.
The sockets 55 in the main body 54 may be micro-miniature sockets 55.
The pins 58 may be located in open slots (not shown) in the plug 56 and they may be held in position by a cover which is like the cover 10.
It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by Way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the shape of the body 4 or the shape of the electrical bridging members 8 may be varied. Also, the body 4 is provided as shown with gripper means in the form of a moulded eyelet 34. The eyelet 34 enables the body 4 with the cover 10 attached easily to be pulled off attenuator apparatus, even in restricted space conditions. More specifically, a probe such as a bent piece of stiff wire can be hooked through the eyelet and then pulling on the probe will remove the attenuator switching apparatus 2. The eyelet 34 can be replaced by another design of gripper means if desired. The attenuator connector apparatus 2, when used with attenuator apparatus, may be regarded as a shortening link. In the drawings, sockets have been shown as constituting part of socket connector members. If desired, male connector members such for example as pins may be employed instead of the sockets.
Also, the sockets 6 and the pins 58A,58B,58C can be arranged in a configuration other that the illustrated two rows of three sockets 6 or pins 58A,58B,58C.
Claims (21)
1. Attenuator switching apparatus comprising a body member having a plurality of electrical connector members, two of the connector members being common connector members.
2. Attenuator switching apparatus according to claim 1 having six of the connector members.
3. Attenuator switching apparatus according to claim 2 in which the six connector members are arranged in two rows of three connector members.
4. Attenuator switching apparatus according to claim 3 in which two of the connector members at one end of the body member are not usable for effecting an electrical connection.
5. Attenuator switching apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the connector members are socket connector members.
6. Attenuator switching apparatus according to claim 5 and comprising the body member, a plurality of sockets in the body member, electrical bridging members each for electrically connecting together one pair of the sockets, and a cover for sliding over the body member, each electrical bridging member and the sockets it connects then forming a pair of the socket connector members.
7. Electrical switching apparatus according to claim 6 in which the body member is rectangular.
8. Attenuator switching apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 7 in which each pair of sockets is formed in an open slot in the body member, there being of the electrical bridging members provided in pairs of adjacent open slots, and the electrical bridging members being retained in their slots by the cover.
9. Attenuator switching apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 8 in which the cover is provided with guide appertures, there being one guide aperture for each one of the sockets in the body member.
10. Attenuator switching apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including indicator means for indicating which way around the attenuator switching apparatus is to be used.
11. Attenuator switching apparatus according to claim 6 and claim 10 in which the indicator means is provided on the cover.
12. Attenuator switching apparatus according to claim 11 in which the indicator means is a moulded arrow provided on a side of the cover.
13. Attenuator switching apparatus according to claim 12 in which the moulded arrow projects outwardly from a side of the cover.
14. Attenuator switching apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the electrical switching apparatus is provided with gripper means for enabling the electrical switching apparatus easily to be removed in use from attenuator apparatus on which it is placed.
15. Attenuator switching apparatus according to claim 14 in which the gripper means is provided on the body member.
16. Attenuator apparatus according to claim 14 or claim 15 in which the gripper means is a moulded eyelet.
17. Attenuator switching apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including separator means for preventing misconnections between adjacent connector members on two separate pieces of attenuator apparatus.
18. Attenuator switching apparatus according to claim 17 in which the separator means is formed by a spacing between two adjacent connector members on the same piece of the attenuator switching apparatus, which spacing is larger than the spacing between other connector members on the same piece of attenuator switching apparatus.
19. Attenuator switching apparatus according to claim 17 in which the separator means is formed by a rib provided on the outside of the attenuator switching apparatus.
20. Attenuator switching apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
21. The combination of attenuator switching apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and attenuator apparatus.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB858525407A GB8525407D0 (en) | 1985-10-15 | 1985-10-15 | Attenuator apparatus |
| GB858531819A GB8531819D0 (en) | 1985-12-24 | 1985-12-24 | Electrical connector apparatus |
| GB868618617A GB8618617D0 (en) | 1986-07-30 | 1986-07-30 | Attenuator apparatus |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8624148D0 GB8624148D0 (en) | 1986-11-12 |
| GB2181905A true GB2181905A (en) | 1987-04-29 |
| GB2181905B GB2181905B (en) | 1990-04-04 |
Family
ID=27262820
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8624148A Expired - Fee Related GB2181905B (en) | 1985-10-15 | 1986-10-08 | Attenuator switching apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2181905B (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2213656A (en) * | 1987-12-11 | 1989-08-16 | Gemel Srl | Selectively connected fused link for vehicle circuit |
| DE3935414A1 (en) * | 1989-10-24 | 1991-04-25 | Manfred Herrmann | Series or parallel LV source connector for consumer - has insulated carrier for at least six contact sockets |
| WO1993018411A1 (en) * | 1992-03-11 | 1993-09-16 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Measuring range adapter |
Citations (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB299731A (en) * | 1927-10-28 | 1930-01-23 | British Thomson Houston Co Ltd | Improvements relating to variable inductances |
| GB463604A (en) * | 1935-08-08 | 1937-04-02 | Philips Nv | Improvements in or relating to multi-position change-over electric switches |
| GB617539A (en) * | 1946-06-11 | 1949-02-08 | Herbert Pain | Improvements in or relating to plug boards for electric statistical machines |
| GB1006549A (en) * | 1961-06-14 | 1965-10-06 | Pierre Leroy | Improvements in or relating to electric fan heaters |
| GB1174489A (en) * | 1966-08-18 | 1969-12-17 | Tektronix Inc | Voltage Selection Device. |
| GB1547120A (en) * | 1977-05-13 | 1979-06-06 | Aries Electronics | Universally programmable shorting plug for an integrated circuit socket |
| US4384755A (en) * | 1981-02-02 | 1983-05-24 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army | Electrical harness interface system |
| GB2172163A (en) * | 1985-03-07 | 1986-09-10 | Kenton Lab Limited | Attenuator apparatus |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1242403A (en) * | 1967-11-24 | 1971-08-11 | Courtaulds Ltd | Bonding polyolefines to metals |
| US4401353A (en) * | 1981-08-10 | 1983-08-30 | Augat Inc. | Programmable plug |
-
1986
- 1986-10-08 GB GB8624148A patent/GB2181905B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB299731A (en) * | 1927-10-28 | 1930-01-23 | British Thomson Houston Co Ltd | Improvements relating to variable inductances |
| GB463604A (en) * | 1935-08-08 | 1937-04-02 | Philips Nv | Improvements in or relating to multi-position change-over electric switches |
| GB617539A (en) * | 1946-06-11 | 1949-02-08 | Herbert Pain | Improvements in or relating to plug boards for electric statistical machines |
| GB1006549A (en) * | 1961-06-14 | 1965-10-06 | Pierre Leroy | Improvements in or relating to electric fan heaters |
| GB1174489A (en) * | 1966-08-18 | 1969-12-17 | Tektronix Inc | Voltage Selection Device. |
| GB1547120A (en) * | 1977-05-13 | 1979-06-06 | Aries Electronics | Universally programmable shorting plug for an integrated circuit socket |
| US4384755A (en) * | 1981-02-02 | 1983-05-24 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army | Electrical harness interface system |
| GB2172163A (en) * | 1985-03-07 | 1986-09-10 | Kenton Lab Limited | Attenuator apparatus |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2213656A (en) * | 1987-12-11 | 1989-08-16 | Gemel Srl | Selectively connected fused link for vehicle circuit |
| DE3935414A1 (en) * | 1989-10-24 | 1991-04-25 | Manfred Herrmann | Series or parallel LV source connector for consumer - has insulated carrier for at least six contact sockets |
| WO1993018411A1 (en) * | 1992-03-11 | 1993-09-16 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Measuring range adapter |
| US5491406A (en) * | 1992-03-11 | 1996-02-13 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Measuring range adapter |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB8624148D0 (en) | 1986-11-12 |
| GB2181905B (en) | 1990-04-04 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 732 | Registration of transactions, instruments or events in the register (sect. 32/1977) | ||
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |