IT202000021265A1 - CABLES WITH CONNECTOR GROUPS, FILTERING GROUPS CONFIGURED TO RELEASELY COUPLE TO THE CONNECTOR GROUPS AND RELATED METHODS - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION of the patent for industrial utility model?: ?CABLES WITH CONNECTOR GROUPS, FILTERING GROUPS CONFIGURED TO COUPLE IN A RELEASEABLE WAY TO THE CONNECTOR GROUPS AND RELATED METHODS?

DESCRIPTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to connector assemblies which are particularly suitable for use with units filter for cellular communications systems.

CONTEXT

[0002] Wireless base stations are well known in the art and typically include, among others, baseband equipment, radios and antennas. Antennas are often mounted to a support structure such as a tower or other elevated structure such as a mast, roof, wall, overhead water tank, or the like. Typically, multiple antennas are mounted on the support structure, and one or more unit? baseband and radio can be connected to each antenna. Each antenna provides cellular service to a defined coverage area or "sector."

[0003] Figure 1 ? an extremely simplified schematic diagram illustrating a conventional cellular base station 10. As shown in Figure 1 , the cellular base station 10 includes an antenna tower 30 and an equipment enclosure 20 which is positioned at the base of the antenna tower 30. A plurality? of units of baseband 22 and radio 24 are positioned inside the enclosure of equipment 20. Each unit? baseband 22 ? connected to a respective radio 24 and ? also in communication with a backhaul communications system 44. Three sectorized antennas 32 (referred to as antennas 32-1, 32-2, 32-3) are positioned at the top? of the antenna tower 30. Three cables 34 (which are bundled in Figure 1 to appear as a single cable) connect the radios 24 to their respective antennas 32. Each cable 34 can be connected to a unit? filter unit 50 (referred to as filter units 50-1, 50-2, 50-3) and both transmit and receive signals for each radio 24 can be carried over a single cable (coaxial and/or fiber optic) 34. In many cases, the 24 radios are positioned at the top? of the tower 30 rather than in the equipment enclosure 20 in order to reduce signal transmission losses. The units? filter 50 may be located, for example, within or adjacent to antennas 32.

[0004] Cellular base stations typically use directional antennas 32 as phased array antennas to provide increased antenna gain throughout a defined coverage area. A typical 32 phased array antenna can be implemented as a linear array of radiating elements mounted on a panel, with hypothetically 5-20 radiating elements per linear array. Typically, each radiating element is used to (1) transmit radio frequency ("RF") signals that are received by a transmission port of an associated radio 24 and (2) receive RF signals from mobile users and feed such received signals to the receiving port of the associated radio 24. The unit? filters such as duplexers are typically used to connect radio 24 to each respective radiating element of antenna 32. A "duplexer" refers to a well-known type of multi-port filter assembly which is used to connect both the transmit and receive ports of a radio 24 to an antenna 32 or a radiating element of the multi-element antenna 32. Duplexers are used to isolate the transmission paths of RF from the transmit and receive ports of radio 24 with each other while simultaneously allowing both RF transmission paths access to the radiating element of antenna 32, and can do so. even though the transmit and receive frequency bands may be closely spaced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide connector assemblies that releasably couple cables to electrical units. filter without requiring an interface welded to a respective housing of the unit? filter.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to cables comprising connector assemblies that releasably mate to a receiving channel of a housing using a threaded member, thereby providing a solderless connection to the housing.

Embodiments of the present invention provide housings having at least one threaded channel that releasably mates to a respective threaded member of a connector assembly.

[0008] The unit? of filter in any of the embodiments of the aspects of the present invention can? be a duplexer, diplexer, combiner, and/or other filter for cellular communications systems and other applications.

[0009] Connector assemblies can be useful for other applications.

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention are directed to units filter that include a housing having a receiving channel with a stop surface that is electrically conductive; and a cable having a connector assembly on a first end portion. The first terminal portion has a terminal portion of an inner conductor with a free, an end portion of an outer conductor terminating a distance behind the end portion of the inner conductor, and an end portion of a dielectric located between the inner conductor and the outer conductor. The connector assembly includes: a first element with an open channel and a second element. The first element? coupled to the terminal portion of the outer conductor with the extremity? free of the inner conductor and the end portion of the dielectric extending through the open channel to face the first element. The first member abuts the stop surface. The second element has an open channel that receives the cable smoothly. The second element? paired in mode? separable to the first element and is located at least partially in the receiving channel. When fully assembled to the housing, the second member presses the first member against the stop surface.

[0011] The first element can including a first segment with a flat and annular end face and a second segment comprising a neck. The second element can define an annular space around the end portion of the outer conductor. The neck of the first element can? be sized and configured to fit in the annular space.

[0012] The second element can? have a first segment with external threads. The at least one reception channel can? having an internal surface with threads which can threadably engage the external threads of the first segment of the second element to thereby define a releasably separable seamless fit of the second element to the receiving channel.

[0013] The first element and the second element of the connector assembly may be electrically conductive.

[0014] The first element and the second element can be formed in brass, optionally the first element can also include silver plating.

[0015] The unit? filter can? also include a central conductor in the housing that ? aligned with the receiving channel and that can? be electrically and physically connected to the extremity? free of the inner conductor to consequently define a solderless connection between them.

[0016] The central conductor can having a longitudinally extending body with opposed first and second end portions. The first terminal portion pu? having a channel with longitudinally and radially extending slots which are circumferentially spaced apart.

[0017] The center conductor channel can? terminating in the longitudinally extending body prior to the second end portion.

[0018] The unit? filter can? also include an annular dielectric in the housing, surrounding at least a portion of the center conductor.

[0019] The second element can have a first, second and third segment surrounding the open channel. The first segment can have external threads that sit above the terminal portion of the outer conductor. The second segment can? have a plurality? of flat, circumferentially spaced clamping surfaces. The third segment pu? having a cylindrical shoulder located over at least a portion of an outer sheath of the at least one cable.

[0020] The stop surface can? be located at an inner end portion of the receiving channel. The stop surface can surround a longitudinally extending open channel that extends a relative inward distance to locate the end? free of the inner conductor within a central conductor held within it.

[0021] Other embodiments are directed to a cable assembly. The cable assembly includes a coaxial cable having an inner conductor, an outer conductor, a dielectric between the inner conductor and the outer conductor, and an outer sheath surrounding the outer conductor over a length of the coaxial cable. The coaxial cable has an end portion configured with an end portion of an inner conductor having an open end. exposed free, an end portion of an outer conductor terminating a distance behind the end portion of the inner conductor, and an end portion of a dielectric located between the inner conductor and the outer conductor terminating a distance behind the end portion of the inner conductor. The cable assembly also includes a connector assembly coupled to the end portion of the coaxial cable. The connector assembly can include: a first element with an open channel, the first element coupled to the terminal portion of the outer conductor with the end? free of the inner conductor and the end portion of the dielectric extending through the open channel to reside in front of the first element; and a second member with an open channel that slidably receives the first end portion of the at least one cable and moves axially relative to the first member between installed and uninstalled positions.

[0022] The first element can having a first segment with a flat and annular end face and a second segment including a neck. The second element can define an annular space around the end portion of the outer conductor. The neck of the first element can? be sized and configured to fit in the annular space.

[0023] The second element can having a first segment with external threads for thereby defining a releasably detachable seamless fit of the second element to a threaded receiving channel in a target device and urging the first element against a stop surface therein.

[0024] The first element and the second element of the connector assembly may be electrically conductive.

[0025] The first element and the second element can be formed of brass. Optionally, the first element can also have a silver plating.

[0026] The second element can have a first, second and third segment surrounding the open channel. The first segment can have external threads and sit over the end portion of the outer conductor. The second segment can? have a plurality? of flat, circumferentially spaced clamping surfaces. The third segment pu? have a cylindrical shoulder enclosing a segment of the outer sheath of the cable.

Still other embodiments are directed to methods of attaching a cable to a target device. Methods include: providing a cable with a connector assembly on a terminal portion thereof, the connector assembly having a first member coupled to an outer conductor and defining an open channel surrounding an end portion of a dielectric and an end portion of an inner conductor with one end? free of the inner conductor extending ahead of it, and also having a second member slidably coupled to the end portion of the cable. Methods also include: inserting the first element into a receive channel of a target device; advancing the second element to the first element in the receive channel; and force the second element so that? abuts the first element and presses the first element against a stop surface in the receiving channel to establish an electrical ground connection with the target device.

[0028] The reception channel can? have an internal surface with threads and the second element pu? have external threads. The progress can be performed to threadably engage the receiving channel threads and the second element threads to mate the second element to the target device and force the second element to stick to the first element.

[0029] The target device can? be a unit? filter of a communication system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 ? a highly simplified schematic diagram of a conventional cellular base station.

[0031] Figure 2 ? a partial isometric view and enlarged by one unit? filter and prior art coaxial cable with two connection interfaces soldered to one end portion of the cable.

[0032] Figure 3 ? a greatly enlarged partial isometric view of a prior art coaxial cable with the outer conductor soldered to the housing.

[0033] Figure 4 ? an enlarged exploded view of a cable including a connector assembly for coupling to a housing according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 5 ? an assembled view of the connector assembly shown in Figure 4 according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 6 ? an isometric side view of the connector assembly shown in Figures 4 and 5 , shown coupled to a channel of the housing and an internal connection interface (only a portion of the housing is shown) according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 7 ? a sectional view of the device shown in Figure 6.

[0037] Figure 8 ? a sectional view of a device similar to that of Figure 7 , but shown with an alternative internal connection interface according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 9 ? an exploded view of a distal end portion of the cable with the connector assembly aligned with an internal connection interface for the inner conductor according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 10 ? an enlarged side isometric view of the internal connection interface shown in Figure 9.

[0040] Figure 11 ? a flowchart of actions that can be used to detachably couple a coaxial cable to a housing according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 12 ? an isometric view of a unit? exemplary filter according to embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] The present invention ? described more exhaustively hereinafter with reference to the attached drawings, in which some embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided in such a way that this illustration is accurate and complete and so conveys the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

? Equal numbers refer to equal elements everywhere. In the figures, the thickness of certain lines, layers, components, elements or features can be increased for clarity. The terms "Fig." and "figure" are used interchangeably with the word "figure" in the specification and/or figures.

The terminology used herein is intended to describe particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "one", "an", and "the/the/the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context explicitly indicates otherwise. Sar? further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising", when used in this specification, specify the presence of declared characteristics, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of a or more other characteristics, phases, operations, elements, components, and/or related assemblies. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0044] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. Sar? further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, are to be interpreted as having a meaning which ? consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant specification and technique and should not be construed in an idealized or overly formal sense unless explicitly so defined herein. Well-known functions or embodiments may not be described in detail for the sake of brevity. and/or clarity.

[0045] Sar? understood that when an element ? indicated as "on", "fixed" on, "connected" to, "coupled" with, "in contact with", etc., another element, it pu? be directly on, attached to, connected to, coupled with or in contact with the other element or intermediate elements may also be present. Conversely, when an element ? referred to as, for example, "directly above", "directly attached" to, "directly connected" to, "directly coupled" with, or "directly in contact" with another element, no intervening elements are present. Sar? otherwise? appreciated by those skilled in the art that references to a structure or feature that ? disposed "adjacent" to another feature may have portions that overlap or are below the adjacent feature.

Space-related terms, such as "below", "below", "lower", "above", "superior", and the like, may be used herein for ease of description in order to describe the relationship of an element or feature with another one or more? elements or features as illustrated in the figures.

[0047] Will it be understood? that the spatial terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device during use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures ? reversed, elements described as "below" or "below" other elements or features can then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Therefore, the exemplary term "under" can? encompass an up and down orientation". The device may be oriented differently (rotated 90 degrees or other orientations) and the spatial descriptors used herein construed accordingly. Similarly, the terms "up", " downwards," "vertical," "horizontal," and the like are used herein for purposes of explanation only, unless specifically noted otherwise.

[0048] The term "about" indicates that the reported parameter can vary somewhat from the stated number, typically by +/-20%.

Figure 2 illustrates a prior art coaxial cable 60 with an outer conductor 61 soldered at a solder interface 66 to an outer wall 50w of a unit housing 50h. filter 50. The welding interface 66 ? typically featuring heating solder paste positioned in a cylindrical coupler 55 secured to housing 50h which extends out from the outer wall 50w of the housing. Figure 3 ? an enlarged partial view of the soldered interface 66 of the outer conductor 61 and outer wall 50w. FIG. 2 also illustrates that the inner (center) conductor 63 is welded at a weld interface 166 within housing 50h to a washer 163 which is coupled to a conductive (e.g., copper) screw 165 for connection to a transmission line. Once the welded interface fittings 66, 166 are made and intact, ? difficult to remove cable 60 from housing 50h. Heat must be applied to the solder interface fittings 66, 166, (indicated by the arrows in Figure 2 ), typically simultaneously, and at least the solder interface 66 of the outer conductor 61 can be applied. needing an undesirable level of heat to melt the solder in order to be able to release the wire 60 from the housing 50h.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5 , embodiments of the present invention provide a cable 60 with an end portion 60e and including a connector assembly 160 which secures to the cable 60 and which ? configured to provide a releasably engageable, solderless connection to a housing 50h, such as a housing of a filter assembly.

[0051] The terms ?filter group? and ?filter groups? are used interchangeably respectively at the term ?unit? filter? in the present. Filter assemblies can be duplexers, diplexers, combiners and/or other filters for cellular communications systems and other applications.

[0052] As shown, the cable 60 ? a coaxial cable with an outer conductor 61, a dielectric 62 and an inner conductor 63. The inner conductor 63 can? be rigid enough to define a self-supporting shape with a freely exposed end portion 63e extending a distance beyond dielectric 62 and outer conductor 61. Inner conductor 63 and dielectric 62 may have respective end portions 63e, 62e extending of a distance beyond an end portion 61e of the outer conductor 61 and the inner conductor 63 can extend a distance beyond the dielectric 62. The cable 60 can? have an outer sheath 64 that can? terminate a distance behind the end portion 61e of the outer conductor 61. The outer conductor 61 can? have a twisted configuration (Figure 3).

[0053] ? contemplated that the connector groups 160, although particularly suitable for the units? filter, may also be suitable for other end-use applications and/or for other cable types 60.

[0054] As shown, connector assembly 160 includes a first element 100 that releasably mates to a second element 120. have a longitudinally extending and open through channel 101 which ? aligned with, typically concentric with, through channel 122 of second element 120 and which ? sized and configured to couple to the outer conductor 61 of the cable 60. That is, the first element 100 is sized and configured to attach to the outer conductor 61 of the cable 60 with the end portions 62e, 63e of the dielectric 62 and the inner conductor 63, respectively, extending through the channel 101 to locate a distance forward of the first element 100 (FIG. 5).

[0055] The first element 100 can? be soldered to the outer conductor 61. A solder paste can? be used to weld the first element 100 to the outer conductor 61 around an entire relative circumference.

The longitudinally extending open through channel 122 of the second element 120 can be stretched and pi? long with respect to the open through channel 101 of the first element 100. The second element 120 is not necessary for the fixing in a stable way to the cable 60 and pu? be configured so that? ?do you float? axially around the outer conductor 61 and/or sheath 64 relative to the first element 100 when unattached (prior to assembly) to the housing 50h as shown by the axially extending arrows in Figure 5 .

[0057] As shown, the first element 100 can have a first segment 102 with a first external diameter d1 which merges into a second segment 104 with a second external diameter d2, with d2<d1, typically d2 ? at least 20% less than d1. The second segment 104 pu? define a neck extending longitudinally or axially 104n which ? slidably receivable in an annular space 123 between the outer conductor 61 and an end portion of the second element 120 and ? facing the first element 100.

[0058] The first segment 102 of the first element 100 can? have a flat annular end face 102f that pu? electrically and physically engaging a stop surface 152 (FIGS. 4 and 7) of a channel 150 in the housing 50h of a target device, optionally a drive? filter 50?. The stop surface 152 can? be electrically conductive. The first element 100 can? therefore provide a connection to electrical ground when assembled in the receiving channel 150 of the housing 50h.

[0059] The first element 100 and the second element 120 may comprise an electrically conductive material. For example, brass or a substrate with a conductive coating such as silver plated components or combinations thereof. In some specific embodiments, the first element 100 can be brass plated or silver coated while the second element 120 can? include brass without requiring plating or silver lining.

[0060] The second element 120 can? comprise a first segment 124 on a first end portion with external threads 125. The second element 120 can? include a second segment 126 which has a larger outside diameter than the first segment 124. The second member 120 may? include a third segment 128 on an opposite end portion extending a distance from the second segment 126. The third segment 128 may? be more long relative to the second segment 126 (the length dimension being in a longitudinally or axially extending direction). The third segment 128 pu? have an outside diameter over at least one major portion of its length that ? less than the maximum external diameters respectively of the first and second segments 124, 126.

[0061] The third segment 128 can? define a shoulder 128s that has an internal diameter that ? almost the same or within about 10% or less of a cable diameter (with sheath 64) to provide bending strength/support structure for cable 60 and may surround a segment of the sheath 64 of the cable 60.

[0062] The reception channel 150 can? have threads 151 on a relative inner surface that threadably engage the threads 125 of the second member 120. However, it is contemplated that other embodiments may use frictional attachment of the second member 120 to the housing 50h without requiring threads 151 or 125.

[0063] The second segment 126 can? place itself intermediate with respect to the first and third segment and pu? include outer gripping surfaces 127. The gripping surfaces 127 may include a plurality of? of flat outer surfaces spaced circumferentially to allow users to grip these surfaces to turn the second member 120 so that threads into a receiving channel 150 having threads 151 which matingly engage the threads 125 of the second element 120.

[0064] The second element 120 can? Slidably receive a sub-segment of cable 60 through open channel 122. Second element 120 can? be configured to position the sheath 64 in the third segment 128 of the second element 120 and position the terminal portion 61e of the outer conductor 61 outside the first segment 124 of the second element, adjacent to, and facing the first element 100 ( Figure 5 ) .

[0065] Referring to Figures 4, 7 and 8, at least a portion of the second element 120 can mate to a receive channel 150 of a slot 50h. The second element 120 pu? be configured to have different positions with respect to the first element 100. A first position ? illustrated in Figure 5 in which the second element 120 can? float axially with respect to the first element 100. A second position in a fully assembled configuration is? shown in Figures 7 and 8 whereby the second element 120 ? more near the first element 100 and the second segment 104 of the first element 100 ? slidably received in a facing end portion of the second element 120. Thus, the second element 120 can? move toward the first element 100 when coupled to the receiving channel 150 of the housing 50 as the second element 120 is moved. advanced to receive channel 150.

[0066] The (free) end portion 63e of the inner conductor 63 can? define a connection pin 63p extending into a channel 182 of a center conductor 180 ( Fig. 7 ) in a housing 50h aligned with an axially extending center line of the receiving channel 150. free 63e or pin 63p pu? have a length that ? in a range from about 1 mm to about 70 mm.

[0067] Referring to Figures 6-8 , the receive channel 150 can have a stop surface 152 that ? flat to butt against the flat end face 102f of the first element 100. The stop surface 152 can? be a flat annular stop surface. The first element 100 ? pressed forward against the stop surface 152 by the second element 120 when the second element 120 ? coupled (by screwing) to the receiving channel 150 (to the relevant threads 151). Therefore, when assembled, the first element 100 and the second element 120 can be physically coupled to the receive channel 150.

[0068] The reception channel 150 can? be formed in an outer wall 50w of the housing 50h or be provided with a cylindrical coupler which ? fixed to the external wall 50w. The reception channel 150 pu? project outward from the 50w outer wall or be flush with or even extend inward from the outer wall (not shown).

[0069] Referring to Figures 6-8, the extremity? free 63e of the inner conductor 63 pu? engage a central conductor 180. The central conductor 180 can? be aligned axially with the receiving channel 150. The center conductor 180 can? include an annular dielectric spacer 184 surrounding the center conductor 180. The center conductor 180 is electrically conductive and pu? include gold or other suitable conductive material. The extremity? free 63e of the inner conductor 63 pu? extend slidably into a longitudinally extending channel 182 of center conductor 180. terminate a short distance across the front from the tip of the end? free of the inner conductor 63.

[0070] The extremity? free 63e of the inner conductor 63 pu? frictionally engage center conductor 180 to establish a solderless electrical connection therewith. In other embodiments, the end? free 63e can? be soldered to center conductor 180 (not shown).

[0071] The central conductor 180 can? be welded to a strip line (not shown). Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the center conductor 180 held by a boss 190 and the center conductor 180 can be held. electrically couple to a strip line of an RF filter, such as a transmission line.

[0072] Figure 8 illustrates an embodiment in which no boss is supplied and can? be used a separate strip line (RF filter) in which the center conductor 180 can be welded.

[0073] Where soldered connections are used, it can bismuth-tin-silver solder paste, tin-silver-copper solder or alternative preform solder material may be used.

[0074] Referring to Figures 9 and 10, the connector assembly 160 can be aligned to the central conductor 180 which can? be held in the annular dielectric spacer 184. The center conductor 180 can? define a longitudinally extending inner channel 182 with a plurality of? of spaced slots extending radially and longitudinally circumferentially 182s. Can the 182s slots be sized and configured to comfortably receive the end? frees 63e of the inner conductor 63 and provides abutting contact between the inner conductor 63 and the center conductor 180. The inner conductor 63 can? frictionally engage the central conductor 180.

[0075] The connector assemblies 160 can allow the cables 60 to be replaced, for example when damaged, by simply unscrewing the second element 120 from the receiving channel 150 and pulling the cable 60 with the first element 100 out of the receiving channel 150.

[0076] Connector assemblies 160 can reduce the number of welding events required to attach or detach a wire, which can reduce the damage caused to cables and/or other components by such subsequent heating events.

[0077] Embodiments of the invention can allow to analyze the units? filter 50? using standardized test leads without requiring unit specific cables/accessories. The units? filter 50? which pass these tests may later be assembled to other mating cables 60 with connector assemblies 160 at an OEM plant or field site.

[0078] The cables 60 can be manufactured and shipped with the connector assemblies 160 pre-attached for installation at a field site. The cables 60 can be assembled with respective first elements 100, typically welded together, and second sliding elements 120 produced in production batches to have the respective connector assemblies 160 fixed in a production plant, since welding to specific units? filter not ? necessary.

[0079] Turning now to figure 11, ? shows a flowchart of exemplary actions that can be used to secure a cable to a target housing (dashed lines indicate optional steps). ? supplied a cable with a connector assembly. The connector assembly comprises a first element coupled to an outer conductor of the cable with one end free of an inner conductor extending a distance beyond the first element and the outer conductor and a second element having a channel surrounding a segment of the cable, and being slidably coupled to the cable (block 300). The first element and the extremity? free of the inner conductor are inserted into a receiving channel of a housing (block 310). The second element? advanced to the first element to press the first element against a stop surface of the receiving channel (block 320).

[0080] The first and second elements are electrically conductive, optionally comprising brass (block 302).

[0081] The second element can include a segment with external threads and the housing receiving channel includes mating threads, the method can? further comprising threadably engaging the threads of the second member to the threads of the receiving channel (block 312).

[0082] The first element can be pressed against a flat annular stop surface of one end? internal of the receiving channel of the housing in response to the phase of advance and this pu? comfortably place the extremity? free of the inner conductor into an open channel of a center conductor to define a solderless electrical connection therewith, optionally to a defined inner electrical path of an RF filter strip line (block 322).

[0083] The connector assembly can be disengaged from the receiving channel by rotating the second element and releasing it from the receiving channel of the housing with the first element (block 324).

[0084] The first element can having a first segment with a first outside diameter merging into a second segment with a second outside diameter, the second outside diameter being smaller than the first outside diameter and being slidably receivable in an internal space at an end portion of the second element (block 304).

[0085] The first element can be held electrically at ground potential when assembled to the housing (block 326).

[0086] Turning now to figure 12, ? shown a unit? example filter 50?. The unit? of filter 50? can? understand a plurality of resonator plates that are mounted inside a housing to make a cavity RF filter resonant. As shown, the unit? filter 50? includes a 50h slot. The first and second resonator plates 450, 460 may be mounted within the housing 50h. The resonator plates can be mounted in a stacked relationship. The resonator plates may be attached to the housing by continuous solder joints and/or may be integrally die cast with other housing elements to provide very high levels of PIM and RF distortion performance. In some embodiments, the filter assemblies 50? can include three port devices such as RF duplexers or diplexers and one or more can include a receive channel 150 that pu? include threads 151 that can releasably engage a connector assembly 160. In other embodiments, the units? of filter 50? may include additional ports to implement multiplexers, triplexers, combiners, or the like. See US patent no. 10,050,323 for additional discussions of exemplary filter assemblies, the contents of which ? incorporated in virtue? you say? by reference as set forth herein in its entirety. Other unit configurations? of filter can be used.

[0087] The units? example filter 50? according to embodiments of the present invention they may include, for example, two or more? ports that are used to electrically connect the unit? filter 50? to other external devices. These ports may include "single" ports, which pertain to ports that are only intended to carry signals having frequencies in specific ranges, and "common" ports, which are intended to carry signals having frequencies in multiple of the specific ranges. For example, when a unit? filter/filter assembly according to embodiments of the present invention ? a duplexer, the group filter will include? a first single port which connects to a transmission path, a second single port which connects to a receive path, and a common port which connects to a radiating element such as a radiating element of a phased array antenna. In some embodiments, the single and common ports may be, for example, implemented as coaxial connector ports that are designed to mate to a connector assembly 160 of a coaxial cable 60. In such embodiments, the inner conductors 63 of each cable can be connected via the center conductor 180 to one of the resonator plates and the outer conductor 61 of each cable can be connected to the 50h slot.

The resonator plates 450, 460 may each comprise, for example, substantially planar metal plates. The resonator plates 450, 460 can only be "substantially" planar since may include, for example, non-planar features such as tuning lines which can be bent up or down to tune the response of the filter assembly 50?. Each resonator plate 450, 460 can? be formed of, for example, copper or a copper alloy, although other metals may be used.

Embodiments of the invention couple cables 60 to connector assemblies 160 using a respective receive channel 150 to provide extremely consistent metal-to-metal connections. How ? known in the art, passive intermodulation distortion ("PIM") can? occur when two or more? RF signals encounter nonlinear electrical fittings or materials along an RF transmission path. Such non-linearity? they can act as a mixer by causing the generation of new RF signals to mathematical combinations of the original RF signals. If the newly generated RF signals are within the bandwidth of existing RF signals, the noise level experienced by those existing RF signals? effectively increased. When the noise level ? increased, can? be necessary to reduce the speed? of data transmission and/or the quality? of the service. PIM distortion can be an important quality feature? of interconnection for a system of communications RF, since? the PIM distortion generated by a single low quality interconnect? can? degrade the electrical performance of the entire RF communications system. Therefore, can It may be desirable to ensure that components used in RF communications systems will generate acceptably low levels of PIM distortion.

[0090] Is it also necessary? Note that in addition to PIM distortion, non-constant metal-to-metal connections can cause reflections in an RF communications system that increase return loss along the RF transmission path. Devices that have such inconsistent metal-to-metal connections may therefore exhibit increased insertion loss values. Using the seamless press fit of the first member 100 against a metal contact stop surface 152, the units? filter 50? According to embodiments of the present invention they can exhibit satisfactory insertion loss performance without requiring welding.

[0091] Sar? It is appreciated that cables 60 with connector assemblies 160 according to embodiments of the present invention can be used to implement a wide variety of different devices including duplexers, diplexers, multiplexers, combiners and the like. Sar? It is also appreciated that the cables 60 with the connector assemblies 160 according to embodiments of the present invention can also be used in applications other than cellular communications systems.

[0092] The present invention ? been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided in such a way that this illustration is accurate and complete and so conveys the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

In the drawings and specification, typical embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and, while specific terms are employed, they are used only in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims (10)

1.Unit? of filter including: a housing comprising a receiving channel with a stop surface which is electrically conductive; and a cable including a connector assembly on a first end portion, the first end portion comprising an end portion of an inner conductor having a terminal end. free, an end portion of an outer conductor terminating a distance behind the end portion of the inner conductor, and an end portion of a dielectric located between the inner conductor and the outer conductor, the connector assembly comprising: a first element comprising an open channel, the first element coupled to the terminal portion of the outer conductor with the end? free of the inner conductor and the terminal portion of the dielectric extending through the open channel to locate ahead of the first element, wherein the first element abuts the stop surface; and a second member comprising an open cable slidably receiving channel, wherein the second member is? paired in mode? separable from the first member and seats at least partially in the receiving channel, and wherein, when fully assembled to the housing, the second member presses the first member against the stop surface. 2.Unit? filter according to claim 1, wherein: ? the first element comprises a first segment with an annular flat end face and a second segment comprising a neck, wherein the second element defines an annular space around the end portion of the outer conductor, and wherein the neck of the first element is? sized and configured to be located in the annular space; ? the second element comprises a first segment with external threads, wherein the at least one receiving channel comprises an internal surface with threads that threadably engage the external threads of the first segment of the second element to thereby define a releasable seamless fit. releasable of the second element to the receiving channel; or ? the unit? filter also includes a central conductor in the housing which is aligned to the receiving channel and that ? electrically and physically connected to the extremity? free of the inner conductor to accordingly define a solderless connection between them and an annular dielectric in the housing, which surrounds at least a portion of the center conductor. 3.Unit? filter according to claim 1, wherein the first element and second element of the connector assembly are electrically conductive; preferably the first element and the second element comprise brass, optionally the first element also comprises a plating of silver. 4.Unit? filter according to claim 1 further including a central conductor in the housing which is aligned with the receiving channel and that ? electrically and physically connected to the extremity? free of the inner conductor to accordingly define a seamless connection between them; preferably the central conductor has a longitudinally extending body with opposed first and second end portions, the first end portion comprising a channel with longitudinally and radially extending slots which are circumferentially spaced apart; more preferably the center conductor channel terminates in the longitudinally extending body prior to the second end portion. 5.Unit? filter according to claim 1, wherein: ? the second member comprises first, second and third segments surrounding the open channel, the first segment comprising external threads and located over the terminal portion of the outer conductor, the second segment comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart flat gripping surfaces, and the third segment comprising a cylindrical shoulder located over at least a portion of an outer sheath of the at least one cable; or ? the stop surface? at an inner end portion of the receiving channel, wherein the stop surface surrounds a longitudinally extending open channel which extends a relative inward distance to position the end of the receiving channel. free of the inner conductor within a central conductor held within it. 6. Cable assembly, comprising: a coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, an outer conductor, a dielectric between the inner conductor and the outer conductor, and an outer sheath surrounding the outer conductor over a length of the coaxial cable, wherein the coaxial cable comprises an end portion configured with a terminal portion of an inner conductor having an extremity? free exposed, an end portion of an outer conductor terminating a distance behind the end portion of the inner conductor, and an end portion of a dielectric located between the inner conductor and the outer conductor terminating a distance behind the end portion of the inner conductor; And a connector assembly coupled to the end portion of the coaxial cable, the connector assembly comprising: a first element comprising an open channel, the first element coupled to the terminal portion of the outer conductor with the end? free of the inner conductor and the end portion of the dielectric extending through the open channel to face the first element; and a second member including an open channel that slidably receives the first end portion of the at least one cable and moves axially relative to the first member between installed and uninstalled positions. The cable assembly according to claim 6, wherein: the first member comprises a first segment with an annular flat end face and a second segment comprising a neck, wherein the second member defines an annular space around the end portion of the outer conductor, and where the neck of the first element ? sized and configured to be located in the annular space; the second element comprises a first segment with external threads for thereby defining a releasably detachable seamless fit of the second element to a thread receiving channel in a target device and forcing the first element against a stop surface therein; or the second member comprises first, second and third segments surrounding the open channel, the first segment comprising external threads and located over the terminal portion of the outer conductor, the second segment comprising a plurality of of circumferentially spaced flat clamping surfaces, and the third segment comprising a cylindrical shoulder enclosing a segment of the outer sheath of the cable. The cable assembly according to claim 6, wherein the first member and second member of the connector assembly are electrically conductive; preferably the first element and the second element comprise brass, optionally the first element also comprises a silver plating. 9. Method of attaching a cable to a target device, including: providing a cable with a connector assembly on a related end portion, the connector assembly comprising a first member coupled to an outer conductor and defining an open channel surrounding an end portion of a dielectric and an end portion of an inner conductor with an ? free of the inner conductor extending ahead thereof, and also comprising a second member slidably coupled to the cable end portion; inserting the first element into a receive channel of a target device; advancing the second element to the first element in the receive channel; And to force the second element so that? abuts the first element and presses the first element against a stop surface in the receiving channel to establish an electrical ground connection with the target device. 10. Method according to claim 9, wherein: ? the receiving channel has an internal surface with threads, wherein the second element has external threads, and in which the feed is effected to threadably engage the threads of the receiving channel and the threads of the second element to mate the second element to the target device and force the second element so that? settles on the first element; or ? the target device ? a unit? filter of a communication system.