WO2008094088A1

WO2008094088A1 - Connector configuration

Info

Publication number: WO2008094088A1
Application number: PCT/SE2007/050305
Authority: WO
Inventors: Niklas Philipsson
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 2007-02-01
Filing date: 2007-05-07
Publication date: 2008-08-07
Also published as: WO2008094088A8

Abstract

A shielding circuit board connector configuration for connecting signal cables to a PCB of an electronic appliance comprises a connector module (1) having a housing (2) forming several integral connector bodies (3, 4, 5) for accommodating separate connector assemblies (20, 30, 40).

Description

TITLE: CONNECTOR CONFIGURATION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally concerns connectors, and in particular relates to connectors intended for connecting radio signals to and/or from a PCB.

BACKGROUND

For several years there has been a general trend towards miniaturization of electronic appliances of many different kinds. Simultaneously there is a trend towards an increase of the performance of as well as in certain instances a desire to add functions to such appliances. In the design of electronic appliances efforts are likewise constantly being made to reduce cost. In view of said different, and sometimes contrasting demands and desires, the development of printed circuit board configurations for such electronic appliances often involves reducing the occupied PCB area by designing electronic component modules of reduced size, producing cheaper electronic components, simplifying the overall designs, removing features, improving the signal path architecture to improve signal flow to and from components of a PCB, reducing weight etc.

With regard to circuit board connectors that are used to connect external radio signal cables to electronic components via circuit board signal paths, considerable improvements have also been made during recent years. Such improvements include the redesign of individual connector bodies with the aim of reducing the manufacturing costs as well as the required PCB area. Adaption of circuit board connectors to the surface mounting technology has been performed to improve the electrical signal performance and to improve the signal paths between connectors and electronic components. Likewise, the use of edge-mount type RF connectors has improved the signal performance. In spite of such efforts connectors still require comparatively large PCB area; electrical performance of the connector mounting is not optimized; and connector cost is comparatively high. Furthermore, correct positioning and alignment of the existing connectors is not guaranteed, so that advanced test connectors are mostly used to handle angle errors.

Particular design problems are realized in applications where connectors are used to transmit radio signals through walls of an enclosure that in turn provides effective EMC-shield for cavities therein. In such applications it is essential to provide effective EMC shielding between the individual connectors and the enclosure, but also to maintain the effective shielding of the entire enclosure.

Although many improvements have been made in the aspects discussed above, it is evident that there still remains a general demand for further reduction of the occupied PCB area as well as of the component costs.

SUMMARY It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved space and cost saving connector configuration.

It is a specific object of the invention to provide a surface mount connector configuration for connecting signal cables to a circuit board of a shielded electronic appliance, which has a reduced PCB space requirement and which may be manufactured at a reduced cost.

These and other objects are met by the invention as defined by the accompanying patent claims.

To achieve the above stated objects, the invention provides a connector module being intended for the shielded transmission of radio signals to a PCB of an EMC-shielded electronic appliance and that comprises a connector module housing forming several integral connector bodies for accommodating separate connector assemblies.

In another aspect of the invention, the connector configuration thereof is applied to a double Transceiver Unit (dTRU). One 3-connector module is provided for the shielded connection of radio signal cables to the dTRU, whereby the 3-connector module comprises two connector bodies accommodating switching connector assemblies and one connector body accommodating an interface connector assembly.

Preferred further developments of the basic inventive idea as well as embodiments thereof are specified in the dependent subclaims. Advantages offered by the present invention, in addition to those described above, will be readily appreciated upon reading the below detailed description of embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention and further objects and advantages thereof will be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. IA is a perspective view from above of a first embodiment of a connector configuration according to the invention;

FIG. I B is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. IA of a stripped connector housing of the first embodiment;

FIG. 2A is a top plan view of the connector configuration of FIG. 1

FIG. 2B is a bottom plan view of the connector configuration of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 2C is a side view of the connector configuration of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 2D is an end view of the connector configuration of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3A is a top plan view of the connector configuration of FIG. 1 mounted on a partially illustrated PCB;

FIG. 3B is a bottom plan view of the assembly of FIG. 3A; and

FIG. 4 is a partly schematical plan view from above of a second embodiment of a connector configuration according to the invention.

ABBREVIATIONS

EMC - Electromagnetic compatibility

PCB - Printed circuit board TNC - A threaded connector interface standard QMA - A quick-lock connector interface standard TX - Transmitter dTRU - Double transceiver unit RF - Radio frequency

SMT - Surface Mounting Technique

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will be explained below with reference to exemplifying embodiments of connector configurations of the invention. The exemplifying embodiments of the invention are illustrated in FIGS. 1 -4, and relate specifically to an application of the inventive solution to RF-type radio signal connectors. It shall be emphasized, though that the illustrations are for the purpose of describing preferred embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention to the details thereof.

The present day radio signal type connectors intended for surface mounting on a PCB normally consist of a machined brass connector body enclosing the connector parts of each separate connector assembly. As is conventional, such connector parts consist of an outer contact and a centre contact and optionally, in a switch connector, an internal output contact. The two latter contacts are in each case embedded in insulation material inside the outer contact. For shielding purposes, each connector body is formed with a separate EMC- shielding means allowing for shielded connection to an enclosure of a shielded electronic appliance. Such conventional RF connectors are quite large in size and heavy, thereby also requiring a considerable amount of PCB space, not least when mounted in pairs, and experiencing instability problems. Due to the machining, the manufacturing cost per connector is comparatively high, especially when considering that this is normally a mass produced article.

To overcome the above described disadvantages and problems with the known connectors, the present invention suggests a novel design approach for an RF-type connector configuration that is intended for use in electronic applications having a shielded enclosure and that briefly involves combining several individual connector assemblies in an integral housing. Such a connector configuration will provide an efficient use of the PCB area, thereby clearly contributing in freeing PCB-space. At the same time, said proposed connector configuration will provide a cost reduction, related not only to the actual manufacture but also to the component handling and installation. The electrical performance will also be retained or even improved and effective EMC-shielding will be maintained. In a preferred embodiment, making use of the advantages of die casting, a connector module according to the present invention may furthermore be mass produced at a very competitive cost.

FIGS. IA-B and 2A-D illustrate an exemplary first embodiment of a connector configuration of the invention, whereas FIGS. 3A-B illustrate said first embodiment of the connector configuration as mounted on a partially and very schematically shown exemplary PCB that in one application of the invention may be part of a dTRU. In FIG. IA is illustrated an edge mount radio signal connector module 1 intended for SMT mounting on a PCB. Said connector module 1 consists of a module housing 2 that is specifically illustrated in FIG. IB and that defines multiple integrally formed connector bodies 3-5. Specifically, this embodiment of the invention concerns a 3-connector module comprising a connector housing 2 defining three connector bodies 3, 4, 5 arranged in a side-by-side arrangement.

The connector bodies 3, 4, 5 are each formed with a central axial through-bore 3A, 4A and 5A, respectively, intended for accommodating an associated connector assembly 20, 30, and 40, respectively, of an individual RF connector, as is illustrated in FIG. IA. In this embodiment the central through-bore 5A of the middle connector body 5 is intended for accommodating a straight TNC interface connector assembly 40. The connector assembly comprises the conventional center contact 41 embedded in insulating material 43 surrounded by an outer contact 42. Each of the two outer connector bodies 3, 4 is intended for accommodating a TNC switch connector assembly 20 and 30, respectively. As is known, in such a switch connector, a signal goes straight through the connector when an external signal cable is connected thereto through a mating plug (not shown), whereas the signal exits through an internal side output

(side contact 24, 34) when no cable is connected. Accordingly, in addition to the central axial through-bores 3 A, 4A accommodating the conventional center contacts 21. 31 embedded in insulating material 23, 33 and surrounded by the outer contacts 22, 32, the outer connector bodies 3, 4 are also formed with transversal bores 3B, 4B that extend from respective inner, facing sides thereof and into the respective central bore 3A, 4A. In the assembled connector module 1 , these transversal bores 3A, 4A accommodate a respective side contact 24, 34.

The use of the configuration 1 with the integrated connectors 3, 4, 5 in an electronic appliance will require considerably less space on a PCB thereof, when compared to the traditional separate connector mounting and will also contribute in improving the electrical performance of the electronic appliance, such as a TX backend of a transmitter or transceiver unit. In addition, this integrated connector configuration will considerably reduce assembly times and thereby costs.

Specifically, the disclosed configuration 1 also allows for the forming of the outer connector bodies 3 and 4 substantially as mirror images arranged symmetrically around the middle connector body 5. thereby forming left and right connectors 20 and 30. respectively. This feature will add further to the reduction of the PCB space requirement and to the improved performance. The configuration of the invention could therefore, in future projects, make it possible, possibly together with other changes, to reduce the size of a PCB of an existing application. The general concept of the integration of the connector assemblies will naturally also present logistic advantages by requiring handling of one single component instead of three.

The connector housing 2 of the connector module 1 is die cast in a suitable zinc based material, such as Zinc and the ZnAl alloy Zamac, and the die casting will allow for an optimization of the design, resulting in as much as a 50% decrease in weight, compared to conventional designs. With this reduction of material and weight, costs are likewise considerably lowered compared to the prior art single connectors.

In the illustrated embodiment the connector bodies 3, 4, 5 of the module 1 are provided with threaded couplings 3C, 4C and 5C, respectively, for connecting external signal cables thereto, However, it should be emphasized that the invention is not restricted to the use of such couplings, but could likewise employ any known type of quick-coupling for signal cables.

With specific reference to FIGS. IA-B and 2A, it will be seen that the connector module 1 is provided with EMC shielding means including a substantially uninterrupted external EMC shielding surface 8A-C that extends at least along an upper side 6 (FIG. 2C) of the housing 2. The shielding surface 8A-C consists of a flat upper surface 8B and adjoining curved side surfaces 8A, 8C and extends past all of the multiple connector bodies 3, 4, 5. Thus, the connector module 1 is suitable for use in various applications where radio signals should enter trough cavity walls of an appliance via connectors and where the EMC demands are of importance. It is especially suited for and provides essential installation benefits by use in applications where a known conductive gasket is disposed on the cover of a shielding enclosure (not specifically illustrated in the drawings). With the suggested module having the continuous or uninterrupted shielding surface 8A-C, such a gasket will, in use, be compressed and very exactly follow the surface of the connector module 1 , which will make the cavity very well electromagnetically shielded.

On its lower side 7 (FIG. 2C) the connector module 1 is provided with a mount 9 for a grounding and EMC shielding element, such as the illustrated finger spring type element 50, extending along a main portion of the lower side 7 of the module housing 2, substantially past all of the connector bodies 3, 4, 5. With such a built-in EMC grounding spring 50 contacting a cooler/frame of the application, and by using the existing gasket, the connector module 1 will be appropriately shielded in the front part.

The lower side 7 of the module 1 is also equipped with a number of guide pins 10, 1 1 , in the illustrated embodiment two, that are located near a PCB side of the module 1 , outside the outer connector bodies 3, 4. In particular, the guide pins 10, 1 1 are extended perpendicularly from mutually spaced bottom surfaces 12 and 13, respectively, of the module 1 , said surfaces simultaneously constituting solder surfaces for the SMT. Said guide pins 10, 1 1 serve to eliminate the angular problems that are commonly faced with prior art connectors. They thereby provide a more accurate positioning and better function in test fixtures. They may also facilitate the use of automatic pick and place robots/systems for the placement of modules 1 on a PCB. By soldering the guide pins 10, 11 to the PCB they may additionally serve as anchors for the module 1 on the PCB.

In FIGS. 3A-B is disclosed an exemplifying use of the described 3-connector module 1, mounted in an edge mount recess 65 on a schematically and partially illustrated PCB of a double Transceiver Unit dTRU, with the guide pins received in guide apertures 66 of the PCB. The dTRU may be of any known configuration and is therefore not shown or described in detail. Such a dTRU may comprise one or several edge-mounted radio signal connector modules according to the invention. It will be appreciated that in this application the outer connector bodies 3, 4 of the 3-connector module I accommodate TNC switching connector assemblies 20, 30 and the middle connector body 5 accommodates a TNC interface connector assembly 40. The center contacts 21 , 31 of the outer switch connectors 3 and 4, respectively, are connected to respective radio signal output paths 60 and 61, respectively, of the dTRU and their side contacts 24 and 34 are connected to respective internal signal paths 62, and 63, respectively, that are connected to a mixer 64. The mixer 64 serves to combine the input signals from both switch connectors 3 and 4 when no external output signal cables for receiving radio signals from the dTRU are connected thereto and to connect the combined high strength signal to the center contact 41 of the middle connector 5.

From FIG. 3 A it will be clearly seen that the space between the outer connectors 3, 4 makes it possible to use that area for other components, such as the mixer 64 that may be moved closer to the connector than what has been possible with prior art connectors. The signal paths to the module 1 as well as to and from the mixer 64 are highly optimized with better line-up, for an improved link budget of approximately 0,2 dB, thereby providing excellent radio performance compared to previous designs. This optimization is to a great extent made possible by the configuration of the module 1 with left and right connectors 20 and 30, respectively.

Finally, in FIG. 4 is illustrated a second embodiment of the connector configuration 100 of the invention mounted to a schematically indicated PCB. In this embodiment the module is a 2- connector module 100 comprising a connector housing 102 defining two connector bodies 103, 104 that are likewise arranged in a side-by-side arrangement. The connector module 100 has the corresponding uninterrupted upper shielding surface 108A-108C, as is illustrated in FIG. 4, and a mount for a grounding and EMC shielding element, not specifically shown. However, in this case both connector bodies 103, 104 accommodate a straight interface connector assembly 120, that is here illustrated as a QMA interface connector. The second embodiment of the inventive integrated connector module 100 provides several of the advantageous effects provided by the previously described 3-connector module 1, although in some respects said effects are slightly less significant. It may preferably be used in the double transceiver unit dTRU discussed in relation to FIGS. 3 A and 3 B. In such a case at least two edge-mounted 2-connector modules 100 arc preferably used for connecting external input signal cables to the PCB.

The invention has been described herein with specific reference to the use of the illustrated TNC and QMA interfaces. It shall be emphasized, though, that in its widest scope the invention is not restricted to configurations including such interfaces but may likewise be applied in configurations using other present or future coaxial interfaces.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated herein in connection with what is presently considered the most practical and preferred embodiments and applications thereof, it should therefore be understood that the invention is in no way restricted to such disclosed embodiments and applications. The invention is therefore intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the appended claims.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A radio signal connector module (1 ; 100) for surface mounting on a PCB and having EMC shielding means (8A-C; 108A-C, 9) for the shielded transmission of radio signals through an EMC-shielded enclosure of an electronic appliance, characterized by a module housing (2; 102) defining multiple integral connector bodies (3, 4, 5: 103, 104) each accommodating a connector assembly (20, 30, 40; 120) for an individual connector.

2. A connector module (1 ; 100) according to claim 1 , characterized by a die cast connector module housing (2; 102).

3. A connector module (1 ; 100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the EMC shielding means include a substantially uninterrupted EMC shielding surface (8A-C; 108A-C) extending at least along an upper side (6) of the module housing (2; 102), past all of the multiple connector bodies (3, 4, 5; 103, 104).

4. A connector module (1 ; 100) according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the EMC shielding means include a mount (9) for a grounding and EMC shielding element (50), extending along a main portion of a lower side (7) of the module housing (2; 102), substantially along all of the multiple connector bodies (3, 4, 5; 103, 104).

5. A connector module (1 ; 100) according to any of claims 1-4, characterized by at least two guide pins (10, 1 1 ) extended perpendicularly from mutually spaced bottom surfaces (12, 13) of the module.

6. A connector module (1 ) according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that the module is a 3-connector module comprising a connector housing (2) defining three connector bodies (3, 4, 5) arranged in a side-by-side arrangement wherein the two outer connector bodies (3, 4) each accommodate a TNC switch connector assembly (20, 30) and the middle connector body (5) accommodates a TNC interface connector assembly (40).

7. A connector module (1 ; 100) according to claim 6, characterized in that the two outer connector bodies (3, 4) are substantially mirror images arranged symmetrically with respect to the middle connector body (5), thereby forming left and right, respectively, connectors (20. 30).

8. A connector module (100) according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that the module is a 2-connector module comprising a connector housing (102) defining two connector bodies ( 103. 104) arranged in a side-by-side arrangement wherein both connector bodies accommodate a QMA interface connector assembly ( 120).

9. An electronic appliance (dTRU) comprising one or several edge-mounted radio signal connector modules (1 ; 100) according to any of claims 6 - 8, characterized by a 3-connector module (1) for connecting external output cables for radio signals from the appliance (dTRU), whereby the 3-connector module comprises two connector bodies (3, 4) accommodating TNC switching connector assemblies (20, 30) and one connector body (5) accommodating a TNC interface connector assembly (40).

10. An electronic appliance (dTRU) according to claim 9, characterized by at least two edge-mounted 2-connector modules (100) for connecting external input cables for feeding radio signals to the appliance (dTRU), whereby the 2-connector modules each comprise two connector bodies (103, 104) accommodating a QMA interface connector assembly (120).