WO2016128035A1

WO2016128035A1 - Radio-frequency connector and method of assembling the radio-frequency connector to a radio-frequency arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2016128035A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/052821
Authority: WO
Inventors: Xiaohui Shen; Esa Myllyvainio; Mattias Aquilon
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2015-02-11
Filing date: 2015-02-11
Publication date: 2016-08-18

Abstract

A radio-frequency (RF) connector having a hollow outer connector component and an inner connector component is provided. The hollow outer connector component has an inner space and is configured to receive the inner connector component in the inner space through an opening in the hollow outer connector component. The inner connector component is configured to establish an electrical connection between a conductor component of the inner connector component and a conductor component of a counterpart of the inner connector component by inserting the inner connector component into the outer connector component. The inner connector component may be configured to be inserted into the hollow outer connector component when a counterpart of the outer connector component and the counterpart of the inner connector component are assembled with each other. There is also provided a method for assembling an RF-connector to an RF-arrangement having a housing and an RF- signal processing element.

Description

TITLE

RADIO-FREQUENCY CONNECTOR AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLI NG THE RADIO- FREQUENCY CONN ECTOR TO A RADIO-FREQUENCY ARRANGEMENT

TECHN ICAL FI ELD

The present invention relates to the field of radio-frequency, RF, connectors. The disclosed RF connector may be used for connecting to a radio-frequency arrangement such as a remote radio unit, RRU.

BACKGROUND

Miniaturization is one of the long-term requirements for radio remote units, RRUS. Current radio remote units have drop-in or cavity filters inside a heat-sink frame, and some extra space is used in order for installing the filter inside the heat-sink. This extra space diminishes the cooling capability of the heat-sink and put a limit on the miniaturization of the RRU. Another problem with drop-in or cavity filters in heat-sink frames is the problem of maintaining a waterproof connection between the outer RF connector on the filter and the RRU heat-sink frame.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved radio-frequency connector.

The foregoing and other objects are achieved by the features of the independent claims. Further implementation forms are apparent from the dependent claims, the description and figures.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a radio-frequency (RF) connector comprising: a hollow outer connector component; and an inner connector component comprising a conductor component; wherein the hollow outer connector component has an inner space and is configured to receive the inner connector component in said inner space through an opening in said hollow outer connector component; and wherein the inner connector component is configured to establish an electrical connection between the conductor component of the inner connector component and a conductor component of a counterpart of the inner connector component by inserting the inner connector component into the outer connector component. By having an F connector with separate outer and inner connector components, it is possible to connect the inner connector component of the RF connector to an RF- signal processing element without connecting the outer connector component to the RF-signal processing element at the same time. This enables more flexibility for an assembly of the RF connector to a radio frequency arrangement.

Furthermore, when the RF connector has separate outer and inner connector components, the connector components can be connected to different counterparts independently. In a first possible implementation form of the RF connector according to the first aspect, the inner connector component is configured to be inserted into the hollow outer connector component when a counterpart of the outer connector component and the counterpart of the inner connector component are assembled with each other. Hence, it can be achieved, the counterparts are assembled before being connected to the RF connector components, less space may be needed to assemble the counterparts.

In a second possible implementation form of the RF connector according to the first aspect as such or according to the first implementation form, the inner connector component comprises a fastening arrangement configured to establish a mechanical connection between the inner connector component and the counterpart of the inner connector component, the mechanical connection securing the inner connector component inside the inner space.

By having a fastening arrangement at the inner connector component in order to connect the inner connector component to its counterpart, there is no need to have securing arrangements at the outer connector component for securing the inner connector component to the outer connector component. In a third possible implementation form of the F connector according to the second implementation form of the first aspect, the inner connector component is configured to, by inserting the inner connector component into the outer connector component, simultaneously establish the mechanical connection and the electrical connection.

In a fourth possible implementation form of the RF connector according to the first aspect as such or according to any of the preceding implementation forms of the first aspect, the inner space connects to two opposite openings which together with the inner space form a through-going channel or bore in the outer connector component.

The channel or bore of the outer connector component can serve as an insertion guide when inserting the inner connector component through the outer connector component for connecting the counterpart of the inner connector component. The bore allows the outer connector component to surround and shield the inner connector component.

In a fifth possible implementation form of the RF connector according to any of the preceding implementation forms of the first aspect, the inner connector component is configured to be partly received by an opening of the counterpart of the outer connector component when the inner connector component is received through the inner space of the outer connector component.

The inner connector component may be longer than the outer connector component, and thereby reach through the counterpart of the outer connector component in order to obtain a connection to the counterpart of the inner connector component.

In a sixth possible implementation form of the RF connector according to the first aspect as such or according to any of the preceding implementation forms of the first aspect, the conductor component comprises an inner conductor, an outer conductor at least partly surrounding the inner conductor, and preferably a dielectric insulator between the inner conductor and the outer conductor.

Hence, the RF-connector can be used to connect coaxial cables to a RF arrangement.

In a seventh possible implementation form of the RF connector according to the first aspect as such or according to any of the preceding implementation forms of the first aspect, the conductor component comprises an inner conductor which is configured to establish an electrical connection between the inner conductor of the inner connector component and an inner conductor of the counterpart of the inner connector component as a capacitive coupling. In an eighth possible implementation form of the F connector according to the first aspect as such or according to any of the preceding implementation forms of the first aspect, the conductor component comprises an outer conductor which is configured to establish an electrical connection between the outer conductor of the inner connector component and an outer conductor of the counterpart of the inner connector component as a galvanic coupling.

When the conductor component of the inner connector component comprises both an inner conductor and an outer conductor, the inner connector component holds the conductors needed to establish the necessary electrical connections to a counterpart being an RF-signal processing element, and there is no need for having conductors of the outer connector component connected to the RF-signal processing element.

In a ninth possible implementation form of the RF connector according to the first aspect as such or according to any of the preceding implementation forms of the first aspect, the outer conductor of the inner connector component is configured to establish a mechanical connection between the outer conductor of the inner connector component and the outer conductor of the counterpart of the inner connector component. By having the outer conductor of the inner connector component configured to establish the mechanical connection, a capacitive coupling can be obtained between the inner conductor of the inner connector component and the inner conductor of the counterpart of the inner connector component, without the inner conductor of the inner connector component being configured to also establish a mechanical connection to the inner conductor of the counterpart of the inner connector component.

In a tenth possible implementation form of the RF connector according to the first aspect as such or according to any of the preceding implementation forms of the first aspect, the outer connector component is integral with at least a part of a housing for the counterpart of the inner connector component. When the outer connector component of the RF connector is integral with a housing for a counterpart of the inner connector, then fewer steps may be required when assembling the RF connector to an RF arrangement comprising a counterpart for the inner connector component and a housing for said counterpart.

In an eleventh possible implementation form of the RF connector according to any of the preceding implementation forms of the first aspect, the outer connector component comprises a fastening arrangement to fasten the outer connector component to its respective counterpart independently of the fastening of the inner connector component inside the inner space.

In a twelfth possible implementation form of the RF connector according to the first aspect as such or according to any of the preceding implementation forms of the first aspect, the outer connector component comprises a conducting material.

When the outer connector component comprises a conducting material, the outer conductor component can act togetherwith the outer conductor of the inner connector component to function as a combined outer conductor for the RF connector, and improve the shielding of signals travelling within the RF connector.

In a thirteenth possible implementation form of the RF connector according to the first aspect as such or according to any of the preceding implementation forms of the first aspect, the RF-connector is a 7/16 connector. According to a second aspect, there is provided a method for assembly of an RF- connector according to the first aspect as such or according to any of the preceding implementation forms of the first aspect to an RF-arrangement, the RF-arrangement comprising a housing and an RF-signal processing element, the method comprising: providing the housing of the RF-arrangement; arranging the RF-signal processing element in the housing of the RF-arrangement; when the outer connector component of the RF-connector is not an integral part of the housing fastening the outer connector component to the housing; inserting the inner connector component through the opening in the outer conductor component into the inner space and establishing an electrical connection between the conductor component of the inner connector component and a conductor component of the RF-signal processing element. According to a third aspect, there is provided a method for assembly of an RF- connector according to the first aspect as such or according to any of the preceding implementation forms of the first aspect to an RF-arrangement, the RF-arrangement comprising a housing and an RF-signal processing element, the method comprising: providing the housing of the RF-arrangement; arranging the RF-signal processing element in the housing of the RF-arrangement; inserting the inner connector component through an opening in the housing and establishing an electrical connection between the conductor component of the inner connector component and a conductor component of the RF-signal processing element; when the outer connector component of the RF-connector is not an integral part of the housing fastening the outer connector component to the housing, the outer connector component being guided in place by the inner connector component.

It shall be mentioned that step of fastening the outer connector component to the housing can be performed before or after the RF-signal processing element is arranged inside the housing. However, by having the possibility of assembling the complete RF connector together after the RF-signal processing element is assembled in to its housing has the advantage that less space is needed inside the housing for assembling the RF-arrangement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a radio base system using radio remote units; Figs. 2a and 2b are block diagrams illustrating conventional radio-frequency connectors connected to a heat-sink and cavity filters of a radio remote unit;

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating assembly of conventional radio-frequency connectors to a heat-sink and cavity filters of a radio remote unit;

Figs. 4a and 4b are block diagrams illustrating radio-frequency connectors according to an embodiment of the invention when connected to a radio-frequency arrangement with a housing holding radio-frequency processing elements; Fig. 5 is a schematic cutaway side view of a female radio-frequency connector according to an embodiment of the invention, where the connector is connected to counterparts of a radio-frequency arrangement; Fig. 6 is a schematic cutaway side view of a male radio-frequency connector according to an embodiment of the invention, where the connector is connected to counterparts of a radio-frequency arrangement;

Fig. 7 is a schematic cutaway side view of a female radio-frequency connector according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, where the connector is connected to counterparts of a radio-frequency arrangement;

Figs. 8a, 8b and 8c show inner connector component parts of a radio-frequency connector according to embodiments of the invention;

Fig. 9 shows an outer connector component of a radio-frequency connector according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 10 is a flow chart illustrating steps of assembling a radio-frequency connector to a radio-frequency arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a radio base system, RBS, 100. The radio base system comprises a main unit 101 , which through fiber optic cables is connected to a number of radio remote units, RRSUS, 102a, 102b, 102c. Each radio remote unit 102a, 102b, 102c, is then further connected via one or more radio-frequency coaxial cables 104a, 104b, 104c to a corresponding antenna 103a, 103b, 103c. For the system 100 shown in Fig. 1 , the main unit 101 is connected to the RRSUS in a star configuration. The RRSUS 102 are designed to be located near the antenna 103, but can be remote to the main unit 101 , thereby extending the reach of the radio base system 100 by up to 40 km.

Figs. 2a and 2b are block diagrams illustrating a conventional radio remote unit 200 comprising a heat-sink 201 , a first cavity filter 202a with a first radio-frequency connector 203a, a second cavity filter 202b with a second radio-frequency connector 203b, and a unit 204 comprising electronic processing circuitry, which unit 204 is cooled by the heat-sink 201 . Fig. 2a is a top view showing all blocks of the unit 200 and Fig. 2b is a cut through side view showing the heat-sink 201 , the unit 204, the second filter 202b and the second connector 203b.

In Fig. 2a the first filter 202a with connector 203a is not brought into the final position in the heat-sink 201. The connector 203a is fully connected to the filter 202a, and the connector 202a is to be placed into an opening (not shown) in the heat-sink 201 , in order for a cable to be connected to the connector 203a from the outside of the heat- sink 201. The filter 202b and its connector 203b are brought into the final position with the connector 203b extending on the outside of the heat-sink 201 , where a cable can be connected to the connector 203b from the outside of the heat-sink 201. In order to bring a filter from the un-assembled position of filter 202a to the assembled position of filter 202b, an extra space 207 is needed behind the filter 203b. The width of the space 207 corresponds to the length of the connector 203a, 203b.

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating assembly of a conventional radio-frequency arrangement 300 holding a heat-sink 301 a, 301 b, a cavity filter 302, and a radio-frequency connector 303. The heat-sink shown in Fig. 3 has a first part 301 a for connecting to the filter 302, and a second part 301 b for cooling electronic circuitry (not shown). An extra space 307 is shown behind the filter 302. In order to assemble the heat-sink 301 a and the filter 302 with the connector 303, the filter 302 with connector 303 is arranged into the first heat-sink part 301 a taking up the extra space 307, and then moved in the direction indicated by the arrow X, to have the connector 303 extending through an opening or hole in a wall of the heat-sink 301 a, which leaves the space 307 open and non- occupied. A rubber ring 305 is arranged between a lower part of the connector 303 and the heat-sink wall 301 a in order to obtain a watertight connection, and the connector 303 with filter 302 is secured to the heat-sink frame 301 a by use of screws 306.

For the conventional solutions illustrated in Figs. 2-3 there is a waste of unused space 207, 307 when the filter 202, 302 and the heat-sink 201 , 301 are fully assembled. It is within embodiments of the invention to propose a solution avoiding the unused space 207, 307, whereby the overall size of a radio remote unit, U, using such a solution can be diminished while maintaining a good heat-sink cooling ability. Furthermore it is within at least some embodiments of the invention to propose a solution providing a more simple assembly of the filter 202, 302 to the heat-sink 201 , 301 , while at the same time secure a watertight connection between the connector 203, 303 and the heat-sink 201 , 301 . Figs. 4a and 4b are block diagrams illustrating a radio-frequency, RF, arrangement 400, which can be a radio remote unit, comprising a housing 401 , which can be a heat- sink, a first radio-frequency, RF, processing element 402a, which can be a first cavity filter, a first radio-frequency, RF, connector 403a according to an embodiment of the invention, a second radio-frequency, RF, signal processing element 402b, which can be a second cavity filter, and a second radio-frequency, RF, connector 403b according to an embodiment of the invention. The arrangement or radio remote unit 400 may further hold a unit 404 comprising electronic processing circuitry, which unit 404 may be cooled by the heat-sink 401 . Fig. 4a is a top view showing all blocks of the arrangement or unit 400 and Fig. 4b is a cut through side view showing the housing or heat-sink 401 , the unit 404, the second processing element or filter 402b and the second connector 403b. Both processing elements orfilters 402a, 402b are in the final position with the connectors 403a, 403b extending on the outside of the housing or heat-sink 401 for cable connection. The arrangement shown in Fig. 4a comprises two processing elements or cavity filters 402a, 402b and two RF connectors 403a, 403b. However, the present invention also covers embodiments with arrangements holding a housing or heat-sink 401 , a single RF-signal processing element or cavity filter 402a, and a single RF connector 403a. When comparing the solutions 200 and 400 of Fig. 2 and 4, it can be noticed that the extra or unused space 207 of unit 200 is not present in the arrangement or unit 400 using RF connectors according to an embodiment of the invention.

For the conventional solution of Figs. 2-3, the filter 202, 302 is fully connected to the RF connector 203, 303 before being inserted or secured to the heat-sink 201 , 301 . However, for the arrangement 400 using connectors according to embodiments of the present invention the RF-signal processing element or filter 402 is first arranged in the housing or heat-sink 401 , and then the RF connector 403 is connected to the RF processing element or filter 402 from the outside of the housing or heat-sink 401 , and through an opening of the housing or heat-sink 401 . How the RF connector 403 can be connected to the RF-signal processing element or filter 402 is further described in connection with Fig. 5, which is a schematic cutaway side view of an arrangement 500 according to an embodiment of the invention showing a female RF connector 503 connected to counterparts of an RF arrangement. The counterparts of the RF arrangement may comprise a counterpart for an inner connector component of the RF connector 503, which counterpart can be an RF-signal processing element such as a cavity filter 504 and a counterpart for an outer connector component of the RF connector 503, which counterpart can be a housing or heat-sink 501.

The housing or heat-sink 501 has a wall with an opening 505, and the RF-signal processing element 504 has a connector receiving part and is secured to the housing or heat-sink 501 with the connector receiving part facing the housing or heat-sink wall opening 505 at the inside of the wall. The connector receiving part of the processing element 504 comprises an outer conductor 502a with an opening and an inner conductor 502b arranged within the outer conductor opening, and the processing element 504 is secured to housing or the heat-sink 501 with the opening of the outer conductor 502a facing the wall opening 505 at the inside of the wall. The RF connector 503 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an inner connector component 506a, 506b, 507a, 507b, 508 having a first part 506b, 507b, which is connected to the connector receiving part of the processing element 504 on the inside of the housing or heat-sink wall, and a second part 506a, 507a, 508 extending through the opening of the wall 505. The RF connector 503 further comprises a hollow outer connector component 509 connected to the outside of the housing or heat-sink wall 501 . The hollow outer connector component 509 has an inner space connecting two opposite openings and forming a through-going channel or bore in the outer connector component 509, which surrounds the second inner connector component part 506a, 507a, 508.

The inner connector component 506a, 506b, 507a, 507b, 508 of the RF connector 503 comprises a conductor component having an inner conductor 507a, 507b and an outer conductor 506a, 506b at least partly surrounding the inner conductor. It is preferred that conductor component further has a dielectric insulator 508 arranged between the inner conductor 507a and the outer conductor 506a. A first part of both the inner conductor 507b and the outer conductor 506b is connected to the connector receiving part of the F-signal processing element 504 and a second part of both the inner conductor 507a and the outer conductor 506a extends through the opening 505 of the wall 501 with the hollow outer connector component 509 surrounding the second part of the outer conductor 506a. The first part 507b of the inner conductor of the inner connector component is connected to the inner conductor of the processing element 504 via a capacitive coupling insulation material 51 1, and the first part of the outer conductor 506b of the inner connector component is (e.g. galvanically) connected to the outer conductor 502a of the processing element 504. The dielectric insulator 508 can be a Polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE, insulator.

The part of the second part of the outer conductor 506a of the inner connector component being closest to the outer connector component 509 has a circular circumference with a first outer diameter, and the opposite part of the outer connector component 509 is tubular shaped with a first inner diameter. The first outer diameter and the first inner diameter are selected to give a small clearance between the outer conductor 506a of the inner connector component and the outer connector component 509. This clearance should be rather small, such as below 10%, such as below 7% or such as below 5% of the measure of the first inner diameter. Thus, the arrangement of the outer connector component 509 can be guided by the outer conductor 506a of the inner connector component, or the arrangement of the outer conductor 506a of the inner connector component can be guided by the outer connector component 509.

The end part of the second part of the outer conductor 506a of the inner connector component has a second outer diameter being smaller than the first outer diameter, and the opposing end part of the outer connector component 509 has a second inner diameter being larger than the first inner diameter, thereby providing an annular groove 513 at the end of the second part of the outer conductor 506a of the inner connector component and the end of the outer connector component 509. The outer connector component 509 has an outer threaded end part 510 opposing the housing or heat-sink wall 501. It is preferred that the threaded part 510 is dimensioned for attachment to a RF coaxial connector. For the arrangement 500 of Fig. 5 the outer connector component 509 and the housing or heat-sink wall 501 are separate parts with a rubber part 512 inserted between the outer connector component 509 and the wall 501 to thereby provide a watertight connection. In Fig. 5 the end part 514a of the second part of the inner conductor 507a of the inner connector component is dimensioned for conductively receiving and contacting a corresponding inner connector of a RF coaxial male connector. However, the present invention also covers embodiments where the end part 514b of the second part of the inner conductor 507a of the inner connector component is dimensioned for conductively receiving and contacting a corresponding inner connector of a F coaxial female connector, as illustrated in Fig. 6, which shows an arrangement 600 similar to the arrangement 500 of Fig. 5, but where the end part 514b of the inner conductor 507a of the inner connector component is now formed as a male end part. It is preferred that the outer connector component 509 comprises a conducting material. Fig. 7 is a schematic cutaway side view of an arrangement 700 according to another embodiment of the invention showing a female radio-frequency, RF, connector 703 connected to an RF-signal processing element 504 and a housing or heat-sink 701 . The RF connector 703 has an outer connector component 709 with an outer threaded end part 710 and an inner connectorcomponent. The processing element 504 or cavity filter parts and the inner connector component parts of the connector 703 of the combination 700 are equal to the processing element or cavity filter parts 502a, 502b and the inner connector component parts 506a, 605b, 507a, 507b, 508 of the arrangement 500 of Fig. 5. The arrangement 700 differs from the arrangement 500 in that the outer connector component 709 is integral with a part of the housing or heat- sink 701. An opening 705 in the housing or heat-sink wall provides an inner opening of the outer connector component 709. By having the outer connector component 709 being integral with the housing or heat-sink 701 , the problems in obtaining a water tight connection between the connector 703 and the housing or heat-sink 701 are avoided. Furthermore, it is not necessary anymore to additionally attach the outer connector component to the housing 701. Hence, the corresponding manufacturing step can be avoided.

It is preferred that the RF connector 503, 703 is a RF coaxial connector, such as a 7/16 DIN RF connector.

Figs. 8a, 8b show the inner connector component parts of the RF connector 503, 703 illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7. Fig. 8a shows the inner conductor 507 with the first inner conductor part 507b, the second inner conductor part 507a, and the inner conductor end part 514a. Fig. 8b shows the outer conductor 506 with the first outer conductor part 506b and the second outer conductor part 506a.

Fig. 8c shows the inner conductor of the inner connector component of the arrangement of Fig. 6, where the inner conductor has a male end part 514b, but otherwise is similar to the inner conductor 506.

Fig. 9 shows the outer connector component 509 of the F connector 503 illustrated in Fig. 5. The outer connector component 509 has a threaded end part 510, and a fastening arrangement with a flange part 515 with screw holes 516 for attachment to the housing or heat-sink wall 501. The rubber ring 512 for securing a watertight connection is also shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 10 is a flow chart illustrating steps of a method according to an embodiment of the invention for assembly of an RF arrangement 500 comprising a housing or heat-sink 501 , an RF-signal processing element or cavity filter 504 and an RF connector 503 according to an embodiment of the invention. In step 1001 the inner connector component is assembled by connecting the inner conductor 507 and the outer conductor 506 with the dielectric insulator 508 between the second inner conductor part 507a and the second outer conductor part 506a. In step 1002 the RF-signal processing element or cavity filter 504 is arranged or secured in the housing or heat- sink 501 with an opening of the outer filter conductor 502a facing the opening 505 at the inside of the housing or heat-sink wall 501 . In step 1003 the outer connector component 509 is secured to the outside of the housing or heat-sink wall 501 . In step 1004 the inner connector component is secured to the RF-signal processing element or cavity filter 504 by being inserted into and guided by the inner space of the hollow outer connector component 509 and partly through the opening 505 of the housing or heat-sink 501 , with the first part 507b of the inner conductor component being connected to the inner conductor 502b of the processing element or filter 504 for example, via a capacitive coupling insulation material 51 1 , and the first part of the outer conductor 506b being connected to the outer conductor 502a of the processing element or filter.

It should be understood that embodiments of the present invention also cover a method as illustrated in Fig. 10, but with the inner connector component 506b, 507b being secured to the RF-signal processing element or filter 504 before the outer connector component 509 is secured to the housing or heat-sink 501. In such case, step 1002 is followed by a step, in which the inner connector component 506b, 507b is connected to the processing element or cavity filter 504 through the opening 505 of the housing or heat-sink 501 , with the first part 507b of the inner conductor being connected to the inner conductor 502b, for example, via a capacitive coupling insulation material 51 1 , and the first part of the outer conductor 506b being connected to the outer conductor 502a. The connection of the inner connector component is then followed by a step, in which the outer connector component 509 is secured to the outside of the housing or heat-sink wall 501 while being guided by the outer conductor 506a of the inner connector component.

Furthermore, also the order of the steps 1002 and 1003 can be exchanged. I.e. the outer connector component 509 can be secured to the housing or heat-sink 501 before the F signal processing element 504 and the housing or heat-sink 501 are assembled.

The outer conductor 506b of the inner connector component may be configured to establish a mechanical connection between the outer conductor of the inner connector component 506, 507 and the outer conductor of the RF-signal processing element or filter 502a. The mechanical connection may be obtained by use of press-fitting or by a threaded end part. When connecting the inner conductor 507b of the inner connector component to the inner conductor 502b of the processing element or filter via the insulating and capacitive coupling insulation material 51 1 , the insulation material 51 1 also functions to absorb assembly tolerance. The outer connector component 509 may be connected to the housing or heat-sink wall 501 by use of screws.

If the outer connector component 709 is integral with a part of the housing or heat-sink wall 701 , see Fig. 7, with the tubular shaped outer connectorcomponent 709 extending on the outside of housing or heat-sink wall, then for the method illustrated in Fig. 10, step 1003 can be avoided.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific features and embodiments thereof, it is evident that various modifications and embodiments can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded as an illustration of the invention as defined by the appended claims, and are contemplated to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations or equivalents that fall within the scope of the present invention.

The term "comprising" as used in the appended claims does not exclude other elements or steps. The term "a" or "an" as used in the appended claims does not exclude a plurality.

Any method described herein and in the claims may be supplemented by any features of the apparatuses described herein and in the claims in terms of method features.

Claims

1 . A radio-frequency ( F) connector (503, 703) comprising: a hollow outer connector component (509, 709); and

an inner connector component (506, 507, 508) comprising a conductor component (506, 507, 508);

wherein the hollow outer connector component (509, 709) has an inner space and is configured to receive the inner connector component (506, 507, 508) in said inner space through an opening in said hollow outer connector component (509, 709); and wherein the inner connector component (506, 507, 508) is configured to establish an electrical connection between the conductor component (506, 507, 508) of the inner connector component (506, 507, 508) and a conductor component (502a, 502b) of a counterpart (504) of the inner connector component (506, 507, 508) by inserting the inner connector component (506, 507, 508) into the outer connector component (509, 709).

2. The RF connector (503, 703) of claim 1 , wherein the inner connector component (506, 507, 508) is configured to be inserted into the hollow outer connector component (509, 709) when a counterpart (501 , 701 ) of the outer connector component (509, 709) and the counterpart (502a, 502b) of the inner connector component (506, 507, 508) are assembled with each other.

3. The RF connector (503, 703) of one of the claims 1 to 2, wherein the inner connector component (506, 507, 508) comprises a fastening arrangement configured to establish a mechanical connection between the inner connector component (506, 507, 508) and the counterpart (504) of the inner connector component, the mechanical connection securing the inner connector component (506, 507, 508) inside the inner space.

4. The RF connector (503, 703) of claim 3, wherein the inner connector component (506, 507, 508) is configured to, by inserting the inner connector component (506, 507, 508) into the outer connector component (509, 709), simultaneously establish the mechanical connection and the electrical connection.

5. The F connector (503, 703) of one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the inner space connects to two opposite openings which together with the inner space form a through-going channel or bore in the outer connector component (509, 709).

6. The RF connector (503, 703) of one of the claims 2-5, wherein the inner connector component (506, 507, 508) is configured to be partly received by an opening (505, 705) of the counterpart (501 , 701 ) of the outer connector component (509, 709) when the inner connector component (506, 507, 508) is received through the inner space of the outer connector component (509, 709).

7. The RF connector (503, 703) of one of the claims 1-6, wherein the conductor component (506, 507, 508) comprises an inner conductor (507), an outer conductor

(506) at least partly surrounding the inner conductor (507), and preferably a dielectric insulator (508) between the inner conductor (507) and the outer conductor (506).

8. The RF connector (503, 703) of one of the claims 1 -7, wherein the conductor component (506, 507, 508) comprises an inner conductor (507b) which is configured to establish an electrical connection between the inner conductor (507) of the inner connector component and an inner conductor (502b) of the counterpart (502a, 502b) of the inner connector component as a capacitive coupling.

9. The RF connector (503, 703) of one of the claims 1-8, wherein the conductor component (506, 507, 508) comprises an outer conductor (506b) which is configured to establish an electrical connection between the outer conductor (506b) of the inner connector component and an outer conductor (502a) of the counterpart (504) of the inner connector component as a galvanic coupling.

10. The RF connector (503, 703) of claim 9, wherein the outer conductor (506) of the inner connector component is configured to establish a mechanical connection between the outer conductor (506b) of the inner connector component and the outer conductor (502a) of the counterpart (504) of the inner connector component.

1 1 . The RF connector (703) of one of the claims 1-10, wherein the outer connector component (709) is integral with at least a part of a housing (701 ) for the counterpart of the inner connector component.

12. The RF connector (503) of one of the claims 2-1 1 , wherein the outer connector component (509) comprises a fastening arrangement (515, 516) to fasten the outer connector component (509) to its respective counterpart (501 ) independently of the fastening of the inner connector component (506, 507, 508) inside the inner space.

13. The RF connector (503, 703) of one of the claims 1-12, wherein the outer connector component (509, 709) comprises a conducting material.

14. The RF connector of (503, 703) one of the claims 1-13, wherein the RF- connector (403) is a 7/16 connector.

15. Method for assembly of an RF-connector (503, 703) according to one of the proceeding claims to an RF-arrangement, the RF-arrangement comprising a housing (501 , 701 ) and an RF-signal processing element (502a, 502b), the method comprising: providing the housing (501 , 701 ) of the RF-arrangement; arranging the RF-signal processing element (502a, 502b) in the housing of the RF- arrangement (501 , 701 ); when the outer connector component (509) of the RF-connector (503) is not an integral part of the housing (501 ) fastening the outer connector component (509) to the housing (501 ); inserting the inner connector component (506, 507, 508) through the opening in the outer conductor component (509, 709) into the inner space and establishing an electrical connection between the conductor component (506, 507, 508) of the inner connector component and a conductor component (502a, 502b) of the RF-signal processing element.