WO2024094020A1

WO2024094020A1 - Connector assembly and radio frequency connector

Info

Publication number: WO2024094020A1
Application number: PCT/CN2023/128734
Authority: WO
Inventors: 王超
Original assignee: 常州捷翼汽车零部件有限公司
Priority date: 2022-10-31
Filing date: 2023-10-31
Publication date: 2024-05-10
Also published as: CN218997151U

Abstract

Disclosed in the present application is a connector assembly, comprising an inner conductor, an insulator, an outer conductor and a metal ring, wherein the outer conductor is sleeved outside the inner conductor; the insulator is arranged between the inner conductor and the outer conductor; and the metal ring is sleeved on at least part of the periphery of the insulator and is electrically connected to the outer conductor. The structure of the present application can realize impedance matching inside a radio frequency connector; when the internal structure of the radio frequency connector changes, the impedance of the connector can be adjusted by means of changing the metal ring, so as to prevent variation in the outer conductor, thereby realizing the universality of the outer conductor; moreover, the outer conductor produced by stamping is prevented from having excessive steps and variable diameters, thereby reducing the process difficulty and the die complexity, and facilitating a reduction in costs.

Description

Connector assembly and radio frequency connector

Related Applications

This application claims priority to the Chinese utility model patent application with application number 202222867984.6 filed on October 31, 2022, and cites the entire contents disclosed in the above patent application as part of this application.

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and more specifically, to a connector assembly and a radio frequency connector.

Background technique

In the field of RF connectors, in order to ensure that RF signals can be transmitted completely, the first thing to consider is to ensure the impedance matching inside the RF connector. RF connectors are generally composed of three parts: outer conductor, inner conductor and inner insulation, plus other functional parts, but impedance matching is generally achieved by the cooperation of the three parts: outer conductor, inner conductor and inner insulation. In traditional RF connector design, the outer conductor is generally produced by machining. In this case, various steps, diameter changes and other structures are machined inside the outer conductor to achieve the overall impedance matching of the connector. However, with the increasing cost pressure in the RF connector industry, more and more outer conductor parts are being produced through stamping processes. In this case, if it is necessary to manufacture steps, diameter changes and other structures inside the outer conductor to ensure impedance matching, it will undoubtedly bring great difficulty and high cost to the process, and will also increase the difficulty and complexity of stamping die design and manufacturing. Therefore, a simple and easy-to-implement structure is needed to achieve and ensure the impedance matching of the RF connector.

Summary of the invention

The present application provides a connector assembly, comprising: an inner conductor, an insulator, an outer conductor and a metal ring, wherein the outer conductor is sleeved outside the inner conductor, the insulator is arranged between the inner conductor and the outer conductor, and the metal ring is sleeved at least partially around the insulator and is electrically connected to the outer conductor.

The present application also discloses a radio frequency connector, comprising a connector housing and the aforementioned connector assembly, wherein at least part of the connector assembly is arranged in the connector housing, a snap-in groove is arranged inside the connector housing, and the fixing portion is matched and connected with the snap-in groove and fixes the connector assembly in the connector housing.

The structure of the present application can achieve impedance matching inside the RF connector. When the internal structure of the RF connector changes, the impedance of the connector can be adjusted by changing the metal ring to avoid changes in the outer conductor, thus achieving At the same time, it avoids the excessive steps and diameter changes of the outer conductor produced by stamping, reduces the process difficulty and mold complexity, and is conducive to reducing costs.

Other features and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

FIG1 is a cross-sectional view of a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG2 is a half-cutaway perspective view of an outer conductor of an embodiment of the present application;

FIG3 is a schematic diagram of an insulator with an annular groove according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG4 is a schematic diagram of an insulator with a groove provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG5 is a schematic diagram of the combination of an insulator and a metal ring according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG6 is a schematic diagram of a combination of a U-shaped plate and an insulator according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the U-shaped plate in FIG. 6 in an embodiment of the present application being crimped into a metal ring and then combined with an insulator.

Detailed ways

Various exemplary embodiments of the present application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement of components and steps, numerical expressions and numerical values set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present application.

The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present application, its application, or uses.

Technologies, methods, and equipment known to ordinary technicians in the relevant art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, the above-mentioned technologies, methods, and equipment should be considered as part of the specification.

In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not limiting. Therefore, other examples of the exemplary embodiments may have different values.

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

The present application discloses a connector assembly, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 7 , comprising: an inner conductor 1, an insulator 2, The outer conductor 3 and the metal ring 4 are provided. The outer conductor 3 is sleeved outside the inner conductor 1. The insulator 2 is provided between the inner conductor 1 and the outer conductor 3. The metal ring 4 is sleeved on at least part of the outer periphery of the insulator 2 and is electrically connected to the outer conductor 3. The metal ring 4 is introduced between the outer conductor 3 and the insulator 2, and the metal ring 4 is electrically connected to the outer conductor 3. The metal ring 4 can be used to adjust the impedance inside the connector, without making too many steps and diameter changes inside the outer conductor 3, thereby achieving the versatility of the outer conductor 3. According to the specific implementation situation, the thickness, length and other dimensions of the metal ring 4 are changed, and the insulator 2 is adjusted accordingly to match and install with the metal ring 4. The internal impedance of the connector assembly can be adjusted, which reduces the process difficulty and the complexity of mold manufacturing, and is conducive to reducing costs.

In some embodiments, the maximum diameter of the metal ring 4 is greater than or equal to the maximum diameter of the insulator 2. The metal ring 4 is fixed to the outer periphery of the insulator 2, and the maximum diameter of the metal ring 4 needs to be greater than or equal to the maximum diameter of the insulator 2 to ensure that the metal ring 4 can contact the inner wall of the outer conductor 3 and be electrically connected to the outer conductor 3.

In some embodiments, a recess 21 is provided on the periphery of the insulator 2, and the metal ring 4 is provided in a space formed by the recess 21 and the inner wall of the outer conductor 3. As shown in FIG4 , a recess 21 is provided on the periphery of the insulator 2, and the metal ring 4 is provided in a space formed by the recess 21 and the inner wall of the outer conductor 3. This will not increase the volume of the RF connector due to the introduction of the metal ring 4, and can ensure that the metal ring 4 can be electrically connected to the outer conductor 3, thereby adjusting the internal impedance of the connector.

In some embodiments, at least one groove 211 is provided at the depression 21, and at least one inwardly protruding card piece is provided on the side wall of the metal ring 4, which is engaged in the groove 211 and restricts the metal ring 4 from being separated from the insulator 2. In order to ensure the position of the metal ring 4 inside the RF connector, at least one groove 211 is provided at the depression 21 on the outer periphery of the insulator 2, and correspondingly, at least one inwardly protruding card piece is provided on the side wall of the metal ring 4, which is engaged in the groove 211 to restrict the metal ring 4 from being separated from the insulator 2. When multiple card pieces are provided on the side wall of the metal ring 4, multiple grooves 211 are provided at the corresponding depression 21, and multiple grooves 211 are matched with multiple card pieces to ensure the connection stability between the metal ring 4 and the insulator 2.

In some embodiments, at least one inwardly protruding snap-in piece is provided on the side wall of the metal ring 4, and the metal ring 4 and the insulator 2 are insert injection molded, and at least part of the snap-in piece is injection molded inside the recess 21. In some cases, at least one inwardly protruding snap-in piece is provided on the side wall of the metal ring 4, and when the metal ring 4 and the insulator 2 are insert injection molded, at least part of the snap-in piece is injection molded inside the recess 21, so as to restrict the metal ring 4 from being separated from the insulator 2.

In some embodiments, an annular groove 22 is provided on the outer circumference of the insulator 2, steps 221 are provided on both sides of the annular groove 22, the metal ring 4 is sleeved in the annular groove 22, and the end of the metal ring 4 abuts against the steps 221. An annular groove 22 is provided on the outer circumference of the insulator 2, steps 221 are provided on both sides of the annular groove 22, and the metal ring 4 is sleeved in the annular groove 22. In some cases, as shown in FIG6 and FIG7, the metal ring 4 is first punched into a U-shaped structure from a sheet material, and then the U-shaped structure is crimped after being assembled into the annular groove 22, so that the two ends contact to form an annular metal ring 4, and the end of the metal ring 4 abuts against the steps 221 at both ends of the annular groove 22.

In some embodiments, the outer conductor 3 is a sheet material stamped and curled into a cylindrical body, at least one outwardly protruding fixing portion 31 is arranged on the outer periphery of the cylindrical body, and the metal ring 4 is at least arranged inside the corresponding position of the fixing portion 31 of the outer conductor, and the length of the metal ring 4 in the axial direction of the outer conductor 3 is greater than the length of the axial direction of the projection of the fixing portion 31 on the outer peripheral surface of the outer conductor 3. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the outer conductor 3 is a cylindrical body formed by stamping and curling the sheet material, and at least one outwardly protruding fixing portion 31 is included on the outer periphery of the cylindrical body for connecting with the connector housing. Since the stamping fixing portion 31 may cause the cylindrical body to be not in a closed state, the shielding effectiveness of the outer conductor 3 is reduced, and the set function cannot be achieved. At least part of the metal ring 4 is arranged inside the outer conductor 3 corresponding to the fixing portion 31, and the length of the metal ring 4 in the axial direction of the outer conductor 3 is greater than the length of the projection of the fixing portion 31 in the axial direction of the outer conductor 3. The opening of the fixing portion 31 can be closed inside the outer conductor 3 to achieve the shielding performance of the outer conductor 3, and ensure that the metal ring 4 can adjust the impedance inside the outer conductor 3, so that there is no need to process a step or a variable diameter structure inside the outer conductor 3.

In some embodiments, at least one inwardly protruding contact portion 32 is provided inside the outer conductor 3, and the highest point of the contact portion 32 (for example, the deepest point of the inward protrusion) is electrically connected to the outer surface of the metal ring 4. To ensure the electrical connection between the outer conductor 3 and the metal ring 4 so that the metal ring 4 can adjust the internal impedance of the connector, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, at least one inwardly protruding contact portion 32 is provided inside the outer conductor 3, and the highest point of the contact portion 32 is electrically connected to the outer surface of the metal ring 4.

In some embodiments, at least one inwardly recessed limiting portion is provided on the outer surface of the metal ring 4, and the contact portion 32 is engaged and electrically connected with the limiting portion. In some cases, at least one inwardly recessed limiting portion is provided on the outer surface of the metal ring 4, and the position of the limiting portion corresponds to the contact portion 32 on the outer conductor 3. Through the engagement of the contact portion 32 with the limiting portion, the contact area between the contact portion 32 and the metal ring 4 is increased, and the electrical connection stability between the outer conductor 3 and the metal ring 4 is ensured.

The present application also discloses a radio frequency connector, including a connector housing and the aforementioned connector assembly, at least part of the connector assembly is arranged in the connector housing, a snap-in groove is arranged inside the connector housing, and a fixing portion 31 is matched and connected with the snap-in groove to fix the connector assembly in the connector housing. The radio frequency connector of the present application includes the aforementioned connector assembly and the connector housing, a snap-in groove is arranged on the inner wall of the connector housing, and the connector assembly is fixed in the connector housing by matching and connecting the fixing portion 31 on the outer conductor 3 with the snap-in groove, so that the impedance of the radio frequency connector can be kept stable when connected to the matching cable.

Although some specific embodiments of the present application have been described in detail by way of example, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the above examples are only for illustration, not for limiting the scope of the present application. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the above embodiments may be modified without departing from the scope and spirit of the present application. The scope of the present application is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

A connector assembly comprises: an inner conductor, an insulator, an outer conductor and a metal ring, wherein the outer conductor is sleeved outside the inner conductor, the insulator is arranged between the inner conductor and the outer conductor, and the metal ring is sleeved at least partially around the insulator and is electrically connected to the outer conductor.
The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the maximum diameter of the metal ring is greater than or equal to the maximum diameter of the insulator.
The connector assembly according to claim 1 is characterized in that a recess is provided on the periphery of the insulator, and the metal ring is provided in a space formed by the recess and the inner wall of the outer conductor.
The connector assembly according to claim 3 is characterized in that at least one groove is provided in the recess, and at least one inwardly protruding snap-in piece is provided on the side wall of the metal ring, and the snap-in piece is snapped into the groove and limits the metal ring from being separated from the insulator.
The connector assembly according to claim 3 is characterized in that at least one inwardly protruding snap-in piece is provided on the side wall of the metal ring, the metal ring and the insulator are insert-injection-molded, and at least a portion of the snap-in piece is injection-molded inside the recess.
The connector assembly according to claim 1 is characterized in that an annular groove is provided on the periphery of the insulator, steps are provided on both sides of the annular groove, the metal ring is sleeved in the annular groove, and the end of the metal ring abuts against the step.
The connector assembly according to claim 1 is characterized in that the outer conductor is a sheet material stamped and curled into a cylindrical body, at least one outwardly protruding fixing portion is arranged on the outer periphery of the cylindrical body, the metal ring is arranged at least inside the corresponding position of the fixing portion, and the length of the metal ring in the axial direction of the outer conductor is greater than the axial length of the fixing portion projected on the outer peripheral surface of the outer conductor.
The connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one inwardly protruding contact portion is provided inside the outer conductor, and the highest point of the contact portion is electrically connected to the outer surface of the metal ring.
The connector assembly according to claim 8 is characterized in that at least one inwardly recessed limiting portion is provided on the outer surface of the metal ring, and the contact portion is engaged with and electrically connected to the limiting portion.
A radio frequency connector, characterized in that it comprises a connector housing and a connector assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, at least part of the connector assembly is arranged in the connector housing, a snap-in groove is arranged inside the connector housing, and a fixing portion is matched and connected with the snap-in groove and fixes the connector assembly in the connector housing.