Radio frequency connector element and radio frequency connector system

Abstract

This invention relates to mating RF connector elements and an RF connector system including first and second RF connector elements. A first RF connector element for mating with a second RF connector element includes first and second terminals and a first electrical insulator element for electrically insulating the first and second terminals. The first terminals have first and second contact regions for electrically connecting the first and second mating terminals of the second RF connector element, respectively. The first electrical insulator element includes a first contact support portion and a first compensation portion. The former is integrally formed of a first dielectric material having a first relative permittivity, and the latter is integrally formed with the first contact support portion and formed of a second dielectric material having a second relative permittivity greater than the first relative permittivity. The first compensation portion is disposed in a front end region of the first electrical insulator element and includes a first contact region of a first internal conductor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to matable radio frequency (RF) connector elements, and to an RF connector system comprising a first RF connector element and a second RF connector element. Background Technology

[0002] RF connectors and RF connector systems, such as coaxial connectors, biaxial connectors, or Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors, are used to connect the transmission lines of RF cables to transmit radio frequency (RF) signals with operating bandwidths of several GHz. For example, a typical coaxial connector includes an inner conductor that connects the transmission line of the coaxial cable and is located in the central portion of the connector. An outer conductor, serving as a ground wire and shielding the inner conductor, surrounds the inner conductor. To electrically insulate the inner and outer conductors and to stabilize the coaxial connector, an electrically insulating element is provided in the gap between the outer and inner conductors.

[0003] Conventional biaxial connectors and USB connectors include multiple internal conductors, each for connecting a corresponding transmission line of the corresponding biaxial or USB cable. Therefore, the electrical insulating elements within the biaxial or USB cable not only electrically insulate the multiple internal conductors from the shielded outer conductor, but also electrically insulate the multiple internal conductors from each other.

[0004] Today, the primary goal is to provide communication links with higher data rates over transmission lines, particularly for applications in the automotive and information and communication technology (ICT) industries. To achieve this, it is essential to maintain uniform impedance throughout the entire transmission system, including RF connectors and RF cables, as impedance discontinuities can cause RF signal reflections, leading to a loss of signal transmission performance. Therefore, it is necessary to match the impedance of the RF connectors to the impedance of the connected RF cables and to provide uniform impedance throughout the RF connectors to avoid impedance unevenness in the transmission system.

[0005] On the other hand, another goal is to miniaturize RF connectors and allow for the use of simple fastening mechanisms that require only linear movement (such as snap-fit ​​connections, levers, or slides), thus enabling inexpensive, lightweight, and space-saving RF connectors. While such fastening mechanisms also allow for simple mating of RF connectors, for example, in vehicles, they also reduce the signal transmission performance of the RF connectors due to unavoidable mating tolerances. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, the objective of this invention is to improve the signal transmission performance of RF connector systems and to provide an RF connector system that can be miniaturized, easily mated, and easily installed. Furthermore, the objective of this invention is to provide a simple and economical solution.

[0007] The present invention provides a first RF connector element for mating with a second RF connector element, wherein the first RF connector element includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a first electrical insulator element for electrically insulating the first terminal and the second terminal, the first terminal having a first contact area for electrically connecting a first mating terminal of the second RF connector element, and the second terminal having a second contact area for electrically connecting a second mating terminal of the second RF connector element.

[0008] The present invention is based on the concept that a first electrical insulator element includes a first contact support portion and a first compensation portion. The first contact support portion is integrally formed of a first dielectric material having a first relative permittivity. The first compensation portion is integrally formed with the first contact support portion and is formed of a second dielectric material having a second relative permittivity greater than the first relative permittivity. The first compensation portion is disposed in the front end region of the first electrical insulator element and at least partially includes the first contact region of the first terminal.

[0009] In other words, the inventors have discovered that a first electrically insulating element integrally formed from at least two materials with different relative permittivity can enhance the signal transmission performance of an RF connector element. By providing a first compensation portion with a higher relative permittivity, the capacitance between the first and second terminals increases in the connection region where the terminals are electrically connected to their corresponding mating terminals. Therefore, in the mating state of the RF connector element with its corresponding RF connector element, the capacitance drop caused by the air gap due to contact gap variation is compensated. Consequently, the impact of contact gap variation on the signal transmission performance of the RF connector element is reduced, and the mating tolerance of the RF connector element is increased.

[0010] Therefore, according to the present invention, a linear fastening mechanism can be used to fasten the first RF connector element without degrading the data transmission performance of the RF connector system including the first RF connector element. This is particularly important for arrays where multiple RF connector elements must be inserted simultaneously.

[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first terminal is a first inner conductor, and the second terminal element is a first outer conductor surrounding the first inner conductor. Optionally, the first terminal is a first inner conductor, the second terminal is a second inner conductor, and may also optionally include a first outer conductor surrounding the first and second terminals.

[0012] Therefore, the present invention can be applied to coaxial connector elements comprising a single inner conductor and a single outer conductor for shielding the inner conductor. However, the present invention can also be applied to biaxial connector elements comprising two insulated inner conductors and an outer conductor for shielding these two inner conductors, and can be applied to multichannel connector elements, such as USB connector elements, comprising multiple inner conductors, which are optionally shielded by the outer conductor. Of course, other RF connector elements are also feasible.

[0013] To optimize the operating bandwidth and signal transmission performance of the first RF connector element, the ratio between the first relative permittivity and the second relative permittivity is preferably in the range of 1 / 35 to 5 / 8.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first electrical insulator element is manufactured by injection molding a first contact support portion from a first dielectric material and subsequently overmolding a first compensation portion with a second dielectric material. In this way, even when the first electrical insulator element includes a small-area first compensation portion, a highly repeatable, simple, and cost-effective manufacturing process for the first electrical insulator element can be achieved.

[0015] To effectively enhance the capacitance in the connection region of the first RF connector element, the first compensation portion has a thickness ranging from 0.2 mm to 0.8 mm in the longitudinal direction of the first RF connector element. Therefore, the thickness of the first compensation portion can be varied based on the ratio between the first relative permittivity and the second relative permittivity to optimize compensation for capacitance reduction caused by the air gap.

[0016] Alternatively, the thickness of the first compensation portion can be varied based on the maximum compensation length. Here, the maximum compensation length represents the maximum permissible length of the air gap in the longitudinal direction between the front surfaces of the first and second electrical insulator elements, for which the capacitance drop caused by the air gap can be compensated without significantly degrading data transmission performance. For example, the thickness of the first compensation portion can be 0.5 to 1.5 times the maximum compensation length.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, the first internal conductor is a socket. However, a pin can also be used.

[0018] The present invention also relates to a second RF connector element for mating with a first RF connector element, wherein the second RF connector element includes a first mating terminal, a second mating terminal, and a second electrical insulator element for electrically insulating the first and second mating terminals. The first mating terminal has a first mating terminal contact region for electrically connecting a first terminal of the first RF connector element and a first mating terminal end region for electrically connecting a first conductor of an RF cable element. The second mating terminal has a second mating terminal contact region for electrically connecting a second terminal of the first RF connector element and a second mating terminal end region for electrically connecting a second conductor of an RF cable element.

[0019] According to the present invention, the second electrical insulator element includes: a second contact support portion integrally formed of a third dielectric material having a third relative permittivity; and a second compensation portion integrally formed with the second contact support portion and formed of a fourth dielectric material having a fourth relative permittivity greater than the third relative permittivity, wherein the second compensation portion is disposed in the rear end region of the second electrical insulator element and is at least partially disposed between the first mating terminal end region and the second mating terminal end region.

[0020] In other words, the inventors have discovered that providing a second electrically insulating element integrally formed from at least two materials with different relative permittivity for the second RF connector element can further improve the signal transmission performance of the RF connector system. To this end, the second electrically insulating element includes a second compensation portion in a region where at least one transmission line of the RF cable enters the second RF connector element. In this way, the capacitance between the first mating terminal and the second mating terminal can be enhanced in this region, thereby compensating for impedance mismatch caused by geometric discontinuities between the RF cable and the second RF connector element.

[0021] To optimize the operating bandwidth and signal transmission performance of the second RF connector element, the ratio between the third relative permittivity and the fourth relative permittivity is in the range of 1 / 35 to 5 / 8.

[0022] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second electrical insulator element is manufactured by injection molding the second contact support portion from a third dielectric material and subsequently overmolding the second compensation portion with a fourth dielectric material. In this manner, even if the second electrical insulator element includes a small-area second compensation portion, a highly reproducible, simple, and inexpensive manufacturing process for the second electrical insulator element can be achieved.

[0023] According to an exemplary embodiment, the first mating terminal is a pin. However, a socket can also be used.

[0024] The present invention also relates to an RF connector system comprising a first RF connector element according to the invention and a second RF connector element according to the invention. Therefore, preferably, when the first RF connector element and the second RF connector element mate, a first compensation portion at least partially surrounds the second contact region. In this way, when the RF connector system mates, compensation for capacitance reduction caused by air gap due to changes in the contact gap between the first and second electrical insulator elements can be enhanced. Therefore, when the RF connector system mates, the RF connector system according to the invention can reduce the impact of contact gap changes on the signal transmission performance of the RF connector system and provide improved signal transmission performance.

[0025] To simplify production and reduce manufacturing costs, it is preferable that the second and fourth relative permittivity are equal. Furthermore, it is preferable that the first and third relative permittivity are equal. In this way, the first and second RF connector elements can be manufactured from the same materials, and a common manufacturing method can be established for both.

[0026] In this regard, it should be noted that "radio frequency signal" refers to an alternating current signal with an oscillation frequency of approximately 20 kHz to 20 GHz. However, the present invention can also be applied to frequency ranges above 20 GHz. The term "signal" refers to both analog and digital signals.

[0027] Furthermore, in this disclosure, the term "relative permittivity" refers to the relative permittivity of a material. It is well known that the relative permittivity of a material is an absolute permittivity expressed as a ratio to the vacuum permittivity.

[0028] The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and form a part of this specification to illustrate several embodiments of the invention. These drawings, together with the specification, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are for illustrative purposes only, showing preferred and alternative examples of how the invention can be made and used, and should not be construed as limiting the invention to only the embodiments shown and described. Furthermore, several aspects of the embodiments can be formed individually or in different combinations to constitute a solution according to the invention. Therefore, the embodiments described below can be considered individually or in any combination thereof. Attached Figure Description

[0029] As shown in the accompanying drawings, further features and advantages will become apparent from the following more detailed description of various embodiments of the invention, in which the same reference numerals refer to the same elements, and in the drawings:

[0030] Figure 1This is a schematic cross-sectional view of an RF connector system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which includes a first RF connector element and a second RF connector element.

[0031] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Details.

[0032] Figure 3 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the first RF connector element according to the first embodiment.

[0033] Figure 4 This is a schematic top view of a first RF connector element according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 5 This is a schematic top view of a first RF connector element according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 6 This is a graph showing simulation results of the return loss of an RF connector system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, for different contact gap variations;

[0036] Figure 7 This is a graph showing the simulation results of the time-domain reflectometry (TDR) of the RF connector system according to the first embodiment of the present invention for different contact gap variations.

[0037] Figure 8 This is a graph showing the measurement results of the return loss of the RF connector system according to the first embodiment of the present invention for different contact gap variations.

[0038] Figure 9 This is a graph showing the TDR measurement results of the RF connector system according to the first embodiment of the present invention for different contact gap variations.

[0039] Figure 10 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second RF connector element according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 11 This is a graph showing the measurement results indicating the effect of the second compensation section on the return loss of the RF connector system.

[0041] Figure 12 This is a graph showing the measurement results indicating the effect of the second compensation portion on the TDR of the RF connector system. Detailed Implementation

[0042] Now, referring to the attached diagram and first referring to... Figure 1 and 2 To explain the invention in more detail, Figure 1 and2 A schematic cross-sectional view of an RF connector system according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the example of the first embodiment, the RF connector system is a coaxial connector system 1000, and includes a first coaxial connector element 100 and a second coaxial connector element 200. More specifically, Figure 1 and Figure 2 An example of a coaxial connector system 1000 is shown, wherein the air gap 300 between the front surface 103 of the first electrical insulator element 102 and the front surface 203 of the second electrical insulator element 202 in the longitudinal direction 302 (indicated by the arrow in the figure) is 0 mm. However, the length of the air gap 300 between the front surface 103 of the first electrical insulator element 102 and the front surface 203 of the second electrical insulator element 202 can vary, for example, from 0 to 2 mm.

[0043] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the first coaxial connector element 100 includes a first electrical insulator element 102, a first inner conductor 104 as an example of a first terminal, and a first outer conductor 106 as an example of a second terminal. Thus, the first electrical insulator element 102 is disposed between the first inner conductor 104 and the first outer conductor 106 to electrically insulate the first inner conductor 104 and the first outer conductor 106.

[0044] The second coaxial connector element 200 includes a second electrical insulator element 202, a first mating inner conductor 204 as an example of a first mating terminal, and a first mating outer conductor 206 as an example of a second mating terminal. Thus, the second electrical insulator element 202 is disposed between the first mating inner conductor 204 and the first mating outer conductor 206 to electrically insulate the first mating inner conductor 204 and the first mating outer conductor 206. Figure 1 and 2 In the example, the first coaxial connector element 100 is a socket, while the second connector element is a pin.

[0045] Below, refer to Figures 1 to 3 Description of the first coaxial connector element 100.

[0046] The first inner conductor 104 includes a first contact region 110 for electrically connecting the first inner conductor to a first mating terminal contact region 210 of the second coaxial connector element 200. For this purpose, the first contact region 110 is formed as a hollow member and includes a contact hole 108, so that the first contact region 110 can accommodate the first mating terminal contact region 210. For electrically connecting the transmission line 304 of the coaxial cable element 305 to the first inner conductor 104, the first inner conductor 104 includes a first terminal end region.

[0047] Furthermore, the first inner conductor 104 may include a first barb that protrudes radially from the center of the first inner conductor 104. After the first coaxial connector element 100 is manufactured, the first barb may engage with a first recess included in the first electrical insulator element 102. In this way, after the first coaxial connector element 100 is manufactured, the first barb can prevent the first inner conductor 104 from moving relative to the first electrical insulator element 102 in the longitudinal direction 302.

[0048] A first outer conductor 106 surrounds a first inner conductor 104 to shield the first inner conductor 104. To ensure that the first outer conductor 106 is electrically connected to the first mating outer conductor 206 when the coaxial connector system is mated, the first outer conductor may include a first spring 113 adapted to press the first outer conductor 106 against the first mating outer conductor 206. To electrically connect the ground wire 306 of the coaxial cable element 305 to the first outer conductor 106, the first outer conductor 206 includes a second terminal end region.

[0049] In addition, the first outer conductor 106 may include an outer conductor inspection opening (not shown) for enabling a camera to inspect the alignment of the first inner conductor 104 relative to the first electrical insulator element 102 after the first connector element 100 has been manufactured.

[0050] According to the present invention, the first electrical insulating element 102 includes a first contact support portion 114 and a first compensation portion 116, the first compensation portion 116 being integrally formed with the first contact support portion 114 to form a single component. The first contact support portion 114 is integrally formed of a first dielectric material having a first relative permittivity. In order to provide isotropic electrical insulation and isotropic capacitance between the first inner conductor 104 and the first outer conductor 106, the first contact support portion 114 may be generally annular.

[0051] According to the present invention, the first compensation portion 116 is integrally formed of a second dielectric material having a second relative permittivity, which is greater than a first relative permittivity. For example... Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the first compensation portion 116 is disposed near the front end portion 118 of the first contact area 110, such that the first compensation portion 116 at least partially surrounds the first contact area 110 of the first inner conductor 104. Furthermore, the first compensation portion 116 may protrude above the front end portion 118 toward the opening 119 of the first coaxial connector element. In this way, when the coaxial connector system 1000 is mated, the first compensation portion 116 increases the capacitance between the inner conductor 104 and the outer conductor 106 near the front end portion 118, thus compensating for the capacitance drop caused by the air gap 300.

[0052] Preferably, the first compensation portion 116 is generally annular, thus resulting in isotropic capacitance compensation near the front end portion 118. Furthermore, this geometry allows for easy bonding of the first inner conductor 104 to the first electrical insulator element 102 during the manufacture of the first coaxial connector element 100. Figure 3 It can be clearly seen that the first compensation portion 116 may also include a compensation hole 126. The compensation hole 126 is capable of accommodating the first mating terminal contact area 210 of the second coaxial connector element 200, so that when the coaxial connector system 1000 is mated, the first compensation portion 116 can at least partially surround the first mating terminal contact area 210.

[0053] To enable camera inspection for controlling the alignment of the first inner conductor 104 relative to the first electrical insulator element 102, the first electrical insulator element 102 may optionally include an inspection opening that extends radially into the center of the first electrical insulator element 102. This allows, after manufacturing the first coaxial connector element 100, control via camera inspection to ensure that the leading edge portion 118 of the first inner conductor 104 is aligned within the inspection opening.

[0054] It should be noted that the first compensation portion 116 is arranged at least near the inspection opening. Therefore, the first compensation portion 116 also compensates for the capacitance drop between the first inner conductor 104 and the first outer conductor 106 caused by the inspection opening, which is formed of air with a relative permittivity of 1.

[0055] Preferably, the first contact support portion 114 is formed of a polymer, resin, or rubber. For example, the first contact support portion 114 is formed of an injection-molded dielectric material, such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). Alternatively, the first contact support portion 114 may be formed of a material processed by stamping or extrusion, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or it may be formed of a dielectric material, which is a 3D-printable ceramic. Typically, the relative permittivity of such a material is in the range of 1 to 5, therefore preferably, the first compensation portion 116 is formed of a material having a relative permittivity in the range of at least 8 to 35.

[0056] To achieve a second relative permittivity within this range, a second dielectric material can be manufactured by filling a plastic substrate with ceramic powder. For example, the first compensation portion 116 can be made by mixing an injection-molded polymer with a mineral such as barium titanate (BaTiO3). By optimizing the volume fraction of the mineral, a second relative permittivity in the range of 8 to 23 can be achieved at a transmission signal frequency of 1 GHz.

[0057] Alternatively, the second dielectric material can be any 3D-printable ceramic having a relative permittivity greater than the first dielectric constant of the first dielectric material. Furthermore, the second dielectric material can be a distributable semi-liquid mixed with a mineral. For example, a semi-liquid mixed with a mineral such as BaTiO3 is known to have a relative permittivity of 35 at a transmission signal frequency of 1 GHz.

[0058] Preferably, the first electrical insulator element 102 is manufactured by a process known in the art as overmolding or multi-material injection molding. Thus, the first contact support portion 114 is first manufactured by injection molding of a first dielectric material, and then the first compensation portion 116 is overmolded onto the first contact support portion 116 by injection molding of a second dielectric material. In this way, the first electrical insulator element 102 can be manufactured as a single component, allowing the first coaxial connector element 100 to be assembled in a conventional manner from the first electrical insulator element 102, the first inner conductor 104, and the first outer conductor 106.

[0059] Furthermore, injection molding and overmolding are known methods and provide reliable and inexpensive manufacturing even for miniaturized coaxial connector elements. For example, these techniques can be used to manufacture a first electrical insulator element with a first outer diameter 128 of 2 mm, and a first compensation portion 116 with a thickness of 0.6 mm in the longitudinal direction 302 and a compensation hole 126 with a diameter of 0.6 mm. However, these dimensions are given only as examples to illustrate the length scale of a miniaturized first coaxial connector element 100 and are not intended to be limiting, as aspects of the invention can also be applied to coaxial connector systems with larger or even smaller dimensions.

[0060] Alternatively, the first compensation portion 116 can be manufactured by distributing a dispensable semi-liquid in a dispensing volume after the first contact support portion 114 has been manufactured. Alternatively, 3D printing can be combined with a suitable dielectric material to manufacture the first electrical insulating element 102 as a single component comprising the first contact support portion 114 and the first compensation portion 116.

[0061] Based on the ratio of the first relative permittivity and the second relative permittivity, it may be further useful to vary the thickness of the first compensation portion 116 in the longitudinal direction 302, for example, within the range of 0.2 mm to 0.8 mm. For example, when the ratio between the first and second relative permittivity decreases, the thickness of the first compensation portion 116 in the longitudinal direction 302 can be increased, while when the ratio between the first and second relative permittivity increases, the thickness of the first compensation portion 116 in the longitudinal direction 302 can be decreased. In this way, compensation for the capacitance drop caused by the air gap 300 can be optimized, and the signal transmission performance of the first coaxial connector element 100 can be further enhanced.

[0062] Alternatively, the thickness of the first compensation portion 116 can be varied based on a maximum compensation length, which is the maximum length of the air gap 300 in the longitudinal direction 302. For this maximum compensation length, the capacitance drop caused by the air gap 300 can be compensated without significantly degrading data transmission performance. For example, the thickness of the first compensation portion 116 can be 0.5 to 1.5 times the maximum compensation length. For example, to obtain tolerance for air gaps 300 up to 1 mm, the thickness of the first compensation portion 116 can vary in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm.

[0063] Referring to the preceding figures, an embodiment has been described in detail, wherein the RF connector system is a coaxial connector system 1000, and thus includes a single inner conductor for transmitting RF signals and an outer conductor for shielding the inner conductor. However, the invention is not limited to this connector system, but can also be applied to RF connector systems, such as biaxial connector systems or USB connector systems, which include multiple shielded or unshielded inner conductors.

[0064] Figure 4 A schematic top view of a first RF connector element according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the example of the second embodiment, the RF connector system is a biaxial connector system, and the first RF connector element is a first biaxial connector element 400. The first biaxial connector element 400 includes a first inner conductor as an example of a first terminal and a second inner conductor as an example of a second terminal. The first inner conductor has a first contact area for electrically connecting to a first mating inner conductor as an example of a first mating terminal, and the second inner conductor has a second contact area for electrically connecting to a second mating inner conductor as an example of a second mating terminal. Here, the first and second inner conductors are exemplified as a socket and can be substantially the same as the first inner conductor 110 of the first embodiment. However, of course, the first and second inner conductors can also be pins.

[0065] Furthermore, the first biaxial connector element 400 includes a first electrical insulator element 402 that electrically insulates the first inner conductor from the second inner conductor. Optionally, a first outer conductor 406 may be provided around the first and second inner conductors to shield them. In this case, the first electrical insulator element 402 is arranged to electrically insulate the first and second inner conductors from the first outer conductor 406.

[0066] from Figure 4 It is evident that the first electrical insulator element 402 includes a first contact support portion 414 and a first compensation portion 416. The first contact support portion 414 is integrally formed of a first dielectric material having a first relative permittivity, and the first compensation portion 416 is integrally formed of a second dielectric material having a second relative permittivity greater than the first relative permittivity. According to the present invention, the first compensation portion 416 is integrally formed with the first contact support portion 414. Furthermore, the first compensation portion 416 is disposed in the front end region of the first electrical insulator element 402 such that the first compensation portion 416 at least partially surrounds the first contact region and the second contact region.

[0067] Preferably, the first compensation portion 416 is generally annular and includes a first compensation hole 426 and a second compensation hole 428. The first compensation hole 426 is capable of accommodating a first mating contact area of ​​the first mating inner conductor, and the second compensation hole 428 is capable of accommodating a second mating contact area of ​​the second mating inner conductor. In this way, when the biaxial connector element 400 mates with a mating biaxial connector element, the first compensation portion 416 can at least partially surround the first and second mating contact areas.

[0068] In this way, the first compensation portion 416 increases the capacitance between the first inner conductor and the second inner conductor, and between each of the first and second inner conductors and the first outer conductor 406 near the first contact area and the second contact area. Therefore, when the biaxial connector element 400 mates with a mating biaxial connector element, the capacitance drop caused by the air gap at the front surface 403 of the first electrical insulator element 402 can be compensated.

[0069] Furthermore, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the first electrical insulating element 402 can be manufactured using any of the manufacturing processes described for Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Similarly, the first contact support portion 414 can be formed of any material mentioned for the first contact support portion 114 of Embodiment 1, and the first compensation portion 416 can be formed of any material mentioned for the first compensation portion 116 of Embodiment 1.

[0070] Figure 5This is a schematic top view of a first RF connector element according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In an example of the third embodiment, the RF connector system is a USB connector system, and the first RF connector element is a first USB connector element 500. The first USB connector element 500 includes a plurality of inner conductors 504, which are examples of a plurality of terminals included by the RF connector element. Each of the first inner conductors 504 includes a first contact region 510 for electrically connecting a corresponding mating terminal of the second USB connector element.

[0071] Optionally, the first USB connector element 500 may include a first outer conductor 506 that surrounds a plurality of inner conductors 504 for shielding the plurality of inner conductors 504.

[0072] A first electrical insulator element 502 is also provided, which can also be represented as a first tongue-shaped member. The first electrical insulator element 502 includes a first contact support portion 514 formed of a first dielectric material having a first relative permittivity, and a first compensation portion 516 formed of a second dielectric material having a second relative permittivity greater than the first relative permittivity. According to the invention, the first compensation portion 516 is integrally formed with the first contact support portion 514. Furthermore, the first compensation portion 516 is disposed in the front end region of the first electrical insulator element 402 such that the first compensation portion 416 at least partially includes a plurality of contact regions 510. Figure 5 As shown, this can be achieved by sandwiching the first contact support portion 514 between the first compensation portion 516, so that the plurality of internal conductors 504 are in direct contact with the first contact support portion.

[0073] from Figure 5 It can be clearly seen that the first compensation portion 516 has a generally rectangular shape and includes a plurality of compensation recesses 528 for accommodating a plurality of first contact areas 510.

[0074] In this way, the first compensation portion 516 increases the capacitance between the multiple internal conductors 504 near the multiple first contact areas 510. Therefore, when the first USB connector element 500 mates with the second USB connector element, the capacitance drop caused by the air gaps near the multiple first contact areas 510 can be compensated.

[0075] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the first electrical insulating element 502 can be manufactured using any of the manufacturing processes described for Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Similarly, the first contact support portion 514 can be formed of any material mentioned for the first contact support portion 114 of Embodiment 1, and the first compensation portion 516 can be formed of any material mentioned for the first compensation portion 116 of Embodiment 1.

[0076] Next, we will go through Figures 6 to 9 The effect of the first electrical insulator element 102, including the first compensation portion 116, on the signal transmission performance of the coaxial connector system 1000 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 6 and Figure 7 This shows the return loss (ROS) for the coaxial connector system 1000, depending on the frequency of the transmitted signal. Figure 6 ) and time-domain reflectometry (TDR) Figure 7 The simulation results are plotted as follows: the coaxial connector system 1000 includes a first coaxial connector element 100, such as... Figures 1 to 3 As shown. Therefore, simulations were performed for different examples of the air gap 300 and different examples of the second relative permittivity of the first compensation portion 116. Here, the TDR was simulated for a pulse rise time of 60 ps.

[0077] The dashed lines 1402 and 1410 each indicate an air gap of 0.8 mm (e.g., 300). Figure 3 and 4 (As shown) and simulation results for the first compensation portion 116 formed of a second dielectric material having a second relative permittivity equal to the first permittivity, i.e., in the range of 1 to 5. Solid lines 1404 and 1412 each show simulation results for a 0.8 mm air gap 300 and the first compensation portion 116 formed of a second dielectric material having a second relative permittivity equal to 13, i.e., greater than the first relative permittivity.

[0078] Dashed lines 1406 and 1414 each indicate an air gap of 300 mm for a distance of 0 mm (e.g., ...). Figure 1 and 2 (As shown) and simulation results for the first compensation portion 116 formed of a second dielectric material, the second relative permittivity of which is equal to the first permittivity, i.e., in the range of 1 to 5. Solid lines 1408 and 1416 each show simulation results for an air gap 300 of 0 mm and the first compensation portion 116 formed of a second dielectric material having a second relative permittivity of 13, i.e., greater than the first relative permittivity.

[0079] From these graphs, especially from Figure 7 The graph clearly shows that using a second dielectric material with a higher relative permittivity reduces the maximum deviation of the TDR from the nominal impedance value, in this case, by, for example, 50 ohms. The reduction in the maximum deviation is indicated by arrow 1418, and in this example, by approximately 3 ohms for a 0.8 mm air gap 300. Meanwhile, for a 0 mm air gap 300, the maximum deviation of the TDR from the nominal impedance value, indicated by arrow 1420, remains almost constant.

[0080] Therefore, a first compensation portion 116 formed of a second dielectric material having a second relative permittivity higher than the first relative permittivity is shown to suppress the influence of the air gap 300 on the impedance of the coaxial connector system 1000. Specifically, for air gaps 300 of 0 mm and 0.8 mm, the first compensation portion 116 reduces the maximum deviation from the nominal impedance value to an acceptable range of 10% around the nominal impedance value. Therefore, the present invention can increase the tolerance for signal transmission performance with respect to the air gap 300.

[0081] Figure 8 and Figure 9 This shows the return loss S11 (S11) for the coaxial connector system 1000, depending on the frequency of the transmitted signal. Figure 8 ) and time-based TDR ( Figure 9 The graph of the measurement results shows that the coaxial connector system 1000 includes a first coaxial connector element 100, such as... Figures 1 to 3 As shown. Here, the TDR has been measured for a pulse rise time of 20 ps.

[0082] Solid lines 1422 and 1432 each indicate an air gap of 300 mm for a distance of 0 mm (e.g., ...). Figure 1 and 2 (As shown) and the measurement results of the first compensation portion 116 formed of a second dielectric material having a second relative permittivity equal to 13, i.e., greater than the first dielectric constant. Dashed lines 1424 and 1434 each show the measurement results for a 0 mm air gap 300 and the first compensation portion 116 formed of a second dielectric material having a second relative permittivity equal to the first relative permittivity, i.e., in the range of 1 to 5.

[0083] Solid lines 1426 and 1436 each show the measurement results for a 1.0 mm air gap 300 and a first compensation portion 116 formed of a second dielectric material having a second relative permittivity equal to 13, i.e., greater than the first dielectric constant. Dashed lines 1428 and 1438 each show the measurement results for a 1.0 mm air gap 300 and a first compensation portion 116 formed of a second dielectric material having a second relative permittivity equal to the first relative permittivity, i.e., in the range of 1 to 5.

[0084] Figure 8 and 9 The measurement results confirmed Figure 6 and 7 The simulation results. In particular, Figure 8The high-frequency bandwidth is improved for a return loss of -10 dB by adding a first compensation portion 116 with a higher relative permittivity. Specifically, for a 1 mm air gap 300, for the first compensation portion 116 having a permittivity equal to that of the first contact support portion 114, the return loss is below -10 dB only for frequencies below 10 GHz, while for the first compensation portion 116 with a higher relative permittivity, the return loss is below -10 dB for frequencies up to approximately 11 GHz. For a 0 mm air gap 300, for the first compensation portion having a permittivity equal to that of the first contact support portion, the return loss is below -10 dB only for frequencies below approximately 11.5 GHz, while for the first compensation portion with a higher relative permittivity, the return loss is below -10 dB for frequencies up to approximately 12 GHz.

[0085] Figure 9 As shown again, the use of a first compensation portion 116 with a high dielectric material can significantly reduce the maximum deviation of the TDR from the nominal value for an air gap 300 of 1 mm. Therefore, for air gaps 300 of 0 mm and 1 mm, the TDR deviation remains within an acceptable tolerance of 10% across the entire frequency range. Thus, the use of the first compensation portion 116 can significantly reduce the impact of the air gap 300 on the signal transmission performance of the first connector element 100 with air gaps up to 1 mm, and therefore allows the use of linear fastening mechanisms that can cause such air gaps.

[0086] Figure 10 A schematic cross-sectional view of a second coaxial connector element 200 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown, which will be described in detail below.

[0087] As already mentioned, the second coaxial connector element 200 includes a second electrical insulator element 202, a first mating inner conductor 204, and a first mating outer conductor 206 arranged in a conventional manner.

[0088] The first mating internal conductor 204 includes a first mating terminal contact region 210, which may be a pin-shaped member for electrically connecting to the first contact region 110 of the first connector element 100. For electrically connecting to the transmission line 304 of the coaxial cable element 305, the first mating internal conductor 204 includes a first mating terminal end region 208. Furthermore, the first mating internal conductor 204 may include a second barb that can engage with a second recess included in the second electrical insulator element 202. In this way, after manufacturing the second coaxial connector element 200, the second barb can prevent the first mating internal conductor 204 from moving relative to the second electrical insulator element 202 in the longitudinal direction 302.

[0089] The first mating outer conductor 206 surrounds the first mating inner conductor 204 to shield the first mating inner conductor 204. In addition, the first mating outer conductor 206 may include a recess that prevents movement of the first mating outer conductor 206 relative to the second electrical insulator element 202 in the longitudinal direction 302 after the second coaxial connector element 200 is manufactured.

[0090] To electrically connect the first mating outer conductor 206 to the ground wire 306 of the coaxial cable element 305, the first mating outer conductor 206 includes a second mating terminal end region 214. For example, the first mating outer conductor 206 and the ground wire 306 can be electrically connected by conventional methods such as crimping or brazing. However, those skilled in the art will understand that any other conventional method can also be used to electrically connect the first mating outer conductor 206 to the ground wire 306.

[0091] According to the present invention, the second electrical insulator element 202 includes a second contact support portion 216 and a second compensation portion 218, the second compensation portion being integrally formed with the second contact support portion 216 to form a single component. The second contact support portion 216 is integrally formed of a third dielectric material having a third relative permittivity. The second compensation portion 218 is integrally formed of a fourth dielectric material having a fourth relative permittivity greater than the third relative permittivity.

[0092] from Figure 10 It is evident that the second compensation portion 218 is disposed at the rear end portion of the second electrical insulator element 202 and at least partially surrounds the first mating terminal end region 208 of the first mating inner conductor 204. Optionally, the second compensation portion 218 may protrude above the first mating terminal end region 208 of the first mating inner conductor 204 and may include a second contact hole 220 capable of at least partially accommodating a coaxial cable insulator element 308 that electrically insulates the transmission line 304 from the grounding line 306.

[0093] With this arrangement, the second compensation portion 218 can enhance the capacitance between the first mating inner conductor 204 and the first mating outer conductor 206 near the first mating terminal end region 208. Therefore, the capacitance drop caused by the tail of the transmission line 304 of the coaxial cable 305, which is necessary to electrically connect the transmission line 304 to the first mating terminal end region 208 of the first mating inner conductor 204, can be compensated. Due to this capacitance compensation, the signal transmission performance of the coaxial connector system 1000 can be further improved.

[0094] In order to provide isotropic electrical insulation and isotropic capacitance between the first mating inner conductor 204 and the first mating outer conductor 206, the second contact support portion 216 and the second compensation portion 218 may be generally annular.

[0095] Preferably, the second contact support portion 216 is formed of a polymer, resin, or rubber. For example, the second contact support portion 216 is formed of an injection-molded dielectric material, such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). Alternatively, the second contact support portion 216 may be formed of a material processed by stamping or extrusion, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or it may be formed of a dielectric material, which is a 3D-printable ceramic. Typically, the relative permittivity of such materials is between 1 and 5.

[0096] To provide uniform capacitance in the coaxial connector system 1000, it is preferable that the first contact support portion 114 and the second contact support portion 216 are formed of the same material and therefore have the same relative permittivity. In this way, the manufacturing of the first contact support portion 114 and the second contact support portion 216 can also be standardized and thus simplified.

[0097] To achieve a high fourth relative permittivity, the fourth dielectric material can be fabricated by filling a plastic substrate with ceramic powder. Preferably, the fourth dielectric material can be an injection-molded polymer mixed with a mineral such as barium titanate (BaTiO3). By optimizing the volume fraction of the mineral, the fourth relative permittivity can reach the range of 8 to 23 at a transmission signal frequency of 1 GHz.

[0098] Alternatively, the fourth dielectric material can be any 3D-printable ceramic having a relative permittivity greater than the third dielectric constant of the third dielectric material. Alternatively, the fourth dielectric material can be a distributable semi-liquid mixed with a mineral. For example, a semi-liquid mixed with a mineral such as BaTiO3 is known to have a relative permittivity of 35 at a frequency of 1 GHz.

[0099] Preferably, the second electrical insulating element 202 is manufactured by a manufacturing process known in the art as overmolding or multi-material injection molding. Thus, the second contact support portion 216 is first manufactured by injection molding of a third dielectric material, and then the second compensation portion 218 is overmolded onto the first contact support portion 216 by injection molding of a fourth dielectric material.

[0100] In this way, the second electrical insulator element 202 can be manufactured as a single component, allowing the second coaxial connector element 200 to be assembled in a conventional manner from the second electrical insulator element 202, the first mating inner conductor 204, and the first mating outer conductor 206. Furthermore, injection molding and overmolding provide reliable and inexpensive manufacturing techniques for miniaturized coaxial connector elements. For example, these techniques can be used to manufacture... Figure 1 and Figure 2 as well as Figure 10 The second electrical insulator element 202 shown has a first outer diameter 128 of 2 mm, and a first compensation portion 116 having a thickness of 2 mm in the longitudinal direction 302 can be manufactured.

[0101] However, these dimensions are given only as examples to illustrate the general dimensions of the miniaturized second coaxial connector element 200 and are not intended to be limiting, as aspects of the invention can also be applied to coaxial connector systems 1000 with larger or even smaller dimensions.

[0102] Furthermore, it may be useful to vary the thickness of the second compensation portion 218 in the longitudinal direction 302 based on the ratio of the third relative permittivity to the fourth relative permittivity. For example, when the ratio between the third and fourth relative permittivity decreases, the thickness of the second compensation portion 218 in the longitudinal direction 302 can be increased, while when the ratio between the third and fourth relative permittivity increases, the thickness of the second compensation portion 218 in the longitudinal direction 302 can be decreased. This optimizes compensation for capacitance drop caused by the tailing of the transmission line 304 and further enhances the signal transmission performance of the second coaxial connector element 200.

[0103] Alternatively, the second compensation portion 218 can be manufactured by distributing a dispensable semi-liquid in the dispensing volume after the second contact support portion 216 has been manufactured. Alternatively, 3D printing can be combined with a suitable dielectric material to manufacture the second electrical insulating element 202 as a single component comprising the first contact support portion 216 and the second compensation portion 218.

[0104] To standardize and simplify the manufacturing process of the coaxial connector system 1000, it is preferable that the same material is used for both the second and fourth dielectric materials. Furthermore, it is preferable that the second and fourth relative permittivity are equal.

[0105] refer to Figure 1 , 2According to 10, an embodiment has been described in detail, wherein the RF connector system is a second coaxial connector system 200, and therefore includes an inner conductor for transmitting RF signals and an outer conductor for shielding the inner conductor. However, the invention is not limited to this connector system, but can also be applied to RF connector systems, such as biaxial connector systems or USB connector systems, which include a plurality of shielded or unshielded inner conductors.

[0106] In a biaxial connector system or a USB connector system, the second compensation portion 218 can be configured such that it can be arranged between each of the mating terminal end regions of the plurality of internal conductors. In this way, compensation for capacitance drop caused by the tailing of an RF cable element with multiple transmission lines, wherein each transmission line is electrically connected to one of the plurality of internal conductors, can be optimized.

[0107] The following will be through Figure 11 and 12 The effect of the second compensation portion 218 on the performance of the RF connector system is shown.

[0108] Figure 11 and Figure 12 This illustrates the return loss S11 (S11) for an exemplary RF connector system, depending on the frequency of the transmitted signal. Figure 11 ) and time-based TDR ( Figure 12 The graph shows the measurement results. Here, the TDR has been measured for a pulse rise time of 50 ps.

[0109] Dashed lines 1442 and 1446 each show measurement results for an RF connector system including a second compensation portion 218 formed of a fourth dielectric material having a fourth relative permittivity equal to the third relative permittivity, i.e., in the range of 1 to 5. Solid lines 1444 and 1448 each show material results for an RF connector system including a second compensation portion 218 formed of a fourth dielectric material having a fourth relative permittivity equal to 11, i.e., greater than the third relative permittivity.

[0110] Figure 11 The diagram illustrates how adding a second compensation section 116 with a higher relative permittivity improves high-frequency bandwidth for -15dB return loss. Specifically, when the second compensation section 116 has a fourth relative permittivity, the -15dB operating bandwidth is shown to increase from 2.5GHz to 4GHz, where the fourth relative permittivity is higher than the third. In other words, the operating bandwidth coverage is increased by 60%, meaning the channel capacity of the transmission channel can be increased from below 5 Gbps to 7.5 Gbps.

[0111] Figure 12As shown, using a second compensation portion 218 with a fourth relative permittivity higher than the third relative permittivity can significantly reduce the maximum deviation of the TDR from the nominal value, which in this example is 100 Ohms. This is indicated by arrow 1450. Therefore, the use of the second compensation portion 218 with the higher relative permittivity further reduces the maximum deviation of the TDR from the nominal value, keeping it within an acceptable tolerance of 10% across the entire frequency range (indicated by dashed lines 1452 and 1454). Thus, by using the second compensation portion 218 with the higher relative permittivity, the signal transmission performance of the RF connector system can be further improved.

[0112] It should be mentioned here that, up to this point, the first RF connector element according to the invention has been exemplified as a socket, while the second RF connector element has been exemplified as a pin. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the aspects of the invention illustrated with respect to the first RF connector element can also be applied to the second RF connector element. Similarly, the aspects of the invention illustrated with respect to the second RF connector element can also be applied to the first RF connector element.

[0113] Specifically, in addition to the first compensation portion, the first electrical insulator element may also include a second compensation portion, which is integrally formed with the first contact support portion and at least partially surrounds the first terminal end region of the first internal conductor. Similarly, in addition to the second compensation portion, the second electrical insulator element may also include a first compensation portion, which is integrally formed with the second contact support portion and disposed at the front end region of the second electrical insulator element.

[0114] Figure Labels

[0115] 100 First Coaxial Connector Component

[0116] 102, 402, 502 First Electrical Insulator Components

[0117] The front surface of the first electrical insulator element 103, 403

[0118] 104 First Internal Conductor

[0119] 106 First outer conductor

[0120] 108 contact hole

[0121] 110 First Contact Area

[0122] 113 First Spring

[0123] 114, 414, 514 First contact support section

[0124] 116, 416, 516 First Compensation Part

[0125] 118 front-end section

[0126] 119 opening

[0127] 126 compensation holes

[0128] 200 Second Coaxial Connector Component

[0129] 202 Second Electrical Insulator Component

[0130] 203 Front surface of the second electrical insulator element

[0131] 204 First Matching Internal Conductor

[0132] 206 First Coordination External Conductor

[0133] 208 First mating terminal end area

[0134] 210 First mating terminal contact area

[0135] 214 Second mating terminal end area

[0136] 216 Second Contact Support Section

[0137] 218 Second Compensation Part

[0138] 220 Second Contact Hole

[0139] 300 air gap

[0140] 302 Longitudinal direction

[0141] 304 transmission line

[0142] 305 coaxial cable

[0143] 306 grounding wire

[0144] 308 coaxial cable insulation element

[0145] 400 First Dual-Axis Connector Component

[0146] 406 First External Conductor

[0147] 426 First Compensation Hole

[0148] 428 Second Compensation Hole

[0149] 500 First USB Connector Component

[0150] 504 internal conductor

[0151] 506 First External Conductor

[0152] 510 First Contact Area

[0153] 528 Compensation Recess

[0154] Dashed lines 1402, 1406, 1410, and 1414

[0155] Solid lines 1404, 1408, 1412, and 1416

[0156] Arrows 1418 and 1420

[0157] Dashed lines 1422, 1426, 1432, 1436

[0158] Solid lines at 1424, 1428, 1434, and 1438

[0159] 1422, 1444 solid lines

[0160] 1446 and 1448 solid lines

[0161] 1450 arrow

[0162] 1422, 1454 (dashed lines)

Claims

1. A first RF connector element (100, 400, 500) for mating with a second RF connector element (200), the first RF connector element (100, 400, 500) comprising: The first terminal (104, 404, 504) has a first contact area (110, 410, 510) for electrically connecting the first mating terminal of the second RF connector element (200). The second terminal (106, 406, 506) has a second contact area for electrically connecting the second mating terminal of the second RF connector element (200); The first electrical insulating element (102, 402, 502) is used to electrically insulate the first terminal (104, 404, 504) and the second terminal (106, 406, 506); The first electrical insulating element (102, 402, 502) includes a first contact support portion (114, 414, 514) integrally formed of a first dielectric material having a first relative permittivity, and a first compensation portion (116, 416, 516) integrally formed with the first contact support portion (114, 414, 514) and formed of a second dielectric material having a second relative permittivity greater than the first relative permittivity; and The first compensation portion (116, 416, 516) is arranged in the front end region of the first electrical insulator element (102, 402, 502) and at least partially surrounds the first contact region (110, 510) of the first terminal (104, 404, 504).

2. The first RF connector element (100, 400, 500) according to claim 1, wherein, The first terminal (104) is a first inner conductor, and the second terminal element (106) is a first outer conductor surrounding the first inner conductor.

3. The first RF connector element (100, 400, 500) according to claim 1, wherein, The first terminal (404, 504) is the first internal conductor, and the second terminal is the second internal conductor.

4. The first RF connector element (100, 400, 500) according to claim 3 further includes a first outer conductor (406, 506) surrounding the first terminal and the second terminal.

5. The first RF connector element (100, 400, 500) according to claim 1, wherein, The ratio of the first relative permittivity to the second relative permittivity is in the range of 1 / 35 to 5 / 8.

6. The first RF connector element (100, 400, 500) according to claim 1, wherein, The first electrical insulating element (102, 402, 502) is made by injection molding the first contact support portion (114, 414, 514) with the first dielectric material and then overmolding the first compensation portion (116, 416, 516) with the second dielectric material.

7. The first RF connector element (100, 400, 500) according to claim 1, wherein, The first terminal (104, 504) is a socket.

8. A second RF connector element (200) for mating with a first RF connector element (100), the second RF connector element (200) comprising: The first mating terminal (204) has a first mating terminal contact area (210) for electrically connecting the first terminal (104) of the first RF connector element (100), and a first mating terminal end area (208) for electrically connecting the first conductor (304) of the RF cable element (305). The second mating terminal (206) has a second mating terminal contact area for electrically connecting the second terminal (106) of the first RF connector element (100), and a second mating terminal end area (214) for electrically connecting the second conductor (306) of the RF cable element (305). The second electrical insulating element (202) is used to electrically insulate the first mating terminal (204) and the second mating terminal (206); The second electrical insulator element (202) includes a second contact support portion (216) integrally formed of a third dielectric material having a third relative permittivity, and a second compensation portion (218) integrally formed with the second contact support portion (216) and formed of a fourth dielectric material having a fourth relative permittivity greater than the third relative permittivity; and The second compensation portion (218) is disposed at the rear end portion of the second electrical insulator element (202) and at least partially between the first mating terminal end region (208) and the second mating terminal end region.

9. The second RF connector element (200) according to claim 8, wherein, The ratio of the third relative permittivity to the fourth relative permittivity is in the range of 1 / 35 to 5 / 8.

10. The second RF connector element (200) according to claim 8, wherein, The second electrical insulating element (202) is manufactured by injection molding the second contact support portion (216) with the third dielectric material and then overmolding the second compensation portion (218) with the fourth dielectric material.

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