Connecting device

Abstract

A connecting device is provided that connects electrical signals between two substrates that are disposed opposite each other and can easily accommodate assembly tolerances between the two substrates. [Solution] The connecting device includes a fixed terminal portion having a hollow and fixed in a predetermined space between a first board on which electrical components are mounted and a second board arranged parallel to the first board, a first terminal portion fixed to one end of the fixed terminal portion, elastically supported on the first board side so as to be able to slide, and coming into contact with an inner surface of the first board side, and a second terminal portion fixed to the other end of the fixed terminal portion, elastically supported on the second board side so as to be able to slide, and coming into contact with an inner surface of the second board side. The first terminal portion and the second terminal portion are elastically supported by an elastic member provided in the hollow of the fixed terminal portion and able to expand and contract.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connecting apparatus, and more particularly, to a connecting apparatus that aims to connect electrical signals between two substrates (or two contact surfaces) having opposing surfaces, can easily absorb assembly tolerances existing between the two substrates (or two contact surfaces), and can greatly improve assemblability.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, RF communication connectors have various structures that can easily and tightly couple coaxial cables to terminals. Such RF communication connectors are used for applications where they are fastened to terminals provided in a housing that is large and easily visible to the naked eye, and for applications where they are provided between two substrate members and it is difficult to accurately confirm the positions of the connection terminals of the connectors that connect the two substrates to each other with the naked eye.

[0003] In particular, when connecting a plurality of connectors provided on one side substrate and a plurality of terminals provided on the other side substrate with the two substrates arranged vertically, the operation of coupling the connectors with the corresponding terminals to each other is very difficult and takes a lot of working time. On the other hand, when applying excessive force, it may lead to problems such as damage to the contact parts of the connectors and failure to establish signal connection.

[0004] When such defects occur, the damaged connectors must be replaced, which not only delays the work but also increases the costs incurred for replacement repair.

[0005] In view of the above problems, in a structure where substrates are connected to each other by RF connectors, there is a need for a structure and measures that can stably fasten even when there is a slight positional difference when rotating the interface of the connector during fastening with a mating part (terminal connection part).

[0006] As an example of this, the connector for surface mounting on a printed circuit board described in Korean Registered Patent No. 10-0945113 (registered on February 23, 2010) is a connector having a connector pin with a connection groove in a part of the upper portion. In this connector, a pin cutting groove is provided in the connector pin on a part of the side surface of the connection groove, and by providing a difference in tolerance due to the pin cutting groove, the pin of the mating connector to be inserted can be more easily inserted and coupled.

[0007] However, the above-mentioned registered patent has a problem in that it is not regarded as a structure that sufficiently facilitates connector coupling in a state where visual confirmation is impossible, as it only has a cutting groove outside the connection groove of the pin inserted inside the insulator.

[0008] Although the detailed description of the above-mentioned registered patent expresses it as rotation, this is considered to be substantially an improvement in tolerance due to the elasticity of the insulator and the pin cutting groove, rather than rotation.

[0009] Therefore, the conventional RF connector for connecting a substrate to a substrate has a problem in that it does not have rotation and cannot provide a stable connection of the connector when connecting substrates that cannot be visually confirmed.

[0010] In addition, the above-mentioned registered patent has a structure in which play does not occur due to the cutting groove and the elasticity of the insulator on the left and right. Therefore, when an excessive coupling force acts during coupling, damage such as bending of the inserted pin may occur.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0011] The present invention has been made to solve the above technical problems, and aims to provide a connecting device that connects electrical signals between two substrates (or two contact surfaces) provided to face each other, and can easily absorb the assembly tolerance between the two substrates (or two contact surfaces).

[0012] Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a connecting device that is disposed on one-side space separated from a dielectric insertion space inserted for impedance matching and can easily absorb assembly tolerances existing between the connecting device and a related PCB board.

[0013] Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a connecting device in which one-side terminal portion supports one side surface of a terminal pin in a configuration of a cavity filter, the other-side terminal portion is provided to be supported by a related PCB board, and the related PCB board can be installed and assembled with a very simple operation of bringing it into close contact with the cavity filter side.

[0014] The technical problems of the present invention are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0015] An embodiment of a connecting device according to the present invention is fixed in a predetermined space between a first substrate on which electrical components are mounted and a second substrate disposed parallel to the first substrate, and includes a fixed terminal portion having a hollow formed therein; a one-side terminal portion fixed to one end portion of the fixed terminal portion, elastically supported on the first substrate side, and provided to slip and move, and contacting an inner surface on the first substrate side; and a other-side terminal portion fixed to the other end portion of the fixed terminal portion, elastically supported on the second substrate side, and provided to slip and move, and contacting an inner surface on the second substrate side. The one-side terminal portion and the other-side terminal portion are elastically supported by an elastic member provided inside the hollow of the fixed terminal portion and expanding and contracting.

[0016] Here, the one-side terminal portion and the other-side terminal portion are coupled to overlap each end portion of the fixed terminal portion by a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction.

[0017] Further, each of the one-side terminal portion and the other-side terminal portion is formed with a hollow such that each end portion of the fixed terminal portion is inserted therein, and each of the one-side terminal portion and the other-side terminal portion can be hook-coupled while surrounding the outer peripheral surface of each end portion of the fixed terminal portion.

[0018] Further, each of the one-side terminal portion and the other-side terminal portion is formed with a hollow such that each end portion of the elastic member is inserted therein and supported, and each of the one-side terminal portion and the other-side terminal portion is inserted so as to overlap the hollow inside of the fixed terminal portion and can be hook-coupled inside the inner side of the hollow inlet end portion of the fixed terminal portion.

[0019] Further, one end portion of the elastic member is inserted and supported inside the hollow of the one-side terminal portion, and the other end portion is inserted and supported inside the hollow of the other-side terminal portion.

[0020] Further, a plurality of cut-open portions, in which a part of the outer peripheral surface on the side where the one-side terminal portion and the other-side terminal portion are coupled to the fixed terminal portion is cut open in the longitudinal direction, are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0021] Further, the contact end of the one-side terminal portion that contacts the first substrate and the contact end of the other-side terminal portion that contacts the second substrate can include a plurality of protruding protrusion-shaped portions where at least two or more point contacts are made.

[0022] Further, the contact end of the one-side terminal portion that contacts the first substrate and the contact end of the other-side terminal portion that contacts the second substrate can include a contact groove formed in a concave groove and a contact plane formed flat on the periphery of the contact groove.

[0023] Another embodiment of the connecting device according to the present invention includes a cavity filter having a resonance element fixed to one side and a terminal pin fixed on an impedance matching space provided for impedance matching in the radial direction, and an RF connector fixed on the impedance matching space between the resonance element and an associated PCB board arranged in parallel at a predetermined distance therefrom and provided to absorb the assembly tolerance between the terminal pin and the associated PCB board. The RF connector includes a fixed terminal portion with a hollow formed therein, a one-side terminal portion fixed to one end of the fixed terminal portion and elastically supported on the terminal pin side to be slidably moved and contacting the contact surface of the terminal pin, and a the other-side terminal portion fixed to the other end of the fixed terminal portion and elastically supported on the associated PCB board side to be slidably moved and contacting the contact surface on the associated PCB board side. The one-side terminal portion and the other-side terminal portion are elastically supported by an elastic member provided inside the hollow of the fixed terminal portion and expanding and contracting.

[0024] Also, the area of the outer surface of the other end of the terminal pin is formed wider than the area of the outer surface of one end of the one-side terminal portion of the RF connector.

[0025] Also, the impedance matching space of the cavity filter is fitted to the terminal pin so as to cover a part of the outer peripheral surface of the terminal pin, or a dielectric on the terminal pin side is inserted so as to be arranged in the radial direction of the outer peripheral surface of the terminal pin, and impedance matching design is performed.

[0026] Also, the cavity corresponding to the outside of the impedance matching space of the cavity filter is fitted to the fixed terminal portion so as to cover a part of the outer peripheral surface of the fixed terminal portion of the RF connector, or a dielectric on the fixed terminal portion side is inserted so as to be arranged in the radial direction of the outer peripheral surface of the fixed terminal portion, and impedance matching design is performed.

[0027] Further, the RF connector may further include a fixing block that fixes the fixed terminal portion via the fixed terminal portion side dielectric in a cavity corresponding to the outside of the impedance matching space of the cavity filter.

Advantages of the Invention

[0028] According to an embodiment of the connecting device according to the present invention, the following various effects can be achieved.

[0029] First, the reliability of the product is improved by being provided so as to be slidable with respect to the fixed terminal portion while maintaining a state in which the electrical flow between the one-side terminal portion and the other-side terminal portion is not interrupted between the two substrates (or two contact surfaces).

[0030] Second, it has an effect of easily absorbing the assembly tolerance existing outside the cavity filter via the RF connector provided for electrically connecting the cavity filter and the related PCB board.

[0031] Third, since it can be assembled by adding an assembly force in a simple operation of fixing the RF connector to the related PCB board by a soldering method and then bringing the related PCB board into close contact with the cavity filter side, it has an effect of improving the assemblability.

[0032] Fourth, since the terminal pins are fixedly provided inside the cavity filter, it has an effect of facilitating impedance matching design.

[0033] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0034]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5A

Figure 5B

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0035] Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings.

[0036] When attaching reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should be noted that for the same components, as much as possible, the same reference numerals are used even if they are shown on other drawings. Further, in describing the present invention, when it is determined that a specific description of such a known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0037] In addition, when describing the components of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. can be used. These terms are merely for distinguishing the components from other components, and the essence, order, or sequence of the components are not limited by these terms. Throughout the specification, when a certain part "includes" or "comprises" a certain component, this means that, unless otherwise stated to the contrary, other components can be further included rather than excluding other components. Also, terms such as "… part" and "module" described in the specification mean units that process at least one function or operation, and these can be realized by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0038] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are assembled cross-sectional views showing the connection state of two substrates using a connecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a front view, an exploded view, and a cross-sectional view of an RF connector among the configurations of FIGS. 1 and 2, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing another coupling example of one side terminal portion and the other side terminal portion among the configurations of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a connecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is fixed in a predetermined space between a first substrate 1 on which electrical components (not shown) are mounted and a second substrate 2 arranged in parallel to the first substrate 1, and includes an RF connector 200 provided such that one side and the other side absorb a predetermined assembly tolerance.

[0040] Here, the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 include all concepts as long as they are configured to be able to connect electrical signals via the RF connector 200, regardless of their names such as printed circuit boards (PCBs, Plastic Circuit Boards) and electronic boards (Electric Boards), as long as the RF connector 200 of this embodiment is applicable.

[0041] The RF connector 200 is provided between the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 to connect the electrical signals between both substrates (the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2). Meanwhile, it plays a role in automatically eliminating the assembly tolerance existing between the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 due to the assembly force of the installer transmitted during the process of being provided between the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2.

[0042] More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the RF connector 200 includes a fixed terminal portion 201 with a hollow 202 formed therein, a one-side terminal portion 210 fixed to one end of the fixed terminal portion 201 and elastically supported on the first substrate 1 side to be provided for slip movement and contacting the inner surface on the first substrate 1 side, and an other-side terminal portion 220 fixed to the other end of the fixed terminal portion 201 and elastically supported on the second substrate 2 side to be provided for slip movement and contacting the inner surface on the second substrate 2 side.

[0043] Here, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the one-side terminal portion 210 and the other-side terminal portion 220 can be elastically supported by an elastic member 230 provided inside the hollow 202 of the fixed terminal portion 201 and expanding and contracting.

[0044] The one-side terminal portion 210 and the other-side terminal portion 220 are respectively in a state of being coupled to one end and the other end of the fixed terminal portion 201. When they are oppositely assembled so that the opposing surfaces of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 are in close contact with each other, the one-side terminal portion 210 and the other-side terminal portion 220 can absorb the assembly tolerance existing between the two substrates 1 and 2 while slipping and moving so as to overlap by a predetermined distance L1 and L2 at one end and the other end of the fixed terminal portion 201 respectively.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 2, the RF connector 200 has the one-side terminal portion 210 and the other-side terminal portion 220 fixed between the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 in a state of being respectively coupled to one end and the other end of the fixed terminal portion 201. When the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 are oppositely assembled so as to be in close contact with each other, the contact end 217 of the one-side terminal portion 210 and the contact end 227 of the other-side terminal portion 220 can respectively contact the contact surface of the first substrate 1 and the contact surface of the second substrate 2.

[0046] Here, as shown in FIG. 3, a hollow 213 is formed in one - side terminal portion 210 such that one - side end portion of the fixed terminal portion 201 is inserted therein, and a hollow 223 is formed in the other - side terminal portion 220 such that the other - side end portion of the fixed terminal portion 201 is inserted therein. The one - side terminal portion 210 and the other - side terminal portion 220 can be hook - coupled while surrounding the outer peripheral surfaces of the respective end portions of the fixed terminal portion 201.

[0047] For this purpose, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4(a), inward - facing hook ribs 214 and 224 are formed to project toward the center on the inner peripheral surfaces adjacent to the outside of the hollows 213 and 223 of the one - side terminal portion 210 and the other - side terminal portion 220, respectively. Outward - facing hook ribs 204 - 1 and 204 - 2 are formed to project in the radial direction on the outer peripheral surfaces of the respective end portions of the fixed terminal portion 201.

[0048] The one - side terminal portion 210 and the other - side terminal portion 220 are each coupled to the respective end portions of the fixed terminal portion 201 in a state where they are not separated from the fixed terminal portion 201 by the mutual hook - coupling of the inward - facing hook ribs 214, 224 and the outward - facing hook ribs 204 - 1, 204 - 2. When the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 are assembled in close contact with each other, they can slip - move so as to overlap each other by a predetermined length with respect to the respective end portions of the fixed terminal portion 201. The overlapping lengths (refer to the reference numerals "L1" and "L2" in FIG. 2) of the one - side terminal portion 210 and the other - side terminal portion 220 can mean the maximum lengths that can absorb the assembly tolerance between the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2, as will be described later.

[0049] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the one - side terminal portion 210 and the other - side terminal portion 220 can be coupled to the respective end portions of the fixed terminal portion 201 by a mutual hook - coupling method.

[0050] More specifically, as shown in Fig. 3(a), when either one of the one-side terminal portion 210 and the other-side terminal portion 220 is moved to one of the ends of the fixed terminal portion 201 and the end of the fixed terminal portion 201 is inserted into the interiors of the hollows 213 and 223, as shown in Figs. 3(b) and 3(c), for example, when one side of the end of the fixed terminal portion 201 is inserted into the hollow 213 of the one-side terminal portion 210, at the same time, the inward hook rib 214 of the one-side terminal portion 210 and the outward hook rib 204-1 of the fixed terminal portion 201 are hooked to each other. When the other side of the end of the fixed terminal portion 201 is inserted into the hollow 223 of the other-side terminal portion 220, at the same time, the inward hook rib 224 of the other-side terminal portion 220 and the outward hook rib 204-2 of the fixed terminal portion 201 are hooked to each other.

[0051] So that the smooth hook connection between the inward hook ribs 214 and 224 and the outward hook ribs 204-1 and 204-2 can be achieved, the inward hook ribs 214 and 224 are formed in a shape such that the inner diameter gradually increases as it goes deeper into the interiors of the hollows 213 and 223, and the outward hook ribs 204-1 and 204-2 are formed in a shape such that the outer diameter gradually increases as it goes deeper into the hollow 202 of the fixed terminal portion 201.

[0052] By hooking the inward hook ribs 214 and 224 and the outward hook ribs 204-1 and 204-2 to each other, it is possible to prevent the one-side terminal portion 210 and the other-side terminal portion 220 from being separated from each other and disengaging due to the elastic force of the elastic member 230 intervening in the hollow 202 of the fixed terminal portion 201.

[0053] Here, the one-side terminal portion 210 and the other-side terminal portion 220 are provided so as to be slidable by a predetermined distance L1 and L2 in one longitudinal direction of the fixed terminal portion 201 in a state where the fixed terminal portion 201 is fixed so as not to move in the space between the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2. The movement distances of the one-side terminal portion 210 and the other-side terminal portion 220 (refer to the reference numerals L1 and L2 in Fig. 2) can serve to easily perform electrical connection while compensating for the assembly tolerance existing between the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 or the height difference of the peripheral components mounted on the first substrate 1 or the second substrate 2.

[0054] At the same time, the slip movement amount of the one-side terminal portion 210 and the other-side terminal portion 220 can be limited by the hook coupling portions of the inward hook ribs 214 and 224 of the one-side terminal portion 210 and the other-side terminal portion 220 and the outward hook ribs 204-1 and 204-2 of the fixed terminal portion 201 and the limit points of the compression amount of the elastic member 230.

[0055] In the connecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, although illustrated and described as having a structure in which one end portion and the other end portion of the fixed terminal portion 201 are respectively inserted into the hollows 213 of the one-side terminal portion 210 and the hollows 223 of the other-side terminal portion 220 (see (a) of FIG. 4), as shown in (b) of FIG. 4, even if it is provided with a structure in which a part of the one-side terminal portion 210 and a part of the other-side terminal portion 220 are respectively inserted into one side and the other side of the end portion of the hollow 202 of the fixed terminal portion 201 and then hook-coupled, it will not deviate from the scope of the rights of the present invention. In this case, outward hook ribs 214' and 224' are provided on the outer peripheral surfaces of the one-side terminal portion 210 and the other-side terminal portion 220, and inward hook ribs 204-1' and 204-2' are respectively formed on one side and the other side of the inner peripheral surface of the end portion of the hollow 202 of the fixed terminal portion 201.

[0056] On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a plurality of cut-open portions 215 and 225 that are longitudinally cut-open are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction on a part of the outer peripheral surface surrounding each end portion of the fixed terminal portion 201 of the one-side terminal portion 210 and the other-side terminal portion 220.

[0057] By forming such cut-open portions 215 and 225, a predetermined tension force is formed in the inner direction at the cut-open portions of the one-side terminal portion 210 and the other-side terminal portion 220, and the predetermined tension force is defined as a force that adds side tension by an operation of bringing it into close contact with the outer peripheral side of the fixed terminal portion 201 provided so as to be accommodated inside the hollows 213 and 223 of the one-side terminal portion 210 and the other-side terminal portion 220.

[0058] Here, the "side tension" can mean the contact force formed in the side direction between each terminal part so as to prevent the electrical flow from being interrupted from each other in the RF connector 200 provided in a separated type of one-side terminal part 210, the other-side terminal part 220, and the fixed terminal part 201, rather than an integral type.

[0059] For example, when an RF connector (not shown) is provided in an integral type whose outer shape is changed by the mutual adhesion force between the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2, different from an embodiment of the present invention, in order to eliminate the assembly tolerance between the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2, it must be provided with an elastic body that is elastically deformed in part by receiving a predetermined assembling force by an assembler. In the case of such an integral type RF connector, another side tension addition structure for preventing the interruption of the electrical flow between one end and the other end is not required.

[0060] However, as described above, the RF connector 200 in an embodiment of the present invention is provided in a separated form of the one-side terminal part 210, the other-side terminal part 220, and the fixed terminal part 201 to which these are coupled, and in order to absorb the assembly tolerance, the one-side terminal part 210 and the other-side terminal part 220 are provided so that the overall length contracts or extends while moving so as to overlap each other at each end of the fixed terminal part 201. In order to prevent the interruption of the electrical flow described above, another shape change for adding side tension is essential for the one-side terminal part 210 and the other-side terminal part 220.

[0061] The above-described cut portions 215 and 225 are formed while a part of the outer peripheral surfaces of the one-side terminal part 210 and the other-side terminal part 220 are partially cut open, and by adding a predetermined elastic force to the inner side (that is, the outer peripheral surface side of the fixed terminal part 201), a kind of adhesion force is generated with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the fixed terminal part 201, and the interruption of the electrical flow can be prevented even while the one-side terminal part 210 and the other-side terminal part 220 move relative to the fixed terminal part 201 by a predetermined distance L1 and L2.

[0062] On one hand, the elastic member 230 interposed in the hollow 202 of the fixed terminal portion 201 serves to elastically support the one-side terminal portion 210 on the first substrate 1 side and the other-side terminal portion 220 on the second substrate 2 side.

[0063] Here, the elastic member 230 is provided so as to completely penetrate the hollow 202 of the fixed terminal portion 201, and is formed to a size such that one end and the other end are exposed to one end portion and the other end portion side of the fixed terminal portion 201 respectively in a state where the elastic member 230 is extended.

[0064] One end of the elastic member 230 is supported inside the inner end of the hollow 213 of the one-side terminal portion 210, and the other end of the elastic member 230 is supported inside the inner end of the hollow 223 of the other-side terminal portion 220.

[0065] Here, the elastic member 230 is provided as a coil spring in which one end portion is inserted and supported inside the hollow 213 of the one-side terminal portion 210, and the other end portion is inserted and supported inside the hollow 223 of the other-side terminal portion 220. The elastic member 230 provided as a coil spring preferably intervenes so as to add a continuous elastic force to the one-side terminal portion 210 and the other-side terminal portion 220 in a compressed state in a state where the one-side terminal portion 210 and the other-side terminal portion 220 are hook-coupled to each end portion of the fixed terminal portion 201 and no external force such as another assembling force is provided.

[0066] FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are cross-sectional views, plan views, etc. showing various implementation examples of the contact cross-section of the one-side terminal portion and the other-side terminal portion among the configurations of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0067] The contact end 217 of the one-side terminal portion 210 contacting the first substrate 1 and the contact end 227 of the other-side terminal portion 220 contacting the second substrate 2 are provided in a round shape such that one point contact is made as shown in (a) of FIG. 5A.

[0068] However, the shapes of the contact ends 217 of the one-side terminal portion 210 and the contact ends 227 of the other-side terminal portion 220 are not limited to the shapes described above. As shown in FIG. 5A(b), it is also possible to provide a round shape such that point contacts are made at two or four locations by at least one or two dividing grooves 217a, 227a.

[0069] And, as shown in FIG. 5A(c), the contact ends 217 of the one-side terminal portion 210 and the contact ends 227 of the other-side terminal portion 220 can include a plurality of protruding projection-shaped portions 218, 228 so that at least two or more point contacts are made.

[0070] The shapes of the contact ends 217 of the one-side terminal portion 210 and the contact ends 227 of the other-side terminal portion 220 as described above can be designed and adopted in an optimal shape in consideration of the contact pressure etc. with respect to the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 which are the contact targets.

[0071] In this way, by dividing and forming the contact ends 217 of the one-side terminal portion 210 and the contact ends 227 of the other-side terminal portion 220 into a plurality of contact regions, it is possible to create the advantage that the electrical signal transmission rate through the fixed terminal portion 201 can be improved and the transmission loss can be reduced reflectively.

[0072] At the same time, as shown in FIG. 5B, the contact ends 217 of the one-side terminal portion 210 that contact the first substrate 1 and the contact ends 227 of the other-side terminal portion 220 that contact the second substrate 2 can include contact grooves 219a, 229a formed in concave grooves and contact planes 219b, 229b formed flat on the peripheral portions of the contact grooves 219a, 229a. The contact ratio of the contact planes 219b, 229b in the periphery can be improved by the contact grooves 219a, 229a formed in the middle of the contact ends 217 of the one-side terminal portion 210 and the contact ends 227 of the other-side terminal portion 220.

[0073] FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a stacked structure of an exemplary Massive MIMO antenna, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a cavity filter according to another embodiment of the present invention is stacked between an antenna board and an associated PCB board.

[0074] Generally, as in one embodiment of the connecting device according to the present invention described above, in the field where the RF connector 200 is most required to enable electrical signal connection provided between the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2, it is the MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology field.

[0075] The MIMO technology is a technology that epochally increases the data transmission capacity by using a plurality of antennas. In 4G LTE-advanced, up to 8 antennas are used. Currently, at the pre-5G stage, products equipped with 64 or 128 antennas have been developed, and in 5G, base station equipment having a much larger number of antennas is said to be used, which is called Massive MIMO technology.

[0076] In the Massive MIMO technology, as the number of antenna elements increases, the number of transmitters and filters accordingly increases. Therefore, recently, while a cavity filter structure that minimizes the mounting space and is easy to mount is actively studied, it is essential to develop a modular cavity filter or an RF connector 200 that connects between the cavity filter and the related PCB board to enable electrical signal connection between the antenna board equipped with the antenna elements and the related PCB board.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 6, the antenna device 10 includes a housing 11 in which a heat sink is formed, and a radome 17 coupled to the housing 11. An antenna assembly 16 is built in between the housing 11 and the radome 17.

[0078] Inside the housing 11, for example, a power supply unit (PSU) 12 is coupled by a docking structure, and the power supply unit 12 provides an operating power supply for operating the electronic components provided in the antenna assembly 16. Usually, the antenna assembly 16 has a structure in which a plurality of normal RF connectors 200 are arranged on the back of an antenna board 15 where a plurality of antenna elements are arranged on the front, and then a related PCB board 13 is stacked.

[0079] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, by eliminating the normal RF connector 200 and providing a module-type cavity filter 100, the connection becomes easier, and an antenna structure 20 having a lower height profile can be provided.

[0080] The connecting device according to another embodiment of the present invention is a specific embodiment in which, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, an RF connector 200 for connecting the antenna board and the related PCB board 13 is provided instead of the cavity filter 100, or an RF connector 200 is provided to serve the role of electrical signal connection between the cavity filter 100 and the related PCB board 13.

[0081] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the appearance of the installation of another embodiment of the connecting device according to the present invention.

[0082] The connecting device according to another embodiment of the present invention can include a cavity filter 100 and an RF connector 200.

[0083] The cavity filter 100 functions to select, for each channel, the frequency to be transmitted while suppressing unwanted wave signals, by being used as a high-power channel filter for each transmitter. That is, while attempting to achieve mutual electrical connection between the resonance element 103 connected to an antenna substrate (not shown) provided with a plurality of antenna elements and the associated PCB board 13, the cavity filter 100 serves to filter the frequency of the signal received via the antenna elements and the frequency of the signal to be transmitted via the antenna elements.

[0084] In order to prevent the inherent frequency characteristics of such a cavity filter 100 from changing even in temperature environments of low and high temperatures, the cavity filter 100 is provided with a cavity in the form of a predetermined impedance matching space 110, and a resonance element 103 such as a dielectric resonator or a metal rod is provided. Meanwhile, in the impedance matching space 110, a terminal pin side dielectric 130 having a predetermined dielectric constant is inserted, and by impedance matching design, it has a structure that enables ultra-high frequency resonance by allowing only electronic devices of the inherent frequency to exist.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 8, the cavity filter 100 is provided in the form of a single connecting module between the antenna substrate and the associated PCB board 13 to facilitate electrical signal connection therebetween.

[0086] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the cavity filter 100 includes a filter body case 105 that forms an impedance matching space 110 inside and is provided between the antenna substrate and the associated PCB board 13.

[0087] At the same time, the cavity filter 100 can further include, in addition to the above-described terminal pin side dielectric 130, a terminal pin 120 that is fixed to one side of the resonance element 103 and is fixed on the impedance matching space 110 provided for impedance matching in the radial direction, as being provided inside the filter body case 105.

[0088] The impedance matching space 110 is provided in a substantially cylindrical empty space shape in order to have uniform frequency characteristics, and the terminal pin 120 is provided to be fixed on the impedance matching space 110. At the same time, the terminal pin 120 is formed in a kind of flat head screw shape with a head formed on the side of the related PCB board 13. Hereinafter, for the convenience of explanation, the head of the terminal pin 120 shall be referred to as the "related PCB board side" or the "other end", and the pin part corresponding to one end 122 of the terminal pin 120 shall be referred to as the "antenna board side" or the "one end".

[0089] The area of the outer surface of the other end 121 of the terminal pin 120 is formed wider than the area of the outer surface of one end of the RF connector 200 (more specifically, the contact end 217 of the one-side terminal part 210) described later.

[0090] Since the terminal pin 120 is provided with a conductor, this is to increase the contact rate of one end of the RF connector 200.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 8, the terminal pin side dielectric 130 can include a first terminal pin side dielectric 131 provided in a cylinder shape such that the terminal pin 120 penetrates the center, and a second terminal pin side dielectric 132 provided at a predetermined distance outside the first terminal pin side dielectric 131 and in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the impedance matching space 110. In other embodiments of the present invention, although the shape of the terminal pin side dielectric 130, which is one of the components of the cavity filter 100, is limited to the standardized one as described above, it will be natural that the shape of the terminal pin side dielectric 130 can be designed in various forms for impedance matching on the impedance matching space 110.

[0092] The terminal pin side dielectric 130 is fitted to the terminal pin 120 so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the terminal pin 120 like the above-described first terminal pin side dielectric 131, or is inserted so as to be arranged in the radial direction of the outer peripheral surface of the terminal pin 120 like the above-described second terminal pin side dielectric 132, and impedance matching design is performed. On the other hand, among the dielectrics 130, the first terminal pin side dielectric 131 can flow within the impedance matching space 110 together with the terminal pin 120 by the fixing rim 123 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the pin portion of the terminal pin 120.

[0093] The specific configuration of the RF connector 200 shall be substituted for the description of the connecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention already described. However, there is a difference in that the related PCB board 13 is provided as an alternative instead of the first substrate 1, and the cavity filter 100 is provided instead of the second substrate 2.

[0094] Also, in the case of the connecting device according to another embodiment of the present invention, in that the RF connector 200 is provided outside the cavity filter 100 that has nothing to do with the impedance matching space 110, it provides a very advantageous advantage for impedance matching design.

[0095] At the same time, as shown in FIG. 8, in the connecting device according to another embodiment of the present invention, the cavity C corresponding to the outside of the impedance matching space 110 of the cavity filter 100 is fitted to the fixed terminal portion 201 so as to cover a part of the outer peripheral surface of the fixed terminal portion 201 of the RF connector 200, or the fixed terminal portion side dielectric 240 is inserted so as to be arranged in the radial direction of the outer peripheral surface of the fixed terminal portion 201, and impedance matching design is performed.

[0096] Here, the RF connector 200 can further include a fixing block 250 for fixing the fixed terminal portion 201 in the cavity C corresponding to the outside of the impedance matching space 110 of the cavity filter 100 via the above-described fixed terminal portion side dielectric 240.

[0097] The fixed block 250 can be restricted in movement within the cavity C by fixing the locking portion 251 so as to be locked to the locking end 106 formed inside the cavity C of the filter body case 105.

[0098] Hereinafter, the installation process of the embodiment of the connecting device according to the present invention configured as described above will be briefly described with reference to the attached drawings (particularly, FIG. 8). For a more specific description, it will be described by applying it to other embodiments of the present invention.

[0099] First, one end of the terminal pin 120 of the cavity filter 100 is fixed to each of the resonance elements 103 extended and connected from the antenna board.

[0100] Next, among the components of the RF connector 200, the fixed terminal portion 201 is fixed to the locking end 106 in the cavity C space corresponding to the outside of the impedance matching space 110 via the fixed terminal portion side dielectric 240 and the fixed block 250 on the related PCB board 13 by the operation of fixing the locking portion 251.

[0101] At this time, the contact end 217 of the one - side terminal portion 210 provided to be hooked to one - side end portion of the fixed terminal portion 201 and elastically supported by one end of the elastic member 230 can be elastically contacted with the other end 121 corresponding to the head of the terminal pin 120.

[0102] Next, when a predetermined assembling force is applied by the operation of closely attaching the entire related PCB board 13 to the cavity filter 100 side, the contact end 227 of the other - side terminal portion 220 provided to be hooked to the other - side end portion of the fixed terminal portion 201 and elastically supported by the other end of the elastic member 230 contacts the contact surface of the related PCB board 13 and slips and moves by the applied predetermined assembling force, and can absorb the assembling tolerance by the slipped movement distance.

[0103] According to the connecting device according to the present invention having such a configuration, there is an advantage that the assembling tolerance in the outer space not related to the cavity filter 100 can be easily eliminated via the RF connector 200.

[0104] At the same time, the terminal pins 120 on the impedance matching space 110 of the cavity filter 100 are provided in a relatively simple shape and designed to have very low mobility, which has the advantage of facilitating impedance matching design.

[0105] As described above, the embodiments of the connecting device according to the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments of the present invention are not necessarily limited to the above-described embodiments, and it will be natural that various modifications and implementations within an equivalent range can be made by those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. Therefore, the true scope of the rights of the present invention is defined by the scope of the claims described below.

Industrial Applicability

[0106] The present invention provides a connecting device that aims to connect electrical signals between two substrates (or two contact surfaces) provided to face each other and can easily absorb the assembly tolerance between the two substrates (or two contact surfaces).

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0107] 1: First substrate 2: Second substrate 100: Cavity filter 103: Resonant element 105: Filter body 110: Impedance matching space 120: Terminal pin 121: Other end of the terminal pin 122: One end of the terminal pin 123: Fixed rim 130: Terminal pin side dielectric 131: First terminal pin side dielectric 132: Second terminal pin side dielectric 200: RF connector 210: One - side terminal portion 213: Hollow 214: Inward - facing hook rib 220: Other - side terminal portion 223: Hollow 224: Inward - facing hook rib 230: Elastic member 240: Fixed terminal portion side dielectric 250: Fixed block 251: Locking part L1, L2: Moving distance C: Cavity

Claims

1. A cavity filter having a resonance element fixed on one side and a terminal pin fixed on an impedance matching space provided for impedance matching in the radial direction, and an RF connector disposed on the impedance matching space between the resonance element and an associated PCB board arranged in parallel at a predetermined distance therefrom and provided to absorb an assembly tolerance between the terminal pin and the associated PCB board, wherein the RF connector has a fixed terminal portion with a hollow formed therein, a first terminal portion movably attached to one end of the fixed terminal portion, elastically supported on the terminal pin side and provided to slip and move, and contacting a contact surface of the terminal pin; a second terminal portion movably attached to the other end of the fixed terminal portion, elastically supported on the associated PCB board side and provided to slip and move, and contacting a contact surface of the associated PCB board side; the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion are elastically supported by an elastic member provided inside the hollow of the fixed terminal portion and expanding and contracting, a contact end of the first terminal portion contacting the contact surface of the terminal pin and a contact end of the second terminal portion contacting the contact surface of the associated PCB board side include a contact groove formed in a concave groove and a contact plane formed flat on a periphery of the contact groove, a connecting device in which an area of an outer surface of the other end of the terminal pin is formed wider than an area of an outer surface of one end of the first terminal portion of the RF connector.

2. The connecting device according to claim 1, wherein the impedance matching space of the cavity filter is fitted to the terminal pin so as to cover a part of an outer peripheral surface of the terminal pin, or an impedance matching design is performed by inserting a dielectric on the terminal pin side so as to be arranged in the radial direction of the outer peripheral surface of the terminal pin.

3. The connecting device according to claim 1, wherein a cavity corresponding to an outside of the impedance matching space of the cavity filter is fitted to the fixed terminal portion so as to cover a part of an outer peripheral surface of the fixed terminal portion of the RF connector, or an impedance matching design is performed by inserting a dielectric on the fixed terminal portion side so as to be arranged in the radial direction of the outer peripheral surface of the fixed terminal portion.

4. The connecting device according to claim 3, wherein the RF connector further includes a fixing block for fixing the fixed terminal portion through a dielectric on the fixed terminal portion side in a cavity corresponding to the outside of the impedance matching space of the cavity filter.

5. A cavity filter provided with a terminal pin fixed on an impedance matching space provided for impedance matching in the radial direction with one side fixed to a resonance element, an RF connector disposed on the impedance matching space between the resonance element and an associated PCB board arranged in parallel at a predetermined distance apart, and provided to absorb an assembly tolerance between the terminal pin and the associated PCB board. The RF connector includes a fixed terminal portion with a hollow formed therein, a one-side terminal portion movably attached to one end of the fixed terminal portion, elastically supported on the terminal pin side, and provided to slip and move, and contacting a contact surface of the terminal pin; a the other-side terminal portion movably attached to the other end of the fixed terminal portion, elastically supported on the associated PCB board side, and provided to slip and move, and contacting a contact surface on the associated PCB board side. The one-side terminal portion and the other-side terminal portion are elastically supported by an elastic member provided inside the hollow of the fixed terminal portion and expanding and contracting. The connecting device, wherein an area of an outer surface of the other end of the terminal pin is formed wider than an area of an outer surface of one end of the one-side terminal portion of the RF connector.

Images