High-frequency impedance-matched edge-launch RF connector

Abstract

The edge launch radio frequency (RF) signal connector (10) includes a ground contact tab (22) having a radially extending arm (24). The arm (24) covers a gap between the circuit board (14) and the connector (10) to reduce an RF ground path between an RF reference ground and a signal pin (20) supported by the connector (10). The arm (24) extends radially inward from the protruding ground contact tab (22) toward a central support aperture (18) that supports the signal pin (20). The arm (24) and the ground contact tab (22) are unitarily and integrally formed with the main connector body (16). The arm (24) and the ground contact tab (22) are of a planar configuration such that when the connector (10) is placed over an edge of the circuit board (14), the arm (24) and the ground contact tab (22) lie flush on the circuit board (14).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to edge launch high frequency signal connectors. [Background technology]

[0002] Various applications use electronic devices having substrates, such as circuit boards, that may include electronic components. Exemplary applications include radio frequency (RF) interface applications. RF interfaces may be utilized in military applications and commercial high frequency RF applications, such as 5G. The substrate of the circuit board may include a connector that is attached to the substrate and configured to receive a cable from another substrate or another electronic device. The cable allows the substrate to transmit and receive RF signals. The connector may be edge-mounted to the substrate, i.e., the connector extends over an edge of the circuit board.

[0003] Traditional edge-launch RF connectors can fall short due to challenges in mounting the edge-launch connector flush with the circuit board. Improper connector mounting, such as misalignment that creates a gap between the connector and the circuit board, can result in poor RF transitions at higher frequencies. As a result, manufacturing tolerances between the RF connector and the circuit board can reduce the overall performance of the assembly.

[0004] One conventional attempt to improve the connection between an RF connector and a circuit board involves manually soldering the connector ground to the circuit board to cover gaps in the ground plane. However, in addition to the time and cost involved in manufacturing the RF connector and circuit board assembly, the manual soldering process increases the amount of handling time required for the circuit board. The increased handling of the circuit board can lead to assembly failures. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present application provides an edge-launch radio frequency (RF) signal connector including a ground contact tab with a protruding arm. The arm extends from the ground contact tab to cover a gap between a substrate, e.g., a circuit board, and the connector body of the edge-launch RF signal connector, reducing the RF ground path between an RF reference ground and a signal pin supported by the connector body. The arm extends radially inward from the protruding ground contact tab toward a central support aperture in the connector body that supports the signal pin. The arm and ground contact tab may be planar so that when the edge-launch RF signal connector is connected along the edge of a substrate, the arm and ground contact tab lie flush with the substrate.

[0006] The use of ground contact tabs with arms eliminates the need for hand soldering and minimizes the effects of gaps formed by manufacturing tolerances between the board and connector. Ground contact tabs with arms are particularly advantageous in high frequency applications where imperfections in the RF transition have a particularly adverse effect on transmission loss. The ground contact tabs and arms may be formed integrally with the main connector body as a single piece, which also allows for less complex manufacturing and assembly of the connector and board.

[0007] According to aspects of the present disclosure, an edge-launch RF signal connector may include arms that protrude from the ground contact tabs to reduce the ground path between the RF reference ground and the signal pin.

[0008] According to aspects of the present disclosure, an edge launch RF signal connector may include a connector body and may have integrally formed ground contact tabs and arms that cover a gap between a substrate and the connector body.

[0009] According to aspects of the present disclosure, the edge launch RF signal connector may include a ground contact tab and may have a portion that extends radially inward toward a signal pin supported by the edge launch RF signal connector.

[0010] According to aspects of the present disclosure, a method for connecting an electronic device to a substrate can include reducing a ground path between an RF reference ground and a signal pin.

[0011] According to aspects of the present disclosure, an edge launch RF signal connector includes a connector body having a main body defining a central support aperture and at least one ground contact tab projecting from the main body and spaced radially from the central support aperture, the at least one ground contact tab configured to ground to a substrate and having an arm extending radially inward along the main body toward the central support aperture, and a signal pin supported within the central support aperture of the connector body.

[0012] According to an embodiment of any paragraph(s) of this Summary, the at least one ground contact tab and arm may be monolithically formed integrally with the main body.

[0013] According to an embodiment of any paragraph(s) of this Summary, at least one of the ground contact tabs and the arm may be linear in shape.

[0014] According to an embodiment of any paragraph(s) of this Summary, at least one of the ground contact tabs and arms may be planar and configured to lie flush on the substrate.

[0015] According to an embodiment of any paragraph(s) of this Summary, the arms may extend a radial distance along the surface of the main body, which distance may be greater than the radius of the surface.

[0016] According to an embodiment of any paragraph(s) of this Summary, the arm may extend perpendicular to the at least one ground contact tab.

[0017] According to an embodiment of any paragraph(s) of this Summary, a length of the at least one ground contact tab protruding from the main body may be greater than a length of the arm protruding from the main body.

[0018] According to an embodiment of any paragraph(s) of this Summary, the at least one ground contact tab and the arm may form an L-shape.

[0019] According to an embodiment of any paragraph(s) of this Summary, the at least one ground contact tab and the arm may have the same thickness.

[0020] According to an embodiment of any paragraph(s) of this Summary, the arm may have a thickness that is equal to or less than the diameter of the central support aperture.

[0021] According to an embodiment of any paragraph(s) of this Summary, the at least one ground contact tab may project perpendicular to a plane of the main body defining the central support aperture.

[0022] According to an embodiment of any paragraph(s) of this Summary, an outer periphery of the at least one ground contact tab may define an outermost surface of the edge launch RF signal connector.

[0023] According to an embodiment of any paragraph(s) of this Summary, the outer circumferential surface of the at least one ground contact tab and the outer circumferential surface of the main body may have the same radial distance from the central support aperture.

[0024] According to an embodiment of any paragraph(s) of this Summary, the at least one ground contact tab may include two ground contact tabs disposed on opposite sides of the central support aperture.

[0025] According to an embodiment of any paragraph(s) of this Summary, the two ground contact tabs may be symmetrically positioned.

[0026] According to an embodiment of any paragraph(s) of this Summary, the two ground contact tabs may be identical in shape and size.

[0027] According to an embodiment of any paragraph(s) of this Summary, the tab may extend over a gap between the substrate and the main body.

[0028] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for connecting an electronic device to a substrate includes placing a connector body on the substrate, the connector body having a main body defining a central support aperture for supporting signal pins, and at least one ground contact tab projecting from the main body and spaced radially from the central support aperture; contacting the at least one ground contact tab against the substrate for grounding to the substrate; and covering a gap between the substrate and the connector body with an arm of the at least one ground contact tab extending radially inward along the main body toward the central support aperture.

[0029] According to an embodiment of any paragraph(s) of this Summary, the method may include reducing the RF ground path with the arm.

[0030] According to an embodiment of any paragraph or paragraphs of this Summary, the method may include contacting at least one ground contact tab against a substrate, including positioning the at least one ground contact tab and arm flush with a surface of the substrate.

[0031] To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the present disclosure comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure. These embodiments, however, are indicative of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the disclosure may be employed. Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of the present disclosure when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

[0032] The accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, depict various aspects of the present disclosure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1]1 illustrates a top view of an edge launch radio frequency (RF) signal connector disposed on a substrate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application. [Figure 2] 2 shows a perspective view of the edge launch RF signal connector of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 2 shows a flowchart illustrating a method of connecting an electronic device to a substrate using the edge launch RF signal connector of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] The principles described herein have particular application in electronic device applications, such as applications requiring connections between a substrate, e.g., a circuit card assembly (CCA), printed circuit board, or printed wire board, and other radio frequency (RF) assemblies to enable signal connections. Exemplary applications include any suitable RF interface application, military applications, and commercial high frequency RF applications such as 5G. Any application having an interface that transmits signals to a circuit board may be suitable. Many other applications may also be suitable.

[0035] 1 and 2, an edge launch RF signal connector 10 is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present application. The edge launch RF signal connector 10 may be any suitable electrical connector and is configured to be attached to an edge 12 of a substrate 14. The edge launch RF signal connector 10 is configured to be positioned adjacent to the substrate 14 and to contact a top surface of the substrate 14. The substrate 14 may be substantially planar, such as a circuit board.

[0036] In an exemplary application, the substrate 14 may be part of an electronic device or may include electrical components of an electronic device mounted on the substrate 14. The edge launch RF signal connector 10 is configured to receive a mating connector from another substrate or electronic device such that the edge launch RF signal connector 10 is electrically coupled to the substrate 14 for transmitting and receiving RF power or data signals between the other substrate or electronic device and the electronic device associated with the substrate 14. The edge launch RF signal connector 10 may be configured for use with any suitable electronic device or substrate.

[0037] The edge launch RF signal connector 10 includes a connector body 15 having a main body 16 defining a central support aperture 18, and a signal pin 20 supported within and extending through the main body 16. The central support aperture 18 may extend through at least a portion of the main body 16. The signal pin 20 may be connected to a wire or any other suitable electrical connection supported by the connector body 15.

[0038] Connector body 15 includes at least one ground contact tab 22, spaced radially from central support aperture 18 and projecting from main body 16. More than one ground contact tab 22 may be provided. Ground contact tab 22 extends above substrate 14 and is configured to contact and ground to substrate 14. Ground contact tab 22 may be the only portion of connector body 15 that contacts substrate 14, such that main body 16 of connector body 15 is positioned away from substrate 14 when the parts are assembled.

[0039] Ground contact tab 22 has arms 24 that extend radially inward along main body 16 toward central support aperture 18 and signal pin 20. Arms 24 are configured to extend over gaps 26 formed between edge 12 of substrate 14 and connector body 15 when connector body 15 is assembled onto substrate 14. Gap 26 can be formed due to misalignment of substrate 14 and edge launch RF signal connector 10.

[0040] The use of arms 24 formed on ground contact tab 22 advantageously shortens the RF ground path 28 between the RF reference ground and signal pin 20 compared to conventional ground tabs that do not have radially extending arms. Thus, the use of ground contact tabs with protruding arms minimizes transmission losses caused by imperfections in board and connector alignment.

[0041] The ground contact tab 22 and the arm 24 are integrally formed with the main body 15 such that the connector body 15 is formed as one continuous piece. Forming the connector body 10 as one continuous piece allows for less complex manufacture and assembly of the edge launch RF signal connector 10. Any suitable manufacturing method may be used to form the edge launch RF signal connector 10. The edge launch RF signal connector 10 may be formed from any suitable conductive material. Exemplary materials include copper or other non-ferrous materials, and dielectric materials. Exemplary manufacturing processes that may be suitable include casting, stamping, molding, machining, etc. Any suitable additive manufacturing method may also be used.

[0042] The ground contact tabs 22 and arms 24 may have any suitable shape. The ground contact tabs 22 and arms 24 are planar and have flat surfaces that contact the substrate 14. The ground contact tabs 22 and arms 24 extend parallel to the surface of the substrate 14 so that when the edge launch RF signal connector 10 is assembled on the substrate 14, the ground contact tabs 22 and arms 24 are flush with the surface of the substrate 14.

[0043] In the exemplary embodiment, the ground contact tab 22 and the arm 24 are linear in shape. The ground contact tab 22 may have a linear shape extending from the main body 16. In other exemplary embodiments, the ground contact tab 22 and / or the arm 24 may have a non-linear shape, such as a tapered shape that tapers radially inward toward the central support aperture 18. The arms may be formed to have a triangular or other polygonal shape. The shapes of the ground contact tab 22 and the arm 24 extend in a plane that is parallel to the substrate 14 such that the ground contact tab 22 and the substrate 14 engage in a common plane. Many other shapes may be suitable for the ground contact tab 22 and the arm 24 and may depend on the application.

[0044] The arm 24 may extend perpendicular to the direction in which the ground contact tab 22 extends, so that the ground contact tab 22 and the arm 24 form an L-shape. The arm 24 may form a shorter leg of the L-shape compared to the ground contact tab 22. The length L1 of the ground contact tab 22 protruding outward from the main body 16 is longer than the length L2 of the arm 24 protruding outward from the main body 16. The ground contact tab 22 and the arm 24 each extend perpendicular to a surface 30 of the main body 16. The surface 30 of the main body 16 is the axially most end surface of the main body 16. When the edge launch RF signal connector 10 is assembled to a substrate 14, the surface 30 faces the edge 12 of the substrate 14, thereby defining a gap 26 between the surface 30 and the substrate 14.

[0045] The ground contact tab 22 and the arm 24 may have the same thickness, or the thickness may be uniform. In other exemplary embodiments, the ground contact tab 22 and the arm 24 may have different and / or varying thicknesses relative to one another. The thickness may be equal to or less than the diameter of the central support aperture 18. The thickness may be less than the diameter of the main body 16. In other exemplary embodiments, the thickness may be greater than the diameter of the central support aperture 18 but less than the diameter of the main body 16.

[0046] The arms 24 extend a radial distance R along a surface 30 of the main body 16 toward a central support aperture 18 centrally located within the surface 30. The bases of the arms 24 are attached to the surface 30 such that the arms 24 and the ground contact tabs 22 extend continuously along the main body 16. The radial distance R may be any suitable distance depending on the application, and the radial distance R may not reach the central support aperture 18. The radial distance R may be greater than the radius of the surface 30, and the radial distance R may be configured to provide a predetermined spacing between a radially inner edge 32 of the arms 24 and the central support aperture 18.

[0047] The outer peripheral surface 34 of the ground contact tab 22 and the outer peripheral surface 35 of the main body 16 have the same radial distance from the central support aperture 18. The ground contact tab 22 and the main body 16 may together define the radially outermost surface of the connector body 15. The connector body 15 may have any suitable shape, which may depend on the application. A suitable shape may be cylindrical. The connector body 15 may be elongated along a central axis of the connector body 15 along which the signal pins 20 are located.

[0048] The connector body 15 may include two ground contact tabs 22, 36, each including a corresponding arm 24, 38. Each of the arms 24, 38 extends over the gap 26 formed between the connector body 15 and the substrate 14. The two ground contact tabs 22, 36 may be positioned on opposite sides of the central support aperture 18 and may be symmetrically arranged. The two ground contact tabs 22, 36 are identical in shape and size. The two ground contact tabs 22, 36 are radially spaced from each other, and the arms 24, 38 of the two ground contact tabs 22, 36 extend radially toward each other and toward the central support aperture 18. The ground contact tabs 22, 36 are formed to extend in the same plane such that both ground contact tabs 22, 36 are flush with the substrate 14.

[0049] Referring now to Figure 3, a flowchart illustrating a method 40 for connecting an electronic device to a substrate is shown. The method 40 may include grounding to a substrate 14 using the edge launch RF signal connector 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2. Step 42 of the method 40 includes placing a connector body 15 on the substrate 14. The connector body 15 includes a main body 16 defining a central support aperture 18 that supports a signal pin 20, and ground contact tabs 22, 36. The ground contact tabs 22, 36 are radially spaced from the central support aperture 18 and protrude from the main body 16.

[0050] Step 44 of method 40 includes contacting and grounding the ground contact tabs 22, 36 against the substrate 14. Step 44 may include positioning the ground contact tabs 22, 36 and arms 24, 38 flush with the surface of the substrate 14. Step 46 of method 40 includes covering the gap 26 between the substrate 14 and the connector body 15 with at least one ground contact tab arm 24, 38 extending radially inward along the main body toward the central support aperture. Step 48 of method 40 includes reducing the RF ground path 28 between the RF reference ground and the signal pin 20 with the arms 24, 38.

[0051] While the present disclosure includes a specific preferred embodiment or embodiments, it will be apparent that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding this specification and the accompanying drawings. In particular, with regard to the various functions performed by the aforementioned elements (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms used to describe such elements (including references to "means") are intended, unless otherwise indicated, to correspond to any element that performs the specified function of the described element (i.e., is functionally equivalent), even if it is not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure that performs that function in the exemplary embodiment or embodiments illustrated herein. Moreover, while particular features of the present disclosure may be described above only with respect to one or more of the several illustrated embodiments, such features may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, as may be desirable or advantageous in any given or particular application.

Claims

1. 1. An edge launch radio frequency (RF) signal connector comprising: a connector body having a main body, the main body having (i) a first side configured to receive RF signals and a second side configured to interface with a substrate and defining a central support aperture, and (ii) at least one ground contact tab radially spaced a first distance from the central support aperture and projecting from the second side of the main body, the at least one ground contact tab configured to ground to the substrate and having an arm extending radially inward along the main body toward the central support aperture a second distance, the second distance being greater than the first distance; a signal pin supported within the central support aperture of the connector body; An edge launch RF signal connector comprising:

2. 2. The edge launch RF signal connector of claim 1, wherein said at least one ground contact tab and said arm are monolithically and integrally formed with said main body.

3. 2. The edge launch RF signal connector of claim 1, wherein said at least one ground contact tab and said arms are linear in shape.

4. 2. The edge launch RF signal connector of claim 1, wherein the at least one ground contact tab and the arm are planar and configured to lie flush on the substrate.

5. 2. The edge launch RF signal connector of claim 1, wherein the arms extend the second distance along a face of the main body, the second distance being greater than a radius of the face.

6. 2. The edge launch RF signal connector of claim 1, wherein said arms extend perpendicular to said at least one ground contact tab.

7. 2. The edge launch RF signal connector of claim 1, wherein a length of the at least one ground contact tab protruding from the second side of the main body is greater than a length of the arm protruding from the main body.

8. 2. The edge launch RF signal connector of claim 1, wherein the at least one ground contact tab and the arm form an L-shape.

9. 10. The edge launch RF signal connector of claim 1, wherein the at least one ground contact tab and the arm have the same thickness.

10. 2. The edge launch RF signal connector of claim 1, wherein the arms have a thickness equal to or less than a diameter of the central support aperture.

11. 2. The edge launch RF signal connector of claim 1, wherein said at least one ground contact tab projects perpendicularly to a surface of said second side of said main body that defines said central support aperture.

12. 2. The edge launch RF signal connector of claim 1, wherein an outer periphery of the at least one ground contact tab defines an outermost surface of the edge launch RF signal connector.

13. 13. The edge launch RF signal connector of claim 12, wherein the outer periphery of the at least one ground contact tab and the outer periphery of the main body have the same radial distance from the central support aperture.

14. 2. The edge launch RF signal connector of claim 1, wherein the at least one ground contact tab comprises two ground contact tabs located on opposite sides of the central support aperture.

15. 15. The edge launch RF signal connector of claim 14, wherein the two ground contact tabs are symmetrically positioned.

16. 16. The edge launch RF signal connector of claim 14 or 15, wherein the two ground contact tabs are identical in shape and size.

17. 16. The edge launch RF signal connector of claim 1, wherein the arm extends over a gap formed between an edge of the substrate and the first side of the main body to shorten an RF ground path between an RF reference ground of the substrate and the signal pin.

18. 1. A method for connecting an electronic device to a substrate, comprising: placing a connector body on the substrate, the connector body having a main body with (i) a first side configured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals and a second side configured to interface with a substrate, the main body defining a central support aperture for supporting a signal pin, and (ii) at least one ground contact tab radially spaced a first distance from the central support aperture and projecting from the second side of the main body; contacting the at least one ground contact tab against the substrate to ground the substrate; covering a gap formed between the edge of the substrate and the second side of the main body with an arm of the at least one ground contact tab extending radially inward a second distance along the main body toward the central support aperture, the second distance being greater than the first distance; The method comprising:

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising reducing an RF ground path through the arm.

20. 20. The method of claim 18 or 19, wherein contacting the at least one ground contact tab against the substrate comprises positioning the at least one ground contact tab and the arm flush with a surface of the substrate.

21. An edge launch RF signal connector as described in claim 12, wherein the second distance is greater than the radial distance from the outer peripheral surface of the at least one ground contact tab to the portion where the arm extends from the at least one ground contact tab.

22. An edge launch RF signal connector as described in claim 1, wherein the protruding length of the signal pin from the second side is equal to the protruding length of the arm from the second side.

23. The method described in claim 18, wherein the second distance is greater than the radial distance from the outer peripheral surface of the at least one ground contact tab to the portion where the arm extends from the at least one ground contact tab.

24. The method described in claim 18, wherein the protruding length of the signal pin from the second side is equal to the protruding length of the arm from the second side.

Images