Adjustable push-on connector / adapter

Abstract

The connector or adapted connector includes a first subassembly and a second subassembly, each of which includes a center conductor and terminates at one end with a termination portion that forms a connector portion. The subassemblies interface with each other to slide relative to each other. A spring acts on each subassembly to bias the subassemblies to slide away from each other, and a sleeve houses the subassembly and the spring, securing at least one of the subassemblies while allowing the other subassembly to move within the sleeve to change the length of the connector. The center conductor of each subassembly includes a portion of an electrical contact that cooperates to form the center conductor for the connector. The portion and remaining portion of the electrical contact are configured to slide relative to each other when changing the length of the connector to maintain an electrical signal path through the connector.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] [Cross - Reference to Related Applications] This application claims priority based on U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 024219. The disclosure of that specification is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to push - on connectors, and more specifically to push - on connectors for connecting an electrical circuit board and components.

Background Art

[0003] Push - on connectors, such as, for example, ultra - small push - on connectors (SMPs), are used in a wide variety of electrical fields. Such push - on connectors are usable, for example, from DC frequencies up to microwave frequencies of 40 GHz or more. The SMP interface is commonly used in ultra - small high - frequency coaxial modules and is provided in both push - on mating and snap - on mating methods. The family of SMP connectors meets the needs for small package configurations and is used as a shielded interconnection for use at high data transfer speeds or for board - to - board systems that couple a printed circuit board (PCB) and other electronic components together.

[0004] SMP interfaces, including the SMPM platform and more recently the SMPS platform, have achieved various evolutions and miniaturizations. The SMPS interface is a new technology for current applications. Each generation operates at a higher frequency, enabling higher data transmission speeds. Further, the SMPS generations are small in size, so packaging and signal density can be increased. However, even considering desirable size and density, the use of existing SMPS platforms and connectors has not been important for use between elements, such as between PCBs.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, there remains a significant need in the field of connector technology for providing efficient, robust, and high-density electrical connections to establish interfaces between electronic components, such as printed circuit boards. Furthermore, in applications where the spacing between elements varies, there is a need for connector or adapter platforms that provide good high-frequency connections. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A connector or adaptive connector includes a plurality of subassemblies that together establish a sliding or adjustable interface to adapt to the interface requirements of the elements to be connected. The connector includes a first subassembly containing a central conductor, which terminates at one end with a terminal portion that forms a connector portion for connection to an element connector. A second subassembly containing a central conductor terminates at one end with a terminal portion that forms a connector portion for connection to another element connector. The subassemblies interface with each other so as to slide relative to each other. Springs act on the first and second subassemblies, respectively, to cause them to slide apart from each other, and a sleeve houses the first subassembly, the second subassembly, and the springs so as to fix at least one of the first and second subassemblies in place, so as to allow the other subassembly to move within the sleeve in order to change the length of the connector. Some and other parts of the electrical contacts are configured to slide relative to each other when the length of the connector is changed in order to maintain the electrical signal path passing through the connector. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1]This is a side cross-sectional view of a connector / adapter in one embodiment of the present invention, which connects an electronic system and an element. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a disassembled cross-sectional side view of a part of the connector / adapter shown. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a disassembled cross-sectional side view of the other parts of the connector / adapter shown. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional side view of the entire connector / adapter, disassembled. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional side view of the connector / adapter in its assembled state. [Figure 6] This is a side cross-sectional view of a connector / adapter in another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a side cross-sectional view of a connector / adapter in another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a side cross-sectional view of a connector / adapter in another embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Figure 1 shows a connector / adapter in one embodiment of the present invention. Such a connector has connection points at each end of the connector and is used to connect components such as printed circuit boards or other signal carrier or signal processing elements. Accordingly, such a connector may also be referred to as an adapter. In general, the present invention is referred to as a connector or adaptive connector. An adaptive connector provides an electrical connection between two signal carrier elements when connecting to two other components, but the names connector and adapter are not limited to the present invention.

[0009] In particular, Figure 1 shows a connector or connection system 10 that provides an electrical interface between two signal carrier elements 14, 16, such as a printed circuit board. Each printed circuit board includes one or more electrical signal paths 18, 20 that terminate at appropriate connectors 22, 24 or connector portions. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the connectors 22, 24 are considered male connectors because they have conductive center pins 26, 28 that are appropriately electrically coupled to one of the electrical signal paths 18, 20 of the illustrated elements 14, 16. The elements 14, 16, their electrical signal paths 18, 20, and termination connectors 22, 24 do not limit the present invention. Various signal carrier elements or signal processing elements can be in various different forms and can be coupled together using the connector 10 of the present invention. Furthermore, although Figure 1 shows elements 14, 16 terminated at male connectors, one or more termination connectors 22, 24 are female connectors. Alternative embodiments of the connector, or adapter 10, as shown in Figures 6 to 8, can perform the task of providing the connector 10 with various combinations of male and female terminations to provide appropriate electrical paths between elements. The connector 10 of the present invention works with one or more elements 14, 16 and connectors 22, 24 of these elements to form a larger electrical system for handling and processing signals.

[0010] The connector 10 in the present invention comprises a plurality of subassemblies that interact in a variable manner to provide a connector having a variable effective length. The subassemblies include a first subassembly and a second subassembly that cooperate and move together within a sleeve 44 that surrounds and houses a portion of the subassembly, as shown in Figure 1 and illustrated in Figures 2 to 5. Embodiments described herein, further illustrated in Figures 2 to 5, each comprises a terminal portion that forms a female connector portion, i.e., a connector portion that establishes an interface with male connectors 22, 24 as shown. However, further embodiments shown in Figures 6 to 8 comprise similar subassemblies and elements described herein for the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 5, but having different terminal configurations.

[0011] In particular, Figure 2 shows a first subassembly 40 comprising an insertion portion, or insert 50, which is fitted into a main body portion, i.e., a main body 52. ​​The insert 50 and the main body 52 are formed from a suitable conductive material, such as gold-plated beryllium copper. The main body 52 includes a terminal portion 54 that forms a connector or connector portion to establish an interface with the element connection portion 22. In one embodiment of the present invention, the connector portion 54 is configured to form one half of a push-on connector, such as an SMPS connector. However, the connector portion 54 may be configured in the form of an SMP connector or an SMPM connector or the other push-on connector. For this purpose, the connectors 22,24 are SMPS connectors or the other push-on connectors that are appropriately configured to provide proper electrical coupling between the elements 14,16 and a signal path for signals between the elements 14,16. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, when the element connector 22 is a male connector, the connector portion 54 of the first body 52 is a female central conductor portion, i.e., a socket 56, as shown in the figure. In a typical embodiment of the SMPS connector 54, the socket 56 is formed by a plurality of spring-loaded fingers that form an opening 58, and the socket 56 that contacts and grips the pins 26 of the male connectors 22,24. Figure 1 shows the connector portion 54 properly seated inside the connector 22 to engage the pins 26 with the opening 58 of the female socket 56 formed by the central conductor 60, as described herein.

[0012] As shown in Figure 2, the connector 10 includes a central conductor 60 that is seated inside the insert 50 and extends through the body 52 to terminate at a female portion 54. The end of the central conductor forms a socket 56. The central conductor 60 is seated in the center of the insert 50 via appropriately electrically insulated sleeves 62, 64. The sleeves 62, 64 are configured and dimensional to properly and reliably position the central conductor 60 inside the overall subassembly 40. The insulating sleeves are formed from a material with appropriate electrical insulation properties, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), to insulate the central conductor from the insert and the first subassembly 40. The central conductor 60 is formed from a conductive material, such as gold-plated beryllium copper, and provides a signal path through the subassembly 40 to the connector portion 54, in particular to the female socket 56. As described above, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector portion 54 and the central conductive socket 56 are appropriately configured to form a female SPMS connector, but depending on the connector 22 of element 14, they may be in other forms, provided they are appropriate. The central conductor 60 and sleeves 62,64 are appropriately fitted into the insert 50 to form a coaxial arrangement for the first subassembly 40. Subsequently, the insert 50 is fitted into the body 52 to form the first subassembly 40, thereby exposing the central conductor having a connector portion at the end of the connector in the coaxial arrangement. As shown in Figure 1, the pin portion 70 engages with the appropriate central conductor of the second subassembly 42 to form a portion of a sliding electrical contact and provide a variable-length signal path through the connector 10.

[0013] Figure 3 shows a second subassembly 42 which includes a main body portion, i.e., a main body 80, and an insertion portion, i.e., an insert 82, which fits into the main body 80. Similar to the first subassembly 40, the insert 82 and the main body 80 of the second subassembly are dimensioned to provide a friction fit, and when the insert 82 is inserted into the main body 80, it engages with the main body 80 at a position along the length of the insert 80, forming the subassembly. The subassembly 42 also includes a central conductor 84 made of a material having appropriate conductivity, such as gold-plated beryllium copper. The central conductor 84 is held in place inside the insert 82 by utilizing insulating sleeves 86, 88 made of an electrical insulating material, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The central conductor is held and positioned substantially coaxially with the insert 82 to provide proper alignment between the first subassembly and the second subassembly and proper alignment with the connector 24 of the element 16. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the main body 80 includes a termination portion 90 configured to establish an interface with the connector 24. In particular, the termination portion 90 is configured to function as the female portion of an SMPS connector. For this purpose, the central conductor forms a suitable socket 92 similar to the socket 56. The insert exposes the central conductor, which has a connector portion at the end of the connector in a coaxial arrangement. The socket 92 is formed inside the central conductor to receive the pins 28 of the connector 24. This also applies to the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 5, where the connector 10 has a female connector termination at its end, and the termination portions 54, 90 are similarly formed as portions of the central conductors 60, 84, respectively, which determine whether the configuration of the termination portion is male or female.

[0014] Referring again to Figure 1, the first subassembly 40 and the second subassembly 42 are configured to be joined in an expandable and adjustable manner according to embodiments of the present invention to provide appropriate connection and interface between elements 14, 16, such as a printed circuit board. The connector 10 allows for longitudinal adjustment of the subassemblies relative to each other, as well as variation in the overall length of the connector 10, in order to ensure good contact between elements 14, 16, which have some axial and radial variations due to manufacturing tolerances. The present invention further provides an SMPS connector platform usable with stacked printed circuit boards, providing developers with products that enable high-density packaging in connection schemes between printed circuit boards or other elements where termination connectors 22, 24 are available.

[0015] For this purpose, the connector insert 82 of the second subassembly includes an interface portion 96 configured to receive each of the other interface portions 51 of the first subassembly, as shown in Figure 2. Referring again to Figure 1, the first subassembly 51 is received by the interface portion 96 of the second subassembly 42. The interface portions 51, 96 are configured to align the pin portions 70 of the sliding electrical contacts with the sockets 100 of the sliding electrical contacts, respectively. The sockets 100 include a plurality of spring-loaded fingers 102 that hold and grip the pin portions 70 to provide sliding electrical contacts and to provide a continuous signal path through the connector 10 by establishing connections between the central conductors 60, 84 of the subassemblies. The interface portions 51, 96 are configured and dimensional to maintain the desired alignment of the sliding contact portions 70, 100 when the length of the connector varies due to use in various applications, and to span a variable distance between elements, such as stacked PCBs. The length of the pin portion 70 and the socket 100 are configured such that the pin portion 70 moves longitudinally within the socket 100 while maintaining a continuous electrical connection between the central conductors 60 and 84. More specifically, longitudinal adjustment and length variation of the connector 100 are made possible by the sliding contact interface between the pin portion 70 and the socket 100 and the relative movement of the interface portion 51 of the first subassembly within the interface portion 96 of the second subassembly.

[0016] Another feature of the present invention is that, in order to ensure proper and secure seating and connection of the push-on connector 10, the connector has a spring biasing force for biasing the first subassembly away from the second subassembly in order to provide a biasing force for pushing each of the terminal portions 56, 90 into the connectors 22, 24, respectively. This allows the various male pins of the connector to be properly and securely seated inside the sockets 56, 92 of the terminal portion 54, which is configured as a female terminal portion in the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 5. As will be further described herein, one or more of the terminal portions are male terminal portions that connect to a female connector of one of the elements 14, 16.

[0017] To provide a spring biasing force, a spring 110 is coupled between subassemblies 40 and 42. Specifically, the body 52 of the first subassembly and the body 80 of the second subassembly each include radial shoulders, i.e., shoulder portions 112 and 114, that are shorter than the length of the spring and extend around the body, and the spring 110 is trapped between the shoulder portions 112 and 114. As shown in Figure 1, the spring 110 is positioned between the subassemblies, specifically between each body and each shoulder 112 and 114 around the subassembly with an established interface. For this purpose, the spring 110 is sized so that the subassemblies are movable inside the spring when the bodies 52 and 80 are biased. As shown in Figure 1, the spring 110 biases the bodies 52 and 80 inside the connector 110 to separate them from each other towards the open position, i.e., the extended position of the connector.

[0018] To accommodate various subassemblies and form the housing of the connector 10, the sleeve 44 is configured to fit around both the subassemblies and the spring 110. In this way, the subassemblies and springs are captured and move axially within the sleeve, so that the length of the connector 10 can be changed. Referring to Figure 4, at one end of the sleeve, the second subassembly 42 is housed by an inwardly extending flange portion 122, which captures the shoulder 114 of the second subassembly 42. Specifically, as shown in Figure 4, the second subassembly 42 extends into the sleeve 110, with a portion of the body 80 extending so as to protrude from an opening 124 formed at the end of the sleeve 110. Since the opening 124 is smaller than the outer diameter of the shoulder 114 of the body 80 of the second subassembly, the second assembly is prevented from fully protruding from the opening 124 when the connector is extended. As shown in Figure 5, when the connector is in the fully extended position, the shoulder 114 abuts against the flange portion 122 of the sleeve 110.

[0019] A retaining ring 130 is provided to house the first subassembly 40 inside the sleeve 110. The retaining ring 130 is fitted into a ring slot 132 formed on the inner surface of the sleeve 110 near the end of the sleeve located opposite the opening 124. The retaining ring 130 engages with the slot 132 formed around the sleeve, and further engages with a radial slot formed around the body 52 and adjacent to the shoulder 112 on one side. The shoulder 112 extends radially outward from the body 52 of the first subassembly 40. As shown in Figure 4, the first subassembly 40 is fitted into the spring 110 and is slidable within the spring 110. The body 52 of the first subassembly also includes an outer shoulder portion, i.e., a shoulder 136, located behind the end portion 54 of the body. The shoulder 136 closes the end of the sleeve 110 by biasing the end 138 of the sleeve 110 when the first subassembly 40 is fixed inside the sleeve. Specifically, the retaining ring 130 fixes the body and the first subassembly 40 inside the sleeve by engaging with the slot 132 and the radial slot 140 formed around the body 52. ​​As shown in Figure 1, the retaining ring 130 engages simultaneously with both the slot 132 of the sleeve 110 and the radial slot 140 of the body 52 of the first subassembly inside the body 50 of the first subassembly. Such engagement fixes, or anchors, the first subassembly 52 inside the sleeve, thus preventing movement of the first subassembly inside the sleeve. Although the first subassembly may slide or move somewhat due to dimensional errors in the retaining ring 130 and the slots 132, 140, the first subassembly is substantially fixed. By fixing the first subassembly, the second subassembly is similarly fixed inside the spring and sleeve. The main body 52 closes the end of the sleeve. However, the second subassembly is freely movable inside the sleeve and spring and partially extends outward from the sleeve.In this way, the connector 10 is housed inside the sleeve 44, and since one sub-assembly can move axially relative to the other sub-assembly inside the sleeve, the length of the connector can be changed.

[0020] That is, the connector 10 includes a first sub-assembly and a second sub-assembly, and each of the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly terminates at one end with a terminal portion that forms a connector portion. The spring acts on each sub-assembly so as to urge the sub-assemblies to be separated from each other in a state where the sleeve houses the first sub-assembly, the second sub-assembly, and the spring together as a connector. The sleeve fixes at least one of the sub-assemblies and makes the remaining sub-assembly movable inside the sleeve to change the length of the connector. Each sub-assembly includes a part of a sliding electrical contact located on the opposite side of each terminal portion of the sub-assembly, and the sliding electrical contact portions are configured to act on each other when the connector changes its length in order to maintain an electrical signal path passing through the connector.

[0021] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, various subassemblies are assembled and then engaged to construct the connector 10, after which the entire system is fixed inside the sleeve 44. Specifically, the retaining rings 130 slide into each of the slots 140 in the body 52 of the first subassembly. Next, the central conductor 60 is fixed with the insulating sleeves 62, 64 inside the insert 50, and the central conductor is fixed in a state where it is oriented coaxially with respect to the insert 50. After that, the insert and central conductor are press-fitted into the body 52. ​​It should be noted that the various inserts and body have circular outer and inner diameters to achieve proper friction engagement between the body and the subassembly and engagement and alignment inside the tubular sleeve 44. For this purpose, the outer diameter of the insert 50 is sized to achieve proper friction fitting, i.e., press-fitting, into the internal opening formed inside the body 52 to receive the insert, as shown in Figure 2. Furthermore, the insert 50 includes an internal space 53 that aligns with the internal space 55 of the body when the insert 50 is received in the body 52. ​​The central conductor 60 extends through the internal spaces 53, 55 so that the socket 56 and opening 58 are substantially coplanar with the end of the termination portion 54, in order to provide a coaxial connector device that engages with the connector 22 as shown in Figure 1. At the opposite end of the first subassembly, the pin portion 70 of the sliding contact extends through the end 57 of the insert 50 so that it properly engages with the second subassembly 42.

[0022] To assemble the second subassembly, referring to FIG. 3, the central conductor 84 is assembled to the insert 82 by utilizing the insulating sleeves 86, 88. The central conductor is coaxially disposed in the cylindrical insert 82. Also, the central connector is properly positioned flush with the socket 92 and its opening at the terminal portion 90, and a connector end for proper engagement of the connector 24 and the pin 28 is formed. As described above, the embodiments represented in FIGS. 1 - 5 assume a terminal portion which is a female terminal portion for the connector 10. As further described herein, the central conductor 84 may take different forms depending on whether the terminal portion of the connector is male or female.

[0023] The opposite end of the central conductor 84 includes a plurality of spring - loaded fingers 102 that form a socket 100, and the spring - loaded fingers are positioned near the end of the insert located on the opposite side of the terminal portion 90 of the body. Specifically, the spring - loaded fingers 102 and the socket 100 are positioned near the interface portion 96 of the insert that interfaces with each of the interface portions 51 of the first subassembly when the two subassemblies are engaged to the connector. When the insert is assembled with the central conductor, the second insert 42 is press - fitted into the body 80 to form a subassembly as shown in FIG. 3. Thereafter, the spring 110 is slid on the surface of the first subassembly to abut against the shoulder 112 as shown in FIG. 1. Thereafter, by sliding the interface portion 51 of the first subassembly into the interface portion 96 of the second subassembly, the second subassembly engages with the first subassembly inside the spring, whereby the pin portion 70 engages with the socket 100 and a sliding electrical contact is formed. As the second subassembly 42 moves inside the sleeve and the spring, the pin portion 70 moves inside the socket and is gripped by the spring - loaded fingers 102 for a continuous signal path passing through the connector 10.

[0024] Next, the sleeve 44 slides on the surfaces of the second subassembly, the first subassembly, and the spring, as shown in Figure 5. The flange portion 122 engages with the shoulder 114 of the second subassembly to accommodate the subassembly, and a portion of the body 80 and a portion of the insert 82 protrude from the end of the sleeve 44 to act longitudinally inside the sleeve. As shown in Figure 5, the retaining ring 130 in the slot 140 of the body 52 of the first subassembly needs to be compressed so that the sleeve 44 can slide on the surface of the subassembly. This compression causes the retaining ring 130 to engage with the slot 132 formed around the sleeve 44. The expanded ring engages with the radial slots 132, 140. In this way, the first subassembly is slightly compressed and locked inside the sleeve, as shown in Figure 1, by the spring 110 acting on the shoulders 112, 114 of the respective bodies of the subassembly. This drives the second subassembly 42 to separate from the first subassembly 40 within the sleeve, so that the connector is positioned in the extended position shown in Figure 5. The spring 110 is made compressible to change the overall length of the connector 10 and thus to adapt to various spacings and orientations of elements 14, 16 and their connectors 22, 24, such as the various spacings between PCBs shown in Figure 1. That is, the connector 110 is compressed by pushing the second subassembly 42 into the sleeve and properly mating both of its terminal portions 56, 90 into the mating connectors 22, 24. The first subassembly is generally kept locked in place by the ring 130. The spring applies a compressive force to the connector terminals 90, 54, respectively, to ensure proper seating and mating and good electrical contact via the sliding contact portions 70, 100 for various lengths of the connector.

[0025] Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention, in particular a connector 10a having male termination portions at each end. For example, both the first subassembly 40a and the second subassembly 42a have termination portions 54a and 90a, respectively, which are male connector portions, and thus generally include a socket body 54a and pins 28a. That is, in the central conductors 60, 84, the termination portions are formed as pins 28a, rather than as sockets as shown in Figure 1. The embodiment shown in Figure 6 is similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, except that the termination portions 54a and 90a are in the form of SMPS connectors. In the present invention, the termination portions are appropriately configured and sized to form push-on connectors such as SMP or SMPM connectors, or other suitable connector configurations for use with the present invention. The connector 10a is mounted with appropriate elements, such as PCBs 14 and 16, which include appropriate female connectors for establishing interfaces with the male termination portions 54a and 90a. Other elements of connector 10a are the same as those described in the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 4.

[0026] Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention, in which the first subassembly 40b comprises a male terminal portion 54b similar to the terminal portion 54a shown in Figure 6. On the other hand, the second subassembly 42b comprises a terminal portion 90b similar to the terminal portion shown in Figure 1. Other elements of the connector 10b are the same as those described herein with respect to Figures 1 to 5. The terminal portions interface with other suitable male or female connectors as described herein.

[0027] Figure 8 shows another alternative embodiment in which the first subassembly 40c comprises a female termination portion 54c and the second subassembly 42c comprises a male termination portion 90c. The termination portions interface with other suitable male or female connectors as described herein.

[0028] While the present invention has been illustrated by descriptions of various embodiments and described in some detail, the inventors do not intend to limit or restrict the technical scope of the claims to such detailed matters. Therefore, any further advantages and modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The various features described in the present invention can be used individually or in any combination, depending on the user's needs and preferences. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0029] 10 connectors 10a connector 10b connector 14 elements (signal carrier elements) 16 elements (signal carrier elements) 22 Termination connectors 24 Termination Connectors 26 Center Pin 28 Center Pin 28a pin 40 First subassembly 40a First subassembly 40b First subassembly 40c First sub-assembly 42 Second subassembly 42a Second subassembly 42b Second subassembly 42c Second sub-assembly 44 sleeves 50 inserts 51 Interface section 52 Main unit 53 Interior space 54 Termination section (connector section) 54a Termination section 54b Termination section 54c Termination section 55 Interior space 56 sockets 57 End 58 Opening 60 Central Conductor 62 sleeves 64 sleeves 70-pin section 80 Main Unit 82 Inserts 84 Central Conductor 90 Termination section 90a Termination section 90b Termination section 90c end section 92 sockets 96 Interface section 102 Spring-loaded finger 110 springs 112 Shoulder (shoulder area) 114 Shoulder (shoulder area) 122 Flange section 124 Opening 130 Retaining ring 132 slots 140 radial slots

Claims

1. It is a connector, A first subassembly including a central conductor and terminating at one end of a terminal portion forming a first connector portion, wherein the central conductor is fixed to the one end of the terminal portion to form a coaxial connector portion for the first subassembly, A second subassembly including a central conductor and terminating at one end of a terminal portion forming another connector portion, wherein the first subassembly and the second subassembly interface with each other so as to slide relative to each other, and the central conductor is fixed to the one end of the terminal portion to form a coaxial connector portion for the second subassembly, A spring acts on the first subassembly and the second subassembly, respectively, to cause them to slide apart from each other, A sleeve housing the first subassembly, the second subassembly, and the spring, wherein each of the first and second subassemblies includes a shoulder, and the spring is trapped between the shoulders so as to act on each of the first and second subassemblies within the sleeve, and at least one of the first and second subassemblies is movable within the sleeve to change the length of the connector, In the connector comprising, Each of the central conductors of the first and second subassemblies includes a portion of an electrical contact, the portion of which is configured to engage with the other portion of the electrical contact of the other subassembly and to form the central conductor of the connector, and the portion of which is configured to slide relative to one another when the length of the connector is changed in order to maintain an electrical signal path through the connector. A connector characterized in that the sleeve includes a flange portion at one end, and at least one of the shoulders of the subassembly abuts against the flange portion to capture the subassembly in a state in which the subassembly is movable inside the sleeve.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein each of the first subassembly and the second subassembly includes an interface portion, and the interface portion of one of the first subassembly and the second subassembly is configured to receive the interface portion of the other subassembly in order to align one portion of the electrical contact with the other portion.

3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the part and the other part of the electrical contact include a pin portion and a socket portion for receiving the pin portion, the socket portion is formed in one of the first subassembly and the second subassembly, and the pin portion is formed in the other subassembly so as to slide relative to the socket portion when the length of the connector is changed.

4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein each of the terminal portions forms at least one connector portion, which is either a male connector portion or a female connector portion, and each of the first subassembly and the second subassembly includes a central conductor that forms at least one of a pin or a socket for engaging with the male connector portion or the female connector portion.

5. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the terminal portions of the first subassembly and the second subassembly of the connector each form an SMPS connector portion.

6. The connector according to claim 1, wherein each of the first subassembly and the second subassembly includes a main body portion that forms the connector portion of the first subassembly and the second subassembly, and an insert portion that forms the central conductor of the first subassembly and the second subassembly, and the main body portion is configured to receive the insert portion such that the central conductor comprising the connector portion is exposed at the end of the connector.

7. The connector according to claim 6, characterized in that the insert portion, in a coaxial arrangement, exposes the central conductor having the connector portion at the end of the connector.

8. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a retaining ring, the sleeve includes a slot formed on the inner surface of the sleeve for receiving the retaining ring, and the retaining ring is configured to engage with at least one of the first and second subassemblies to fix the subassembly inside the sleeve, thereby preventing movement of the at least one subassembly inside the sleeve.

9. It is an electrical system, A first element configured to process electrical signals, the first element including each connector, A second element configured to process electrical signals, the second element including each connector, An adaptive connector configured to establish an interface with the connectors of the first element and the second element, wherein the adaptive connector is configured to transmit signals between the first element and the second element, In the aforementioned electrical system, The aforementioned adaptable connector A first subassembly including a central conductor and terminating at one end of a terminal portion forming a first connector portion, wherein the first connector portion is configured to connect to the connector of the first element, A second subassembly including a central conductor and terminating at one end of a terminal portion forming a second connector portion, wherein the second connector portion is configured to connect to the connector of the second element, and the first subassembly and the second subassembly establish an interface with each other such that they slide relative to each other, A spring acting on the first subassembly and the second subassembly, respectively, to cause the first subassembly and the second subassembly to slide toward the connectors of the first and second elements so as to separate them from each other, A sleeve housing the first subassembly, the second subassembly, and the spring, wherein each of the first and second subassemblies includes a shoulder, and the spring is trapped between the shoulders so as to act on each of the first and second subassemblies within the sleeve, and at least one of the first and second subassemblies is movable within the sleeve to change the length of the connector between the first element and the second element, It is equipped with, Each of the central conductors of the first and second subassemblies includes a portion of an electrical contact, the portion of which is configured to engage with the other portion of the electrical contact of the other subassembly and to form the central conductor of the adaptive connector, and the portion of which is which and the other portion of which are configured to slide relative to each other to form a sliding electrical contact when the length of the adaptive connector is changed in order to maintain an electrical signal path passing through the adaptive connector between the first and second elements. An electrical system characterized in that the sleeve of the adaptive connector includes a flange portion at one end of the sleeve, and at least one of the shoulders of the subassembly abuts against the flange portion to capture the subassembly in a state in which the subassembly is movable inside the sleeve.

10. The electrical system according to claim 9, wherein each of the first subassembly and the second subassembly of the adaptive connector includes an interface portion, and the interface portion of one of the subassemblies is configured to receive the interface portion of the other subassembly in order to align one portion of the electrical contact with the other portion.

11. The electrical system according to claim 9, wherein the portion and the other portion of the electrical contacts of the adaptive connector include a pin portion and a socket portion for receiving the pin portion, the socket portion being formed in one of the first subassembly and the second subassembly, and the pin portion being formed in the other subassembly so as to slide relative to the socket portion when the length of the adaptive connector is changed.

12. The electrical system according to claim 9, characterized in that each of the terminal portions of the first subassembly and the second subassembly of the adaptive connector forms at least one connector portion, which is either a male connector portion or a female connector portion, to establish an interface with the connectors of the first element and the second element, and each of the first subassembly and the second subassembly includes a central conductor forming at least one of a pin or a socket for engaging with the male connector portion or the female connector portion.

13. The electrical system according to claim 9, characterized in that the terminal portions of the first subassembly and the second subassembly of the adaptive connector each form an SMPS connector portion.

14. The electrical system according to claim 9, wherein each of the first and second subassemblies of the adaptive connector includes a main body portion that forms the connector portion and an insert portion that accommodates the central conductor of each of the first and second subassemblies, and the main body portion is configured to receive the insert portion such that the central conductor comprising the connector portion is exposed at the end of the adaptive connector.

15. The electrical system according to claim 14, characterized in that the insert portion, in a coaxial arrangement, exposes the central conductor having the connector portion at the end of the connector.

16. The electrical system according to claim 9, wherein the electrical system comprises a retaining ring, the sleeve of the adaptive connector includes a slot formed on the inner surface of the sleeve for receiving the retaining ring, and the retaining ring is configured to engage with at least one of the first and second subassemblies to fix the subassembly inside the sleeve, thereby preventing movement of the at least one subassembly inside the sleeve.

Images