Adjustable RF Interconnect With Floating Pin for Axial Misalignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing RF interconnects face issues with signal loss and degradation due to loosening and separation caused by vibration and thermal cycling, leading to electrical discontinuities and misalignment between components.

Innovation Solution

An axially adjustable RF interconnect design featuring a conductive coupling nut and a floating pin mechanism that allows for precise length adjustment, maintaining electrical contact and alignment through axial translation of the pin within a hollow center conductor, secured by a dielectric material and locking mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fixed-length RF interconnect is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot accommodate misalignment and causes signal loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidinterconnect structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The RF interconnect employs a floating pin mechanism that allows axial movement within the center conductor, transforming the fixed-length structure into a dynamically adjustable one. This enables the interconnect to accommodate misalignment between connectors while maintaining electrical contact, thereby improving signal quality without requiring complex external adjustment mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The interconnect is divided into distinct functional segments: a main body with center conductor, a floating pin component, and a coupling nut. This segmentation allows the floating pin to independently move axially to compensate for misalignment, while the overall structure remains relatively simple and manufacturable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If tolerance requirements are reduced, then component manufacturing is easier, but electrical discontinuities cause signal timing and quality degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent toleranceVSAvoidsignal timing and quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The floating pin design changes the critical parameter from connector alignment precision to pin movement range. By allowing the floating pin to move axially within the hollow center conductor, the system can accommodate larger connector tolerances while maintaining continuous electrical contact, thus improving ease of manufacture without sacrificing signal quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a floating pin mechanism is added, then misalignment is compensated and electrical contact is maintained, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical contact continuityVSAvoidinterconnect components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The floating pin is nested within the hollow center conductor of the main body, and the entire assembly is integrated with the coupling nut and RF connectors. This nested configuration allows the floating pin mechanism to be compact and self-contained, compensating for misalignment while adding minimal external complexity to the interconnect structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS12603466B2Axially adjustable length radio frequency interconnect

Publication Date: 2026.04.14 NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORP

AI summary

An axially adjustable length radio frequency (RF) interconnect for facilitating the transmission of RF signals between RF components within an assembly such as an antenna system. An integral threading structure including a coupling nut and floating pin extends the RF interconnect to alleviate axial misalignment between components. A hollow threaded shank having a partially hollow center conductor allows the floating pin to translate within the center conductor upon radial movement of the coupling nut. A coaxial connector is employed on both ends to transfer the RF energy.