Coaxial Connector Locking Sleeve and Floating Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coaxial cable connectors face challenges in maintaining electrical connection and signal shielding while preventing ingress noise, especially without proper seating, which can lead to reduced signal quality and aggregated return path noise issues.
Innovation Solution
A coaxial cable termination device featuring a barrel with a collet and sleeve that reciprocates between retracted and advanced positions to securely compress the collet onto a mating post, along with a floating button for maintaining contact and preventing noise interference, and a locking mechanism to ensure secure engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a connector is crimped onto a coaxial cable to secure connection, then electrical connection and signal shielding are maintained, but the connector is difficult to know whether properly seated on a post without a tool
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs visual indicators that change color or position to indicate proper seating. Specifically, a visual indicator is provided that is visible when the connector is properly seated on the post, allowing users to verify connection status without tools. This may involve color-coded elements or positional indicators that become visible only when correct engagement is achieved.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a connector is designed to mitigate ingress noise, then signal quality is improved, but the device complexity increases with additional components like floating contact means
Solution Approach 1:
The floating contact means is designed to automatically maintain electrical continuity without requiring external adjustment or complex control systems. The contact means floats freely to accommodate movement and maintains contact through its own elastic properties, eliminating the need for additional actuators or complex mechanisms while still preventing ingress noise.
3Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to ensure secure engagement, then connection reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to additional locking steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical locking systems with a visual indicator system that provides feedback without requiring additional mechanical locking steps. The visual indicator communicates engagement status, allowing users to verify proper seating through visual feedback rather than requiring manual verification or additional locking actions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively secures the coaxial cable connection, reduces ingress noise, and maintains signal quality by ensuring continuous electrical continuity and preventing interference, even during cable movement or rotation.
Implementation Method 1
a sleeve mounted over the barrel for reciprocal movement. The sleeve moves between a retracted position, in which the sleeve allows compression of the collet, and an advanced position, in which the sleeve urges compression of the collet
Implementation Method 2
contact means carried loosely within the device maintain contact between the barrel and a mating post to which the device is applied
Data Source
AI summary
A coaxial cable termination device including a barrel having opposed front and rear ends, a collet at the front end of the barrel, and a sleeve mounted over the barrel for reciprocal movement. The sleeve moves between a retracted position, in which the sleeve allows compression of the collet, and an advanced position, in which the sleeve urges compression of the collet. In some embodiments, a locking mechanism locks the sleeve into either of the advanced and retracted positions. In some embodiments, contact means carried loosely within the device maintain contact between the barrel and a mating post to which the device is applied.