Coaxial RF Connector With Slit Outer Conductor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coaxial RF connectors struggle to be miniaturized for frequencies above 20 GHz while maintaining low passive intermodulation and achieving a service life of over 1000 cycles.
Innovation Solution
A coaxial RF connector design featuring a tubular outer conductor with slits forming spring-loaded contact elements, a movable contact sleeve, and a spring element to provide radial pressure, along with a locking sleeve and nut for secure connection, ensuring precise and reliable electrical contact even with minor misalignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring-loaded outer connector is used to achieve low passive intermodulation, then electrical contact reliability is improved, but the connector cannot be miniaturized to very small sizes required for frequencies above 20 GHz
Solution Approach 1:
The outer conductor is divided into multiple spring-loaded contact elements by introducing longitudinal slits. This segmentation allows each element to independently provide contact force while reducing the overall connector diameter, enabling miniaturization for frequencies above 20 GHz while maintaining reliable electrical contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer conductor is designed as a flexible tubular structure with slits, allowing it to deform elastically under axial compression. This flexibility enables the connector to maintain contact force in miniaturized configurations, achieving both small size and reliable electrical contact for high-frequency applications.
2Volume of moving object
If the outer conductor is miniaturized to achieve smaller connector size, then adaptability to high frequencies is improved, but contact force and mechanical robustness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The outer conductor is designed as a dynamic structure that can deform elastically under axial compression. The slits enable the tubular structure to flex and generate radial contact force when compressed, allowing miniaturized connectors to maintain adequate contact force despite reduced size for high-frequency adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical properties of the outer conductor are optimized by controlling the number, length, and positioning of slits. This parameter adjustment allows the flexible structure to generate sufficient contact force in miniaturized configurations while maintaining the small diameter required for frequencies above 20 GHz.
3Volume of moving object
If multiple slits are introduced in the outer conductor to enable miniaturization, then connector size is reduced, but structural stability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The outer conductor is designed as a flexible tubular structure where the slits create elastic deformation zones. This flexible shell design maintains structural stability by allowing controlled deformation that generates contact force, while the overall tubular geometry and material properties preserve sufficient rigidity for mechanical robustness in miniaturized connectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The structural stability is maintained by optimizing slit parameters (number, length, positioning) and outer conductor dimensions. These parameter adjustments ensure that the flexible structure remains stable and robust while achieving the reduced size necessary for high-frequency applications above 20 GHz.
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 design allows for miniaturization to diameters less than 2 mm, achieving robustness and a service life of over 1000 cycles with precise and reliable electrical connections, maintaining low insertion losses and characteristic impedance.
Implementation Method 1
The outer conductor together with the slits forms a plurality of spring-loaded contact elements which produce a counterforce if a force is applied in a radial direction with respect to the center axis
Implementation Method 2
a spring element is provided. The spring element may be a metal spring, e.g. a coil spring or it may include an elastomer material. Such a spring element may be a rubber or elastomer O-shaped ring. The spring element may press against the contact sleeve into a direction of the center axis parallel to the center axis and outward of the connector
Data Source
AI summary
A coaxial RF connector with inner and outer conductors has an outer conductor with a plurality of longitudinal slits forming a plurality of spring loaded contact elements. A contact sleeve is arranged movable in axial direction surrounding coaxially the outer conductor. The contact sleeve has a radial contact face which is in contact with the spring loaded contact elements and an axial contact face which has a plane orthogonal to the center axis of the connector for contacting a counter connector.