F-Type Coaxial Connector Tined Spring Ground Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
F-Type male coaxial connectors often experience intermittent ground connections due to loose nuts, which can lead to skewed plane-to-plane interfaces and reduced conductivity, especially when the cable becomes off-axis, and existing solutions like spring-loaded designs or large outer nuts are either ineffective or impractical.
Innovation Solution
An F-Type male coaxial connector with a tined spring that forms a spring mouth to receive the mating female connector, providing an electric current path from the conductive outer surface to the ferrule engaging ground conductor, ensuring continuous electrical and mechanical contact with the female body and ferrule post tube.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring-loaded design is used behind the front post to maintain electrical continuity, then the ground connection is improved, but the connector becomes more complex and the spring may not effectively compensate for off-axis misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the spring behind the ferrule post (conventional approach), the patent inverts the design by positioning the spring in front of the ferrule post. This inverted configuration allows the spring to directly engage with the mating connector's outer conductor, providing reliable electrical contact even when the nut is loose or the cable is off-axis, while avoiding the complexity of internal spring mechanisms
2Reliability
If a large outer nut is used to contain an internal sleeve with continuity spring, then electrical continuity is maintained, but the connector size increases and standard hex nut specifications cannot be met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the continuity spring from the internal sleeve configuration and positions it externally in front of the ferrule post. This eliminates the need for a large outer nut to contain internal components, allowing the use of standard hex nuts while maintaining electrical continuity through the externally positioned spring that engages the mating connector's outer conductor
3Ease of operation
If the nut is not fully tightened, then installation is easier, but the ground connection becomes intermittent and RF performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded design provides self-service by automatically maintaining electrical contact between the male and female connectors. The spring's elastic force ensures continuous contact even when the nut is loose, eliminating the need for precise tightening while guaranteeing reliable ground connection and RF performance throughout the connector's service life
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 tined spring design maintains electrical and mechanical continuity between the male and female connectors, ensuring reliable RF and DC signal transmission by lifting the spring tines to create an electric current path, even when the nut is not fully tightened, thus preventing intermittent connections.
Implementation Method 1
a tined spring forming a spring mouth for receiving an end of a mating female F-Type connector... insertion of a mating connector end into the spring mouth operative to lift the spring tines away from the axis
Data Source
AI summary
A male coaxial cable connector includes spring with tines and a fastener wherein the spring is housed by the fastener and distal ends of the spring tines are arranged to provide a spring mouth.