Cylindrical RF Contact Locking for Stable Multi-Contact Connectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-channel connectors face issues with unstable connections due to axial movement of coaxial contacts, difficulty in replacing faulty contacts, and fragile components leading to reduced plug-in and unplug life, especially in high-frequency applications.
Innovation Solution
A cylindrical contact design with a center contact, outer cylindrical body, and elastic return means, combined with a retention plate and comb mechanism, ensures secure longitudinal and rotational locking, allowing easy and quick replacement of contacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a comb mechanism is used to prevent coaxial contacts from moving rearwardly, then the contacts are secured against removal, but the contacts can still move axially under cable pulling force, causing unstable connections
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into a housing and a retention plate that can be independently removed. The retention plate holds the coaxial contacts in place during normal operation, but can be quickly removed as a single unit to allow access to and replacement of faulty contacts, resolving the contradiction between securing contacts and enabling easy replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention plate acts as an intermediary component between the housing and the coaxial contacts. It provides secure retention of contacts during operation while allowing quick removal to facilitate contact replacement, thus mediating between the need for stable connections and easy maintenance.
2Ease of repair
If elastic return means with sliding portions are used, then easy and quick contact replacement is enabled, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to tolerance accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The design incorporates elastic return means that allow controlled movement and adjustment of contact parameters. The sliding portions enable the contacts to be positioned and secured with appropriate tolerance ranges, balancing ease of replacement with acceptable manufacturing precision through elastic compensation rather than tight mechanical tolerances.
3Productivity
If high-density multi-contact connectors are used to increase channel density, then bandwidth is improved, but the complexity of securing and replacing individual contacts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector structure is segmented into a housing, retention plate, and removable comb mechanism. This segmentation allows the high-density array of contacts to be secured as a group while enabling individual contact replacement by simply removing the retention plate and comb, thus managing the complexity of high-density connectors without sacrificing transmission capacity.
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 provides stable RF line connections, secure locking, and easy maintenance, with improved robustness and reduced maintenance time, maintaining consistent electrical characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic return means to achieve a variable length of sliding between the front and the rear portions under axial compression force
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cylindrical contact (4) which design allows it to be locked both longitudinally by a retention plate (22) integral with or fixed onto a multi-contact connector housing (20) and in rotation by a comb (23) inserted and also fixed onto said housing.