RF Circuit Board Interconnect Assembly Axial Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stacked radio frequency (RF) circuit board assemblies face performance issues due to axial misalignment between RF bullets and connectors, leading to increased Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR), which can be exacerbated by manufacturing tolerances and is not adequately addressed by existing solutions like tight tolerances or spring-loaded bullets.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a RF circuit connection assembly with a support structure that encloses the RF circuit board and connector, featuring a fixed length RF bullet and a RF connector with a barrel, flange, and pin, where the connector's mounting surface is coplanar with the circuit board, allowing the RF bullet to be sized based on the support structure's variability rather than the circuit board's thickness, thereby minimizing axial gaps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the RF bullet is made longer to ensure connection, then the connection reliability improves, but the risk of damage during installation increases due to contact between the socket bottom and RF bullet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a support structure as an intermediary component that provides a mounting surface for the RF connector. This mounting surface acts as a mediator between the RF bullet and the circuit board, establishing a reference plane that determines the RF bullet length. The support structure absorbs the variability in circuit board thickness, preventing direct contact between the socket bottom and RF bullet while ensuring reliable connection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the RF bullet is made shorter to avoid damage, then the installation safety improves, but the connection performance deteriorates due to increased axial gap
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure serves as an intermediary that establishes a precise reference plane for mounting the RF connector. This reference plane allows for optimization of the RF bullet length independent of circuit board thickness variations, enabling the RF bullet to be neither too long (causing damage) nor too short (causing gap), thus achieving both installation safety and connection performance.
3Manufacturing precision
If tight manufacturing tolerances are applied to circuit boards, then the axial alignment between RF bullet and connector improves, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the reference plane function from the circuit board and relocates it to a dedicated support structure. This separation allows the support structure to provide a stable reference plane independent of circuit board thickness variations, achieving precise axial alignment without requiring tight tolerances on the circuit board itself, thus reducing manufacturing complexity.
4Reliability
If spring-loaded RF bullets are used to compensate for gaps, then the connection reliability improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for spring-loaded mechanisms by extracting the reference plane function to a dedicated support structure. This structural solution provides passive, reliable connection without requiring active compensation mechanisms, thereby maintaining connection reliability while reducing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A radio frequency (RF) circuit connection assembly comprises a RF circuit board and a RF connector. The RF circuit board has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. A RF circuit is located on the first side and an aperture extends through the RF circuit board from the first side to the second side. The RF connector comprises a barrel having a socket configured to receive a RF bullet, a flange having a mounting surface, and a RF connector pin extending laterally from the barrel. The barrel of the RF connector extends through the aperture of the RF circuit board such that the mounting surface of the flange is seated against the first side of the RF circuit board, and the RF connector pin is electrically coupled to the RF circuit on the first side of the RF circuit board.