Test Adapter With Elastic Conductors for Compact RF Interconnects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless base station RF interconnection schemes using coaxial connectors are limited by spatial height restrictions, lack structural compactness, require complex assembly procedures due to numerous parts, and complicate assembly and disassembly processes.
Innovation Solution
A test adapter with a metal housing, inner and outer conductors, and an insulating medium, allowing for elastic deformation to establish a signal-conductive connection with a circuit board, reducing the need for multiple components and enabling ultra-small board spacing without requiring a two-piece connector structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional coaxial connectors are used for board interconnections, then reliable signal connection is achieved, but spatial height is restricted and board spacing cannot exceed 10 mm
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into a male connector with protruding contact portion and a female connector with recessed contact portion. The contact portion is segmented into an elastic body and a contact tip, allowing the elastic body to deform and accommodate variations in board spacing while maintaining reliable electrical connection. This segmentation enables board spacing to exceed 10 mm while preserving connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact portion is designed with elastic deformation capability, transitioning from a rigid structure to a dynamic one. The elastic body can deform elastically to adapt to different board spacing conditions, enabling the connector to maintain reliable signal connection across varying spatial heights and board distances.
2Reliability
If conventional coaxial connectors are used, then signal connection is established, but the distance between adjacent channels is large and structural compactness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The contact portion is nested within the connector body, with the elastic body housed inside the insulating shell. This nested structure allows the contact elements to be compactly arranged, reducing the distance between adjacent channels and improving structural compactness while maintaining signal connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact portion extends in multiple dimensions - the elastic body provides vertical compliance while the contact tip provides horizontal positioning. This multi-dimensional design allows compact channel spacing while ensuring reliable electrical connection through the combined action of elastic deformation and precise contact alignment.
3Reliability
If conventional coaxial connectors with multiple parts are used, then reliable connection is achieved, but welding and assembly procedures become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic body and contact tip are merged into an integrated contact portion, reducing the number of separate components. This merging simplifies the assembly procedure while maintaining connection reliability through the combined elastic-deformation and contact functions of the unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact portion serves multiple functions simultaneously: the elastic body provides mechanical compliance and positioning, while the contact tip establishes electrical connection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies assembly procedures while ensuring reliable signal transmission.
4Reliability
If conventional coaxial connectors are used, then board interconnection is achieved, but assembly and disassembly processes become complicated due to large number of test adapters
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is segmented into male and female portions with complementary contact structures. This segmentation allows for simple plug-and-play assembly and disassembly operations, reducing the complexity of test adapter handling while maintaining reliable board interconnection.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic body provides self-adjusting positioning and automatic contact establishment through elastic deformation. This self-service mechanism simplifies the assembly process by eliminating the need for precise manual alignment and complex test adapter procedures, while ensuring reliable connection upon engagement.
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
This solution reduces the volume occupied by inter-board connectors, simplifies assembly procedures, and facilitates automated assembly by allowing blind joining of connectors with ultra-small board spacing, while maintaining stable and efficient signal connections.
Implementation Method 1
the first outer conductor and the first inner conductor both have an elastic deformation capacity along an axial direction to enable the end of the first outer conductor and the end of the first inner conductor both to retract inwards to be in close contact with the planar contact
Implementation Method 2
an insulating medium arranged between the first outer conductor and the first inner conductor
Implementation Method 3
the inter-board connector has an elastic deformation capacity along an axial direction to enable the end of the second inner conductor and the contact surface to be both in close contact with the floating inter-board connector
Data Source
AI summary
A test adapter for establishing a test connection with a circuit board is provided. The circuit board includes an inter-board connector or a planar contact in close contact with the inter-board connector. The test adapter includes a metal housing having a contact surface in contact with a flat surface of the circuit board, a connection end opposite to the contact surface, and a first cavity having a first opening at the center of the contact surface. The test adapter further comprises a first outer conductor and a first inner conductor arranged in the first cavity, and an insulating medium arranged between the first outer conductor and the first inner conductor. An end of the first outer conductor and an end of the first inner conductor protrude out of the housing via the first opening, the first outer conductor and the first inner conductor both have an elastic deformation capacity along an axial direction to enable the end of the first outer conductor and the end of the first inner conductor both to retract inwards to be in close contact with the planar contact to form a signal-conductive connection between the planar contact and the connection end when the contact surface is in contact with the circuit board.