EP0865120B1 - Adapteur à radiofréquence pour des connecteurs à cicuits imprimés - Google Patents

Adapteur à radiofréquence pour des connecteurs à cicuits imprimés Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0865120B1
EP0865120B1 EP98301770A EP98301770A EP0865120B1 EP 0865120 B1 EP0865120 B1 EP 0865120B1 EP 98301770 A EP98301770 A EP 98301770A EP 98301770 A EP98301770 A EP 98301770A EP 0865120 B1 EP0865120 B1 EP 0865120B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
connector
plated
attachment means
conductive layer
bore
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP98301770A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0865120A2 (fr
EP0865120A3 (fr
Inventor
Ian James Stafford Gray
Derek Andrews
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ITT Manufacturing Enterprises LLC
Original Assignee
ITT Manufacturing Enterprises LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ITT Manufacturing Enterprises LLC filed Critical ITT Manufacturing Enterprises LLC
Publication of EP0865120A2 publication Critical patent/EP0865120A2/fr
Publication of EP0865120A3 publication Critical patent/EP0865120A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0865120B1 publication Critical patent/EP0865120B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R24/00—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure
    • H01R24/38—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts
    • H01R24/40—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts specially adapted for high frequency
    • H01R24/50—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts specially adapted for high frequency mounted on a PCB [Printed Circuit Board]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R2103/00—Two poles

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an adapter for attaching to a printed circuit board (PCB) that facilitates the production of an electrical interface between the PCB and one or more radio frequency (RF) connectors.
  • PCB printed circuit board
  • RF radio frequency
  • one method of connecting RF connectors to printed circuit boards uses right angle connectors that mate directly with a plated through hole in the PCB and/or are soldered to a printed circuit track on one side of the board. It is expensive to produce the right angled body for the connector and it is also difficult to fit an electrical contact bent at 90° into the body. These problems have previously been overcome by producing the right angled body in more than one piece and fitting it together after the contact is inserted. A further problem is encountered if two or more right angle connectors are stacked one above another. The mating end of a right angled connector stacked on top of another of the same size would not be coplanar with the PCB and therefore mating would not be possible. In this situation special connectors must be produced, each level of stacking requiring a specialised connector.
  • Another way of making connection to PCB's uses an adapter mounted onto the PCB having an opposite mating piece to that of an RF connector.
  • the mating part of the adapter is commonly at 90° to the PCB mounting so that when an RF connector is mated with the adapter, the mating pressure is not applied directly to the PCB.
  • the electrical contact(s) in the adapter connecting the mating part to the PCB mounting have to bend through 90° as in the right angled connectors above, posing the same problems.
  • the adapters have to be assembled from parts, since the electrically conductive and insulating parts have to be produced from different materials.
  • EP 0545289 discloses a connector for coupling a coaxial line to a board.
  • a conducting shroud is provided over an insulating body to provide the conductive paths from the coaxial input to the board.
  • the present invention seeks to simplify or reduce the cost of manufacture of connectors and may reduce the part count of the previously mentioned connectors and adapters.
  • a coax-PCB connector comprising a plastics body adapted to mate with an RF connector, at least two contacts for electrical connection with the RF connector upon mating therewith and a plurality of attachment means disposed so as to permit connection to tracks on a printed circuit board, characterised in that the body comprises a first structure of platable plastic and a second structure resistant to plating, coupling between at least one of said contacts and an associated attachment means being effected via plating which defines a conductive layer provided on the exposed surface of the first structure of the body.
  • the plurality of attachment means are coplanar and are arranged around the periphery of the base of the plastics body, and the plurality of attachment means each comprise an area of the conductive layer for direct connection on to a track on the PCB.
  • the coax-PCB connector is referred to as an "adapter".
  • the adapter may be adapted to mate with a plurality of RF connectors and having for each connector at least two contacts for electrical connection with the RF connector upon mating therewith and a plurality of attachment means disposed so as to permit connection to tracks on a printed circuit board, wherein coupling between at least one of said contacts and an associated attachment means is effected via a conductive coating provided on the surface of the body.
  • a bore is provided in the inside of the body which bore is plated to form a female contact for engagement by a male contact of an RF connector, which plated bore adjoins the, or one of the, conductive coating(s).
  • a male or female contact may be secured in the or each plated bore to permit engagement by a respective female or male contact of an RF connector.
  • the or each plated bore may be a through hole in electrical communication at one end with the contact and at the other end with an associated conductive coating.
  • One or more plastics projection may be provided at one end of the body the or each of which projection is plated together with the conductive coatings, one of which coatings adjoins the plated projection and is in electrical communication therewith.
  • a bore may be provided through the body and through the projection which bore is plated to form a plated through hole in electrical communication at one end with the plated projection and at the other end with an associated conductive coating.
  • the or each plated bore may adjoin an associated one of the conductive coatings at the contact end, which conductive coating extends over an outer surface of the body to the associated attachment means.
  • the adapter may comprise two coaxial contacts for the, or for each of the, RF connector(s).
  • the adapter may comprise, for each RF connector, two coaxial contacts the outer one of which contacts is formed by a cylindrical projection.
  • the inner and/or outer surface of the or each cylindrical projection may be plated to provide one of the contacts.
  • a major part of the outer surface of the plastics body is plated and extends to the plating on the surface of the cylindrical projection and to an associated attachment means.
  • the body may have oppositely disposed surfaces and for the, or each, RF connector a through hole to receive a pin of the RF connector inserted from one side, the other side of which body is provided with the conductive coating which extends to the associated attachment means.
  • each RF connector there may be provided a plurality of through holes each for receiving a pin of the connector inserted from one side, and the other side of the body is provided with the conductive coatings which extend to the associated attachment means.
  • the or each conductive layer may be in the form of a track and the attachment means is/are formed by the end of the track(s).
  • the or each conductive coating may be in the form of a track and the attachment means is/are formed by a pin.
  • the ends of the attachment means are preferably coplanar.
  • the body on said one side may have a fully plated surface for connection to the body of one or more coaxial connector(s) mated therewith.
  • the plated surface on said one side may be recessed to receive the or each coaxial connector.
  • the plated surface on said one side may be linked to a conductive track on the other side via a plated through hole or slot which track extends to an associated attachment means.
  • an adapter formed as a Moulded Interconnect Device (MID) for attaching to a PCB.
  • MID technology allows the adapter to be moulded in plastics preferably as a single piece which is then selectively plated with a electrically conductive material so that certain areas can carry an electrical signal.
  • the adapter (10) has a plated body area (1) and a plated through hole (4) , for carrying electrical signals.
  • the two plated areas (1,4) are electrically independent of each other.
  • Solder tabs (3,5) form attachment means and allow the plated areas (1,4) to be directly connected to tracks on a PCB but these could equally be substituted by other means of electrical attachment such as plated pins.
  • the electrical independence between the plated body area (1) and the plated through hole (4) is due to the non-plated areas (9) which are dielectrics and separate the two electrical signal carrying areas.
  • the required impedance between the two signal carrying areas (1,4) could be adjusted according to, for example, the spacing between the plated through hole and the plated body area (1).
  • the electrical continuity between the plated through hole and the PCB is provided by a conductive layer formed by a plated link (2) to a solder tab (3).
  • the plated through hole (4) may form a female contact for receiving a male contact of an RF connector.
  • an electrical contact (7) may be inserted into the hole to provide a male contact for connection to a female contact of an RF connector.
  • the contact (7) may be an interference fit with the hole (4), providing a first electrical signal path communicating between the contact (7) and the plated through hole (4) to the solder tab (3).
  • An outer shell of the RF connector (not shown) would mate with a connector interface (6) of the adapter, providing a second electrical signal path communicating between the outer shell of the RF connector and solder tabs (5) via the plated body area (1) and the connector interface (6).
  • the first and second signal paths could then be connected to the PCB by the solder tabs (3) and (5) respectively which are coplanar.
  • the contact (7) could be moulded as part of the adapter (10) as long as electrical continuity between the contact (7) and the plated through hole (4) is ensured by, for example, continuing the plated through hole through the contact.
  • the plated through hole (4) could be replaced by a plated track running around the outside of the adapter from the contact (7) to the solder tab (3).
  • a dielectric area would be formed on either side of the plated track to ensure electrical independence from the plated body area (1).
  • an adapter (100) for attaching to a PCB is shown with four RF coaxial connectors (101).
  • the adapter (100) is constructed employing Moulded Interconnect Device (MID) technology.
  • MID Moulded Interconnect Device
  • the adapter (100) has a non-plated body area (102) and a plated body area (111) and a number of plated through holes (107,110), which form contacts, for accepting the contacts (103,104) of the RF connectors (101).
  • the plated through holes (110) are electrically connected to conductive layers in the form of first plated tracks (105) that extend between the holes (110) and attachment means in the form of solder tab (113) extending over the end of projection (166) allowing electrical signal communication between a track on a PCB and the coaxial connector centre contacts (104) once the adapter is attached to the PCB.
  • Further solder tabs (114) are each connected by further plated tracks (108) to plated through holes or slots (112).
  • the plated through slots (112) electrically connect the plated tracks (108) to the plated body area (111) which in turn is electrically connected to the plated through holes (107), thus allowing electrical signal communication between the PCB and coaxial outer contacts (103) once the adapter is attached to the PCB.
  • the plated tracks (105) are electrically independent of each other and of the tracks (108).
  • the solder tabs (113,114) are coplanar and allow the adapter (100) to be directly connected to tracks on the PCB but this could equally be substituted by other means of electrical attachment such as plated pins.
  • an adapter (100) for attaching to a PCB is shown with four RF coaxial connectors (101).
  • the adapter (100) is constructed employing Moulded Interconnect Device (MID) technology.
  • the adapter (100) is formed by a two part moulding process.
  • a substructure (106,122, 123) is moulded from a first platable plastic which then has a superstructure (121) moulded around it, the plastic of the superstructure being resistant to plating.
  • the adapter is then plated, the exposed areas of the substructure (106,122,123) accept the plating whilst those of the superstructure (121) do not.
  • a common tracking area (122) is used to connect the outer contacts (103) of RF connectors (101) to a solder tab (106).
  • a plated through hole (123) is adapted to accept a metal insert (124).
  • the insert (124) has a screw threaded hole (125) allowing a housing (not shown) that holds the RF connectors (101) to be screwed to the adapter (100) ensuring a secure fit.
  • the plating of the hole (123) and the metal insert (124) allow the housing to be connected to ground, if necessary.

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Structure Of Receivers (AREA)
  • Input Circuits Of Receivers And Coupling Of Receivers And Audio Equipment (AREA)

Claims (21)

  1. Connecteur coaxial pour cartes à circuits imprimés (10 ; 100) comprenant un corps en matière plastique adapté à être accouplé avec un connecteur RF (101), au moins deux contacts (6, 7 ; 111, 107, 110) pour assurer une connexion électrique avec le connecteur RF (101) lors de l'accouplement avec celui-ci, et une pluralité de moyens d'attache (5 ; 113, 114) disposés de manière à permettre la connexion à des pistes sur une carte à circuits imprimés, caractérisé en ce que le corps comprend une première structure (106, 122, 123) de matière plastique susceptible de recevoir un placage, et une deuxième structure (121) résistante au placage, l'accouplement entre l'un au moins desdits contacts (6, 7 ; 111, 107, 110) et les moyens d'attache associés (5 ; 113, 114) étant effectué via un plaquage qui définit une couche conductrice, prévu sur la surface exposée de la première structure (106, 122, 123) du corps.
  2. Connecteur coaxial pour cartes à circuits imprimés, selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la pluralité de moyens d'attache (5 ; 113, 114) sont coplanaires et agencés autour de la périphérie de la base du corps en matière plastique, et en ce que la pluralité de moyens d'attache (5 ; 113, 114) comprennent chacun une zone de la couche conductrice pour réaliser une connexion directe sur une piste de la carte à circuits imprimés.
  3. Connecteur selon la revendication 2, destiné à la connexion avec la carte à circuits imprimés au moyen de pastilles de soudure (113, 114) disposées entre les moyens d'attache et des pistes correspondantes de la carte à circuits imprimés.
  4. Connecteur selon l'une des revendications 1, 2 ou 3, adapté à être accouplé avec une pluralité de connecteurs RF, et comportant pour chaque connecteur au moins deux contacts (6, 7 ; 111, 107, 110) pour une connexion électrique avec le connecteur RF lors de l'accouplement avec celui-ci, et une pluralité de moyens d'attache (5 ; 113, 114) disposés de manière à permettre une connexion à des pistes sur une carte à circuits imprimés.
  5. Connecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel il est prévu un perçage pour le ou chaque connecteur RF dans l'intérieur du corps, ledit perçage étant plaqué (4, 107, 110) pour former un contact femelle en vue de l'engagement par un contact mâle (103, 104) d'un connecteur RF (101), ledit perçage plaqué étant jointif à la couche conductrice.
  6. Connecteur selon la revendication 5, dans lequel un contact mâle (7) est attaché dans le ou chaque perçage plaqué (4) pour permettre l'engagement par un contact femelle d'un connecteur RF.
  7. Connecteur selon la revendication 5, dans lequel un contact femelle est attaché dans le ou dans chaque perçage plaqué (4) pour permettre l'engagement par un contact mâle d'un connecteur RF.
  8. Connecteur selon l'une ou l'autre des revendications 5 et 6, dans lequel le ou chaque perçage est un perçage traversant en communication électrique à une extrémité avec le contact et à l'autre extrémité avec une zone associée de la couche conductrice.
  9. Connecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel une ou plusieurs projections en matière plastique (6) est prévue à une extrémité du corps, ladite ou chacune desdites projections étant plaquée ensemble avec la couche conductrice, et ladite couche est adjacente à la projection plaquée et en communication électrique avec celle-ci.
  10. Connecteur selon la revendication 9, dans lequel est prévu pour chaque projection (6) un perçage à travers le corps et à travers la projection, ledit perçage étant plaqué pour former un perçage traversant plaqué (4) en communication électrique à une extrémité avec la projection plaquée et à l'autre extrémité avec une zone associée de la couche conductrice.
  11. Connecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5, 6, 7 ou 9, dans lequel le ou chaque perçage plaqué est adjacent à une zone associée de la couche conductrice au niveau de l'extrémité de contact, ladite couche conductrice s'étendant sur une surface extérieure du corps vers les moyens d'attache associés (3, 5, 113, 114).
  12. Connecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant deux contacts coaxiaux (103, 104), pour le ou pour chaque connecteur RF (101),
  13. Connecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant, pour chaque connecteur RF, deux contacts coaxiaux, le contact extérieurs desdits contacts étant formé par une projection cylindrique.
  14. Connecteur selon la revendication 13, dans lequel la surface intérieure et/ou extérieure de la ou de chaque projection cylindrique est plaquée pour constituer l'un des contacts.
  15. Connecteur selon la revendication 14, dans lequel une majeure partie de la surface extérieure du corps en matière plastique est plaquée et s'étend jusqu'au plaquage sur la surface de la projection cylindrique et jusqu'à des moyens d'attache associés.
  16. Connecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le corps présente des surfaces disposées de manière opposée, et un perçage traversant (107, 110) pour le ou pour chaque connecteur RF (101) afin de recevoir une broche (103, 104, 109) du connecteur RF introduite depuis un côté, l'autre côté dudit corps étant pourvu de la couche conductrice (122) qui s'étend jusqu'aux moyens d'attache associés (113, 114).
  17. Connecteur selon l'une ou l'autre des revendications 15 et 16, dans lequel il est prévu une pluralité de perçages traversants pour chaque connecteur RF, chacun pour recevoir une broche du connecteur introduite depuis un côté, et l'autre côté du corps est pourvue de la couche conductrice, des zones de celle-ci s'étendant jusqu'aux moyens d'attache associés (113, 114).
  18. Connecteur selon l'une ou l'autre des revendications 16 et 17, dans lequel la couche conductrice a la forme d'une ou de plusieurs pistes (105, 108, 122), et les moyens d'attache sont formés par l'extrémité de la ou des pistes.
  19. Connecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 16 à 18, dans lequel le corps présente sur ledit côté une surface totalement plaquée en vue d'une connexion avec le corps d'un ou de plusieurs connecteurs coaxiaux accouplés avec lui-même.
  20. Connecteur selon la revendication 19, dans lequel la surface plaquée sur ledit côté est creuse pour recevoir le ou chaque connecteur coaxial.
  21. Connecteur selon l'une ou l'autre des revendications 19 et 20, dans lequel la surface plaquée sur ledit côté est reliée à une piste conductrice de l'autre côté via un perçage traversant plaqué, ou une fente traversante plaquée, ladite piste s'étendant jusqu'à des moyens d'attache associés.
EP98301770A 1997-03-14 1998-03-10 Adapteur à radiofréquence pour des connecteurs à cicuits imprimés Expired - Lifetime EP0865120B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9705378A GB2312567B (en) 1997-03-14 1997-03-14 Radio frequency connector to printed circuit board adpator
GB9705378 1997-03-14

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0865120A2 EP0865120A2 (fr) 1998-09-16
EP0865120A3 EP0865120A3 (fr) 1999-06-16
EP0865120B1 true EP0865120B1 (fr) 2000-11-02

Family

ID=10809279

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98301770A Expired - Lifetime EP0865120B1 (fr) 1997-03-14 1998-03-10 Adapteur à radiofréquence pour des connecteurs à cicuits imprimés

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0865120B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE197358T1 (fr)
DE (2) DE19745722A1 (fr)
DK (1) DK0865120T3 (fr)
GB (1) GB2312567B (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2371261B (en) 2001-01-22 2004-04-07 Itt Mfg Enterprises Inc Electrical component with conductive tracks
DE102005011053A1 (de) * 2005-03-10 2006-09-21 Preh Gmbh Sonnensensor in MID-Technik
DE102006039879A1 (de) * 2006-08-25 2007-11-08 Siemens Ag Elektronisches Modul

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5158465A (en) * 1990-02-23 1992-10-27 General Electric Company Audio jack connector
JP2626281B2 (ja) * 1991-03-18 1997-07-02 日本電気株式会社 同軸コネクタ
EP0545289B1 (fr) * 1991-11-30 1997-03-05 Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Transducteur ligne coaxiale/ligne à microbande
JPH07135053A (ja) * 1993-11-08 1995-05-23 Murata Mfg Co Ltd 同軸コネクタ及び同軸コネクタの実装構造

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DK0865120T3 (da) 2000-11-27
EP0865120A2 (fr) 1998-09-16
GB9705378D0 (en) 1997-04-30
DE69800371T2 (de) 2001-03-01
ATE197358T1 (de) 2000-11-15
GB2312567A (en) 1997-10-29
EP0865120A3 (fr) 1999-06-16
DE69800371D1 (de) 2000-12-07
GB2312567B (en) 1998-06-10
DE19745722A1 (de) 1998-09-24

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