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EP-4362242-B1 - COAXIAL CONNECTION PROVIDING A PREDETERMINED AXIAL PRESSURE

EP4362242B1EP 4362242 B1EP4362242 B1EP 4362242B1EP-4362242-B1

Inventors

  • NIEBAUER, ROBERT
  • NICKEL, Hans-Ulrich
  • KEMPTER, CHRISTIAN
  • LEIPOLD, MARKUS

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20231018

Claims (12)

  1. A coaxial RF connection system (100, 700) comprising: - an external adapter (200, 710) further comprising an external body (260, 715) and therein an external inner conductor (210, 719), the external body (260, 715) having an external body contact surface (224, 717), and the external inner conductor (210, 719) defining a center axis (110) and being orthogonal to the external body contact surface (224, 717), - an internal adapter (300, 720) further comprising: an internal body (320, 725) having an internal body contact surface (324, 727), and an internal inner conductor (310, 729), the internal inner conductor (310, 729) being connected to the external inner conductor (210, 719), - a tensioning means (230, 730), - a spring element (250, 714), wherein the tensioning means (230, 730) presses by means of the spring element (250, 715) the external body (260, 715) against the internal body (320, 725) in a direction of the center axis (110), such that the external body contact surface (224, 717) is in contact with the internal body contact surface (324, 727), and the external body (260, 715) comprises an external centering device (222, 712) which is aligned along the center axis (110) with an internal centering device (322, 722) of the internal body (320, 725).
  2. A coaxial RF connection system according to claim 1, characterized in, that the spring element (250) includes at least one of a coil spring, a disk spring, a stack of disk springs or an elastically deformable material.
  3. A coaxial RF connection system according to claim 1, characterized in, that the spring element (715) is integrated and/or one piece with the external adapter (710) and/or with the internal adapter (720).
  4. A coaxial RF connection system according to any of the previous claims, characterized in, that a rotation blocking feature (261, 361, 730) is provided to block rotation of the external adapter (200, 710) against the internal adapter (300, 720).
  5. A coaxial RF connection system according to the previous claim, characterized in, that the rotation blocking feature (261, 361) comprises at least one protrusion (261) matching into a groove (361).
  6. A coaxial RF connection system according to any of the previous claims, characterized in, that the external adapter (200, 710) includes an external coaxial connector comprising an external coaxial connector outer conductor (220, 710) and the external inner conductor (210, 719).
  7. A coaxial RF connection system according to the previous claim, characterized in, that the external body (260) comprises an external base (240) which is part of the external coaxial connector outer conductor (220).
  8. A coaxial RF connection system according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in, that the external body (260) comprises an intermediate outer conductor (248) attached to the external base (240).
  9. A coaxial RF connection system according to the previous claim, characterized in, that the spring element (250) is seated on the intermediate outer conductor (248).
  10. A coaxial RF connection system according to any of the previous claims, characterized in, that the tensioning means (230) is a nut.
  11. A coaxial RF connection system according to any of the previous claims, characterized in, that at least one of a cable connector (360) with a coaxial cable or a coaxial connector is provided at the internal body (320).
  12. A coaxial RF connection system according to any of the previous claims, characterized in, that the external centering device (222, 712) comprises a cylindrical protrusion and the internal centering device (322, 722) comprises a matching cylindrical recess, or the external centering device (222, 712) comprises a cylindrical recess and the internal centering device (322, 722) comprises a matching cylindrical protrusion.

Description

Field of the invention The invention relates to RF coaxial connectors and specifically to secure connections with a predefined axial pressure for example in PIM sensitive applications. Description of the related art A millimeter wave connector is disclosed in EP 2876748 A1. Such connectors are normally very small and can be damaged easily. Specifically, connectors at test devices are connected and disconnected many times, such that there is a higher risk of damaging. US 6,808,407 B1 discloses a locking precision male BNC connector with latch mechanism allowing cable rotation. Summary of the invention The problem to be solved by the invention is to provide a coaxial connector, which is comparatively robust and may allow frequent connections and disconnection while maintaining its specified electrical parameters. Solutions of the problem are described in the independent claims. The dependent claims relate to further improvements of the invention. In an embodiment, an RF connection system including a modular coaxial connector for micro- and millimeter-wave devices such as antennas, filters, splitters, combiners, test and measurement devices is disclosed. It is based on the combination of two adapters - an internal adapter and an external adapter. The internal adapter may be an integral part of a larger device, e.g., a test and measurement device. It may be integrated directly into the housing of an internal microwave component inside of the larger device. The external adapter, which may carry a customer connector, may be screwed onto the device from the outside. It may be exchanged with comparatively low effort. The motivation for using this double adapter concept is its ability to redirect unwanted tilting and torsional moments that a customer might apply to a fragile external RF connector in the most direct way into a rigid mounting plate inside the device, thus reducing their effects on the electrical performance. Another advantage of the concept is that a fragile external connector that is worn during operation can be replaced simply by replacing the second adapter. The second adapter thus serves as a "port saver". The dual adapter concept thus goes far beyond concepts with common "field-replaceable" connectors. This solution provides: a mechanically robust connection,a defined contact force at the contact area,a protection against rotational movements/torques at the contact point,a protection of the contact point against bending moments. An RF connection system includes an external adapter and an internal adapter which are coupled together by a tensioning means and a spring element. The external adapter includes an external body and therein an external inner conductor. The external body has an external body contact surface, an external centering device. The external inner conductor defines the center axis and is orthogonal to the external body contact surface. The internal adapter includes an internal body, and an internal inner conductor. The internal body has an internal body contact surface, and an internal centering device. The internal inner conductor is connected to the external inner conductor. The tensioning means which may include a nut or at least one screw, presses by means of the spring element the external body against the internal body in a direction of the center axis, such that the external body contact surface is in contact with the internal body contact surface. Due to the spring element, the contact force is comparatively constant, even with smaller mechanical tolerances of the components or thermal expansion. The external adapter may include an external coaxial connector outer conductor and coaxially arranged therein within a central bore, the external inner conductor. The external body may include the external coaxial connector outer conductor. It may further form an outer conductor or may include at least one outer conductor component. In an embodiment, the external body may further include an intermediate outer conductor, which may at least partially enclose the outer conductor component and hold it in a position contacting the external coaxial connector outer conductor. The intermediate outer conductor may be attached to the external base. The intermediate outer conductor may have a thread which may engage into a thread of external body. Instead of the thread there may be a press fit or a solder connection. The external body may have a hollow bore and may include at least one dielectric spacer to hold the external inner conductor within the external body. It may be centered within a hollow channel of the external body. The external adapter may further include or be attached to an external coaxial connector. This may include external coaxial connector outer conductor, external inner conductor, and external coaxial connector nut. Instead of the external coaxial connector nut, there may be a thread for an external nut or any other locking means like a bayonet lock or a snap lock mecha