BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a connector and cable interconnection. More specifically, the invention relates to a connector and cable interconnection method and apparatus with improved manufacturing efficiency and electrical performance characteristics.

2. Description of Related Art

Commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,710, titled â€œMethod of Attaching a Connector to a Coaxial Cable and the Resulting Assemblyâ€ by Bufanda et al, issued Sep. 8, 1998, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses an electrical connector for use with coaxial cable and a method for attaching same. As shown for example in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector may be attached to the coaxial cable with a high level of quality control via an assembly apparatus, as disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,900,344, titled â€œCable and Connector Assembly Apparatus and Method of Useâ€ by Ng et al, issued Mar. 8, 2011, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,710 connector utilizes an insulating disc retained upon the inner connector and against the cable dielectric and outer conductor. Induction heating of a solder preform wrapped around the outer conductor creates a molten solder pool in a cylindrical solder cavity formed between the outer conductor, the insulating disc and the connector body. The insulating disc prevents the molten solder from migrating out of the cavity, fouling the connector bore and/or shorting the outer and inner conductors.

Competition within the cable and connector assembly industry has increased the importance of improving the electro-mechanical characteristics of the cable and connector interconnection while minimizing requirements for proper assembly.

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a connector and cable interconnection method and apparatus that overcomes deficiencies in the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic isometric view of the primary elements of an exemplary embodiment of a cable assembly apparatus in a ready position, wherein electrical interconnections, supporting and enclosure structures are removed for clarity.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic isometric view of the primary elements of an exemplary embodiment of a cable assembly apparatus in an operation position, wherein electrical interconnections, supporting and enclosure structures are removed for clarity.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of a prepared end of a coaxial cable.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of the coaxial cable of FIG. 3, with solder shield and inner contact.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic end view of the cable of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic side view of the coaxial cable of FIG. 3, solder preform and inner contact attached, ready for insertion into a connector body bore for solder interconnection.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic cut-away side view of a connector body seated upon an interface pedestal.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic cut-away side view of a connector body seated upon an interface pedestal with a bias element.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic side view of the connector body and interface pedestal of FIG. 8 with a coaxial cable inserted into the connector body bore for solder interconnection.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic close-up view of the structure of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The inventors have recognized that the insulating disc relied upon in the prior connector and assembly apparatus to provide the molten solder containment during interconnection complicates manufacture and introduces an impedance discontinuity that may degrade the electrical performance of the resulting interconnection.

The end of a coaxial cable 1 may be prepared for interconnection by stripping back the protective jacket 3 (if present), outer conductor 5, dielectric 7 and inner conductor 9 to expose desired lengths of each at the cable end, for example as shown in FIG. 3.

Depending upon the desired interconnection interface and/or coaxial cable 1 configuration, an inner contact 11 may be required to adapt the inner conductor 9 to the desired connection interface inner conductor dimensions. If needed, an inner contact 11 may be soldered upon the prepared end of the inner conductor 9. To protect the dielectric 7 from thermal damage during soldering, a removable solder shield 13 may be applied between the inner contact 11 and the outer conductor 5 and dielectric 7, for example as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

A solder preform 15 may be applied proximate the end of the outer conductor 5, for example, wrapped around the outer conductor 5 as shown in FIG. 6.

A connector body 17 of the connector may be seated upon the selected interface pedestal 19 of the assembly apparatus 21, the interface pedestal 19 inserted within a connector body bore 23 of the connector body 17. As best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the insertion pedestal 19 may be provided with a shoulder 25 dimensioned to position a solder end of the insertion pedestal 19 at a desired longitudinal position, such as flush with the edge of a solder cavity portion 27 of the connector body bore 23.

A seat 29 may be provided at the solder end of the interface pedestal 19. The seat 29 formed, for example, of a non-metallic material with insulating characteristics, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, fiberglass reinforced thermoset or polyether ether ketone or the like, provides a thermal break between the connector body 17 and the immediately adjacent portion of the insertion pedestal 19, so that heat applied to the solder cavity portion 27 is not conducted away by the insertion pedestal 19, decreasing heat application requirements and thereby the chances for thermal damage to portions of the assembly that may be damaged by excessive heating, such as the dielectric 7.

The seat 29 may also operate as a cost efficient exchangeable wear portion, protecting the interface pedestal 19. Rather than replace the entire interface pedestal 19, only the seat 29 need be exchanged when contact surfaces with of the seat 29 become worn. Thereby, the fit between the connector body 17 and the seat 29 may be cost effectively provided with a high dimensional tolerance, reducing the chance that a gap between the seat 29 and the connector body 17 large enough for significant levels of flux and/or molten solder passage may occur. The seat 29 may be removably retained upon the interface pedestal 19, for example, by a retaining element such as a gasket 31 seated in an annular groove 33 provided in the outer diameter of the interface pedestal 19.

The prepared end of the coaxial cable 1, with the inner contact 11 and solder preform 15 attached, may be inserted into the cable end of the connector body bore 23, the connector body 17 already seated upon the interface pedestal 19, for example as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Upon insertion, the leading end of the outer conductor 5 seats against the seat 29, forming a solder cavity 35 between the outer conductor 5, interface pedestal (seat 29 if present) 19 and connector body 17.

Heat, for example applied via induction heating by a U-shaped inductor 37, for example as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or alternatively applied directly to the exterior of the connector body 17, melts the solder preform 15, pooling solder within the solder cavity 35. Where the interface pedestal 19 is oriented with a longitudinal axis that is vertical, gravity retains the molten solder within the solder cavity 35, even though the solder cavity 35 â€œtopâ€ is open. An inner conductor cavity 39 open to the solder end of the interface pedestal 19 receives the inner conductor 9 with inner contact 11, if present.

Upon cooling, the solder forms an electro-mechanical joint between the outer conductor 5 and the connector body 17. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the thermal break provided by the seat 29 and/or the thermal mass of the interface pedestal 19 surrounding the inner conductor cavity 39 thermally isolates the solder interconnection between the inner conductor 9 and the inner contact 11, which may reduce a chance of overheating and/or damage to this solder connection during the outer conductor 5 to connector body 17 solder operation.

A flux and/or molten solder seal between the outer conductor 5 and the interface pedestal 19 or seat 29, if present, may be enhanced by introducing a bias therebetween, for example by providing the interface pedestal 19 or seat 29 with a range of motion along the longitudinal axis biased by a bias element, such as a spring 40, for example as shown in FIG. 8. Alternatively, a grip clamp 41, for example as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, may be biased toward the interface pedestal 19 when the grip clamp 41 is engaged to grip the cable, thereby biasing the outer conductor 5 against the interface pedestal 19 or seat 29, if present.

For ease of use with a range of different connector interface types, the interface pedestal 19 may be configured for ease of exchange via, for example, a fastener inserted into a retention hole 43 at an assembly apparatus end of the interface pedestal 19.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that the general interconnection process does not have a specific order of operation with respect to the connector body 17 and the interface pedestal 19. For example, instead of seating the connector body 17 upon the interface pedestal 19 and then inserting the outer conductor 5 and solder preform 15 into the connector body bore 23, the outer conductor 5 and solder preform 15 may be initially inserted into the connector body bore 23 and this assembly then seated upon the interface pedestal 19.

Because the connector and cable assembly apparatus together eliminate the need for application of an additional insulating disc to each connector, the total number of connector components and the number of required assembly operations has been reduced, which may increase manufacture efficiency. Further, the elimination of the insulating disc removes an impedance discontinuity, which may improve the electrical performance of the interconnection.

The presence of the seat 29 enables tighter tolerances and may significantly extend the useful operating life of the insertion pedestal 19. Finally, the presence of the seat 29 improves thermal isolation, which may reduce the total heat and thus time required to perform the outer conductor solder operation as well as reduce the chances for thermal damage to the dielectric 7 and/or the previously applied inner conductor 9 to inner contact 11 solder connection, if present.

Table of Parts1coaxial cable3jacket5outer conductor7dielectric9inner conductor11inner contact13solder shield15solder preform17connector body19interface pedestal21assembly apparatus23connector body bore25shoulder27solder cavity portion29seat31gasket33annular groove35solder cavity37inductor39inner conductor cavity40spring41grip clamp43retention hole

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to ratios, integers or components having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of the embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus, methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departure from the spirit or scope of applicant's general inventive concept. Further, it is to be appreciated that improvements and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention as defined by the following claims.