Surface mating coaxial connector

Claim 2

A surface mating coaxial connector, comprising: a coaxial cable including at least a shield means, insulated from a central conductor by a dielectric material; a contact pin; an axially-moveable connection means through which the central conductor and the contact pin are mechanically and electrically connected such that axial motion of the contact pin in the direction of the central conductor is possible when an axial force is exerted on the contact pin and such that the contact pin returns to its original position when such force is removed; a shield collar coaxial with and surrounding a distal end of the contact pin but electrically insulated therefrom, said collar being resiliently compressible in an axial direction such that axial motion of the collar, independent of any axial motion of the contact pin, is possible when axial force is exerted on the shield collar; an insulating means in contact with said dielectric material and electrically insulating the shield extension means and shield collar from the central conductor, the axially-moveable connecting means, and the contact pin such that the impedance seen by a signal traveling from the central conductor through the axially-moveable connection and to and through a terminal end of the contact pin remains substantially the same as that of the coaxial cable, said insulating means including an elastomer core surrounding said axially-moveable connection means and a portion of the contact pin such that axial force applied to the contact pin is transmitted to the elastomer core which can be resiliently compressed permitting axial movement of the contact pin; whereby the contact pin and shield collar may be brought into contact with a surface with which it is desired to transmit signals through the contact pin to devices, circuits, components or other items electrically connected to the surface with which contact is made; the contact pin is electrically shielded by the shield collar to minimize interference from electrical noise sources proximate to the contact pin; and the impedance of the connector is substantially the same as the coaxial cable such that the impedance of the surface with which contact is made may be matched to that of the connector resulting in substantial elimination of signal reflection due to impedance mismatch.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1, wherein said axially-moveable connection means comprises a connector sleeve one end of which is mechanically and electrically connected to the central conductor and a single loop spring which is mechanically and electrically connected to the opposite end of the connector sleeve.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1, wherein said axially-moveable connection means comprises a section of the central conductor intermediate the contact pin at a terminal end of the dielectric material of the coaxial cable.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1, wherein said axially-moveable connection means comprises a connector pin one end of which is mechanically and electrically connected to the central conductor and interconnect bellows which is mechanically and electrically connected to the opposite end of the connector sleeve.

Claim 7

The device of claim 1, wherein said shield collar is formed from a conductive elastomer.

Claim 8

The device of claim 6, wherein the shield collar is a cylinder with a transversely corrugated section at one end.

Claim 9

The device of claim 6, wherein the shield collar is a cylinder with a lip extension at one end of the cylinder such that said lip acts as a spring and compresses when contact is made with a surface.

Claim 10

A surface meeting coaxial connector for use in making electrical connection for the transmission of signals to miniature electronic devices through contract surfaces approximately 10 mils square, comprising a micro-coaxial cable including at least a shield means, insulated from a central conductor by a dielectric material; a contact pin of slightly greater diameter than said central conductor; an axially-moveable connection means through which the central conductor and the contact pin are mechanically and electrically connected such that axial motion of the contact pin in the direction of the central conductor is possible when an axial force is exerted on the contact pin and such that the contact pin returns to its original position when such force is removed; , ; a-shield collar coaxial with and surrounding a distal end of the contact pin but electrically insulated therefrom, said collar being resiliently compressible in an axial direction such that axial motion of the collar, independent of any axial motion of the contact pin, is possible when axial force is exerted on the shield collar; an insulating means in contact with said dielectric material and electrically insulating the shield extension means and shield collar from the central conductor, the axially-moveable connecting means, and the contact pin such that the impedance seen by a signal traveling from the central conductor through the axially-moveable connection and to and through a terminal end of the contact pin remains substantially the same as that of the coaxial cable, said insulating means including an elastomer core surrounding said axially-moveable connection means and a portion of the contact pin that axial force applied to the contact pin is transmitted to the elastomer core which can be resiliently compressed permitting axial movement of the contact pin; whereby the contact pin and shield collar may be brought into contact with a surface with which it is desired to transmit signals through the contact pin to miniature devices, circuits, components or other items electrically connected to the surface with which contact is made; the contact pin is electrically shielded by the shield collar to minimize interference from electrical noise sources proximate to the contact pin; and the impedance of the connector is substantially the same as the coaxial cable such that the impedance of the surface with which contact is made may be matched to that of the connector resulting in substantial elimination of signal reflection due to impedance mismatch.

Claim 11

A surface meeting coaxial connector for use in making electrical connection for the transmission of signals to miniature electronic devices through contract surfaces approximately 10 mils square, comprising a micro-coaxial cable including at least a shield means, insulated from a central conductor by a dielectric material; a contact pin of slightly greater diameter than said central conductor; an axially-moveable connection means through which the central conductor and the contact pin are mechanically and electrically connected such that axial motion of the contact pin in the direction of the central conductor is possible when an axial force is exerted on the contact pin and such that the contact pin returns to its original position when such force is removed; , ; a-shield collar coaxial with and surrounding a distal end of the contact pin but electrically insulated therefrom, said collar being resiliently compressible in an axial direction such that axial motion of the collar, independent of any axial motion of the contact pin, is possible when axial force is exerted on the shield collar; an insulating means in contact with said dielectric material and electrically insulating the shield extension means and shield collar from the central conductor, the axially-moveable connecting means, and the contact pin such that the impedance seen by a signal traveling from the central conductor through the axially-moveable connection and to and through a terminal end of the contact pin remains substantially the same as that of the coaxial cable, said insulating means including an elastomer core surrounding said axially-moveable connection means and a portion of the contact pin that axial force applied to the contact pin is transmitted to the elastomer core which can be resiliently compressed permitting axial movement of the contact pin; whereby the contact pin and shield collar may be brought into contact with a surface with which it is desired to transmit signals through the contact pin to miniature devices, circuits, components or other items electrically connected to the surface with which contact is made; the contact pin is electrically shielded by the shield collar to minimize interference from electrical noise sources proximate to the contact pin; and the impedance of the connector is substantially the same as the coaxial cable such that the impedance of the surface with which contact is made may be matched to that of the connector resulting in substantial elimination of signal reflection due to impedance mismatch.

Claim 12

The device of claim 9, wherein said axially-moveable connection means comprises a connector sleeve one end of which is mechanically and electrically connected to the central conductor and a single loop spring which is mechanically and electrically connected to the opposite end of the connector sleeve.

Claim 13

The device of claim 9, wherein said axially moveable connection means comprises a section of the central conductor intermediate the contact pin at a terminal end of the dielectric material of the coaxial cable.

Claim 14

The device of claim 9, wherein said axially-moveable connection means comprises a connector pin one end of which is mechanically and electrically connected to the central conductor and interconnect bellows which is mechanically and electrically connected to the opposite end of the connector sleeve.

Claim 15

The device of claim 9, wherein said axially-moveable connection means is coaxial with the central conductor.

Claim 16

The device of claim 9, wherein said axial motion of said contact pin is between 0 and 20 mils at a maximum.

Claim 17

The device of claim 9, wherein said axial motion of said shield collar is between 0 and 20 mils at a maximum.

Claim 18

The device of claim 9, wherein said micro-coaxial cable is Micro-Coax UT 47.

Claim 19

The device of claim 9, wherein said micro-coaxial cable is Micro-Coax UT 70.

Claim 20

The device of claim 9, wherein said micro-coaxial cable is Belden Coaxial 83265.

Claim 21

The device of claim 9, wherein said micro-coaxial cable has an outside diameter of 70 mils or less.