Transmission line connector with means including cam surfaces for altering connector element dimensions to compensate for junction gaps, and method therefor

Claim 2

In a connection of high frequency transmission lines defined by inner and outer conductors spaced apart to an extent to define a given characteristic impedance, a connector device having inner and outer conductive elements spaced apart to define a characteristic impedance substantially similar to said given characteristic impedance, the said elements including surfaces shaped to provide intermating to form a junction with said elements being mechanically and electrically joined to corresponding inner and outer conductors of said line, the said elements being dimensioned so that either the inner or outer portions thereof are substantially closed together with the other portions being dimensioned to not quite close together creating a radial gap to accommodate production and assembly tolerances and prevent displacement of said elements and/or the conductors of said line, the said other portions of said elements including mating surfaces shaped to provide a radial expansion or contraction altering the radial spacing between the inner and outer elements in proportion to the length of said gap to create balancing impedance effects proximate one another at said junction to compensate for said gap.

Claim 3

In a connector for use with high frequency transmission line of the type comprised of conductors spaced apart to define a given characteristic impedance, said connector including corresponding conductive elements spaced apart to define essentially said given characteristic impedance, said conductive elements including at least a pair of mating portions which have surfaces shaped to provide intermating to form a junction, with means on the ends thereof operable to effect a transverse displacement of the surfaces of said portions altering the spacing between said elements in proportion to the extent of axial mating of the portions and any corresponding alternation in transverse dimension of the surface of the portions at said junction whereby to provide an automatic compensation for gaps created at said junction.

Claim 4

In a connector for use with high frequency transmission line of the type comprised of conductors spaced apart to define a given characteristic impedance, said connector including corresponding conductive elements spaced apart to define essentially said given characteristic impedance, said conductive elements including at least a pair of mating portions which have surfaces shaped to provide intermating to form a junction, with means on the ends thereof operable to effect a transverse displacement of the surfaces of said portions altering the spacing between said elements in proportion to the extent of axial mating of the portions and any corresponding alternation in transverse dimension of the surface of the portions at said junction whereby to provide an automatic compensation for gaps created at said junction.

Claim 5

In a connector for use with high frequency transmission line of the type comprised of conductors spaced apart to define a given characteristic impedance, said connector incLuding corresponding conductive elements spaced apart to define essentially said given characteristic impedance, said conductive elements including at least a pair of mating portions which have surfaces shaped to provide intermating to form a junction, with means on the ends thereof operable to effect a transverse displacement of the surface of said portions altering the spacing between said elements in proportion to the extent of axial mating of the portions and any corresponding alteration in transverse dimension of the surfaces of the portions at said junction whereby to provide an automatic compensation for gaps created at said junction, said means comprising a cam surface on one mating portion and a lip on a second mating portion, the second mating portion having spring means biasing said lip to engage said cam surface so as to directly displace the surface of said second mating portion transversely in proportion to the position of said lip on said cam surface relative to the length axis of the mating portions.

Claim 6

In a connector for use with high frequency transmission line of the type comprised of conductors spaced apart to define a given characteristic impedance, said connector incLuding corresponding conductive elements spaced apart to define essentially said given characteristic impedance, said conductive elements including at least a pair of mating portions which have surfaces shaped to provide intermating to form a junction, with means on the ends thereof operable to effect a transverse displacement of the surface of said portions altering the spacing between said elements in proportion to the extent of axial mating of the portions and any corresponding alteration in transverse dimension of the surfaces of the portions at said junction whereby to provide an automatic compensation for gaps created at said junction, said means comprising a cam surface on one mating portion and a lip on a second mating portion, the second mating portion having spring means biasing said lip to engage said cam surface so as to directly displace the surface of said second mating portion transversely in proportion to the position of said lip on said cam surface relative to the length axis of the mating portions.

Claim 7

In a connector for use with high frequency transmission line of the type comprised of conductors spaced apart to define a given characteristic impedance, said connector including corresponding conductive elements spaced apart to define essentially said given characteristic impedance, said conductive elements including at least a pair of mating portions which have surfaces shaped to provide intermating to form a junction, with means one the ends thereof operable to effect a transverse displacement of the surface of said portions altering the spacing between said elements in proportion to the extent of axial mating of the portions and any corresponding alteration in transverse dimension of the surfaces of the portions at said junction whereby to provide an automatic compensation for gaps created at said junction, said means comprising a cam surface on one of said mating portions extended generally outwardly from the longitudinal center of said connector with another of said mating portions including a lip extending inwardly in a position to ride on said cam surface, the said other portion having spring means to bias said lip against said cam surface so as to cause said other portion to respond dimensionally to the position of said lip on said cam surface.

Claim 8

In a connector for use with high frequency transmission line of the type comprised of conductors spaced apart to define a given characteristic impedance, said connector including corresponding conductive elements spaced apart to define essentially said given characteristic impedance, said conductive elements including at least a pair of mating portions which have surfaces shaped to provide intermating to form a junction, with means one the ends thereof operable to effect a transverse displacement of the surface of said portions altering the spacing between said elements in proportion to the extent of axial mating of the portions and any corresponding alteration in transverse dimension of the surfaces of the portions at said junction whereby to provide an automatic compensation for gaps created at said junction, said means comprising a cam surface on one of said mating portions extended generally outwardly from the longitudinal center of said connector with another of said mating portions including a lip extending inwardly in a position to ride on said cam surface, the said other portion having spring means to bias said lip against said cam surface so as to cause said other portion to respond dimensionally to the position of said lip on said cam surface.

Claim 9

In a connector for use with high frequency transmission line of the type comprised of conductors spaced apart to define a given characteristic impedance, said connector including corresponding conductive elements spaced apart to define essentially said given characteristic impedance, said conductive elements including at least a pair of mating portions which have surfaces shaped to provide intermating to form a junction, with means on the ends thereof operable to effect a transverse displacement of the surface of said portions altering the spacing between said elements in proportion to the extent of axial mating of the portions and any corresponding alteration in transverse dimension of the surfaces of the portions at said junction whereby to provide an automatic compensation for gaps created at said junction, said means comprising a cam surface on one of said mating portions directed generally inwardly toward the longitudinal center of said connector and another of said mating portions includes a lip directed generally outwardly, with said other portion including spring means to bias said lip into engagement with said cam surface and alter the transverse dimensional configuration of said other portion in proportion to the relative axial position of the mating portions.

Claim 10

In a connector for use with high frequency transmission line of the type comprised of conductors spaced apart to define a given characteristic impedance, said connector including corresponding conductive elements spaced apart to define essentially said given characteristic impedance, said conductive elements including at least a pair of mating portions which have surfaces shaped to provide intermating to form a junction, with means on the ends thereof operable to effect a transverse displacement of the surface of said portions altering the spacing between said elements in proportion to the extent of axial mating of the portions and any corresponding alteration in transverse dimension of the surfaces of the portions at said junction whereby to provide an automatic compensation for gaps created at said junction, said means comprising a cam surface on one of said mating portions directed generally inwardly toward the longitudinal center of said connector and another of said mating portions includes a lip directed generally outwardly, with said other portion including spring means to bias said lip into engagement with said cam surface and alter the transverse dimensional configuration of said other portion in proportion to the relative axial position of the mating portions.