Shielded and grounded connector system for coaxial cables

Claim 2

A coaxial cable termination system, comprising a coaxial cable terminator including a coaxial cable having signal and shield conductors and insulation separating said conductors, an electrical contact electrically connected to said signal conductor, said electrical contact having contacting means for electrically connecting with an external member inserted to engagement with respect thereto, and a strain relief for holding together said coaxial cable and electrical contact; electrically conductive housing means having a first opening for receiving therein from one end said terminator to hold the same in position to make electrical connection with an external member inserted into said housing means to engage said electrical contact; and insulator means having a tube-like portion insertable into said first opening in said housing means from the opposite end for covering at least a part of said contacting means of said electrical contact to insulate said contacting means from said housing means within said first opening, said housing means having a second opening, and said insulator means including a front wall portion integral with said tube-like portion, said front wall portion overlying a surface of said housing means at said opposite end and including first and second opening means for providing access from said opposite end to said first and second openings, respectively.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1, said tube-like portion of said insulator means being open at said opposite end to receive insertion therein of an external member for engagement with said contacting means.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1, said insulator means comprising guide means for guiding an external member to proper alignment with respect to said contacting means.

Claim 5

The system in claim 1, said signal conductor being soldered or welded to said electrical contact.

Claim 6

The system of claim 1, said insulator means and the relative positions of said electrical contact and housing means being related substantially to match the characteristic impedance of said terminator to said coaxial cable.

Claim 7

The system of claim 1, said housing means being an unitary die cast body of electrically conductive material.

Claim 8

The system of claim 1, said first opening being of relatively large cross section throughout the major extent thereof in said housing means for effectively narrowing the entrance to said first opening for such external member.

Claim 9

The system of claim 7, said contacting means comprising plural bowed contacting portions that are resiliently deformable, said contacting portions being supported at opposite end portions thereof, the leading end portions being supported by said insulator means.

Claim 10

The system of claim 1, comprising shield terminator means for electrically coupling said shield conductor to said housing means.

Claim 11

The system of claim 9, said shield terminator means comprising a hollow tubular member for electrically engaging said shield conductor and a wall of said housing means within said first opening.

Claim 12

The system of claim 10, said hollow tubular member having a stepped wall configuration for engaging both an end face of said housing means proximate said first opening thereof and a wall of said housing means within said first opening.

Claim 13

The system of claim 11, said strain relief being molded to at least part of said shield terminator means and electrical contact.

Claim 14

The system of claim 11, said shield terminator means being soldered or welded to said shield conductor.

Claim 15

The system of claim 1, further comprising ground means in said housing means to connect electrically said housing means to an external member.

Claim 16

The system of claim 14, said ground means being positioned in said second opening.

Claim 17

The system of claim 15, said ground means comprising a ground contact press fit into said second opening and exposed at an end of said second opening to permit insertion of a pin contact with respect thereto.

Claim 18

The system of claim 15, said ground means comprising a ground contact, said ground contact having a bow contact means for contacting a member inserted with respect thereto and support means for supporting said bow contact means.

Claim 19

A coaxial cable termination system comprising a coaxial cable terminator including a coaxial cable having signal and shield conductors and insulation separating said conductors, an electrical contact electrically connected to said signal conductor, said electrical contact having contacting means for electrically connecting with an external member inserted to engagement therewith, and a strain relief for holding said coaxial cable and electrical contact together; housing means having a terminator opening for receiving therein said terminator to hold the same in position to make electrical connection with an external member inserted into said housing means to engage said electrical contact, said housing means being electrically conductive and having a ground opening therein, ground means positioned in said ground opening for electrically connecting said housing means to an external member, said ground means including a ground contact, said ground contact having bow contact means for contacting a member inserted to engagement therewith, support means for supporting said bow contact means, and sharp edge means for biting into a wall of said ground opening to secure said ground contact in said ground opening; and insulator means insertable into said terminator opening in said housing means for covering at least part of said contacting means of said electrical contact to insulate said contacting means from said housing means within said terminator opening.

Claim 20

A coaxial cable termination system comprising a coaxial cable terminator including a coaxial cable having signal and shield conductors and insulation separating said conductors, an electrical contact electrically connected to said signal conductor, said electrical contact having contacting means for electrically connecting with an external member inserted to engagement therewith, and a strain relief for holding said coaxial cable and electrical contact together; housing means having a terminator opening for receiving therein said terminator to hold the same in position to make electrical connection with an external member inserted into said housing means to engage said electrical contact, said housing means being electrically conductive and having a ground opening therein, ground means positioned in said ground opening for electrically connecting said housing means to an external member, said ground means including a ground contact, said ground contact having bow contact means for contacting a member inserted to engagement therewith, support means for supporting said bow contact means, and sharp edge means for biting into a wall of said ground opening to secure said ground contact in said ground opening; and insulator means insertable into said terminator opening in said housing means for covering at least part of said contacting means of said electrical contact to insulate said contacting means from said housing means within said terminator opening.

Claim 21

The system of claim 18, said ground opening including two ground contacts with respective bow contact means facing each other to define a contacting area therebetween.

Claim 22

A coaxial cable termination system comprising a plurality of coaxial cable terminators each including a coaxial cable having signal and shield conductors and insulation separating said conductors, an electrical contact electrically connected to said signal conductor, said electrical contact having a contacting portion for electrically connecting with an external member inserted to engagement therewith, and a strain relief body molded directly to at least part of said coaxial cable and electrical contact for holding the same in relatively fixed positions with respect to each other; housing means having a plurality of terminator openings for receiving therein from one end respective ones of said terminators to hold the same in position to make electrical connection with respective external members inserted into said housing means to engage the electrical contacts of said terminators, said housing means being electrically conductive and having a ground opening therein; ground means positioned in said ground opening for electrically connecting said housing means to an external member; and protective insulator means for covering at least part of said contacting portion, said insulator means including a plurality of tube-like portions insertable into said terminator openings in said housing means from the opposite end.

Claim 23

A coaxial cable termination system comprising a plurality of coaxial cable terminators each including a coaxial cable having signal and shield conductors and insulation separating said conductors, an electrical contact electrically connected to said signal conductor, said electrical contact having a contacting portion for electrically connecting with an external member inserted to engagement therewith, and a strain relief body molded directly to at least part of said coaxial cable and electrical contact for holding the same in relatively fixed positions with respect to each other; housing means having a plurality of terminator openings for receiving therein from one end respective ones of said terminators to hold the same in position to make electrical connection with respective external members inserted into said housing means to engage the electrical contacts of said terminators, said housing means being electrically conductive and having a ground opening therein; ground means positioned in said ground opening for electrically connecting said housing means to an external member; and protective insulator means for covering at least part of said contacting portion, said insulator means including a plurality of tube-like portions insertable into said terminator openings in said housing means from the opposite end.

Claim 24

The system of claim 20, said insulator means comprising plural discrete insulators.

Claim 25

The system of claim 20, said insulator means comprising plural tube-like portions, each integrally coupled to a common front wall of said insulator means.

Claim 26

A coaxial cable termination system, comprising a coaxial cable terminator including a coaxial cable having signal and shield conductors and insulation separating said conductors, an electrical contact electrically connected to said signal conductor, said electrical contact having contacting means for electrically connecting with an external member inserted to engagement with respect thereto, and a strain relief for holding together said coaxial cable and electrical contact; electrically conductive housing means having a terminator opening for receiving therein from one end said terminator to hold the same in position to make electrical connection with an external member inserted into said housing means to engage said electrical contact; and insulator means having a tube-like portion insertable into said opening in said housing means from the opposite end for covering at least a part of said contacting means of said electrical contact to insulate said contacting means from said housing means within said opening; said housing means having a front wall surface at said opposite end of said opening, said insulator means including a front wall portion with said tube-like portion, said front wall portion overlying said front wall surface of said housing means at said opposite end of said opening and including opening means for providing access to said opening.

Claim 27

A coaxial cable termination system, comprising a coaxial cable terminator including a coaxial cable having signal and shield conductors and insulation separating said conductors, an electrical contact electrically connected to said signal conductor, said electrical contact having contacting means for electrically connecting with an external member inserted to engagement with respect thereto, and a strain relief for holding together said coaxial cable and electrical contact; electrically conductive housing means having a terminator opening for receiving therein from one end said terminator to hold the same in position to make electrical connection with an external member inserted into said housing means to engage said electrical contact; and insulator means having a tube-like portion insertable into said opening in said housing means from the opposite end for covering at least a part of said contacting means of said electrical contact to insulate said contacting means from said housing means within said opening; said housing means having a front wall surface at said opposite end of said opening, said insulator means including a front wall portion with said tube-like portion, said front wall portion overlying said front wall surface of said housing means at said opposite end of said opening and including opening means for providing access to said opening.

Claim 28

The system of claim 23, comprising shield terminator means for electrically coupling said shield conductor to said housing means.

Claim 29

The system of claim 24, said shield terminator means comprising a hollow tubular member for electrically engaging said shield conductor and a wall of said housing means within said opening.

Claim 30

The system of claim 25, said hollow tubular member having a stepped wall configuration for engaging both an end face of said housing means proximate said opening thereof and a wall of said housing means within said opening.

Claim 31

The system of claim 25, said strain relief being molded to at least part of said shield terminator means and electrical contact.

Claim 32

The system of claim 25, said housing means having a locking detent in said opening, and said terminator having a stepped portion for cooperating with said locking detent to secure the terminator in said opening.

Claim 33

The system of claim 25, said shield terminator means being soldered or welded to said shield conductor.

Claim 34

The system of claim 23, said insulator means and the relative positions of said electrical contact and said housing means being related substantially to match the characteristic impedance of said coaxial cable.

Claim 35

The system of claim 23, said housing means being formed as one part, said opening having one cross-sectional shape at one end and a different cross-sectional shape at the opposite end.

Claim 36

The system of claim 23, said opening being of relatively large cross section throughout the major extent thereof in said housing means, and said insulator means including guide means for effectively narrowing the entrance to said opening for such external member.

Claim 37

The system of claim 23, said insulator means comprising guide means for guiding an external member to proper alignment with respect to said contacting means;

Claim 38

The system of claim 33, said contacting means comprising plural bowed contacting portions that are resiliently deformable, said contacting portions being supported at opposite end portions thereof, the leading end portions being supported by said insulator means.

Claim 39

The system of claim 23, said housing means being a unitary die cast body of electrically conductive material.

Claim 40

The system of claim 23, said housing means having plural openings therethrough for receiving therein respective terminators.

Claim 41

The system of claim 36, further comprising shroud means for shielding a plurality of electrical contacts arranged on a pin field, said terminators and housing means being capable of being plugged onto such electrical contacts in said pin field within said shroud means.

Claim 42

The system of claim 23, further comprising ground means in said housing means to connect electrically said housing means to an external member.

Claim 43

The system of claim 38, said housing means having a ground opening, and said ground means comprising a ground contact press fit into said ground opening and exposed at an end of said ground opening to permit insertion of a pin contact with respect thereto.

Claim 44

The system of claim 39, said ground means comprising a ground contact, said ground contact having a bow contact means for contacting a member inserted with respect thereto and support means for supporting said bow contact means.

Claim 45

The system of claim 38, said housing means having plural terminator openings for receiving therein respective said terminators and for permitting external members to be inserted to electrical engagement with respect to respective terminators, said ground means including a ground contact positioned in said housing means and surrounded by a plurality of said terminators.

Claim 46

The system of claim 41, wherein a plurality of terminators are circumferentially equally spaced about said ground contact.

Claim 47

The system of claim 42, wherein said ground means including a plurality of ground contacts each surrounded by plural terminators.

Claim 48

The system of claim 43, wherein said housing means has received therein nine terminators and four ground contacts each surrounded by a different grouping of four of said nine terminators.

Claim 49

The system of claim 23, said opening having an oval multicurved configuration substantially to maintain relative spacing of said contacting means and housing means to provide impedance matching relative to said coaxial cable.

Claim 50

The system of claim 23, said cable being approximately 50 ohm coax, said electrical contact being operative to mate electrically with 0.025 inch pin contacts.

Claim 51

The system of claim 23, further comprising electrically conductive plating material in at least part of said opening to enhance the electrical connection between said terminator and said housing means.

Claim 52

The system of claim 23, said housing means having plural openings therethrough for receiving therein respective terminators, and said insulator means including plural tube-like portions inserted into respective ones of said plural openings and integrally coupled to a common front wall of said insulator means.