Self-terminating electrical connector

Claim 1

A self-terminating electrical connector adapted to conduct an electrical signal when mated to a mating connector, said mating connector having a mating connector body and a mating center conductor, and terminate said signal by providing an appropriate impedance upon disengagement of said mating connector, said electrical connector comprising: a connector body having a front body face formed as a connector port, and a rear body face, said rear body face being adapted to connect to a coaxial signal source; a center conductor coaxially mounted within, and electrically isolated from, said connector body; a terminating resistor having a first resistor face and a second resistor face, said second resistor face being in conductive contact with said connector body; a conductive spring having a first spring end and a second spring end, said second spring end being in conductive contact with said first resistor face; said first spring end having a sloped surface movable between a first spring position, in which said first spring end is in conductive contact with said center conductor, and a second spring position, in which contact between said first spring end and said center conductor is interrupted; and a slidable plunger formed of an insulative material, coaxially mounted on said center conductor proximal to said front body face, said plunger having a sloped mating surface adapted to mate with said first spring end, said plunger being movable against force of said conductive spring, between a forward position and a rearward position, forward movement of said plunger being limited by a stop; whereby insertion of a mating connector into said front body face of said connector body causes electrical contact between said connector body and a mating connector body of said mating connector, and between said center conductor and a mating center conductor of said mating connector, said insertion further causing rearward movement of said plunger, whereby said sloped mating surface forces movement of said first spring end to said second spring position, whereby contact between said first spring end and said center conductor is interrupted; and withdrawal of said mating connector from said front body face of said connector body interrupts electrical contact between said connector body and said mating connector body, and between said center conductor and said mating center conductor, said withdrawal further allowing for forward movement of said plunger under force of said conductive spring, to a forward position, whereby said sloped mating surface of said plunger allows movement of said first spring end to said first spring position due to mating between said sloped mating surface of said plunger and said first spring end, wherein contact between said first spring end and said center conductor is re-established and, when said rear body face is connected to said coaxial power source, an impedance is established between said connector body and said center conductor through said resistor and said conductive spring.