Coaxial connector assembly

Claim 2

A coaxial connector assembly for attachment to a printed circuit board, the assembly comprising: a monolithic structure forming an outer housing and a plurality of insulators positioned within the housing; a plurality of longitudinal signal contacts, one of the plurality of signal contacts coaxially located within a corresponding one of the plurality of insulators, each of the signal contacts including a mating end for connecting to a reciprocal connector and a terminal end for connecting to the printed circuit board; and a plurality of longitudinal shield tubes, one of the plurality of shield tubes surrounding a corresponding one of the plurality of insulators and concentrically positioned about each of the signal contacts therein.

Claim 3

The coaxial connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of insulators are integrally formed with each other.

Claim 4

The coaxial connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mating end of the signal contact has a circular cross section.

Claim 5

The coaxial connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shield tubes are slidably mounted on their corresponding insulators.

Claim 6

The coaxial connector assembly of claim 1 , further comprising anti-stubbing barriers between adjacent insulators.

Claim 7

The coaxial connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing and insulator are formed from a dielectric material.

Claim 8

The coaxial connector assembly of claim 6 , wherein the dielectric constant of the housing and insulator is substantially the same as the dielectric constant of a substrate forming the printed circuit board.

Claim 9

The coaxial connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shield tubes extend over the entire length of the signal contacts.

Claim 10

The coaxial connector assembly of claim 8 , wherein each of the shield tubes includes a hood adjacent the terminal end of the signal contact to form surface mountable legs.

Claim 11

The coaxial connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the terminal end of the signal contact includes a flat surface for mating with the printed circuit board.

Claim 12

The coaxial connector assembly of claim 10 , wherein the terminal ends of the signal contacts are substantially rectangular in cross-section.

Claim 13

The coaxial connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of integrally formed insulators are connected to the housing by an integrally formed web member.

Claim 14

The coaxial connector assembly of claim 12 , wherein the web has a thickness of less than ¼ wavelength of the highest frequency for which the connector assembly is designed.

Claim 15

A coaxial connector assembly for attachment to a printed circuit board, the assembly comprising: a monolithic structure forming a plurality of insulators and web members, each of the plurality of insulators spaced from at least one adjacent insulator by one of said web members; a plurality of longitudinal signal contacts, one of the plurality of signal contacts coaxially located within a corresponding one of the plurality of insulators, each of the signal contacts including a mating end for connecting to a reciprocal connector and a terminal end for connecting to the printed circuit board; and a plurality of longitudinal shield tubes, one of the plurality of shield tubes surrounding a corresponding one of the plurality of insulators and concentrically positioned about each of the signal contacts therein.

Claim 16

A coaxial connector assembly for attachment to a printed circuit board, the assembly comprising: a monolithic structure forming a plurality of insulators and web members, each of the plurality of insulators spaced from at least one adjacent insulator by one of said web members; a plurality of longitudinal signal contacts, one of the plurality of signal contacts coaxially located within a corresponding one of the plurality of insulators, each of the signal contacts including a mating end for connecting to a reciprocal connector and a terminal end for connecting to the printed circuit board; and a plurality of longitudinal shield tubes, one of the plurality of shield tubes surrounding a corresponding one of the plurality of insulators and concentrically positioned about each of the signal contacts therein.

Claim 17

The coaxial connector assembly of claim 14 , further comprising anti-stubbing barriers between adjacent insulators.

Claim 18

The coaxial connector assembly of claim 14 , wherein the dielectric constant of the insulators is substantially the same as the dielectric constant of a substrate forming the printed circuit board.

Claim 19

The coaxial connector assembly of claim 14 , further comprising an external housing surrounding the plurality of insulators.

Claim 20

The coaxial connector assembly of claim 17 , wherein the external housing is integrally formed with the plurality of insulators.

Claim 21

The coaxial connector assembly of claim 14 , wherein the terminal end of the signal contact includes a flat surface for mating with the printed circuit board.

Claim 22

The coaxial connector assembly of claim 19 , wherein the flat surfaces of each of the plurality of signal contacts are coplanar.