US6488545B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical signal interconnect assembly
Assignee: Tektronix Inc
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Filing: 2001-09-14
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Granted: 2002-12-03
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Expires: 2021-09-14
Abstract
Abstract An electrical signal interconnect assembly has first and second high speed coaxial interconnects with each interconnect having a male and female side. One of the male and female side of the first interconnect is floatably mounted on the assembly with the other side mounted on an electrical instrument. The second coaxial interconnect is mounted on a mechanical alignment facility having coarse and fine mechanical alignment portions with the coarse mechanical alignment portion including a closely mating pocket and body. One of the male and female side of the interconnect is mounted on the pocket with the other side mounted on the body. One of the pocket and body is mounted on the interconnect assembly and the other of the pocket and body is mounted on the electrical instrument. A coaxial cable electrically connects the two coaxial interconnects together in the interconnect assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel B. Meyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:31
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R24/00; H01R24/38; H01R24/40; H01R24/54; H01R24/547; H01R2103/00; H01R2201/00; H01R2201/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
324 words
An electrical signal interconnect assembly comprising: first and second high speed coaxial interconnects with each coaxial interconnect having a central signal conductor and a surrounding shield conductor, each of the coaxial interconnects having a male side including a male shield contact mateable with a female side having a shield sleeve defining a chamber including a contact facility having a compliant portion operable to flexibly grip the male shield contact; a panel having a first aperture therein over which one of the male and female mating sides of the first coaxial interconnect is selected and floatingly attached to one side of the panel; a mechanical alignment facility having coarse and fine mechanical alignment portions with the coarse mechanical alignment portion including a closely mating pocket and body wherein the pocket has a rim and a floor recessed below the rim such that the rim provides a first angular displacement limit of the body, and the fine mechanical alignment portion including a notch defined in one of the pocket and body and a key closely mating with the notch defined in the other of the pocket and body such that the notch provides a second angular displacement limit of the body, with one of the male and female mating sides of the second coaxial interconnect selected and attached to one of the pocket and body; the panel having a second aperture over which the mechanical alignment facility is attached on the same side of the panel as the first coaxial interconnect; and a coaxial cable having a cental signal conductor and a surrounding shield conductor with the cental signal conductor and the surrounding shield conductor at one end of the coaxial cable attached to one of the coaxial interconnects on the opposing side of the panel and the cental signal conductor and the surrounding shield conductor at one other end of the coaxial cable attached to other coaxial interconnect on the opposing side of the panel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
324 words
An electrical signal interconnect assembly comprising: first and second high speed coaxial interconnects with each coaxial interconnect having a central signal conductor and a surrounding shield conductor, each of the coaxial interconnects having a male side including a male shield contact mateable with a female side having a shield sleeve defining a chamber including a contact facility having a compliant portion operable to flexibly grip the male shield contact; a panel having a first aperture therein over which one of the male and female mating sides of the first coaxial interconnect is selected and floatingly attached to one side of the panel; a mechanical alignment facility having coarse and fine mechanical alignment portions with the coarse mechanical alignment portion including a closely mating pocket and body wherein the pocket has a rim and a floor recessed below the rim such that the rim provides a first angular displacement limit of the body, and the fine mechanical alignment portion including a notch defined in one of the pocket and body and a key closely mating with the notch defined in the other of the pocket and body such that the notch provides a second angular displacement limit of the body, with one of the male and female mating sides of the second coaxial interconnect selected and attached to one of the pocket and body; the panel having a second aperture over which the mechanical alignment facility is attached on the same side of the panel as the first coaxial interconnect; and a coaxial cable having a cental signal conductor and a surrounding shield conductor with the cental signal conductor and the surrounding shield conductor at one end of the coaxial cable attached to one of the coaxial interconnects on the opposing side of the panel and the cental signal conductor and the surrounding shield conductor at one other end of the coaxial cable attached to other coaxial interconnect on the opposing side of the panel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
The electrical signal interconnect assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a bushing supported over the first panel aperture by a flexible spring member with the bushing having an aperture formed therein for receiving the selected male and female side of the first coaxial interconnect and having opposing flanges formed adjacent to the bushing aperture that extend through the first panel aperture and receive a securing member to mount the bushing to the panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical signal interconnect assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a housing attached to the opposing side of the panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The electrical signal interconnect assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein the housing further comprises a base having depending sidewalls positioned against the opposing side of the panel and cantilever spring members disposed on the base with each cantilever spring member having a fixed end attached to the base a flexible free end with the free ends defining an aperture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrical signal interconnect assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein the cantilever spring members receive and hold an adapter within the aperture formed at flexible free ends.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrical signal interconnect assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein the cantilever spring members extend above the base in a direction opposite the sidewalls.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The electrical signal interconnect assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein the base includes an aperture formed therein with the cantilever spring members disposed adjacent to the aperture and extending below the base in the same direction as the sidewalls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrical signal interconnect assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein the cantilever spring members are integrally formed with the housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrical signal interconnect assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second interconnects are blind mating interconnects.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The electrical signal interconnect assembly as recited in claim 1 including an electrical instrument to which associated mating sides of the coaxial interconnects and one of the pocket and body are mounted.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrical signal interconnect assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein the female mating sides of the interconnects are connected to the instrument.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The electrical signal interconnect assembly as recited in claim 1 including a separate electronic data interconnect having a first side connected to the pocket and a second side connected to the body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The electrical signal interconnect assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein at least one side of the data interconnect includes compliant contacts operable to contact a corresponding set of contacts on the other side, over a range of depths with which the body is inserted into the pocket.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrical signal interconnect assembly as recited in claim 13 where one side of the data interconnect includes pogo pins, and wherein the other side includes a fixed contact surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrical signal interconnect assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein the compliant contact are contained within the pocket.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
431 words
An apparatus comprising: first and second high speed coaxial interconnects with each coaxial interconnect having a central signal conductor and a surrounding shield conductor, each of the coaxial interconnects having a male side including a male shield contact mateable with a female side having a shield sleeve defining a chamber including a contact facility having a compliant portion operable to flexibly grip the male shield contact; a measurement instrument having an instrument panel with a first aperture therein in which one of the male and female sides of the first coaxial interconnect is selected and attached to the instrument panel; a mechanical alignment facility having coarse and fine mechanical alignment portions with the coarse mechanical alignment portion including a closely mating pocket and body wherein the pocket has a rim and a floor recessed below the rim and wherein one side of the second coaxial interconnect is connected to the floor such that the rim provides a first angular displacement limit of the body, and the fine mechanical alignment portion including a notch defined in one of the pocket and body and a key closely mating with the notch defined in the other of the pocket and body such that the notch provides a second angular displacement limit of the body, with one of the pocket and body selected and attached to the instrument panel and one of the male and female sides of the second coaxial interconnect selected and attached to the selected pocket and body; a signal routing adapter having a panel with a first aperture therein over which the other of the male and female side of the first coaxial interconnect is selected and floatingly attached to one side of the panel; the panel having a second aperture over which the other of the pocket and body of the mechanical alignment facility is attached on the same side of the panel as the first coaxial interconnect; and a coaxial cable having a cental signal conductor and a surrounding shield conductor with the cental signal conductor and the surrounding shield conductor at one end of the coaxial cable attached to one of the coaxial interconnects on the opposing side of the panel and the cental signal conductor and the surrounding shield conductor at one other end of the coaxial cable attached to other coaxial interconnect on the opposing side of the panel; whereby the coarse and fine mechanical alignment portions of the mechanical alignment facility and the male and female sides of the first and second coaxial interconnects of the signal routing adapter and the instrument panel mate together.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
431 words
An apparatus comprising: first and second high speed coaxial interconnects with each coaxial interconnect having a central signal conductor and a surrounding shield conductor, each of the coaxial interconnects having a male side including a male shield contact mateable with a female side having a shield sleeve defining a chamber including a contact facility having a compliant portion operable to flexibly grip the male shield contact; a measurement instrument having an instrument panel with a first aperture therein in which one of the male and female sides of the first coaxial interconnect is selected and attached to the instrument panel; a mechanical alignment facility having coarse and fine mechanical alignment portions with the coarse mechanical alignment portion including a closely mating pocket and body wherein the pocket has a rim and a floor recessed below the rim and wherein one side of the second coaxial interconnect is connected to the floor such that the rim provides a first angular displacement limit of the body, and the fine mechanical alignment portion including a notch defined in one of the pocket and body and a key closely mating with the notch defined in the other of the pocket and body such that the notch provides a second angular displacement limit of the body, with one of the pocket and body selected and attached to the instrument panel and one of the male and female sides of the second coaxial interconnect selected and attached to the selected pocket and body; a signal routing adapter having a panel with a first aperture therein over which the other of the male and female side of the first coaxial interconnect is selected and floatingly attached to one side of the panel; the panel having a second aperture over which the other of the pocket and body of the mechanical alignment facility is attached on the same side of the panel as the first coaxial interconnect; and a coaxial cable having a cental signal conductor and a surrounding shield conductor with the cental signal conductor and the surrounding shield conductor at one end of the coaxial cable attached to one of the coaxial interconnects on the opposing side of the panel and the cental signal conductor and the surrounding shield conductor at one other end of the coaxial cable attached to other coaxial interconnect on the opposing side of the panel; whereby the coarse and fine mechanical alignment portions of the mechanical alignment facility and the male and female sides of the first and second coaxial interconnects of the signal routing adapter and the instrument panel mate together.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein the signal routing adapter further comprising a bushing supported over the first panel aperture by a flexible spring member with the bushing having an aperture formed therein for receiving the selected male and female side of the first coaxial interconnect and having opposing flanges formed adjacent to the bushing aperture that extend through thee first panel aperture and receive a securing member to mount the bushing to the panel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein the signal routing adapter further comprising a housing attached to the opposing side of the panel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein the housing further comprises a base having depending sidewalls positioned against the opposing side of the panel and cantilever spring members disposed on the base with each cantilever spring member having a fixed end attached to the base a flexible free end with the free ends defining an aperture.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein the cantilever spring members receive and hold an adapter within the aperture formed at flexible free ends.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein the cantilever spring members extend above the base in a direction opposite the sidewalls.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein the base includes an aperture formed therein with the cantilever spring members disposed adjacent to the aperture and extending below the base in the same direction as the sidewalls.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein the cantilever spring members are integrally formed with the housing.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein the first and second interconnects are blind mating interconnects.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 15 including a separate electronic data interconnect having a first side connected to the pocket and a second side connected to the body.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 25 wherein at least one side of the data interconnect includes compliant contacts operable to contact a corresponding set of contacts on the other side, over a range of depths with which the body is inserted into the pocket.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 26 where one side of the data interconnect includes pogo pins, and wherein the other side includes a fixed contact surface.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 26 wherein the compliant contact are contained within the pocket.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-12-02 | 2006-06-03 | 2006-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-12-02 | 2010-06-03 | 2010-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-12-02 | 2014-06-03 | 2014-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |