Controlled-impedance cable termination using compliant interconnect elements

摘要

An apparatus for terminating a controlled-impedance cable using compliant electrical contacts to provide an interface to another device. The terminator includes a conductive ground block for securing the cable by its ground shield and providing a common ground. Once the cable is anchored in the ground block, the block face and cable ends are dressed to make a reliable electrical contact with the compliant signal contact that electrically connects the cable center conductor to the device. An insulating or conductive plate mounted to the ground block holds the signal contact and optional ground contacts that electrically connect the ground block to the ground plane of the device. The ground contacts surround the signal contact in a pattern that closely mimics the impedance environment of the cable. When using a conductive plate, the signal contact is insulated from the plate by an insulating centering plug or a non-conductive coating.

主权项

1. A controlled-impedance cable termination comprising:
(a) a ground block composed of an electrically conductive material, said block having a face, at least one cable through hole adapted to receive a controlled-impedance cable, said cable hole having an opening in said face; (b) a plate attached to said face, said plate having a face surface abutting said face and a device surface, said plate including at least one signal through aperture extending between said face surface and said device surface, said signal aperture having a signal block opening adjacent to and aligned with said cable hole opening, said signal aperture having a signal device opening in said device face; and (c) an electrically-conductive compliant signal contact captured within each of said at least one signal aperture, said signal contact having a signal block contact point extending from said signal block opening and a signal device contact point extending from said signal device opening.