Shielded attachment of coaxial RF connector to thick film integrally shielded transmission line on a substrate

摘要

A solution to the problem of connecting a merchant straight through coaxial RF connector to an quasi-coaxial transmission line formed on the substrate of a hybrid is to, if necessary, gradually increase the height of the center conductor of the quasi-coaxial transmission line by increasing the thickness of underlying deposited dielectric until the center conductor of the transmission line matches the position of the center conductor of the connector, which two may then be joined with solder or conductive adhesive. One style of coaxial RF connector of interest has four prongs disposed in a rectangle around the center conductor on the permanent and non-threaded side. Two of the prongs define a long side of a rectangle and may be soldered or otherwise attached to the substrate with conductive adhesive, and the two prongs that define the long side closest to the center conductor can support a small cover that physically bridges and electrically shields the gap between the connector and the end of the quasi-coaxial transmission line. The cover provides complete shielding and assists in minimizing the discontinuity in characteristic impedance caused by the transition between the connector and the quasi-coaxial transmission line.