RF interconnect with triaxial self-alignment

摘要

An RF interconnect between a printed circuit board and a coaxial connector mounted in a housing is self-aligning along all three major axes. The coaxial connector has a pin connected to its inner conductor that extends beyond the edge of the outer conductor. The outer conductor has an external circumferential groove. The interconnect includes two terminals wherein the first terminal includes a substantially "M" shaped wire formed conductor having five functional segments: two flexible attaching segments near the ends of the wire, two substantially parallel pin contact segments, and a joining segment connecting the pin contact segments. The coaxial connector pin is inserted between the parallel pin contact segments of the wire formed conductor and a clamping force is generated on the pin by the joining segment. The second terminal includes a flat flexible conductor that has a "U" shaped lug at one end and a snap ring at the other end which is inserted into the groove of the coaxial connector. The flexible conductor is attached to the printed circuit board by passing a screw through the opening in the lug and threading it into a plated through hole in the printed circuit board.