Card Edge Electrical Connector

This invention relates generally to connectors and more specifically to connectors of the card edge type.

In radio systems, a radio-frequency (RF) contact is often coupled to circuitry on a substrate having the thickness of an ordinary credit card. In addition, such contacts may require connectors that allow quick connection and disconnection with low insertion loss. Insertion loss results from poor impedance matching between the RF contact and the circuitry. Therefore, a connector providing a good impedance match between an RF contact (e.g., a coaxial cable) and a circuit on a substrate is needed.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connector that may be used to couple a radio frequency contact to a circuit on a thin substrate with low insertion loss.

Briefly, according to the invention, a connector comprises a connector member and a coaxial cable coupled to the connector member. The connector member includes at least one electrical contact and a slot for receiving a card-shaped object and the coaxial cable includes a central conductor, providing an electrical contact for the connector member, and a shield, coupled, with an electrical contact of the connector member, to ground potential.

FIG. 1 shows a connector in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the rear portion of the connector.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section of a coaxial cable that may be used with the connector.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the connector.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the connector.

Referring to FIG. 1, a connector 10 in accordance with the present invention is shown. The connector 10 includes a main body 12 having a slot 16 for receiving a card-shaped object (or card) 14. The main body 12 may be a commercially-available card edge connector. The card-shaped object 14 may be a printed circuit board or another connecting means; it includes a conducting strip 22 (a hidden groundstrip can be provided for a microstrip), in this embodiment. The connector 10 also comprises a plurality of electrical contacts 18 that are aligned with the corresponding electrical contacts (not shown) on the card 14. A coaxial cable 20 is coupled to the main body 12 to provide or receive signals (e.g., an RF signal). The coaxial cable may be a commercially-available 50 Ohm semi-rigid round cable (preferably having a diameter of 0.141 in.).

Referring to FIG. 2, the rear portion of the main body 12 is shown. A hole 26 (preferably having a 9/64 in. diameter) is drilled into the rear portion of the main body 12 for receiving an end of the cable 20. A plurality of connectors 24 extend from the rear of the body 12 for providing interconnections to contacts 18. In the event that a standard card edge connector is used two of the connectors 24 may be removed to provide the required area for drilling the hole 26.

Referring to FIG. 3, a lengthwise cross section of the cable 20 is shown. A central conductor 30 is located within an insulating layer 32 (preferably polytetrafluoroethelyne) surrounds the central conductor 30. A shield 28 (preferably a copper jacket) surrounds the insulating layer 32. An end 34 of the cable 20 has been prepared for insertion into the hole 26 by stripping away a portion of the shield 28 and a portion of the insulating layer 32, thus exposing a portion of the central conductor 30 so that it may be coupled to a corresponding contact on the card 14 when that card is inserted into the slot 16.

Referring to FIG. 4, a view of the front of the main body 12 is shown. From this view, one may appreciate how the contacts 18 may be coupled to contacts on a card or other thin substrate. Part of the end 34 of the cable 20 is visible through the slot 16. A pair of connections 36 are made from the shield 28 to a pair of contacts 19 (designed to be at ground potential). The other contacts 18 may be used to make various other connections. The connections 36 also provide at least part of the mechanical attachment between the main body 12 and the cable 20.

Referring to FIG. 5, a top view of the main body 12 of the connector 10 is shown. The cable 20 is connected to the main body by inserting the end 34 with stripped portions into the hole 26. The connectors 24 are each connected to a contact 18 on the opposite side of the main body 12. These connectors may be used to provide alternating or direct signals or additional RF signals. Slimness of the main body is maintained by avoiding the need for a bulky connector on the card 14. In addition, the manner of connecting the cable 20 to the main body 12, just described, provides a good impedance match, thus lowering the insertion loss.