5 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a connecting device of a radiofrequency
circuit or component printed on a flexible support to a coaxial cable.
STATE OF THE ART
10 Foot soldiers are now equipped with protective clothing which
incorporates electronic radio communication equipment. This electronic
radio communication equipment generally comprises radiofrequency
components, including especially a radiofrequency antenna of "whip
antenna" type. But, these antennas can be bulky.
15 Also, for them to function effectively, these antennas must be
positioned vertically. In this way, these antennas lose their efficacy as soon
as the soldier is in a prone position.
It would be possible to replace these whip antennas by antennas
integrated into the protective clothing, for example by printing the antenna
20 and the power circuit of the antenna directly onto a part of the clothing, such
as on a piece of fabric. That part of the clothing would thus serve as support
for the antenna and the power circuit.
But, this solution would require designing of a specific mating
connector to electrically connect the electronic communication equipment to
25 the antenna printed on the support.
The design of such a connector is all the more complex since the
support is a flexible support, whereas the connector is necessarily rigid. In
this way, fixing the connector by adhesion or welding directly to the flexible
support would risk causing tearing of the flexible support in the long term.
2
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An aim of the invention is to propose a connecting device adapted
for connecting a radiofrequency circuit or component printed on a flexible
support to a coaxial cable.
35 This aim is achieved in terms of the present invention by way of a
connecting device of a radiofrequency circuit or component printed on a
flexible support to a coaxial cable, comprising:
- a first piece suitable for being arranged against a first face of the
support on which the circuit or the component is printed, the first piece
40 comprising a cavity suitable for housing a coaxial cable connector, a first
opening through which a connecting socket of the connector can extend to
connect the coaxial cable and a second opening through which contact pads
can extend to come into contact with tracks of the radiofrequency circuit,
- a second piece suitable for being arranged against a second face
45 of the support, opposite the first face, and
wherein the first piece and/or the second piece comprises fixing
means for fixing the first piece and the second piece together, the flexible
support being clamped between the first piece and the second piece, so as
to maintain electrical contact between the connector and the printed
50 radiofrequency circuit or component.
As the pieces are fixed to the flexible support by clamping, the
proposed device connects the printed radiofrequency circuit or component
to the coaxial cable without damaging the flexible support.
Also, the proposed device enables use of a standard connector,
55 already qualified for the intended applications.
The device can further have the following characteristics:
- the first piece has a first planar face arranged in contact with the
first face of the support when the first piece is arranged against the first face
of the support,
60 - the second piece has a second planar face arranged in contact
with the second face of the support when the second piece is arranged
against the second face of the support,
3
- the fixing means comprise fastening holes formed in one of the
pieces and attachment pins formed in the other of the pieces and suitable
65 for being inserted into the fastening holes to fix the first piece and the
second piece together,
- the pins extend through the flexible support when the first piece
and the second piece are fixed together, the flexible support being clamped
between the first piece and the second piece,
70 - the device comprises a coaxial cable connector suitable for being
housed in the cavity of the first piece,
- the cable connector comprises a connecting socket for a coaxial
cable for connecting the coaxial cable in a connection direction substantially
parallel to the first face of the support,
75 - the cable connector comprises a threaded surface for screwing the
coaxial cable onto the connector,
- the connector comprises contact pads extending in a direction
substantially perpendicular to the first face of the support and suitable for
coming into contact with tracks of the printed radiofrequency circuit or
80 component,
- the first piece comprises a substantially planar part suitable for
coming into contact with the first face of the support and a bulging part
enclosing the cavity and extending projecting from the planar part, the
bulging part having a curved external surface.
85
PRESENTATION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the following
description which is purely illustrative, and non-limiting, and must be
considered relative to the appended figures, in which:
90 - figure 1 schematically illustrates an antenna array comprising a
printed circuit and a connecting device according to an embodiment of the
invention,
- figure 2 schematically illustrates the different pieces of the
connecting device,
4
95 - figure 3 schematically illustrates a coaxial cable connector of the
connecting device,
- figures 4A to 4D schematically illustrate a first piece of the
connecting device,
- figures 5A to 5C schematically illustrate a second piece of the
100 connecting device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT
In figure 1, the antenna array 1 shown comprises a support 2, an
antenna circuit 3 printed on the support 2 and a connecting device 4 for
105 electrically connecting the printed circuit 3 to a coaxial cable (not shown).
The antenna circuit 3 can include a radiating part forming the antenna and a
power supply part for powering the antenna.
The support 2 has the form of a planar, thin sheet, made of flexible
material, such as fabric or a flexible plastic material (for example polyimide).
110 The support 2 has a first face 5 and a second face 6, opposite the first face.
The circuit 3 comprises one or more conductive tracks printed on
the first face 5 of the support. On the example shown in figure 1, the circuit
3 comprises two conductive tracks 7 and 8 printed on the support 2. Each
conductive track 7, respectively 8, comprises a first end 9, respectively 10,
115 and a second end 11, respectively 12.
The connecting device 4 comprises a coaxial cable connector 13, a
first piece 14 (or interface piece) and a second piece 15 (or counter-piece).
When the device 4 is mounted on the support 2, the first piece 14 is
in contact with the first face 5 of the support 2 and the second piece 15 is in
120 contact with the second face 6 of the support 2. The support 2 is interposed
between the two pieces 14 and 15. The support 2 extends continuously
between the two pieces 14 and 15.
The first piece 14 and the second piece 15 can be made of flexible
plastic material such as rubber, for example. Each of the pieces 14 and 15
125 is made in one single piece of material, for example by moulding.
5
As illustrated in figures 2 and 3, the coaxial cable connector 13 is a
connector having an elbow shape. The connector 13 comprises a body 16,
a connecting socket 17 of a coaxial cable and contact pads 18 to 21.
The connecting socket 17 comprises a tubular part 22 adapted for
130 receiving one end of a coaxial cable in a connection direction X, parallel to
the plane of the support 2. The tubular part 22 has a threaded external
surface for screwing the end of the cable onto the connecting socket 17.
The contact pads 18 to 21 extend projecting from the body 16 in a
direction Y, substantially perpendicular to the connecting direction X of the
135 coaxial cable. In the example illustrated in figure 2, there are four contact
pads 18 to 21.
As illustrated in figures 4A to 4D, the first piece 14 (or interface
piece) is designed to encapsulate the connector 13. For this reason, the first
piece 14 comprises a cavity 23 adapted for housing the connector 13. Also,
140 the first piece 14 comprises a first opening 24 through which the connecting
socket 17 of the connector 13 extends to connect the coaxial cable and a
second opening 25 through which contact pads 18 to 21 extend to come into
contact with tracks of the antenna.
The first opening 24 has a circular shape for passage of the tubular
145 part 22 through the first opening 24.
The first piece 14 further comprises a substantially planar part 26 (or
first plate) having a first planar face 27 intended to come into contact with
the first face 5 of the support 2, and a bulging part 28 extending projecting
from the planar part 26 and enclosing the cavity 23. The bulging part 28 has
150 a curved external surface 29.
The second opening 25 is formed in the first face 27. The second
opening 25 has a substantially rectangular form.
The second opening 25 is configured such that, during assembly of
the connecting device 4, the connector 13 can be inserted into the cavity 23
155 via the second opening 25.
Also, the first piece 14 comprises a plurality of attachment pins 30 to
36 extending projecting from the first face 27.
6
As illustrated in figures 4A to 4C, the second piece 15 (or counterpiece)
comprises a planar part 37 (or second plate) having a second planar
160 face 38 intended to come into contact with the second face 6 of the support
2. The planar part 37 of the second piece 15 has dimensions substantially
identical to the dimensions of the planar part 26 of the first piece 14.
The second piece 15 further comprises fastening holes 40 to 46
formed through the planar part 37.
165 Each attachment pin 30 to 36 of the first piece 14 is suitable for
being inserted into a corresponding fastening hole 40 to 46 of the second
piece 15 to fix the first piece 14 and the second piece 15 together.
The connecting device 4 is mounted on the support 2 as follows.
The connector 13 is first inserted into the cavity 23 of the first piece
170 14 via the second opening 25. For this reason, the connecting socket 17 is
introduced into the cavity 23 via the second opening 25 then is passed
through the first opening 24 so as to project out from the first piece 14.
Once the connector 13 is inserted into the first piece 14, the contact
pads 18 to 21 of the connector 13 project out from the first piece 14 through
175 the second opening 25 to the side of the first face 27.
The first piece 14 is then positioned against the first face 5 of the
support 2. More precisely, the first face 27 of the first piece 14 is in contact
with the first face 5 of the support 2.
The first piece 14 is positioned such that each contact pad 18 to 21
180 is in contact with one end 9 to 12 of a conductive track 7, 8. More precisely,
each contact pad 18, 19, 20 and 21 is in contact with the ends 9, 10, 11 and
12 respectively.
Similarly, the second piece 15 is positioned in contact with the
second face 6 of the support 2. More precisely, the second face 38 of the
185 second piece 15 is in contact with the second face 6 of the support 2.
So the support 2 extends continuously between the two pieces 14
and 15 of the device without being deformed.
Next, the first piece 14 and the second piece 15 are pressed
towards each other such that the attachment pins 30 to 36 of the first piece
7
190 14 pass through the support 2 and are plugged into the fastening holes 40
to 46 of the second piece 15.
The attachment pins 30 to 36 can be inserted by force into the
fastening holes 40 to 46 so as to fix the first piece 14 and the second piece
15 together.
195 Alternatively, the attachment pins 30 to 36 can be crimped in the
fastening holes 40 to 46, once the attachment pins 30 to 36 are inserted in
the fastening holes 40 to 46.
Once the pieces 14 and 15 are fixed to each other, the support 2 is
clamped between the first piece 14 and the second piece 15, maintaining
200 electrical contact between the contact pads 18 to 21 and the conductive
tracks 7 and 8.
For connecting the circuit 3 to electronic communication equipment,
a coaxial connecting cable can be connected to the socket 17.
As the support 2 is clamped between the planar faces 27 and 38 of
205 the two pieces 14 and 15, the proposed connecting device 4 limits the risk
of tearing the support 2 in case of tension applied on the coaxial cable.
Also, due to the curved shape of the bulging part 28, the first piece
14 limits discomfort created by the presence of the connecting device
projecting from the support 2.
210 Finally, the first piece 14 protects the connector 13.
8
ARTICLE 34 AMENDED CLAIMS
I/We Claim:
1. A connecting device (4) of a radiofrequency circuit or component (3)
printed on a flexible support (2) to a coaxial cable, comprising:
-a coaxial cable connector (13) comprising a body (16), a
connecting socket (17) for a coaxial cable adapted for receiving one end of
a coaxial cable in a connection direction (X), and contact pads (18-21)
suitable for coming into contact with tracks (7, 8) of the radiofrequency
circuit or component (3), the contact pads (18-21) extending projecting from
the body (16) in a direction (Y), substantially perpendicular to the connecting
direction (X) of the coaxial cable,
- a first piece (14) suitable for being arranged against a first face (5)
of the support (2) on which the circuit or the component (3) is printed, the
first piece (14) comprising a cavity (23) housing the coaxial cable connector
(13), a first opening (24) through which the connecting socket (17) of the
connector (13) extends and a second opening (25) through which the
contact pads (18-21) of the connector (13) extend,
- a second piece (15) suitable for being arranged against a second
face (6) of the support (2), opposite the first face, and
wherein the first piece (14) and/or the second piece (15) comprises
fixing means (30-36, 40-46) for fixing the first piece (14) and the second
piece (15) together, the flexible support (2) being clamped between the first
piece (14) and the second piece (15) so as to maintain electrical contact
between the connector (13) and the circuit or component (3).
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first piece (14) has a first
planar face (27) arranged in contact with the first face (5) of the support (2)
when the first piece (14) is arranged against the first face (5) of the support
(2).
3. The device according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the second piece
(15) has a second planar face (38) arranged in contact with the second face
(6) of the support (2) when the second piece (15) is arranged against the
second face (6) of the support (2).
4. The device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fixing means
(30-36, 40-46) comprise fastening holes (40-46) formed in one (15) of the
pieces and attachment pins (30-36) formed in the other (14) of the pieces
and suitable for being inserted into the fastening holes (40-46) for fixing the
first piece (14) and the second piece (15) together.
5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the attachment pins (30-36)
extend through the flexible support (2) when the first piece (14) and the
second piece (15) are fixed together, the flexible support (2) being clamped
between the first piece (14) and the second piece (15).
6. The device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the connecting
socket (17) for a coaxial cable is adapted for connecting the coaxial cable in
a connection direction (X) substantially parallel to the first face (5) of the
support (2).
7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the cable connector (13)
comprises a threaded surface for screwing the coaxial cable onto the
connector (13).
8. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact
pads (18-21) of the connector (13) extend in a direction (Y) substantially
perpendicular to the first face (5) of the support (2).
9. The device according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first piece (14)
comprises a substantially planar part (26) suitable for coming into contact
with the first face (5) of the support (2) and a bulging part (28) enclosing the
cavity (23) and extending projecting from the planar part (26), the bulging
part (28) havJng a curved external surface (29).