High density, high bandwidth, coaxial cable, flexible circuit and circuit board connection assembly

Abstract

A connection assembly includes a coaxial cable to microstrip flexible circuit connector and a mating microstrip flex circuit to electronic circuit connector. The coaxial cable to microstrip flex circuit connector comprises a portion which is mechanically attached to the coaxial cable and a portion which is mechanically attached to the microstrip flex circuit. The coaxial cable attachment portion includes a first electrical connector electrically connected to the center conductor and a second electrical connector electrically connected to the shielding conductor of each coaxial cable. The microstrip flex circuit attachment portion includes a third electrical connector electrically connected to each trace and a fourth connector electrically connected to the ground plane conductor. The flex circuit to electrical circuit connector comprises a plurality of unsupported extensions of a trace or the ground plane conductor. The extensions are electrically connected to connection pads of a printed circuit board of an electronic circuit by a surface connection, and can be bent to opposite sides of the electronic circuit to reach connection pads on a printed circuit board.

The invention claimed:  
     
       1. A connection assembly including a coaxial cable to microstrip flex circuit connector which interconnects a center conductor and a shielding conductor of a coaxial cable with a trace and a ground plane conductor of a microstrip flex circuit respectively, said coaxial cable to microstrip flex circuit connector comprising: 
       a coaxial cable attachment portion mechanically attached to a plurality of coaxial cables, the coaxial cable attachment portion including a plurality of first electrical connectors, each of which is separately electrically connected to the center conductor of the coaxial cable and a plurality of second electrical connectors, each of which is electrically connected to at least one shielding conductor of the plurality of coaxial cables;  
       a microstrip flex circuit attachment portion mechanically attached to a microstrip flex circuit having a plurality of traces, the microstrip flex circuit attachment portion including a plurality of third electrical connectors, each of which is separately electrically connected to a trace, and a plurality of fourth connectors, each of which is commonly connected to the ground plane conductor; and wherein:  
       the coaxial cable attachment portion and the microstrip flex circuit attachment portion mate with one another and when mated separately connect the first and third electrical connectors and the second and fourth electrical connectors.  
     
     
       2. A connection assembly as defined in claims  1  wherein: 
       the coaxial cable attachment portion includes a body which retains the first and second electrical connectors in a predetermined pattern;  
       the microstrip flex circuit attachment portion includes a body which retains the third and fourth electrical connectors in a predetermined pattern;  
       the predetermined pattern of the electrical connectors in the body of the coaxial attachment portion corresponds with the predetermined pattern of the electrical connectors in the body of the microstrip flex circuit attachment portion; and  
       the predetermined patterns of electrical connectors in the bodies of the coaxial attachment portion and the microstrip flex circuit attachment portion allowing contact of the first electrical connectors with the third electrical connectors and allowing contact of the second electrical connectors with the fourth electrical connectors when the attachment portions mate together.  
     
     
       3. A connection assembly as defined in claim  2  wherein: 
       the first and third electrical connectors are each of a same first structure;  
       the second and fourth electrical connectors are each of a same second structure; and  
       the first and second structures are adapted to connect with one another.  
     
     
       4. A connection assembly as defined in claim  3  wherein: 
       one of the first or second structure is an insert; and  
       the other one of the first or second structure is a socket.  
     
     
       5. A connection assembly as defined in claim  2  wherein: 
       the center conductors of a first plurality of coaxial cables are each connected to on first electrical connector; and  
       the shielding conductors of the first plurality of coaxial cables are commonly connected to a second electrical connector located in the predetermined pattern in adjacency with the first electrical connectors to which the center conductors of the first plurality of coaxial cables are connected.  
     
     
       6. A connection assembly as defined in claim  5  wherein said coaxial cable to microstrip flex circuit connector further comprises: 
       a grounding clip connected to the coaxial cable attachment portion and to the shielding conductors of the first plurality of coaxial cables, the grounding clip further including a projection portion connected to a second electrical connector.  
     
     
       7. A connection assembly as defined in claim  6  wherein: 
       the predetermined pattern of electrical connectors is at least one row in the each attachment portion;  
       the first plurality of coaxial cables is two coaxial cables;  
       the grounding clip further includes two wing portions, each wing portion extending to and connecting with one shielding conductor of each of the two coaxial cables of the first plurality; and  
       the grounding clip further includes a projecting portion connecting to a second electrical connector.  
     
     
       8. A connection assembly as defined in claim  7  wherein: 
       the predetermined pattern of electrical connectors is at least one row in each attachment portion;  
       the first electrical connectors are located in the first and third positions a sequence of three electrical connectors in the row;  
       the second electrical connector is located in the second position in the sequence of the three electrical connectors in the row;  
       the grounding clip is generally T-shaped with the wing portions extending outward from the projecting portion of the grounding clip;  
       the wing portions of the grounding clip extend to and connect with the shielding conductors of the coaxial cables which have center conductors connected to the first electrical connectors in the first and third positions in the sequence of the three electrical connectors in the row; and  
       the projecting portion of the grounding clip extends to and connects with the second electrical connector in the second position in the sequence of the three electrical connectors in the row.  
     
     
       9. A connection assembly as defined in claim  8  wherein: 
       the wing portions of the grounding clip are connected to the shielding conductors of the coaxial cables by bending the wing portions around a portion of the shielding connectors.  
     
     
       10. A connection assembly as defined in claim  9  wherein: 
       the first and second electrical connectors are each sockets;  
       the sockets are retained in holes formed in the predetermined pattern in the body of the coaxial cable attachment portion with each socket projecting from a mating surface of the body of the coaxial cable attachment portion; and  
       the third and fourth electrical connectors are each an insert;  
       the inserts are positioned in holes in the body of the microstrip flex circuit attachment portion with each insert recessed from a mating surface of the body of the microstrip flex circuit attachment portion; and  
       the inserts contact the sockets when the attachment portions connect with one another.  
     
     
       11. A connection assembly as defined in claim  2  wherein: 
       each of a first plurality of traces of the microstrip flex circuit is connected to a third electrical connector; and  
       each of the fourth electrical connectors is commonly connected to the ground plane conductor of the microstrip flex circuit.  
     
     
       12. A connection assembly as defined in claim  11  wherein: 
       each of the third and fourth electrical connectors includes a contact end extending from the body of the microstrip flex circuit attachment portion; and  
       the contact ends of the third electrical connectors contact traces of the microstrip flex circuit.  
     
     
       13. A connection assembly as defined in claim  12  wherein: 
       the microstrip flex circuit includes ground trace pads formed between traces, and electrical connections between the ground trace pads and the ground plane conductor; and  
       the contact ends of the fourth electrical connectors contact and are connected to the ground trace pads of the microstrip flex circuit.  
     
     
       14. A connection assembly as defined in claim  13  wherein: 
       the ground trace pads are connected to the ground plane conductor by a plated through hole.  
     
     
       15. A connection assembly as defined in claim  12  wherein: 
       the microstrip flex circuit includes a layer of insulation adjacent to the ground plane conductor and exposed areas of the ground plane conductor surrounded by the insulation; and  
       the contact ends of the fourth electrical connectors contact the exposed areas of the ground plane conductor of the microstrip flex circuit.  
     
     
       16. A connection assembly as defined in claim  12  wherein: 
       the predetermined pattern of electrical connectors is at least one row in the microstrip flex circuit attachment portion;  
       the third electrical connectors are located in the first and third positions in a sequence of three electrical connectors in the row;  
       a fourth electrical connector is located in the second position of the sequence of the three electrical connectors in the row;  
       two traces are located spaced apart on the microstrip flex circuit to connect the contact end of each third electrical connector to each of the two traces; and  
       the contact end of each fourth electrical connector is connected to the ground plane conductor at a location between the two traces to which the contact ends of third electrical connectors are attached.  
     
     
       17. A connection assembly as defined in claim  16  wherein: 
       the predetermined pattern of electrical connectors is two parallel rows in the microstrip flex circuit attachment portion, the two rows are spaced transversely apart; and  
       the microstrip flex circuit is positioned between the two rows with the contact ends of the third and fourth electrical connectors connected to the traces and ground plane conductor, respectively.  
     
     
       18. A connection assembly as defined in claim  17  wherein: 
       the microstrip flex circuit includes traces and ground trace pads on opposite sides of the ground plane conductor and separated from the ground plane conductor by a layer of insulation;  
       the third electrical connectors are located in the first and third positions of the sequence of the three electrical connectors in each of the two rows, each third electrical connector in one row is directly opposite of a third electrical connector in the other row:  
       a fourth electrical connector is located in the second position in the sequence of the three electrical connectors in each row, the fourth electrical connector of one row is directly opposite of the fourth electrical connector in the other row;  
       the distance between the retaining ends of the electrical conductors in the two rows is approximately equal to the distance between the traces and ground trace pads on opposite sides of the microstrip flex circuit; and  
       the traces and ground trace pads on opposite sides of the ground plane conductor are connected to the contact ends of the third and fourth electrical connectors.  
     
     
       19. A connection assembly as defined in claim  18  wherein: 
       the first and second electrical connectors are each sockets;  
       the sockets are retained in holes formed in the predetermined pattern in the body of the coaxial cable attachment portion with each socket projecting from a mating surface of the body of the coaxial cable attachment portion; and  
       the third and fourth electrical connectors are each an insert;  
       the inserts are positioned in holes in the body of the microstrip flex circuit attachment portion located in a predetermined position corresponding with the locations of the sockets, each insert is recessed from a mating surface of the body of the microstrip flex circuit attachment portion; and  
       the inserts contact the sockets when the attachment portions connect with one another.  
     
     
       20. A connection assembly as defined in claim  17  wherein: 
       the microstrip flex circuit includes traces located on opposite sides of the ground plane conductor, a layer of insulation adjacent to the ground plane conductor and exposed areas of the ground plane conductor surrounded by the insulation;  
       the third electrical connectors are located in the first and third positions of the sequence of the three electrical connectors in each of the two rows, each third electrical connector in one row is directly opposite of a third electrical connector in the other row:  
       a fourth electrical connector is located in the second position in the sequence of the three electrical connectors in each row, the fourth electrical connector of one row is directly opposite of the fourth electrical connector in the other row; and  
       the traces on opposite sides of the ground plane conductor and the exposed areas of the ground plane conductor are connected to the contact ends of the third and fourth electrical connectors.  
     
     
       21. A connection assembly as defined in claim  20  wherein: 
       the first and second electrical connectors are each sockets;  
       the sockets are retained in holes formed in the predetermined pattern in the body of the coaxial cable attachment portion with each socket projecting from a mating surface of the body of the coaxial cable attachment portion; and  
       the third and fourth electrical connectors are each an insert;  
       the inserts are positioned in holes in the body of the microstrip flex circuit attachment portion located in a predetermined position corresponding with the locations of the sockets, each insert is recessed from a mating surface of the body of the microstrip flex circuit attachment portion; and  
       the inserts contact the sockets when the attachment portions connect with one another.  
     
     
       22. A connection assembly including a microstrip flex circuit to electrical circuit connector which interconnects a plurality of traces and a ground plane conductor of the microstrip flex circuit to connection pads formed on the electrical circuit, and a coaxial cable to microstrip flex circuit connector which interconnects a center conductor and a shielding conductor of a coaxial cable with a trace and a ground plane conductor of a microstrip flex circuit respectively, said coaxial cable to microstrip flex circuit connector comprising: 
       a coaxial cable attachment portion mechanically attached to the coaxial cable, the coaxial cable attachment portion including a first electrical connector electrically connected to the center conductor of the coaxial cable and a second electrical connector electrically connected to the shielding conductor;  
       a microstrip flex circuit attachment portion mechanically attached to the microstrip flex circuit, the microstrip flex circuit attachment portion including a third electrical connector electrically connected to a trace and a fourth connector electrically connected to the ground plane conductor; wherein: the coaxial cable attachment portion and the microstrip flex circuit attachment portion mate with one another and when mated separately connect the first and third electrical connectors and the second and fourth electrical connectors; and said microstrip flex circuit to electrical circuit connector comprising:  
       a plurality of unsupported extensions of the traces and the ground plane conductor extending from the microstrip flex circuit; and  
       an electrical surface to surface connection of the extensions to the connection pads on the electrical circuit.  
     
     
       23. A connection assembly as defined in claim  22  wherein: 
       the microstrip flex circuit includes traces located on opposite sides of the ground plane conductor, a layer of insulation adjacent to the ground plane conductor and exposed areas of the ground plane conductor surrounded by the insulation;  
       the electrical circuit includes a printed circuit board and the connection pads are located on a side of the printed circuit board; and  
       at least one extension is bent from one side to the other side of the microstrip flex circuit to connect to a connection pad located adjacent to the other side of the microstrip flex circuit.  
     
     
       24. A connection assembly as defined in claim  23  wherein: 
       at least one extension from the ground plane conductor bent to connect to a connection pad on the printed circuit board.  
     
     
       25. A connection assembly as defined in claim  23  wherein said microstrip flex circuit to circuit board connection further includes a potting material connecting the microstrip flex circuit to the printed circuit board. 
     
     
       26. A coaxial cable grounding clip to connect an exposed shielding conductor of a first coaxial cable and an exposed shielding conductor of a second coaxial cable, comprising: 
       
         a first wing portion having a shape to contact the shielding conductor of the first coaxial cable and to retain a portion of the first coaxial cable to the first wing portion;  
       
       
         a second wing portion having a shape to contact the shielding conductor of the second coaxial cable and to retain a portion of the second coaxial cable to the second wing portion;  
       
       
         the first and second wing portions connecting together at a connection point;  
       
       
         a projection portion connected to the first and second wing portions at the connection point and extending longitudinally in parallel alignment with the portions of the first and second coaxial cables retained to the first and second wing portions, respectively;  
       
       
         the first and second wing portions extending transversely from the connection point, transversely relative to the projection portion and transversely relative to the portions of the first and second coaxial cables retained to the first and second wing portions, respectively; and  
       
       
         the first and second wing portions retaining the first and second coaxial cables in general parallel alignment with one another and with the projection portion at the portions of the first and second coaxial cables retained to the first and second wing portions, respectively.  
       
     
     
       27. A coaxial cable grounding clip as defined in claim  26 , wherein each wing portion at least partially surrounds the exposed shielding conductor of the portion of each coaxial cable retained by each wing portion.  
     
     
       28. A coaxial cable grounding clip as defined in claim  27  wherein each coaxial cable has a cover of a predetermined thickness which is exterior to and which surrounds the shielding conductor, and wherein: 
       
         each wing portion which partially surrounds the exposed shielding conductor has a thickness that is generally the same as the thickness of the cover of the coaxial cable.  
       
     
     
       29. A coaxial cable grounding clip as defined in claim  28 , wherein the wing portions and projection portion are each formed on a conductive metal.  
     
     
       30. A coaxial cable grounding clip as defined in claim  29  wherein the wing portions and projection portion are each formed of copper.  
     
     
       31. A coaxial cable grounding clip as defined in claim  27 , wherein each coaxial cable has a cover of a predetermined thickness which is exterior to and which surrounds the shielding conductor, and wherein: 
       
         each wing portion which partially surrounds the exposed shielding conductor electrically connects to the exposed shielding conductor and has a thickness that is generally no greater than the thickness of the cover of the coaxial cable to consume substantially no greater space than does the cover at the retained portion of the coaxial cable.  
       
     
     
       32. A coaxial cable grounding clip as defined in claim  27 , wherein: 
       
         the first and second wing portions retain the first and second coaxial cables in transversely spaced apart relationship with each other and with the projection portion; and  
       
       
         the projection portion and the first and second coaxial cables are generally located in a linear transversely spaced apart relationship.  
       
     
     
       33. A coaxial grounding clip as defined in claim  32 , wherein each coaxial cable has a center conductor surrounded by the shielding conductor, and wherein the projection portion includes a distal end upon which a mating surface is located; and the mating surface of the distal end of the projection portion and the center conductors of the first and second coaxial cables are located in a linear transversely spaced apart relationship established by the position of the first and second coaxial cables retained by the wing portions.  
     
     
       34. A coaxial cable grounding clip as defined in claim  27 , wherein the first and second wing portions form a common ground electrical connection of the first and second coaxial cables.  
     
     
       35. A method of connecting a shielding conductor of each of a plurality of coaxial cables to a common electrical reference with a grounding clip having a plurality of wing portions extending from a projection portion, each wing portion having a shaped segment to contact the shielding conductor and to retain a portion of one of the coaxial cables to the wing portion, the wing portions retaining the coaxial cables in generally parallel alignment with one another, the projection portion extending longitudinally in parallel alignment with the portions of the coaxial cables retained to the wing portions, said method comprising the steps of: 
       
         exposing a portion of the shielding conductor of each coaxial cable;  
       
       
         correlating each coaxial cable with one of the wing portions; and  
       
       
         for each correlated coaxial cable and wing portion:  
       
       
         contacting the exposed shielding conductor of the coaxial cables with the shaped segment of the wing portion; and  
       
       
         retaining the coaxial cable at the shaped segment; and  
       
       
         orienting all of the coaxial cables retained to the wing portions in generally parallel alignment with one another and with the projection portion.  
       
     
     
       36. A method as defined in claim  35  further comprising the step of: 
       
         retaining each coaxial cable to its correlated wing portion by frictional contact of the shielding conductor with the shaped segment.  
       
     
     
       37. A method as defined in claim  35 , further comprising the step of: 
       
         at least partially surrounding each shielding conductor with the shaped segment of the correlated wing portion.  
       
     
     
       38. A method as defined in claim  35  wherein each coaxial cable has a cover of predetermined thickness which is exterior to and which surrounds the shielding conductor, said method further comprising the steps of: 
       
         removing a portion of the cover of each coaxial cable to create the exposed portion of the shielding conductor;  
       
       
         contacting each shaped segment with the exposed portion of the shielding conductor at a location adjacent to the cover of the correlated coaxial cable; and  
       
       
         confining each shaped segment to a space that was occupied by the cover of each correlated coaxial cable before the exposed portion was created.  
       
     
     
       39. A method as defined in claim  35  further comprising the step of: 
       
         orienting the projection portion and the plurality of coaxial cables connected to the grounding clip in a transversely spaced apart and substantially linear parallel alignment with one another.  
       
     
     
       40. A method as defined in claim  39 , further comprising the step of: 
       
         connecting the projection portion into an electrical connector.  
       
     
     
       41. A method as defined in claim  40 , wherein each coaxial cable has a center conductor surrounded by the shielding conductor, further comprising the step of: 
       
         connecting the center conductor of each coaxial cable into the electrical connector to which the projection portion is connected.  
       
     
     
       42. A grounding clip to connect to an exposed shielding conductor of a coaxial cable, comprising: 
       
         a wing portion having a shape to contact the shielding conductor and to retain a portion of the coaxial cable to the wing portion; and  
       
       
         a projection portion connected to the wing portion and extending longitudinally in parallel alignment with a portion of the coaxial cable retained to the wing portion;  
       
       
         the wing portion extending transversely relative to the projection portion and the portion of the coaxial cable retained to the wing portion from a connection point where the wing portion connects to the projection portion.  
       
     
     
       43. A grounding clip as defined in claim  42  wherein the projection portion includes a distal end upon which a mating surface is located.  
     
     
       44. A grounding clip as defined in claim  42 , wherein: 
       
         the wing portion at least partially surrounds the exposed shielding conductor of the portion of the coaxial cable retained by the wing portion.  
       
     
     
       45. A grounding clip as defined in claim  44 , wherein the coaxial cable has a cover of a predetermined thickness which is exterior to and which surrounds the shielding conductor, and wherein: 
       
         the wing portion which partially surrounds the exposed shielding conductor has a thickness that is generally the same as the thickness of the cover of the coaxial cable.