Bullet-type connectors, printed circuit board assemblies, and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12482970-B2
Application number	US-202217965448-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 13, 2022
Priority date	Oct 19, 2021
Publication date	Nov 25, 2025
Grant date	Nov 25, 2025

Abstract

A bullet-type connector includes an axially compressible housing, a central conductor, and a dielectric mount. The axially compressible housing is compressible in an axial direction at least 2.5% of an overall length of the axially compressible housing. The central conductor defines a first female connecting end and a second female connecting end, the central conductor being positioned within the axially compressible housing. The dielectric mount mounts the central conductor within the axially compressible housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A bullet-type connector comprising:
an axially compressible housing, a central conductor, and a dielectric mount, wherein: the axially compressible housing is reversibly compressible in an axial direction at least 2.5% of an overall length of the axially compressible housing; the central conductor defines a first female connecting end and a second female connecting end, the central conductor being positioned within the axially compressible housing; and the dielectric mount mounts the central conductor within the axially compressible housing.

2 . The bullet-type connector of claim 1 , wherein the axially compressible housing comprises a plastic body coated with one or more conductive layers.

3 . The bullet-type connector of claim 1 , wherein the axially compressible housing comprises at least two sides and wherein each sides comprises a coating.

4 . The bullet-type connector of claim 2 , wherein the one or more conductive layers comprise copper, nickel, gold, or any combination thereof.

5 . The bullet-type connector of claim 2 , wherein the one or more conductive layers are at least 0.1 μm thick or greater.

6 . The bullet-type connector of claim 2 , wherein the one or more conductive layers comprise at least two metallic layers.

7 . The bullet-type connector of claim 1 , wherein the axially compressible housing extends longitudinally beyond the first female connecting end and the second female connecting end of the central conductor.

8 . The bullet-type connector of claim 1 , wherein the axially compressible housing comprises a first tapered portion and a second tapered portion, wherein a diameter of the first tapered portion and a diameter of the second tapered portion tapers from a first diameter to a second diameter smaller than the first diameter.

9 . The bullet-type connector of claim 1 , wherein:
the axially compressible housing comprises a plastic body coated with one or more conductive layers; and the axially compressible housing extends longitudinally beyond the first female connecting end and the second female connecting end of the central conductor.

10 . The bullet-type connector of claim 1 , wherein:
the axially compressible housing comprises a plastic body coated with one or more conductive layers; and the axially compressible housing comprises a first tapered portion and a second tapered portion, wherein a diameter of the first tapered portion and a diameter of the second tapered portion tapers from a first diameter to a second diameter smaller than the first diameter.

11 . The bullet-type connector of claim 1 , wherein:
the axially compressible housing extends longitudinally beyond the first female connecting end and the second female connecting end of the central conductor; and the axially compressible housing comprises a first tapered portion and a second tapered portion, wherein a diameter of the first tapered portion and a diameter of the second tapered portion tapers from a first diameter to a second diameter smaller than the first diameter.

12 . The bullet-type connector of claim 1 , wherein:
the axially compressible housing comprises a plastic body coated with one or more conductive layers; and the axially compressible housing extends longitudinally beyond the first female connecting end and the second female connecting end of the central conductor; and the axially compressible housing comprises a first tapered portion and a second tapered portion, wherein a diameter of the first tapered portion and a diameter of the second tapered portion tapers from a first diameter to a second diameter smaller than the first diameter.

13 . A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, comprising a first PCB, a second PCB, and a bullet-type connector, wherein:
the first PCB comprises a first male connector; the second PCB comprises a second male connector; the bullet-type connector comprises:
an axially compressible housing compressible in an axial direction at least 2.5% of an overall length of the axially compressible housing;
a central conductor defining a first female connecting end connected to the first male connector and a second female connecting end connected to the second male connector, the central conductor being positioned within the axially compressible housing; and
a dielectric mount mounting the central conductor within the axially compressible housing.

14 . The PCB assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first PCB is arranged parallel to the second PCB and the bullet-type connector extends between the first PCB and the second PCB.

15 . The PCB assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first PCB and the second PCB axially compress the bullet-type connector therebetween.

16 . A method of assembling a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly comprising a first PCB, a second PCB, and a plurality of bullet-type connectors, the method comprising:
attaching the first PCB including a first plurality of male connectors to a first end of the plurality of bullet-type connectors; attaching the second PCB including a second plurality of male connectors to a second end of the plurality of bullet-type connectors; and axially compressing one or more of the plurality of bullet-type connectors between the first PCB and the second PCB to meet a predetermined fitting condition of the plurality of bullet-type connectors with the first PCB and the second PCB, wherein the attaching the first PCB to the plurality of bullet-type connectors comprises inserting the first plurality of male connectors into a first female connecting end of a central conductor of the plurality of bullet-type connectors; and the attaching the second PCB to the plurality of bullet-type connectors comprises inserting the second plurality of male connectors into a second female connecting end of the central conductor of the plurality of bullet-type connectors.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the predetermined fitting condition comprises a minimum spacing of the plurality of bullet-type connectors to the first PCB and the second PCB.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the one or more of the plurality of bullet-type connectors comprise an axially compressible housing compressible in an axial direction at least 2.5% of an overall length of the axially compressible housing.

19 . The method of any of claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of bullet-type connectors comprises:
an axially compressible housing compressible in an axial direction at least 2.5% of an overall length of the axially compressible housing; a central conductor defining a first female connecting end and a second female connecting end, the central conductor being positioned radially within the axially compressible housing; and a dielectric mount mounting the central conductor within the axially compressible housing.

Assignees

• Corning Optical Comm Rf Llc

Inventors

• Burris Donald Andrew
• Flaherty Iv Thomas Edmond

Classifications

• H01R13/50

  formed as an integral body (H01R13/514 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R43/205

  with a panel or printed circuit board · CPC title

• H01R2101/00

  One pole · CPC title

• H01R13/62

  Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement · CPC title

• H01R31/06

  Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter (with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94) · CPC title