Connector assembly and base station antenna

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12519214-B2
Application number	US-202118252640-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 4, 2021
Priority date	Nov 16, 2020
Publication date	Jan 6, 2026
Grant date	Jan 6, 2026

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a connector assembly and a base station antenna comprising such connector assembly. The connector assembly comprises a connector (1), where the connector has a port (11). The connector assembly further comprises a guide ring (2), where the guide ring is installed in front of the port of the connector and is radially and elastically supported. The guide ring has an inner surface (21) that tapers towards the port of the connector on part of the axial length, and is used to guide the port of the matching connector in the port of the connector. The connector assembly allows increased deviation when matching connectors are mated.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A connector assembly, comprising a connector ( 1 ), where the connector has a port ( 11 ), wherein the connector assembly further comprises a guide ring ( 2 ), where the guide ring is installed in front of the port of the connector and is radially and elastically supported, wherein the guide ring has an inner surface ( 21 ) that tapers towards the port of the connector on part of an axial length, and is used to guide the port of a matching connector ( 7 ) in the port of the connector.

2 . The connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the guide ring is configured as an inner circular conical surface.

3 . The connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the guide ring has counterbores ( 23 ) on the end side facing the connector and the guide ring being fit onto the port of the connector through the counterbores.

4 . The connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the guide ring transitions to the port of the connector.

5 . The connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the connector assembly comprises a flexible ring ( 3 ) fit onto the guide ring.

6 . The connector assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the guide ring has grooves ( 22 ) on its outer peripheral surface, and the flexible ring having protrusions ( 31 ) on its inner peripheral surface, wherein the protrusions are embedded in the grooves, so that the guide ring and flexible ring form an axially locked connection.

7 . The connector assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the grooves are ring grooves, and the protrusions are annular protrusions.

8 . The connector assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the flexible ring has circumferentially distributed outer teeth ( 32 ).

9 . The connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the connector assembly comprises a housing ( 4 ), where the housing has an receptacle ( 40 ), wherein the receptacle is used to accommodate the connector, guide ring and component that radially and elastically supports the guide ring.

10 . The connector assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the housing comprises an annular axial stop ( 47 ) extending inwards radially that is used for the guide ring.

11 . The connector assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the inner surface of the guide ring transitions to the inner surface of the axial stop.

12 . The connector assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the housing may be configured into two pieces, and comprise the housing base part ( 42 ) and housing cover ( 41 ).

13 . The connector assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the housing cover and housing base part are connected through at least one screw connection and at least one snap-fit connection.

14 . The connector assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the housing is made of plastic.

15 . The connector assembly according to claim 1 wherein the connector assembly comprises at least two connectors installed in parallel to each other.

16 . The connector assembly according to claim 1 wherein the connector is an electrical connector or optical fiber connector.

17 . The connector assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the connector is a radio frequency connector.

18 . A base station antenna, which comprises the connector assembly according to claim 1 .

19 . The base station antenna according to claim 18 , wherein the base station antenna comprises a functional module, where the functional module has a matching connector and the functional module and connector assembly moving relative to each other, so that the functional module and matching connector are mated to the connector of the connector assembly.

20 . The base station antenna according to claim 19 , wherein at least one of the functional module and connector assembly being guided, so that the matching connector of the functional module and the connector of the connector assembly are mated via blind mating.

Assignees

• Outdoor Wireless Networks LLC

Inventors

• Ai Bin
• Wang Qiang

Classifications

• H01R2201/02

  for antennas · CPC title

• H01R24/60

  Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement · CPC title

• H01R13/6315 Primary

  allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection (for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R13/506 Primary

  assembled by snap action of the parts · CPC title

• H01R13/5025

  one or more pieces being of resilient material · CPC title