Coaxial cable and connector with capacitive coupling

Abstract

A connector for a plurality of coaxial cables includes: a conductive common base with a contact surface; a plurality of conductive contact pads embedded in the common base, each of the plurality of contact pads having a contact surface; and a plurality of dielectric pads embedded in the common base, each of the dielectric pads surrounding a respective contact pad to isolate the respective contact pad from the common base.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A connector for a plurality of coaxial cables, comprising:
 a conductive common base with a contact surface;   a plurality of conductive contact pads embedded in the commonbase, each of the plurality of contact pads having a contact surface; and   a plurality of dielectric pads embedded in the common base, each of the dielectric pads surrounding a respective contact pad to isolate the respective contact pad from the common base.   
     
     
         2 . The connector defined in  claim 1 , wherein the common base contact surface and contact pad contact surfaces underlie a dielectric layer. 
     
     
         3 . The connector defined in  claim 1 , wherein the common base contact surface and the contact pad contact surfaces are substantially coplanar. 
     
     
         4 . The connector defined in  claim 1 , wherein the common base contact surface and the contact pad contact surfaces are substantially flat. 
     
     
         5 . The connector defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of coaxial cables, each of the coaxial cables connected with a respective contact pad and with the common base. 
     
     
         6 . An assembly of coaxial cable connectors, comprising:
 (a) a first connector, comprising:   a first conductive common base with a contact surface;   a plurality of first conductive contact pads embedded in the first common base, each of the plurality of first contact pads having a contact surface; and   a plurality of first dielectric pads embedded in the first common base, each of the first dielectric pads surrounding a respective first contact pad to isolate the respective first contact pad from the first common base;   (b) a second connector, comprising:   a second conductive common base with a contact surface;   a plurality of second conductive contact pads embedded in the second common base, each of the plurality of second contact pads having a contact surface; and   a plurality of second dielectric pads embedded in the second base, each of the second dielectric pads surrounding a respective second contact pad to isolate the respective contact pad from the second common base; and   (c) a dielectric layer overlying the first common base and plurality of first contact pads;   (d) wherein the first connector and the second connector are arranged such that the contact surface of the first common base confronts the contact surface of the second common base separated by the dielectric layer, and each of the contact surfaces of the first contact pads confronts a respective contact surface of the second contact pads separated by the dielectric layer.   
     
     
         7 . The assembly defined in  claim 6 , wherein the dielectric layer is a first dielectric layer, and further comprising a second dielectric layer overlying the second common base and the plurality of second contact pads. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly defined in  claim 6 , wherein the first common base contact surface and the first contact pad contact surfaces are substantially coplanar, and wherein the second common base contact surface and the second contact pad contact surfaces are substantially coplanar. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly defined in  claim 6 , wherein the first common base contact surface and the first contact pad contact surfaces are substantially flat, and wherein the second common base contact surface and the second contact pad contact surfaces are substantially flat. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly defined in  claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of coaxial cables, each of the coaxial cables connected with (a) a respective first contact pad and the first common base, or (b) a respective second contact pad and the second common base. 
     
     
         11 . A connector for a plurality of coaxial cables, comprising:
 a conductive base with a generally flat contact surface;   at least one conductive contact pad embedded in the common base, the contact pad having a generally flat contact surface; and   at least one dielectric pad embedded in the base, the dielectric pad surrounding the contact pad to isolate the contact pad from the base; and   a dielectric layer that overlies the contact surface of the base and the contact surface of the contact pad.   
     
     
         12 . The connector defined in  claim 11 , wherein the contact surface of the base and the contact surface of the contact pad are substantially coplanar. 
     
     
         13 . The connector defined in  claim 11 , wherein the at least one contact conductive pad is a plurality of contact pads, the at least one dielectric pad is a plurality of dielectric pads, each surrounding a respective contact pad, and the base is a common base within which the plurality of contact pads and the plurality of dielectric pads are embedded. 
     
     
         14 . The connector defined in  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of coaxial cables, each of the coaxial cables connected with a respective contact pad and with the common base. 
     
     
         15 . connector defined in  claim 11 , further comprising a coaxial cable connected with the contact pad and with the common base. 
     
     
         16 . An assembly of coaxial cable connectors, comprising:
 (a) a first connector, comprising:   a first conductive base with a contact surface;   at least one first conductive contact pad embedded in the first base, the first contact pad having a generally flat contact surface; and   at least one first dielectric pad embedded in the first base, the first dielectric pad surrounding the first contact pad to isolate the first contact pad from the first base;   (b) a second connector, comprising:   a second conductive base with a contact surface;   at least one second conductive contact pad embedded in the second base, the plurality of second contact pad having a generally flat contact surface; and   at least one second dielectric pad embedded in the second base, the second dielectric pad surrounding the second contact pad to isolate the second contact pad from the second base; and   (c) a dielectric layer overlying the first base and the first contact pad;   wherein the first connector and the second connector are arranged such that the contact surface of the first base confronts the contact surface of the second base separated by the dielectric layer, and the contact surface of the first contact pad confronts the contact surface of the second contact pad separated by the dielectric layer.   
     
     
         17 . The assembly defined in  claim 16 , wherein the dielectric layer is a first dielectric layer, and further comprising a second dielectric layer overlying the second base and the second contact pad. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly defined in  claim 16 , wherein the first base contact surface and the first contact pad contact surface are substantially coplanar, and wherein the second base contact surface and the second contact pad contact surface are substantially coplanar. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly defined in  claim 16 , wherein the at least one first contact conductive pad is a plurality of first contact pads, the at least one first dielectric pad is a plurality of first dielectric pads, each surrounding a respective first contact pad, and the first base is a common first base within which the plurality of first contact pads and the plurality of first dielectric pads are embedded; and
 wherein the at least one second contact conductive pad is a plurality of second contact pads, the at least one second dielectric pad is a plurality of second dielectric pads, each surrounding a respective second contact pad, and the second base is a common second base within which the plurality of second contact pads and the plurality of second dielectric pads are embedded.   
     
     
         20 . A connector for transmitting an RF signal, comprising:
 a conductive base with a contact surface;   a contact pad embedded in the base;   a dielectric pad embedded in the base to isolate the contact pad from the base; and   a dielectric layer overlying the contact surface of the base and the contact pad.