This is the most detailed RF connector data I've ever seen

If you want to understand RF connectors, this article is enough to give you an in-depth understanding of it. This should be the most detailed information I have ever seen about the RF connector, a comprehensive introduction to the RF connector that is simple and clear. This article will be divided into six parts, respectively, the definition of RF connectors, classification and use description, main specifications, characteristics, applications, selection methods. Next, let's meet the RF connector.

First, the definition of RF connector：

Know yourself, win the battle, first to understand how the RF connector is defined. A detachable element, usually attached to a cable or device, for electrical connection to a transmission line system. It can be seen from this definition that it has the common feature of the connector "separable element". Take the common coaxial line as an example, the main mode of the coaxial line is TEM wave.

The electromagnetic wave transmitted by it is an oscillating particle wave derived from the electric and magnetic fields that are in the same phase and perpendicular to each other in space, and an electromagnetic field propagating in the form of fluctuations, with wave-particle duality.

Electromagnetic wave is an electric field and magnetic field that are in phase oscillating and perpendicular to each other and move in the form of waves in space. The electric field direction, magnetic field direction and propagation direction of electromagnetic wave are perpendicular to each other. Electromagnetic wave has no longitudinal component and is a horizontal electromagnetic wave.

Second, RF connector classification and use description：

After understanding the definition, you can understand the classification and use of RF connectors. Generally, it is mainly divided into three categories: RF coaxial connectors, RF three-coaxial connectors and dual-core symmetrical RF connectors. The main uses are as follows:

1, RF coaxial connector: mainly used to transmit transverse electromagnetic wave (TEM wave);

2, RF triaxial connector: mainly used for the occasion of higher requirements for shielding efficiency, transmission of transverse electromagnetic wave (TEM wave) or transmission pulse wave;

3, dual-core symmetrical RF connector: mainly used for transmission rate is not too high digital signals.

1) The main performance parameters of RF coaxial connectors include characteristic impedance, use frequency, return loss, insertion loss, isolation, RF leakage, phase consistency, third-order intermodulation, etc.

2) Common materials and coatings for RF coaxial connectors

The RF connector is mainly composed of outer conductor, inner conductor and insulating supporting medium and other parts. The commonly used materials are as follows:

Outer conductor: stainless steel passivation, copper alloy gold plating, copper alloy nickel plating, copper alloy ternary alloy plating, etc.

Inner conductor: gold plated copper alloy, silver plated copper alloy, etc.;

Insulating support medium: PTFE, PEI, LCP, etc.

Three, RF connector main specifications：

Impedance: Almost all RF connectors and cables are standardized to a 50Ω impedance. The only exception to this is that 75Ω systems are commonly used for cable TV installations. It is also important for RF coaxial cable connectors to have a characteristic impedance that matches the cable. If this is not the case, a discontinuity is introduced and losses may result.

VSWR(Voltage standing wave ratio) : Ideally it should be united, and good design and implementation can keep the VSWR below 1.2 within the range of interest.

Frequency range: Most RF now operates in the range of 1 to 10 GHZ, so connectors must have low losses in this region. For cases above 10GHz - there are a lot of things that work now in the 10 to 40GHz range - there is a choice among the newer connectors. They are expensive because of the cables themselves.

Insertion loss: This is the connector loss over the frequency range of interest. Losses are usually between 0.1 and 0.3 dB. The determination of how critical per watt (or fractional watt) is in most designs, and even such small losses must be minimized and factored into the link loss budget. It is particularly important at a low noise front end when signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio are low.

Operating cycle: How many connection/disconnection cycles can the connection withstand and still meet its specifications? This is usually done in 500 or 1000 cycles. For threaded connectors, the vendor-specified tightening torque is an important factor in maintaining performance and reliability.

Power: Power treatment is determined by two resistance losses (heating) and insulation breakdown. While even decades of design were mostly pre-processing tens of vados, today's design community focuses on low-power devices such as cell phones, picocellular and femtocellular base stations, video interfaces, RF, and gadgets. These are in the sub-1W range, so the connector can be much smaller and its power rating is less constrained.

Four, the characteristics of RF coaxial connector：

1, specifications and varieties: more than 20 international general series, more variety specifications.

2. Product reliability, failure mode and failure mechanism are complex.

3, rely on mechanical structure to ensure electrical characteristics, mechanical and electrical integration products, and other low-frequency connectors have essential differences.

4, parts processing is mainly turning machine processing, assembly manual work, difficult to automate assembly.

5, product replacement is slow.

Five, the application of RF coaxial connector：

1. Communication, communication and network;

2, traffic monitoring system;

3, medical machinery;

4, instrument connection

Due to the characteristics of the RF coaxial connector, it is not only widely used in automobiles, information communications, communications broadcasting, communications networks, instrument testing, medical, aerospace, transportation, antennas, but also used in security systems, civil aviation, microwave components, RF microwave switches, consumer electronics, national defense and military and other occasions and equipment. The main technical characteristics of RF coaxial connectors are divided into two categories: one is electrical parameters, and the other is mechanical parameters.

Six, RF coaxial connector selection 

1. Interface mechanism type

The connection mechanism of the connector is not only to provide convenient and fast connection or separation of the coaxial transmission line, the key is to provide stable electrical performance and environmental protection device, when the use of the occasion does not have enough space to rotate the connection nut, should choose non-torsional connection mechanism.

2, electrical performance

Characteristic impedance, voltage resistance and maximum working efficiency.

3. End connection method

Connectors can be used for RF coaxial cables, printed circuit boards, frame drawer functional components and their connection interfaces. Before use, you must be familiar with the performance of the selected product and use it in strict accordance with the specified conditions. Overload use is likely to lead to the failure of the coaxial connector. Special attention should be paid to the installation of the cable connector, and the proper installation tools should be used according to the assembly instructions provided by the supplier.

The article is nearing the end, reading here, you should be no stranger to the RF connector. If you have the procurement customization needs of RF connectors, you can call our hotline directly to assist your procurement work. More RF connector technical documents, we continue to update on the official website, you can leave an email, subscribe to our latest articles and products.