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