Radio frequency connector receptical
A high power RF connector receptacle having a solderable pin, an outer connector receptacle shell and a high breakdown voltage dielectric such as Silicon Carbide. The connector receptacle can be completed as a stepped process where the Silicon Carbide substrate can be mounted to the package, the pin can be dropped into place and soldered, and then the outer shell can be soldered onto the SiC substrate. Alternatively, the SiC, pin and outer shell can be assembled as a subassembly and then soldered to the package. The combination of SiC and solder gives a hermetic seal to the package. In addition, the SiC has an extraordinarily high dielectric breakdown voltage for high power connections.
1. A radio frequency energy connector receptacle, comprising:
(A) a base, comprising:
(i) a dielectric substrate having a hole passing there-through between an upper surface of the substrate and a lower surface of the substrate;
(ii) an electrically conductive layer disposed on sidewalls of the hole, a portion of the electrically conductive layer being disposed on portions of the upper surface and lower surface of the substrate contiguous to the sidewalls of the hole;
(iii) an upper electrically conductive layer disposed on the upper surface of the substrate, such upper electrically conductive layer having an aperture there-through exposing an underlying portion of the upper surface of the substrate;
(iv) a lower electrically conductive layer disposed on the lower surface of the substrate, such lower electrically conductive layer having an aperture there-through exposing an underlying portion of the lower surface of the substrate;
(v) wherein the aperture in the upper electrically conductive layer is vertically aligned with the aperture in the lower electrically conductive layer;
(vi) wherein the hole is disposed coaxially within the aperture in the upper electrically conductive layer and the lower electrically conductive layer;
(vii) a plurality of electrically conductive vias passing through the substrate between the upper electrically conductive layer and the lower electrically conductive layer, the electrically conductive vias being disposed about the aperture in the upper electrically conductive layer and the aperture in the lower electrically conductive layer, the electrically conductive vias electrically interconnecting the upper electrically conductive layer and the lower electrically conductive layer;
(viii) an electrically conductive pin having a mid-portion passing through the hole and being connected and bonded to the electrically conductive layer disposed on the sidewalls of the hole;
(ix) a hollow electrically conductive shell in contact with the upper surface; and
(x) wherein the electrically conductive shell is disposed around an upper portion of the electrically conductive pin, the electrically conductive pin having an end projecting outwardly from the lower surface of the substrate and being disposed to provide a signal conductor for the connector receptacle and the electrically conductive shell providing a ground plane conductor for the connector receptacle; and
(B) a package, having an open region enclosed by a bottom, a top and sidewalls, comprising:
(i) a microwave structure disposed within the open region of the package, the open region being the microwave structure having an electrical component separated from a ground plane conductor by a dielectric substrate, the ground plane conductor being bonded to a bottom of the package;
(ii) wherein the base forms one of the sidewalls, such base being bonded to the upper portion of the package and the bottom of the package to hermetically seal the microwave structure within the open region; and
(iii) wherein of the end of the electrically conductive pin is in contact with, and electrically connected, to the electrical component of the microwave structure and the lower electrically conductive layer is electrically connected to the bottom of the package.