EP1482600B1

EP1482600B1 - Cable wall outlet

Info

Publication number: EP1482600B1
Application number: EP04251690A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Paul c/o Technetix PLC Chapman
Original assignee: Technetix Ltd
Current assignee: Technetix Group Ltd
Priority date: 2003-05-29
Filing date: 2004-03-24
Publication date: 2006-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2024-03-24
Also published as: DE602004001168D1; EP1482600A1; GB2402268B; GB0312285D0; ATE330344T1; GB2402268A

Abstract

The device has a connector (26) for securing a cable in electrical communication with an electrical output (34). The connector is rotatable between two positions such that a cable is secured to the connector in any one of the two positions. The two positions are spaced at approximately ninety degrees to each other which represents minimum bend radius of the cable. The connector is press fitted into a body.

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to cable wall outlets used to connect equipment in Cable TV subscriber's dwellings to a Cable TV (CATV) provider's network.

Background to the invention

For the connection of CATV subscribers to a CATV network, cable wall outlets are used at the interface between a coaxial cable connected to the network and the subscriber's dwelling.
Conventional CATV outlets are positioned inside a subscriber's dwelling, either mounted on the surface of a wall in a small surface box or embedded within a wall to be flush with a wall surface. Where a cable comes through the wall, the outlet is positioned over a hole through which the cable passes to allow connection to the subscriber's equipment. The standard hole size used across continental Europe is 60mm.
As the input coaxial cable approaches the outlet, it either travels along the wall parallel to the surface or comes through the wall perpendicular to the surface. The cable is then connected to the outlet by one of two methods:

1. The cable insulation is stripped back, the exposed parts of the cable are inserted into a socket on the outlet and clamped in place with a metal plate.
2. The cable is terminated with a connector (normally "F-Type") and is mated with a connector on the outlet body.

Method 1 does not provide good electromagnetic screening. Method 2 provides good screening but takes up more space.
The input connector on a conventional outlet device is mounted parallel to the wall surface. When the outlet device is mounted over a 60mm hole with the cable coming through the wall, the cable has to be bent through 90° before it can be connected to the outlet connector. This involves the cable being bent with a bend radius less than the recommended minimum for normal coaxial cable, so distorting the outer conductor of the cable and impairing the electromagnetic screening provided by the outer conductor.
DE-A-19829653 discloses a cable wall outlet with a rotatable connector which secures a cable at positions spaced at 90° depending on the orientation of the cable.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a cable wall outlet which overcomes problems associated with prior art cable wall outlets.

Summary of the invention

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cable wall outlet comprising a housing for connection to a cable network and a rotatable connector, characterised in that the connector comprises a connector insert with a centre conductor which extends through and into the housing, the centre conductor engaging with a spring contact insert fitted into a connection cylinder fixed to a printed circuit board, wherein the spring contact insert adjusts its position to maintain connection with the centre conductor and so enables the connector to be positioned at any angle whilst maintaining screened electrical connection. The conductor ensures an electrical path is provided within the device separate from any cable with which the device is used, with the resiliently biased contact ensuring that electrical communication is maintained between the conductor and the housing at any position.
Preferably the connector is moveable through 90°, or between a first and a second position spaced at an angle which represents a minimum bend radius of 21mm.
By using a rotatable connector, the same cable wall outlet can be used for situations in which cables run either parallel or perpendicular to a surface. This reduces the types of parts that an engineer needs to carry when installing connections such as those required for cable television or satellite television networks.
The cable wall outlet may further comprise a body into which the connector is press fitted.
The cable wall outlet may be provided with integral signal filtering circuitry and/or over-voltage protection circuitry.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a prior art wall outlet with an "F" connector input;
Figure 2 is a view from one side of the prior art wall outlet of Figure 1 when positioned on a wall;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a cable wall outlet in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 4 shows a perspective view from one side of the cable wall outlet;
Figure 5 shows a side view of the cable wall outlet;
Figure 6 shows an exploded view of part of the device illustrating assembly of a rotating connector; and
Figure 7 shows a detailed view of part of the device illustrating connection of the connector to electrical circuitry within the device.

Description

With the introduction of digital TV and broadband services, cable providers have become concerned about electromagnetic screening. To ensure good electromagnetic screening, cable service providers are using "F" connectors on the input of the wall outlets. This in turn introduces the problem of damaged cable when these devices are used in through wall applications, and negates any improvement in electromagnetic screening introduced by the connector.
Figures 1 and 2 show a conventional wall outlet 10 positioned on the inner surface 12 of a subscriber's wall with an "F" connector input 14 where the outlet is to receive a coaxial cable 16 passing through a 60mm hole in the wall. The minimum internal bend radius of the CATV coaxial cable is 3 x cable diameter. The minimum cable diameter used for these applications is 7mm. Therefore the minimum internal bend radius is 21mm.
Figure 2 shows the input cable 16 bent with an internal radius of 21mm. It will not fit within the 60mm hole and also connect to input 14. Thus in practice, to join with the outlet 10, the cable 16 must be bent through a smaller radius than the minimum bend radius. This distorts the outer sheathing of the coaxial cable and impairs the electromagnetic screening provided by the conductive sheathing.
There is therefore an application for a wall outlet with connectors that provide good electromagnetic screening and can be used for both surface mount and through wall applications.
An example of a cable wall outlet in accordance with the invention is shown in Figures 3 to 7.
The cable wall outlet 20 shown in Figure 3 comprises a body 22 moulded from plastics material which incorporates wall outlet housing 24 to which a rotatable connector body 26 is pivotally attached. A rotating female "F" connector 30 within body 26 is capable of receiving a male "F" connector attached to a coaxial cable 16 from the CATV network. Figure 3 illustrates the rotatable connector 26 in a first position where it receives a cable 16 running parallel to the wall surface. Figure 4 illustrates the same cable wall outlet when the rotatable connector 26 is in a second position substantially at right angles to the first position and substantially parallel to the direction in which output 34 extends. In this position the connector receives a cable running through a subscriber's wall from the outside to internal surface 12. The moulded front face 32 of the device is also shown in Figure 4, the fixed output connectors 34 and 36 being the only part of the device to which the subscriber has ready access for attaching cables associated with their home television equipment.
Figure 5 illustrates the rotatable connector 26 at a position intermediate the first position and the second position as it is adjusted to the position required for the cable configuration in that application, i.e. whether the cable runs parallel or perpendicular to the wall surface. This rotary connection for coaxial cables can be moved through 90° whilst maintaining good electromagnetic screening. This enables the wall outlet device to be either surface box mounted on a wall and connected to an input cable running parallel to the wall surface or flush mounted and connected to an input cable coming through the wall without the necessity of having to bend the cable.
Detailed internal assembly of that part of the device incorporating the rotating connector 26 can be seen in Figure 6. The female connector insert 30 held within connector body 26 is in permanent electrical communication with a printed circuit board held within housing 24. This is achieved by means of centre conductor 40 which extends from the female connector insert 30 to pass through a link cylinder 42. This cylinder 42 is secured over aperture 50 of the housing 24 so that the centre conductor 40 engages with spring contact insert 44 within the housing.
The spring contact insert 44 communicates with a printed circuit board connection cylinder 46 in electrical communication with the printed circuit board (PCB) 48. The printed circuit board 48 is the interface between the fixed output connectors 34, 36, which are accessible by the subscriber, and the input signal received from the network. As the connector moves between the first position and the second position, the spring contact insert 44 adjusts its position to maintain connection with the centre conductor 40 and so enables the connector to be positioned at any angle whilst maintaining a screened electrical connection.
A perspective view of the various integers shown in Figure 6 can be seen in Figure 7.
To assemble the device, the "female" connector insert 30 is press fitted into the connector body 26 with the centre conductor 40 passing out through the centre of a hole in the side of the connector body.
The link cylinder 42 is then stamped (press fitted) into the connector body 26 to form a permanent joint.
A "Tulip spring" insert 44 is fitted into PCB connection cylinder 46 and this assembly fixed to a PCB by means of soldered wire links, see Figure 7. This assembly is the same as that used for the centre connections in the "F-type" female connector above. Other types of "F-type" connector centre connections could be used.
The PCB 48 is fitted in the wall outlet housing 24 with the PCB connection cylinder 46 lining up with the centre of input connector hole 50.
Finally the input port assembly (i.e. link cylinder 41, centre conductor 40, connector body 26 and connector insert 30) is partially inserted through the hole 50 in the housing wall with a crinkle or domed spring washer 52 between the link cylinder 42 and the wall 24. Alternatively a rubber o-ring may be used instead of the washer. The centre conductor 40 is located in the PCB connection cylinder 46 and the assembly is secured with a circlip 54 located in a groove within the link cylinder 42.
Over-voltage protection and/or signal filtering circuitry may incorporated in the device.
The use of a rotatable connector 26 ensures that a single type of cable wall outlet can be used to accommodate cables either running parallel or perpendicular to a surface. This reduces the different types of cable wall outlet that an engineer needs to carry. The cable wall outlet can be used in any suitable radio frequency application where different direction cables need to be accommodated.

Claims

A cable wall outlet (20) comprising a housing (24) for connection to a cable network and a rotatable connector (26), characterised in that the rotatable connector (26) comprises a connector insert (30) with a centre conductor (40) which extends through and into the housing (24), the centre conductor (40) engaging with a spring contact insert (44) fitted into a connection cylinder (46) fixed to a printed circuit board (48), wherein the spring contact insert (44) adjusts its position to maintain connection with the centre conductor (40) and so enables the connector (26) to be positioned at any angle whilst maintaining screened electrical connection.
A cable wall outlet according to claim 1, wherein the connector- (26) is moveable through 90°.
A cable wall outlet according to claim 1, wherein the connector (26) is moveable between a first position and a second position spaced at an angle which represents a minimum bend radius of 21mm.
A cable wall outlet according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a body into which the connector (26) is press fitted.
A cable wall outlet according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising integral signal filtering circuitry and/or over-voltage protection circuitry.