Rf circuit module

A chassis and module combination for permitting selective housing of a plurality of modules containing radio frequency circuits, said combination comprising:

• a plurality of modules, each module having:
• a housing of electrically conductive material defining an enclosed interior;
• said housing having a front face and an opposite rear face separated by opposite sidewalls and opposite end walls;
• each housing of said plurality of modules including flanges extending from each of said end walls in a common plane generally parallel to said sidewalls and with said common plane offset from a central longitudinal axis of each housing;
• said housing including an end portion extending beyond one of said end walls;
• a plurality of coax connectors secured to said housing with an outer shield of said connectors electrically coupled to said housing;
• a circuit board contained within said interior and positioned generally parallel to and spaced between said sidewalls;
• said circuit board having a ground layer of electrically conductive material electrically connected to said housing;
• a plurality of connection locations on said circuit board, each of said connection locations including a ground connection for connecting to said layer of electrically conductive material;
• said circuit board including a plurality of circuit components interconnected with one another and with said connection locations through a plurality of circuit paths;
• said coax connectors connected to said connection locations, each of said outer shields of said coax connectors connected to said ground connections of said connection locations;
• each module selected to have a desired function, wherein said circuit components are selected to perform a circuit function on a radio frequency signal supplied to one of said connectors and to provide an output radio frequency signal to a remainder of said connectors on each of said modules;
• at least one of said modules including said circuit components selected to include at least one removable plug, and a base member mounted on said circuit board for receiving said plug;
• said housing of said at least one module having a first portion limiting access to said circuit board, said first portion including an opening sized to pass said removable plug so as to access said base member;
• said housing of said at least one module further including a cover portion releasably secured to said first portion and sized to cover said opening;
• a chassis for receiving the plurality of modules, the chassis including a frame with opposed walls, each wall having a plurality of grooves, each flange of each module received in a groove, the frame further including a wall portion positioned to engage the end portion of each module, each of the front faces facing in the same direction;
• a lock fastener for mounting the end portion of each module to the wall portion of the frame.

A module for containing a circuit for performing discrete circuit functions on a radio frequency signal, said module comprising:

• a housing of electrically conductive material defining an enclosed interior;
• said housing having a front face and an opposite rear face separated by opposite sidewalls and opposite end walls;
• a plurality of coax connectors secured to said rear face with an outer shield of said connectors electrically coupled to said housing;
• said front face of said housing defining an opening;
• radio frequency circuitry within the enclosed interior of said housing, said radio frequency circuitry electrically interconnected with said coax connectors of said rear face;
• said radio frequency circuitry including at least one removable plug sized to pass through said opening in said front face.

A chassis and module combination for permitting selective housing of a plurality of modules containing radio frequency circuits, said combination comprising:

• a plurality of modules, each module having:
• a housing of electrically conductive material defining an enclosed interior;
• said housing having a front face and an opposite rear face separated by opposite sidewalls and opposite end walls;
• each housing of said plurality of modules including flanges extending from each of said end walls in a common plane generally parallel to said sidewalls and with said common plane offset from a central longitudinal axis of each housing;
• said housing including an end portion extending beyond one of said end walls;
• a plurality of coax connectors secured to said rear face with an outer shield of said connectors electrically coupled to said housing;
• said front face of said housing defining an opening;
• radio frequency circuitry within the enclosed interior of said housing, said radio frequency circuitry electrically interconnected with said coax connectors of said rear face;
• each module selected to have a desired function, wherein said radio frequency circuitry is selected to perform a circuit function on a radio frequency signal supplied to one of said connectors and to provide an output radio frequency signal to a remainder of said connectors on each of said modules;
• at least one of said modules including said radio frequency circuitry selected to include at least one removable plug sized to pass through said opening in said front face;
• a chassis for receiving the plurality of modules, the chassis including a frame with opposed walls, each wall having a plurality of grooves, each flange of each module received in a groove, the frame further including a wall portion positioned to engage the end portion of each module, each of the front faces facing in the same direction;
• a lock fastener for mounting the end portion of each module to the wall portion of the frame.

A module for containing a circuit for performing discrete circuit functions on a radio frequency signal, said module comprising:

• a housing of electrically conductive material defining an enclosed interior;
• said housing having a front face and an opposite rear face separated by opposite sidewalls and opposite end walls;
• a plurality of coax connectors secured to said rear face with an outer shield of said connectors electrically coupled to said housing;
• said housing defining an opening;
• radio frequency circuitry within the enclosed interior of said housing, said radio frequency circuitry electrically interconnected with said coax connectors of said rear face;
• said radio frequency circuitry including at least one removable plug sized to pass through said opening;
• wherein said housing includes a removable cover mounted to a remainder of said housing for covering said removable plug.

A chassis and module combination for permitting selective housing of a plurality of modules containing radio frequency circuits, said combination comprising:

• a plurality of modules, each module having:
• a housing of electrically conductive material defining an enclosed interior;
• said housing having a front face and an opposite rear face separated by opposite sidewalls and opposite end walls;
• each housing of said plurality of modules including flanges extending from each of said end walls in a common plane generally parallel to said sidewalls and with said common plane offset from a central longitudinal axis of each housing;
• said housing including an end portion extending beyond one of said end walls;
• a plurality of coax connectors secured to said rear face with an outer shield of said connectors electrically coupled to said housing;
• said housing defining an opening;
• radio frequency circuitry within the enclosed interior of said housing, said radio frequency circuitry electrically interconnected with said coax connectors of said rear face;
• each module selected to have a desired function, wherein said radio frequency circuitry is selected to perform a circuit function on a radio frequency signal supplied to one of said connectors and to provide an output radio frequency signal to a remainder of said connectors on each of said modules;
• at least one of said modules including said radio frequency circuitry selected to include at least one removable plug sized to pass through said opening, wherein said housing includes a removable cover mounted to a remainder of said housing for covering said removable plug;
• a chassis for receiving the plurality of modules, the chassis including a frame with opposed walls, each wall having a plurality of grooves, each flange of each module received in a groove, the frame further including a wall portion positioned to engage the end portion of each module, each of the front faces facing in the same direction;
• a lock fastener for mounting the end portion of each module to the wall portion of the frame.

A module for containing a circuit for performing discrete circuit functions on a radio frequency signal, the module comprising:

• a housing including circuit housing structure defining an interior, said circuit housing structure including electrically conductive material;
• said circuit housing structure having a front and a back, said circuit housing structure also including opposite side walls that extend between said front and back, said circuit housing structure further including opposite end walls that extend between said side walls and also extend between said front and back of said circuit housing structure;
• a plurality of coax connectors mounted at said back of said circuit housing structure with outer shields of said connectors electrically coupled to said circuit housing structure;
• radio frequency circuitry at least partially within said interior of said circuit housing structure, said radio frequency circuitry being electrically interconnected with said coax connectors;
• said radio frequency circuitry including at least one removable plug that is accessible from said front of said circuit housing structure.

A module for containing a circuit for performing discrete circuit functions on a radio frequency signal, said module comprising:

• a housing including a first structure defining an interior, said first structure including electrically conductive material;
• said first structure having a front and a back, said first structure also including opposite side walls that extend between said front and back, said first structure further including opposite end walls that extend between said side walls and also extend between said front and back of said first structure;
• a plurality of coax connectors mounted at said back of said first structure with outer shields of said connectors electrically coupled to said first structure;
• radio frequency circuitry at least partially within said interior of said first structure, said radio frequency circuitry being electrically interconnected with said coax connectors;
• said radio frequency circuitry including at least one removable plug that is accessible from said front of said first structure;
• and
• said housing including a second structure in said form of a removable cover mounted at said front of said first structure for covering at least said plug, said cover being removable from said first structure to allow said plug to be accessed.

A module for containing a circuit for performing discrete circuit functions on a radio frequency signal, said module comprising:

• a housing including a first structure comprising electrically conductive material defining an interior;
• said first structure having a front and a back;
• a plurality of coax connectors secured to said back with an outer shield of said connectors electrically coupled to said first structure;
• radio frequency circuitry positioned at least partially within said first structure, said radio frequency circuitry electrically interconnected with said coax connectors;
• said radio frequency circuitry including at least one removable plug that is accessible from said front of said first structure;
• said first structure including front face structure, said front face structure defining an opening, and said plug sized to pass through said opening;
• said housing including a second structure that covers at least said plug, said second structure being removable from said first structure so that said plug can be accessed.