# US 9,520,691 B2 · Use of crushable connector interface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,520,691 B2 - Document ID: US9520691B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/674,140 - Filed: 2015-03-31 - Published: 2015-07-23 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2010-07-30 - Assignees: National Instruments Corporation - Applicants: National Instruments Corporation - Inventors: Ron Jay Barnett; Gregory Stephen Gonzales - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520691B2 ## CPC - H01R 43/26: for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device (structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629) - H01P 1/203: Strip line filters - H01R 13/2407: {characterized by the resilient means} - H01R 43/16: for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending - H01P 1/227: {Strip line attenuators (H01P1/23 takes precedence)} - H01R 31/06: Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter (with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94) - Y10T 29/49117: Conductor or circuit manufacturing - Y10T 29/49174: Assembling terminal to elongated conductor - Y10T 29/49204: Contact or terminal manufacturing - Y10T 29/49208: by assembling plural parts - Y10T 29/49218: with deforming - Y10T 29/49224: with coating - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H01P: WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE (operating at optical frequencies G02B) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A connector is disclosed. The connector includes a conductive housing. The conductive housing includes a wall region enclosing a space for receiving an adapter. The conductive housing also includes an annular end piece extending radially inward from a first end of the wall region and terminating the space. The annular end piece includes a flat annular surface, and a raised deformable annulus mounted on the flat annular surface. The raised deformable annulus is of a height such that an insertion of the adapter into the space deforms the raised deformable annulus to generate a physical contact connection between the flat annular surface and the adapter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for forming a connection, comprising: inserting an adapter into a receiving connector; deforming through contact with the adapter a raised deformable annulus mounted on a flat annular surface of an annular end piece extending radially inward from a first end of a wall region of the receiving connector by rotating the adapter within the receiving connector, wherein the raised deformable annulus comprises a conductive material; and conducting current across a physical contact connection between the flat annular surface and the adapter, wherein the physical contact connection is generated by the deforming. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: conducting current from a conductive tube at a first end of the adapter across a central conductive pin affixed within a dielectric tube housed within the annular end piece. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the conducting current further comprises receiving a radio-frequency signal at the central conductive pin. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the transmitting the radio-frequency signal along the central conductive pin further comprises transmitting sensor results to a circuit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the rotating the adapter within the connector further comprises inducing, by a torque used to completely insert the adapter into the connector, a pressure on the raised deformable annulus greater than a yield strength of a material of the raised deformable annulus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the deforming through contact with the adapter the raised deformable annulus further comprises deforming through contact with the adapter a raised deformable annulus along a 360-degree ring connection. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the inserting the adapter into the receiving connector further comprises inserting the adapter into a receiving connector with a wall region threaded to affix to threads on the adapter and enclosing a space for receiving the adapter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: forming a gas tight physical connection along the contact between the conductive housing and the adapter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: applying a force greater than a yield strength of a material of which the raised deformable annulus is composed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: applying a force greater than a yield strength of the material of which the raised deformable annulus is composed and lower than a yield strength of a material of which the adapter is composed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the inserting the adapter into the receiving connector further comprises inserting the adapter into a receiving connector with a wall region threaded to affix to threads on the adapter and enclosing a space for receiving the adapter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: applying a force greater than a yield strength of the material of which the raised deformable annulus is composed and lower than a yield strength of a material of which the adapter is composed.