The impact of coaxial connector failures on high frequency signal transmission

Connector failures may alter the signal that is being transmitted and is one of the major causes of low communication quality. Accordingly, a better understanding of the influence of contact degradation in communication connectors on transmitted signal integrity is of substantial value. In the present work, the effects of coaxial connector failure on the high frequency signal transmission were experimentally studied, modeled, and analyzed. A series of measurements were conducted to test impedance values and electrical performances (the voltage standing wave ratio and insertion loss) of the degraded connectors using an Impedance Analyzer and a Vector Network Analyzer. Based on transmission line theory and the measurement results, an impedance model of a connector with a degraded contact interface was developed and the associated parameters identified. It was found that when the connector initially degrades, it exhibits an inductive characteristic in the application frequency range. However, as the degradation increases to a serious degree, the connector will exhibit a more capacitance-like impedance. Accordingly, as the contact surface degrades, the impedance of the connector will change as will the associated effect on the performance of high frequency signal transmission as related to pollution induced corrosion.