85054B 1-7
General Information
Preci sion Slotless Connector s
Precision S lotless C onnectors
The female type-N connect ors in this calibration kit are metrology-grad e, precisi on slotless
connectors (PSC). A characteristic of metrology-grade connectors is direct traceability to
national measurement standards through their well-defined mechanical dimensions.
Conventional female center conductors are slotted. When mated, the female center
conductor is flared by the male pin. Because physical dimensions determine connector
impedance, electrical characteristics of the female connector (and connection pair) are
dependent upon the mechanical dimensions of the male pin. While connectors are used in
pairs, their male and female halves are always specified separately as part of a standard,
instrument, or device under test. Because of these facts, making precision measurements
with the conventional slotted connector is very difficult, and establishing a direct
traceability path to primary dimensional standards is nearly impossible.
The precision slotless connector was developed to eliminate these problems. All PSCs are
female. A PSC incorporates a center conductor with a solid cylindrical shell that defines
the outside diameter of the female center pin. Its outside diameter and, therefore, the
impedance in its region does not change. The inner part provides an internal contact that
flexes to accept the allowed range of male pin diameters.
The calibration of a network analyzer having a conventional slotted female connector on
the test port remains valid only when the device under test and all calibration standards
have identical male pin diameters. For thi s reason, PSC test-port adapters are supplied in
mo st calib rat ion kit s.
Precision slotless connectors have the follow ing characteri stics:
• there i s no loss of traceable calibration on test ports when the male pin diameter of the
connector on the device under test is different from the male pin diameter of the
calibration standard.
• The female P SC and its mating male connector can be measured and specified
separately as part of the device either is attached to.
• All female connector s can ha ve a known, stable i mpedance bas ed only on the diameter s
of thei r inner and outer conductors.
• F em ale ca libration standards can be ful ly spec ified. T heir spec ificati ons and tr aceability
are unaffected by the diameter of the male mating pin.
• A fu ll y t race able pe rfo rma n ce verification i s made us ing a precis io n 50 ohm airl in e
having a PSC.
• Measurement repeatability is enhanced due to non-changing connector characteri stics
with various pin diameters.
With PSCs on test ports and standards, the percentage of accuracy achiev ed when
measuring at 50 dB return l oss levels is comparable to using conventional slotted
connectors measuring devices having only 30 dB return loss. This represents an accuracy
improvement of about 10 times .