High Speed Bypass Cable Assembly for Signal Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cable interconnection systems using FR-4 material for high-speed signal transmission above 10 GHz suffer from significant signal losses, requiring amplifiers and repeaters, which increase costs and complicate design, while custom materials are expensive and difficult to route effectively.
Innovation Solution
A high-speed bypass cable assembly that separates the signal transmission line from the circuit board, using a bypass cable with consistent geometry and shielding to maintain impedance and reduce losses, eliminating the need for board-mounted connectors and amplifiers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If FR-4 material is used for circuit board transmission lines, then cost is reduced, but signal loss increases significantly at high speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the high-speed signal transmission function from the FR-4 circuit board by introducing a separate bypass cable assembly. The bypass cable carries high-speed signals between connectors without using the lossy FR-4 board material, while the FR-4 board retains its function for lower-speed control and data signals.
2Length of stationary object
If transmission line length exceeds 10 inches, then connector reach is improved, but signal loss increases requiring amplifiers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the long-distance high-speed signal transmission function from the circuit board traces by using a dedicated bypass cable. This cable provides a controlled impedance path that maintains signal integrity over lengths exceeding 10 inches without requiring amplifiers or repeaters.
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass cable acts as an intermediary component between connectors on the circuit board. It provides a specialized transmission medium that bridges the gap between connectors while maintaining signal integrity, eliminating the need for board-mounted amplifiers and repeaters.
3Length of stationary object
If traces are routed in FR-4 to achieve long transmission lines, then connector connectivity is improved, but impedance consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the long-distance transmission function from FR-4 board traces and implements it using a bypass cable with controlled impedance construction. The cable's geometry and shielding are specifically designed to maintain consistent impedance throughout its length, avoiding the impedance variations that occur with routed traces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission medium parameter from FR-4 board material to a specialized bypass cable construction. This includes controlling the cable's geometry, shielding, and impedance characteristics to maintain consistency over the transmission path, eliminating the impedance variations inherent in routed traces.
4Loss of energy
If custom low-loss materials are used for circuit boards, then signal loss is reduced, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the high-speed signal transmission function from the circuit board entirely, using a separate bypass cable for this purpose. This allows the FR-4 board to be used for all other functions at standard cost, while only the specific high-speed path gets the low-loss treatment through the bypass cable construction.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable bypass assembly is disclosed for use in providing a high speed transmission line for connecting a board mounted connector of an electronic device to a chip on the device board. The bypass cable assembly has a structure that permits it, where it is terminated to the board mounted connector and the chip member, or closely proximate thereto. to replicate closely the geometry of the cable. The connector terminals are arranged in alignment with the cable signal conductors and shield extensions are provided so that shielding can be provided up to and over the termination between the cable signal conductors and the board connector terminal tails. Likewise, a similar termination structure is provided at the opposite end of the cable where a pair of terminals are supported by a second connector body and enclosed in a shield collar. The shield collar has an extension that engages the second end of the cable, to allow signals to be transmitted at greater than 10 GHz with substantially lower loss than a traditional FR4 circuit board.