Cable Backplane Guide Paddles for Connector Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of cable backplane systems is challenging due to the difficulty in aligning multiple cable connectors with corresponding openings on the backplane circuit board, leading to inefficiencies in signal integrity and increased complexity as system density and high-speed requirements grow.
Innovation Solution
A cable backplane system featuring a cable tray with side walls and connector bricks, including end spacers and side spacers with guide paddles, which guide and precisely position cable connectors for easy assembly and improved signal integrity by eliminating the need for trace connections on a circuit board.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If traditional backplanes with traces are used to interconnect connectors, then signal integrity can be maintained over shorter distances, but the backplane becomes larger and signal integrity degrades as signals travel further
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the signal transmission function from the backplane traces and relocates it to separate cable assemblies. The backplane is reduced to only connector positioning and mating functions, while high-speed differential signals are transmitted through dedicated cables with their own shielding and routing, thereby maintaining signal integrity without requiring a large backplane structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the interconnect function into separate cable assemblies that can be independently routed and shielded. Each cable assembly handles specific signal connections between line cards and switch cards, allowing optimized signal paths without the constraints of a monolithic backplane trace structure.
2Reliability
If cable assemblies are used to replace traditional backplanes, then backplane size is reduced and signal integrity is improved, but aligning multiple cable connectors with corresponding openings during assembly becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cable rack as an intermediary structure that pre-positions and organizes multiple cable assemblies before they are installed in the backplane. The cable rack includes alignment features and guide structures that ensure cable connectors are properly positioned relative to the backplane openings, simplifying the assembly process while maintaining the signal integrity benefits of cable-based interconnections.
3Productivity
If system density and high-speed line requirements increase, then performance is improved, but the backplane becomes larger and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments high-speed signal connections into independent cable assemblies that can be densely packed and routed independently. This allows system density to increase without proportionally increasing backplane size, as cables can be routed through three-dimensional space rather than being constrained to two-dimensional trace routing on the backplane surface.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable backplane system includes cable connectors having cables extending therefrom. Each cable connector has a header holding signal contacts at a mating end of the header configured for mating with a card connector. The cable backplane system includes a cable tray having side walls surrounding a cavity defining a raceway for the cables. The cable tray has a front edge. A plurality of connector bricks are received in the cable tray. The connector bricks each having a header frame comprising end spacers and side spacers defining a header opening receiving a plurality of the cable connectors. The end walls hold the headers of corresponding cable connectors. The side spacers have guide paddles extending from a front of the side spacers forward of the cable connectors.