Cable Connector Ground Bar for EMI Shielding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cable connectors lack effective anti-electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection, as disclosed in China Patent No. 201708387, which fails to provide a desirable EMI shielding effect.

Innovation Solution

A cable connector design featuring an insulative shell with contact wafers and ground bars, where signal and ground contact wafers are alternately arranged, and a ground bar connects with the shielding braids of cables, providing physical and electrical grounding to enhance EMI protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a metal plate is used for EMI shielding, then the structure is simple, but the anti-electromagnetic interference effect is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidEMI shielding effect

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ground contacts are divided into multiple ground contact wafers arranged in parallel, each wafer containing multiple ground contacts. This segmentation allows for better distribution of grounding points and improved EMI shielding effectiveness compared to a single metal plate, while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular construction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ground contact wafers are nested within the insulative housing, with each wafer containing multiple ground contacts that are embedded in the housing structure. The cables are also nested within the connector body, with shielding braids surrounding conductive cores. This nested arrangement maximizes space utilization and ensures effective EMI shielding without increasing overall connector dimensions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If multiple ground contact wafers are used to improve EMI shielding, then the EMI protection is enhanced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveEMI shielding effectVSAvoidconnector structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ground contact wafers serve multiple functions: they provide EMI shielding, establish electrical ground connections, and structurally support the cable assemblies. The insulative housing simultaneously provides mechanical support, electrical insulation, and structural integration for all components. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple ground contacts are combined into integrated ground contact wafers that are collectively held by the insulative housing. The shielding braids of multiple cables are merged and connected to a common ground bar. This merging approach simplifies the overall structure by reducing the number of individual components and connections required, thereby limiting device complexity while maintaining effective EMI shielding

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively reduces electromagnetic interference by physically and electrically connecting the ground bars with the shielding braids and tail sections of the ground wafers, enhancing the overall EMI shielding performance of the cable connector.

Implementation Method 1

The ground bar physically and electrically connects with the tail sections of the ground wafers and the shielding braids

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

a shielding braid surrounding around the conductive core

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic shielding: Faraday Cage

Data Source

PatentUS9793633B2Electrical connector with a grounding bar connecting the terminals of a plurality of ground contact wafers and shielding braids of cables

Publication Date: 2017.10.17 FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LTD

AI summary

A cable connector includes an insulative shell defining a receiving cavity extending along a front-to-back direction, a number of contact wafers retained in the receiving cavity, a number of cables, and a ground bar. The contact wafers include a number of signal contact wafers and a number of ground contact wafers arranged alternately. Each of the contact wafers includes an insulative housing and a number of terminals retained in the insulative housing. Each of the terminals includes a deflectable contacting section, a middle section, and a tail section. Each of the cables includes a conductive core connecting with a corresponding tail section and a shielding braid surrounding around the conductive core. The ground bar physically and electrically connects with the tail sections of the ground wafers and the shielding braids.