Cable Termination Shield Structure for High-Speed Signal Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical connectors experience signal degradation due to lack of shielding and heat-induced damage from hot melt epoxy or overmolding, leading to increased cross talk and return loss, especially at high data rates.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a cable card assembly with a circuit card, conductor holders, and ground shields made from dielectric materials, which provide electrical shielding and impedance control to mitigate signal degradation and heat-related issues, using conductor channels and ground shields to position and shield signal conductors effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hot melt epoxy or overmolding is used to terminate signal conductors, then the conductors are secured and shielded, but heat is introduced to the cable causing damage and signal loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the hot melt epoxy or overmolding material from the termination process, replacing it with a mechanical crimping system that secures conductors without introducing heat. The cable assembly includes a housing that receives the cable and a crimping mechanism that mechanically secures the signal conductors to the circuit board without thermal exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a crimping mechanism as an intermediary between the cable and circuit board, replacing the thermal bonding process. This crimping mechanism provides mechanical securing and electrical connection without the harmful thermal effects of hot melt epoxy or overmolding.
2Reliability
If hot melt epoxy or overmolding is used to terminate signal conductors, then the conductors are secured, but inconsistency in signal transmission paths occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the inconsistent thermal bonding process with a precise mechanical crimping system. The crimping mechanism applies controlled mechanical force to secure conductors in consistent positions, ensuring uniform signal transmission paths without the variability inherent in hot melt epoxy or overmolding processes.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If hot melt epoxy or overmolding material is used for termination, then conductors are shielded, but signal loss increases due to high loss material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the hot melt epoxy or overmolding material entirely from the termination structure, replacing it with a housing and crimping system that provides mechanical support and electrical connection without introducing high-loss dielectric material near the signal conductors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a housing and crimping mechanism as intermediaries that provide structural support and electrical connection without using high-loss materials. The housing contains the cable assembly and provides shielding, while the crimping mechanism secures conductors without introducing lossy material into the signal path.
4Ease of operation
If signal conductors are stripped from insulator and transitioned to air, then connection to circuit card is enabled, but signal degradation occurs due to different dielectric constant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares the signal conductors in advance by stripping them from the insulator and positioning them within the housing before final connection to the circuit card. This preliminary preparation ensures proper dielectric support is in place before the conductors transition to the connection interface, maintaining signal integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the housing and its dielectric structure as an intermediary between the cable insulator and the circuit card connection point. This intermediary provides consistent dielectric support for the stripped conductors, smoothing the transition and reducing signal degradation caused by abrupt dielectric changes.
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
This solution significantly reduces insertion loss and cross talk, improving electrical performance by controlling electromagnetic fields and maintaining consistent signal transmission paths, even at high data rates.
Implementation Method 1
The cable has a cable shield providing electrical shielding for the at least one signal conductor. The cable shield surrounding the insulator.
Implementation Method 2
The ground shields providing electrical shielding for the corresponding cables. Each ground shield includes a first side wall, a second side wall and an end wall between the first and second side walls.
Implementation Method 3
Each conductor holder is manufactured from a dielectric material. The conductor holder has conductor channels that receive the terminating ends of the corresponding signal conductors.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable card assembly includes a circuit card and cables terminated to the circuit card. Each cable has signal conductors, an insulator, and a cable shield. The cable card includes conductor holders forward of the insulators manufactured from a dielectric material and having conductor channels that receive the signal conductors. The cable card assembly includes ground shields coupled to the circuit card providing electrical shielding for the cables. Each ground shield includes a side walls and an end wall. The end wall has an end wall connecting portion coupled to the cable shield. The first side wall has a first side wall connecting portion coupled to the cable shield. The second side wall has a second side wall connecting portion coupled to the cable shield.