Card Edge Connector Inserting Member for High-Speed Impedance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing card edge connectors face challenges with high inductive impedance and dielectric constant issues due to large groove sizes and long, thin signal terminals, which are not adequately addressed in high-speed connectors like PCIE 6.0.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector design featuring an insulating housing with signal and grounding passageways, a one-piece inserting member made of insulating and conductive plastic, and a metallic member with grounding fingers that capacitively couple to grounding terminals, optimizing dielectric constant and impedance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If large grooves are used for terminal assembly, then ease of assembly is improved, but dielectric constant around signal terminals decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different materials (insulating vs. conductive plastic) for different portions of the inserting member. The insulating portions are placed in signal passageways to maintain dielectric constant, while conductive portions are placed in grounding passageways for grounding function. This localized material differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing large grooves for easy assembly while maintaining proper dielectric properties where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The inserting member is constructed as a composite structure combining insulating plastic and conductive plastic in a single component. This composite approach allows the same inserting member to simultaneously provide dielectric support in signal areas and conductive grounding in grounding areas, resolving the contradiction between assembly ease and dielectric constant maintenance.
2Volume of moving object
If signal terminals are made long and thin, then device compactness is improved, but inductive impedance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inserting member acts as an intermediary element between the signal terminals and the housing. By providing properly positioned insulating portions in the signal passageways, the inserting member modifies the electromagnetic environment around the long and thin terminals, reducing their inductive impedance while allowing the terminals to maintain their compact dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the environment around the signal terminals by introducing the inserting member with specific material properties. This alters the dielectric and magnetic characteristics in the vicinity of the terminals, thereby reducing their inductive impedance without changing the terminal dimensions themselves.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional inserting member is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but signal integrity in high-speed applications is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The inserting member is segmented into multiple portions with different material properties - insulating plastic portions for signal passageways and conductive plastic portions for grounding passageways. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining the overall simplicity of having a single integrated inserting member component.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of composite materials (insulating and conductive plastic) within a single inserting member enables it to simultaneously address multiple requirements: providing dielectric support for signal integrity, establishing grounding paths, and maintaining mechanical stability. This composite approach improves signal integrity for high-speed applications while preserving manufacturing simplicity through a single-component design.
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 design improves signal integrity by adjusting impedance and reducing inductive effects, enhancing performance in high-speed applications.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of second inserting portions in the grounding passageways and at least partly made from conductive plastic, the second inserting portions mechanically connect corresponding grounding terminals respectively
Implementation Method 2
the grounding fingers are located in corresponding second inserting portions respectively and mechanically connect or face but not directly connect with corresponding grounding terminals respectively
Implementation Method 3
the inserting member defining a plurality of first inserting portions in the signal passageways and made from insulating plastic
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes: an insulating housing having two side walls defining signal passageways and grounding passageways; two rows of terminals including signal terminals in the signal passageways and grounding terminals in the grounding passageways, each terminal having a retained portion and an elastic arm with a contacting portion extending into the card slot; a one-piece inserting member assembled in the insulating housing, the inserting member defining first inserting portions in the signal passageways and made from insulating plastic, and second inserting portions in the grounding passageways and at least partly made from conductive plastic, the second inserting portions mechanically connecting the grounding terminals; and a metallic member retained in the inserting member, wherein the metallic member defines two rows of grounding fingers, the grounding fingers are located in corresponding second inserting portions respectively and directly connect or face but not directly connect with corresponding grounding terminals respectively.