Card Edge Connector Assembly Transverse Mating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing card edge connectors face limitations in high-speed electrical performance due to crosstalk, noise persistence, and electrical skew, and they impede airflow, which becomes a concern as systems operate at higher frequencies and densities, leading to increased heat dissipation and cooling challenges.

Innovation Solution

A connector assembly with transverse mounting and mating faces, featuring elongated slots and contact module assemblies that orient card edge modules perpendicular to the substrate, reducing electrical skew and allowing airflow by positioning card edge modules to extend away from the substrate, thus minimizing airflow obstruction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If card edge modules extend above the circuit board perpendicular to the substrate, then electrical coupling between the connector and card edge module is achieved, but airflow above the circuit board is significantly blocked or impeded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical couplingVSAvoidairflow obstruction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The card edge connector is rotated 90 degrees relative to the circuit board, with the mating face extending parallel to the substrate rather than perpendicular. This dimensional reorientation allows card edge modules to be received in a plane that does not obstruct airflow above the circuit board, while maintaining effective electrical coupling through the repositioned contact elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having the card edge modules extend upward perpendicular to the substrate as in conventional designs, the connector is inverted to receive modules in a horizontal orientation parallel to the substrate. This inversion eliminates the airflow blocking problem while preserving the electrical connection function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Productivity

If card edge connectors are used for high frequency communication, then data throughput increases, but crosstalk, noise persistence, and electrical skew increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata throughputVSAvoidcrosstalk and noise

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The connector design changes the geometric parameters of the contact elements and their spacing to optimize electrical performance. The reoriented mating face and adjusted contact element positions modify the electrical field distribution, reducing crosstalk and noise persistence while maintaining high-frequency signal integrity and throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS7993147B2Card edge module connector assembly

Publication Date: 2011.08.09 TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GMBH

AI summary

A connector assembly includes a housing and contacts. The connector includes a mounting face and a mating face disposed transverse to one another. The mounting face is used to mount the connector to a substrate. The mating face has an elongated slot that is configured to receive a mating edge of a card edge module. The contacts extend between opposite contact tips at each of the mounting face and the mating face. The contact tips at the mounting face are configured to electrically couple the connector with the substrate. The contact tips at the mating face are configured to electrically couple the connector with the card edge module. The card edge module is oriented transverse to the substrate when the card edge module mates with the connector.