Card Edge Connector Contact Positioner for Stub Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Card edge connectors in communication systems suffer from electrical stubs due to the extra lengths of contacts at the mating ends, which affect their electrical performance.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a contact positioner mechanism that moves the mating ends of the contacts outward from the card slot as the module circuit board is loaded, eliminating the need for flared lead-ins and reducing the risk of mechanical stubbing, thereby shortening the contacts and enhancing electrical performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If contacts are made longer with flared lead-ins to prevent mechanical stubbing, then mechanical protection during mating is improved, but electrical stubs are created that degrade electrical performance
Solution Approach 1:
The contact positioner is made movable between an inward position (during mating) and an outward position (after mating), allowing the system to dynamically adjust contact positioning. This resolves the contradiction by providing mechanical protection only when needed during the mating process, then retracting to eliminate electrical stubs during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The contact positioner performs preliminary action by positioning the mating ends of contacts inward before the mating operation begins. This preliminary positioning prevents mechanical stubbing during insertion while the contacts are still retracted, and then the positioner moves outward after mating to eliminate electrical stubs
2Object-generated harmful factors
If contacts are shortened to eliminate electrical stubs, then electrical performance is improved, but mechanical stubbing during mating may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The contact positioner provides dynamic adjustment, moving contacts to an inward position during mating to provide protection, then to an outward position during operation to eliminate electrical stubs. This dynamic behavior allows the system to have both short contacts (for electrical performance) and long contacts (for mechanical protection) at different times
Solution Approach 2:
The contact positioner acts as an intermediary mechanism between the contacts and the card slot. It mediates the contradiction by controlling contact positioning, providing mechanical protection when needed while maintaining short contact lengths to eliminate electrical stubs
Data Source
AI summary
A card edge connector includes a housing and a contact assembly. The housing has a cavity, a card slot and a chamber adjacent the card slot. The card slot receives a card edge of a module circuit board of a pluggable module. The contact assembly has a contact holder, first contacts held by the contact holder, and a contact positioner. The contact positioner is forward of the contact holder and located in the chamber for receiving mating ends of the first contacts. The contact positioner is movable in the chamber relative to the contact holder and the housing between an inward position and an outward position. The contact positioner moves the mating ends of the first contacts outward from the card slot as the contact positioner is moved from the inward position to the outward position.