Card Edge Connector Sleeve for Stub-Free Contact Mating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing card edge connectors suffer from electrical stubs due to the curved contacts at the mating ends, which affect the electrical performance by causing mechanical stubbing and damage during mating.
Innovation Solution
A card edge connector design featuring a contact assembly with a contact positioner holding contacts in an array, where each contact has a mating end, a terminating end, and an intermediate portion. The connector sleeve is movable to press the intermediate portions against press anvils, moving the mating ends toward the module circuit board for secure mating without electrical stubs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If contacts are curved at the mating ends to provide a large lead-in for the circuit board during mating, then mechanical damage to contacts during mating is prevented, but electrical stubs are created that affect electrical performance
Solution Approach 1:
The contact is divided into distinct functional segments: a curved mechanical lead-in portion for damage prevention during insertion, and a straight electrical contact portion for optimal electrical performance. This segmentation allows each portion to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful electrical stub portion is extracted or eliminated from the contact design. The contact geometry is optimized so that only the necessary mechanical lead-in curvature remains, while the electrical contact path is kept as straight as possible to eliminate stub effects.
2Strength
If extra lengths of contacts are provided beyond the mating interfaces, then mechanical stubbing prevention is improved, but electrical performance deteriorates due to electrical stubs
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the contact have different geometries optimized for their specific functions: the leading portion has a curved geometry for mechanical durability, while the contact portion has a straight geometry for electrical performance. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between mechanical and electrical requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact design incorporates a dynamic transition from the curved mechanical lead-in to the straight electrical contact portion, allowing the contact to flex during insertion while maintaining optimal electrical geometry during operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A card edge connector includes a connector housing having a cavity and holding a contact assembly in the cavity. The contact assembly has a contact positioner holding contacts in a contact array. Each contact includes a mating end, a terminating end, and an intermediate portion between the mating end and the terminating end. The card edge connector includes a connector sleeve coupled to the connector housing movable between a retracted position and an advanced position. The connector sleeve includes an insert received in the cavity having a card slot configured to receive a module circuit board of a pluggable module. The insert includes press anvils configured to engage the intermediate portions of the contacts to move the mating ends of the contacts toward the module circuit board to mate with corresponding contact pads on the module circuit board when moved to the advanced position.