Cat6A Connector With Integrated Shielding And Foldable Flaps

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connectors fail to meet the stringent shielding and assembly requirements for Cat6A transmission standards while ensuring easy field assembly and minimizing near-end crosstalk.

Innovation Solution

A plug connector design featuring a substrate with clamp-cutting devices on both sides and foldable wiring flaps with an electrically conductive web for high-frequency separation, allowing for secure connection and distribution of cable forces, suitable for RJ45 connectors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If shielding is provided by a sheet metal part attached to the outside, then shielding is achieved, but assembly complexity increases and field assembly becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshielding effectivenessVSAvoidfield assembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the shielding function directly into the connector housing structure itself, merging the housing and shielding functions into a single component. This eliminates the need for separate sheet metal shielding parts and their associated attachment operations, thereby maintaining shielding effectiveness while significantly simplifying assembly procedures for field installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The connector housing is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical support, guides wire pairs, and incorporates integrated shielding elements. This multi-functionality allows the housing to provide shielding protection without requiring additional dedicated shielding components, thus improving ease of assembly while maintaining shielding effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If clamp-cutting technology is used to connect wires, then reliable connections are achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidconnector structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp-cutting functionality is divided into multiple independent clamp-cutting devices, each responsible for a specific wire pair. This segmentation allows each device to be simple in structure while collectively providing reliable connections for all wire pairs, reducing the complexity of individual components while maintaining overall connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The clamp-cutting devices are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration with subsets positioned above and below the substrate. This spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions allows for simplified individual device designs while achieving comprehensive wire connection and cutting functionality, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If wire pairs are shielded from one another, then near-end crosstalk is minimized, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenear-end crosstalkVSAvoidconnector manufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding structure is designed with local quality variations, providing different shielding configurations for different wire pairs based on their specific crosstalk requirements. This localized approach allows for effective near-end crosstalk minimization while avoiding the need for uniformly complex shielding structures throughout the entire connector, thereby simplifying manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The shielding arrangement employs asymmetric configurations where wire pairs are shielded differently according to their positional requirements and crosstalk characteristics. This asymmetric design enables targeted crosstalk reduction without requiring symmetric complex shielding structures, thus reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining effectiveness in minimizing near-end crosstalk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

4Reliability

If connectors are designed to meet Cat6A standards, then transmission performance is improved, but ease of assembly deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission performanceVSAvoidfield assembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is designed with pre-configured elements during manufacturing, including pre-positioned clamp-cutting devices, pre-integrated shielding structures, and pre-arranged wire pair routing paths. These preliminary actions taken during manufacturing eliminate the need for complex field assembly operations, allowing the connector to meet Cat6A performance standards while maintaining ease of field assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The connector design incorporates self-aligning and self-assembling features that allow the components to automatically position themselves during assembly without requiring precise manual alignment or complex assembly procedures. This self-service capability enables the connector to achieve Cat6A transmission performance while significantly simplifying field assembly operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2375501B1Connector for holding a multi-core cable
Publication Date: 2019.03.06 PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2375501B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2375501B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2375501B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The plug connector (1) has a substrate (2) and multiple clamping gumption devices (3a to 3g), which are arranged on the substrate for retaining wires. A subset of the multiple clamping gumption devices is arranged above the substrate, where another subset of the multiple clamping gumption devices is arranged below the substrate. Wiring flaps (4a,4b) are provided for introducing the wires in the clamping gumption devices in hinge manner. The plug connector is provided under specification of Category 6a.