Conductive Film Layout for Differential Pair Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
The layout of electrical connectors is increasingly difficult to meet the requirements of high signal transmission rates due to their decreasing size, necessitating improvements in signal and ground terminal arrangements.
Innovation Solution
A conductive film with a skeleton and elastic assembly, featuring a differential signal pair surrounded by discrete ground elements, embedded in an elastomer, which allows for improved signal transmission and shielding through elastic deformation to accommodate flatness errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the size of electrical connector becomes smaller, then the compactness is improved, but the layout difficulty increases and signal transmission rate requirement becomes harder to meet
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive terminal is segmented into functionally independent components: the elastic mating arm for signal contact and the mounting foot for mechanical support and grounding. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, simplifying the overall layout while maintaining compact dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive element transitions from a planar two-dimensional structure to a three-dimensional structure with elastic deformation capability. The elastic mating arm can deform in the thickness direction to accommodate flatness errors, adding a dimensional degree of freedom that simplifies layout constraints.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional rigid conductive terminals are used, then the manufacturing is simple, but the contact reliability decreases due to flatness errors
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive terminal incorporates an elastic mating arm that can dynamically deform to accommodate flatness errors in the mating connector. This dynamic capability ensures reliable electrical contact despite manufacturing tolerances, while the overall structure remains simple to manufacture using conventional molding processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic modulus and geometric parameters of the mating arm are optimized to provide appropriate flexibility. By changing the material parameters and dimensional parameters of the elastic component, the system achieves both ease of manufacture and high contact reliability.
3Area of stationary object
If ground terminals are placed close to signal terminals, then the space utilization is improved, but the shielding effect may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting foot is designed with differentiated local qualities: a first portion for mechanical mounting and a second portion specifically configured for electrical connection to the ground terminal. This local differentiation allows optimal positioning for both compactness and shielding effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting foot acts as an intermediary component between the elastic mating arm and the ground terminal. It provides a dedicated electrical connection path that maintains shielding effectiveness while enabling compact spatial arrangement of ground and signal terminals.
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
Enhances signal transmission reliability and reduces space requirements by absorbing flatness errors, facilitating high-density layout connections.
Implementation Method 1
the elastomer is elastically deformed due to being pressed to absorb the flatness error
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of conductive elements embedded in the elastomer; the plurality of conductive elements including a first signal element, a second signal element and a plurality of ground elements
Data Source
AI summary
A conductive film includes a skeleton and an elastic assembly. The skeleton includes a first surface and a second surface. The elastic assembly includes an elastomer and a number of conductive elements embedded in the elastomer. The conductive elements include a first signal element, a second signal element and a number of ground elements. The first signal element and the second signal element form a differential signal pair. The ground elements are discretely surrounding the differential signal pair. Each conductive element includes a first mating surface and a second mating surface. The first mating surface is configured to abut against a first conductive component of a first mating module. The second mating surface is configured to abut against a second conductive component of a second mating module. A connection assembly having the conductive film and a method of manufacturing the conductive film are also disclosed.