Electrical Connector Signal Integrity via Alternating Conductor Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional electrical connectors experience signal degradation due to non-uniform electrical characteristics, particularly in outer regions where conductors lack neighbors, leading to increased crosstalk and reduced signal integrity at higher transmission frequencies.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector features a housing with contact modules having signal and ground conductors arranged in adjacent relationships, with varying widths and pitches in outer and inner layers to achieve uniform electrical properties, and alternating patterns to provide effective shielding, reducing crosstalk and enhancing throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conductors are arranged in traditional uniform patterns, then manufacturing is simple, but electrical characteristics are non-uniform causing signal degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the width of conductors based on their specific position within the connector. Outer conductors that lack neighboring conductors on one side are given different widths compared to inner conductors, creating position-dependent electrical characteristics that compensate for the absence of adjacent conductors and achieve uniform impedance across all signal paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the conductors, specifically the width parameter, to optimize electrical characteristics. By adjusting conductor widths according to position, the patent achieves uniform impedance and reduces signal degradation, transforming a uniform design into a non-uniform parameter distribution that improves overall reliability.
2Reliability
If conductor width is increased to reduce crosstalk, then signal integrity improves, but connector density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly increasing all conductor widths, the patent applies local quality by selectively adjusting widths only where needed. Conductors in outer positions receive width adjustments to compensate for missing neighbors, while inner conductors maintain standard dimensions, thus achieving signal integrity improvement without proportionally reducing overall connector density.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the width parameter locally rather than globally. By making targeted parameter changes only to specific conductors based on their position and electrical characteristics, the patent achieves the necessary signal integrity improvement while minimizing the impact on contact density and maintaining high connector capacity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If ground shields are added to reduce interference, then crosstalk decreases, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by using the signal conductors themselves and existing ground conductor structures to provide shielding effects. Rather than adding separate ground shields, the design leverages the inherent conductor arrangement and impedance control to reduce crosstalk, making the system shield against interference through its own structural characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses crosstalk through parameter optimization of the conductor geometry and spacing rather than adding shielding structures. By adjusting widths and positions to achieve uniform impedance, the design reduces signal degradation and interference intrinsically, avoiding the complexity and size increase that would result from additional ground shields.
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
This design ensures uniform electrical characteristics across the connector, reducing signal degradation and crosstalk, thereby supporting high-speed signal transport with increased density and integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the ground conductors and signal conductors being arranged in an adjacent relationship to provide electrical shielding
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing provided with a plurality of contact modules. Each of the contact modules is provided with a lead frame having mounting contacts electrically connected to mating contacts by signal conductors and ground conductors that extend along a predetermined path within the contact module. The lead frames in adjacent contact modules alternate between a first pattern and a second pattern. The first pattern and the second pattern each have pairs of signal conductors and individual ground conductors arranged in an alternating sequence. Each of the ground conductors has a width transverse to the predetermined path that is substantially equal to a combined width transverse to the predetermined path across the pair of signal conductors in the adjacent contact module such that the ground conductor shields the pair of signal conductors in the adjacent contact module.