Connector Assembly UTP Circuit Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical connector assemblies face challenges in controlling the length of untwisted unshielded twisted pair (UTP) signal wires, leading to congestion and difficulty in maintaining signal integrity due to the exposure of long wire lengths.

Innovation Solution

A connector assembly design featuring a housing with module latches and contact modules, where UTP circuits are pre-loaded into the modules, and secured using primary and secondary latches, ensuring the terminals are securely held within the module cavities, limiting the untwisted wire length and maintaining signal integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple different UTP circuits are terminated to the back end of the housing, then the connector can support multiple circuits, but the wires become congested and the length of untwisted signal wires becomes difficult to control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of circuits supportedVSAvoidcontrol of untwisted wire length

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is divided into multiple separate cavities within the housing, with each cavity dedicated to receiving and organizing a specific UTP circuit. This segmentation prevents wire congestion by providing dedicated space for each circuit's wires, making it easier to control the length of untwisted signal wires while still supporting multiple circuits simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Individual circuit receptacles or contact modules are introduced as intermediary components between the UTP circuits and the housing. These intermediaries organize the wires from each circuit separately before termination, preventing congestion and facilitating precise control of untwisted wire lengths while maintaining support for multiple circuits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If many wires are terminated to terminals in the housing, then multiple circuits can be connected, but the length of exposed wires behind the housing becomes relatively long

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of circuits connectedVSAvoidlength of exposed wires

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented into multiple cavities that collectively reduce the length of exposed wires behind the housing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Wires are organized and pre-positioned within the cavities before termination, ensuring minimal exposed length behind the housing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3312939B1Connector assembly with an unshielded twisted pair circuit

Publication Date: 2019.11.20 TE CONNECTIVITY CORP

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AI summary

A connector assembly (100) includes a housing (102) having housing cavities (114) extending between a mating end (110) and a loading end (108). The housing has module latches associated with corresponding housing cavities. Contact modules (104) are received in corresponding housing cavities. Each contact module has first and second module cavities extending between a front end and a rear end of the contact modules. The contact modules are held within the housing cavity by the corresponding module latch. Each contact module has an unshielded twisted pair (UTP) circuit, the UTP circuit including first and second signal wires (220, 222) and first and second terminals terminated to the first and second signal wires. The signal wires are twisted along a length of the first and second signal wires.