Multi-Port Connector Bifurcated Conductor Impedance Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing right angle electrical connectors face challenges with varying electrical impedance due to conductor bends and unreliable mounting pins, which affect the stability and reliability of connections between perpendicularly oriented circuit boards.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a conductor with a bifurcated end and an interconnection end that electrically couples mating and mounting portions at an angle, along with a dielectric body providing mechanical support for the mounting pin, ensuring a stable and reliable connection between perpendicularly oriented circuit boards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a ninety degree bend is included in the conductor to extend between perpendicularly oriented mating and mounting faces, then the conductor can connect the two faces, but the electrical impedance characteristic varies through the connector
Solution Approach 1:
The conductor is divided into multiple straight segments (first conductor portion, second conductor portion, third conductor portion) connected by intermediate structures. The first and second portions are joined by an intermediate structure at the mating face, and the second and third portions are joined by another intermediate structure at the mounting face, eliminating the need for a ninety degree bend while maintaining perpendicular orientation capability
Solution Approach 2:
Intermediate structures serve as mediators between conductor portions. These intermediates include contact tips received within bifurcated ends and solder joints, providing reliable electrical connections without requiring sharp bends in the conductor itself, thereby maintaining consistent electrical impedance characteristics
2Ease of manufacture
If mounting pins are press-fit into the circuit board to retain the connector, then the connector can be mounted, but the thin mounting pins are prone to bend or buckle
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting pin is constructed as a composite structure with a first portion made of a relatively soft material (such as phosphor bronze or beryllium copper) and a second portion made of a relatively hard material (such as stainless steel). This composite construction combines the ease of press-fit insertion of softer materials with the buckling resistance of harder materials
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the mounting pin have different material properties optimized for their specific functions. The first portion (insertion end) uses softer material for easy press-fit into the circuit board, while the second portion (mounting end) uses harder material for resistance to bending and buckling forces
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector assembly includes a housing, a connector and a conductor. The housing extends from a mating interface to a back end along a longitudinal axis and from a top side to a mounting interface along a vertical axis. The connector is disposed at the mating interface and is configured to mate with a mating connector. The conductor extends from the electrical connector to the mounting interface to provide a conductive pathway between the mating connector and the circuit board. The conductor includes a mating portion oriented along the longitudinal axis and a mounting portion oriented along the vertical axis. One of the mating portion and the mounting portion includes a bifurcated end having opposing contact tips and the other of the mating portion and the mounting portion includes an interconnection end that is received between the contact tips to electrically couple the mating portion and the mounting portion.