Pluggable Connector Cage with Drop-Pocket Mating for High Contact Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems with pluggable modules are limited by the contact density of card edge connectors, leading to signal degradation at higher speeds due to trace lengths between connectors and integrated circuits.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector system featuring a pluggable module with guide lugs and a cage structure that includes guide rails and drop pockets, allowing for a transverse mating direction to enhance contact density and reduce signal degradation by compressing socket contacts between the module and interposer contacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If card edge connectors with two rows of contacts are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the contact density is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a planar two-row contact arrangement to a three-dimensional stacked configuration with multiple contact rows vertically arranged. The socket connector includes a first row of socket contacts and a second row of socket contacts arranged in different vertical levels, enabling higher contact density without increasing the horizontal footprint or complicating the mating operation.
2Device complexity
If longer trace lengths are used between card edge connectors and integrated circuit, then the device complexity is reduced, but signal degradation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes vertical stacking to place the integrated circuit in close proximity to the socket connector contacts. The circuit board routes traces from the socket connector directly to the integrated circuit mounted beneath or adjacent to the connector, dramatically reducing trace length and improving signal integrity while maintaining simple routing paths.
3Ease of manufacture
If pluggable modules with limited contact rows are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but productivity is limited due to lower contact density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a vertically stacked contact arrangement where multiple rows of contacts are arranged at different height levels within the socket connector. This three-dimensional configuration increases the number of simultaneous contact interfaces without complicating the pluggable module structure or manufacturing process, thereby enabling higher communication throughput while maintaining ease of manufacture.
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
The system achieves high contact density and improved signal integrity by creating direct, perpendicular circuit paths between module and interposer contacts, reducing signal degradation and enhancing communication performance.
Implementation Method 1
The socket contacts are compressible. The first mating ends configured to be mated with the module contacts of the module circuit board of the pluggable module in the contact mating direction to compress the socket contacts between the module circuit board and the interposer contacts and create circuit paths between the module contacts and the interposer contacts through the socket contacts.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector system includes a pluggable module having a module circuit board held by a module body, which includes guide lugs. The electrical connector system includes a circuit card assembly having a cage mounted to a host circuit board, a socket connector received in the cage, and an interposer received in the cage in a circuit stack. The cage has shielding walls forming a module channel. The cage includes guide rails interacting with the guide lugs to guide the pluggable module in the module loading direction. The guide rails include drop pockets configured to receive the guide lugs allowing the pluggable module to move in a contact mating direction transverse to the module loading direction when the guide lugs are received in the drop pockets to mate with the socket connector.