Electrical Connector Common Grounding for High-Speed Signal Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high-speed electrical connectors face challenges in effectively transmitting signals at rates of 25 Gbit/s or 50 Gbit/s due to the lack of efficient grounding mechanisms, which affect performance characteristics.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector design incorporates an insulative housing with a terminal assembly that includes upper and lower terminal modules sandwiching a shielding module, featuring metallic ground terminals and a shielding plate for mechanical and electrical connection, ensuring stable signal transmission by establishing a grounding path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a plurality of electrical contacts are configured to communicate at high speed (25 Gbit/s or 50 Gbit/s), then signal transmission rate is improved, but grounding mechanism effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple ground contacts from different electrical lanes into a single common ground bus that connects to a shielding plate. This merging approach creates a unified grounding system that effectively handles high-speed signals across multiple lanes while maintaining consistent potential reference, thereby resolving the grounding effectiveness issue at high transmission rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a ground member as an intermediary element that mechanically and electrically connects ground contacts to the shielding plate. This ground member acts as a mediator to establish reliable electrical connection and provide stable grounding for high-speed signal transmission, addressing the grounding reliability challenge.
2Reliability
If ground contacts are electrically connected to adjust performance characteristics, then signal transmission reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple ground contacts into a common ground bus structure that consolidates the grounding function. This reduction in the number of separate grounding elements simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining reliable signal transmission through the unified grounding system.
Solution Approach 2:
The ground member serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical connection between ground contacts and the shielding plate, establishes mechanical support, and creates a common reference potential. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby reducing device complexity while ensuring reliable signal transmission.
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 enhances signal transmission reliability and performance by providing a robust grounding mechanism, effectively addressing the challenges of high-speed signal transmission in existing connectors.
Implementation Method 1
a ground member is associated with the shielding module to mechanically and electrically connect at least one of the upper ground terminals and the lower ground terminals with the shielding plate
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing defining a front cavity for receiving a plug and a rear cavity, a terminal assembly assembled in the rear cavity, and a ground member. The terminal assembly includes an upper terminal module, a lower terminal module, and a shielding module sandwiched therebetween. The upper terminal module includes a pair of upper ground terminals. The lower terminal module includes a pair of lower ground terminals. The shielding module includes a metallic shielding plate. The ground member is associated with the shielding module to mechanically and electrically connect at least one of the upper ground terminals and the lower ground terminals with the shielding plate.