Electrical Connector Elastic Arm Segmentation for Crosstalk Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors face challenges in high frequency signal transmission due to long distances between elastic arms of differential signal terminal pairs, leading to crosstalk and difficulties in meeting high frequency performance requirements.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector design features a through slot in the elastic arm of each differential signal terminal, forming inner and outer elastic arms, with the contact portion located outside the virtual center line of the slot, reducing the distance between adjacent inner elastic arms and enhancing coupling, while maintaining a consistent pitch between contact portions to minimize crosstalk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If strip connecting portions are arranged between the two elastic arms of differential signal terminals, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the distance between the two elastic arms becomes relatively long, leading to crosstalk and poor high frequency performance
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic arm is segmented by introducing a through slot, dividing it into an inner elastic arm and an outer elastic arm. This segmentation allows the inner elastic arms of differential signal terminals to be positioned closer together, reducing the distance between them and minimizing crosstalk, while the outer elastic arms maintain connection to the strip connecting portions for manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The through slot is designed to extend in a specific direction (first direction) while the elastic arm extends in another direction (second direction perpendicular to the first). This dimensional arrangement allows the contact portion to be positioned at an outer side of the virtual center line of the through slot, optimizing the distance between inner elastic arms while maintaining structural integrity and manufacturing ease.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the distance between elastic arms is reduced to improve coupling and reduce crosstalk, then high frequency performance is improved, but the structural complexity increases due to the through slot design
Solution Approach 1:
The through slot segments the elastic arm into functional zones: the inner elastic arm portion that needs to be close to reduce crosstalk, and the outer elastic arm portion that maintains structural connection. This segmentation achieves the dual goal of reducing distance between differential terminals while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through the strip connecting portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer elastic arm acts as an intermediary element that connects the inner elastic arm to the strip connecting portion. This allows the inner elastic arms to be positioned close together for low crosstalk while the outer elastic arms maintain the structural and electrical connection to the grounding/Power strips, effectively decoupling the conflicting requirements.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the through slot extends to the contact portion to maximize the reduction of elastic arm distance, then coupling is enhanced, but the mechanical strength and reliability of the contact portion is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The through slot is deliberately segmented to stop before reaching the contact portion, creating a clear separation between the slot region (where distance reduction is beneficial) and the contact portion (where structural integrity is critical). This ensures the contact portion maintains full mechanical strength for reliable electrical connection while the inner elastic arm region benefits from the reduced distance configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The through slot is designed with non-uniform characteristics: it extends through the elastic arm to reduce distance and enhance coupling in the inner elastic arm region, but deliberately stops before the contact portion to preserve mechanical strength where needed. This local differentiation of quality optimizes both crosstalk reduction and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes an insulating body and multiple differential signal terminal pairs, each having two differential signal terminals. Each differential signal terminal has a main body portion, a strip connecting portion extending upward from an outer side of the main body portion, an elastic arm extending upward from the main body portion, and a contact portion extending upward from the elastic arm. A through slot runs through the elastic arm, forming an inner elastic arm and an outer elastic arm at two opposite sides of the through slot. The outer elastic arm is adjacent to the strip connecting portion. A consistent pitch is formed between the contact portions of the differential signal terminals. A first distance between two adjacent inner elastic arms in each differential signal terminal pair is less than a second distance between two adjacent outer elastic arms in two adjacent differential signal terminal pairs.