Electrical Connector Impedance Matching via Floating Passive Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrical connectors face difficulties in adjusting characteristic impedance to perform impedance matching due to the limitations in size and distance between terminals, affecting high-frequency performance as electronic products trend towards miniaturization, high speed, and high frequency.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a passive element, such as a resistor, inductor, or capacitor, that can float up and down with the elastic arm of the terminal, forming a serial-connected circuit, allowing for adjustment of characteristic impedance without altering the terminal's shape or spacing, by adjusting the passive element's parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the terminal size and spacing are reduced for miniaturization, then the compactness of the electrical connector is improved, but the ability to adjust characteristic impedance for impedance matching deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a passive element (resistor, inductor, or capacitor) as an intermediary component that couples between adjacent terminals. This passive element acts as a mediator to adjust the characteristic impedance of the transmission path between terminals, enabling impedance matching without requiring changes to the terminal dimensions or spacing. The passive element provides the necessary impedance transformation while the terminals maintain their miniaturized size and fixed spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical parameters of the system by introducing a passive element with specific electrical characteristics (resistance, inductance, or capacitance). By selecting appropriate parameter values for the passive element, the characteristic impedance of the transmission path can be adjusted to achieve impedance matching. This approach allows impedance adjustment through parameter selection rather than through geometric modifications of the terminal structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the terminal shape and spacing are modified to adjust characteristic impedance, then the impedance matching capability is improved, but the structural simplicity and manufacturing ease deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the impedance adjustment function from the terminal structure itself. Instead of making the terminal structure complex to achieve impedance matching, the solution divides the system into separate functional components: the simple terminal structure and the passive element. The passive element is responsible for the impedance adjustment function, while the terminal maintains its simple, easy-to-manufacture structure. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive element serves as an intermediary that handles the complex impedance adjustment function, allowing the terminal structure to remain simple. The passive element is inserted between adjacent terminals to provide the necessary electrical characteristics for impedance matching, thereby protecting the terminal structure from becoming complex while still achieving the desired impedance adjustment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the terminal shape and spacing are modified for impedance adjustment, then the characteristic impedance control is improved, but the production time and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the impedance control function into a separate passive element that can be independently manufactured and then assembled with the terminals. This segmentation allows the terminal production process to remain simple and high-volume, while the passive elements (which are standard electronic components) can be manufactured separately using established processes. The final assembly involves simply placing the passive element between adjacent terminals, significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and time compared to modifying terminal geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves characteristic impedance control by changing the electrical parameters of the passive element rather than modifying the terminal geometry. Since passive elements are standard components with well-established manufacturing processes and parameter selection methods, this approach allows for quick impedance adjustment by simply selecting appropriate component values, thereby maintaining high manufacturing efficiency while achieving precise impedance control.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes an insulating body having a plurality of receiving slots, multiple terminals respectively received in the receiving slots, and a passive element. Each of the terminals has an elastic arm. The passive element is disposed at one end of at least one of the elastic arms, and floatable up and down along with the elastic arm. One end of the passive element has a first contact electrically connected to the one end of the elastic arm. The other end of the passive element has a second contact protruding from the receiving slot. The second contact and a first electronic element are electrically connected, and the other end of the elastic arm and a second electronic element are electrically connected.