High-Speed Connector Ground Bridge for Crosstalk and Resonance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors face challenges in achieving high-speed and high-performance operations while maintaining signal integrity, particularly in high-frequency applications, due to issues with electrical resonance and crosstalk between conductors.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector incorporates a lossy body with a conductive layer plated on it, which electrically connects ground conductors and provides shortened conductive paths, reducing resonance and crosstalk by dissipating electromagnetic energy, thereby enhancing signal integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional electrical connectors are used for high-speed operations, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but signal integrity deteriorates due to electrical resonance and crosstalk
Solution Approach 1:
A lossy member is introduced as an intermediary component between signal conductors and ground conductors. This member includes a lossy body with a conductive layer that provides controlled electrical connection to ground conductors, acting as a mediator to dissipate electromagnetic energy and reduce harmful interactions between adjacent conductors, thereby improving signal integrity without requiring complete redesign of the connector architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical characteristics of the connector are modified by introducing a lossy material with specific electromagnetic properties. The conductive layer on the lossy body provides controlled impedance and adjustable electrical connection to ground conductors, changing the electromagnetic field distribution and reducing resonance effects. This parameter change allows the existing connector structure to achieve high-speed signal integrity
2Reliability
If ground conductors are connected through traditional paths, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but electrical resonance increases leading to degraded signal performance
Solution Approach 1:
The lossy member serves as an intermediary structure that provides alternative connection paths for ground conductors. The conductive layer on the lossy body creates controlled electrical connections to multiple ground conductors, mediating the electrical interaction between them and reducing resonance. This approach maintains manufacturing simplicity by using a single integrated component rather than multiple separate connection elements
Solution Approach 2:
The lossy member combines lossy material with a conductive layer to create a composite structure that simultaneously provides electromagnetic energy dissipation and controlled electrical connection. This composite material approach allows the ground conductors to be connected through a unified component that manages both electrical connectivity and resonance control, simplifying the manufacturing process while improving signal performance
3Reliability
If conductive paths are lengthened to improve connectivity, then electrical connection reliability is improved, but crosstalk between conductors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lossy member with conductive layer acts as an intermediary that provides direct electrical connection to ground conductors without requiring long conductive paths through the housing or other structural elements. This intermediary structure reduces the length of signal-carrying conductors by providing localized ground references, thereby reducing crosstalk while maintaining connection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The lossy material converts harmful electromagnetic energy that would otherwise cause crosstalk into heat through controlled dissipation. By strategically positioning the lossy member with conductive layer near ground conductors, the electromagnetic fields that would cause interference are converted into thermal energy, transforming the harmful effect into a beneficial reduction of crosstalk
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 configuration improves signal integrity and frequency range performance by reducing electrical resonance and crosstalk, supporting higher frequency operations and conforming to industry standards like PCIe and SAS/SATA Express.
Implementation Method 1
a conductive layer plated on the lossy body, the conductive layer electrically connects at least two of the ground conductors
Implementation Method 2
a lossy body with a conductive layer plated on it, which electrically connects ground conductors and provides shortened conductive paths, reducing resonance and crosstalk by dissipating electromagnetic energy
Data Source
AI summary
A connector for use with high-speed signals. The connector includes conductive elements held in rows and a member between rows of conductive elements. The conductive elements have pairs of signal conductors and ground conductors disposed between the pairs of the signal conductors. The member has a lossy body and a conductive layer plated on the lossy body to electrically connect the ground conductors. The lossy body of the member has openings and/or protrusions disposed and sized such that the conductive layer plated on the lossy body provides shortened conductive paths between ground conductors in different rows. The member can be configured to tune the impedance at desired regions such as the mating region. Such a configuration meets signal integrity requirements in connectors designed for high speed transmission, while conforming to a standard that constrains mating and mounting interfaces.