Electrical Connector Ground Clip Resonance Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors experience resonance noise due to standing waves in ground contacts, which degrades signal performance in applications requiring signal pair isolation.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector design incorporates ground clips that engage ground contacts to create a shorter ground path, effectively increasing the resonance frequency beyond the frequency band that affects signal performance, thereby reducing resonance noise and improving signal integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ground contacts are used to isolate signal pairs, then signal pair isolation is improved, but resonance noise degrades signal performance
Solution Approach 1:
The ground contact is divided into two separate sections: a first ground contact section and a second ground contact section. These sections are positioned at different locations along the signal transmission path, effectively segmenting the ground path to reduce resonance while maintaining signal pair isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
A dielectric member is introduced as an intermediary between the first and second ground contact sections. This dielectric member electrically isolates the two ground sections from each other, preventing resonance coupling while allowing each section to independently provide grounding and signal pair isolation.
2Reliability
If ground contacts are extended between circuit board interfaces, then signal pair isolation is improved, but standing wave resonances increase
Solution Approach 1:
The extended ground contact path is segmented into two separate ground contact sections positioned at different locations. This segmentation breaks up the continuous ground path that would support standing waves, while still providing adequate grounding over the extended interface distance.
Solution Approach 2:
A dielectric member is placed between the two ground contact sections to electrically isolate them. This intermediary prevents the formation of continuous current paths that would create standing waves, while allowing the ground contacts to extend between circuit board interfaces for signal pair isolation.
3Reliability
If ground contacts are used to minimize crosstalk, then signal quality is improved, but resonance frequency remains within detrimental range
Solution Approach 1:
Segmenting the ground contact into two sections with a dielectric intermediary increases the impedance of the ground path, which raises the resonance frequency. This allows the connector to maintain signal quality through grounding while pushing the resonance frequency above the detrimental range.
Solution Approach 2:
The dielectric member acts as an intermediary that increases the electrical impedance between ground contact sections. This impedance increase raises the resonance frequency of the ground path, moving it above the frequency range that would degrade signal quality.
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 use of ground clips in the electrical connector design effectively minimizes resonance noise, enhancing signal quality by increasing the resonance frequency above the detrimental range, thus improving signal performance.
Implementation Method 1
The ground clip engages the ground contacts to create a ground circuit between the ground contacts engaged by the ground clip.
Implementation Method 2
the length of the ground contacts between the interfaces between the two circuit boards leads to resonances due to a standing wave created at ends of the ground contacts. The resonance noise can couple to signal pairs to degrade the signal performance.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes a housing having a front and a rear opposite the housing with a rear wall at the rear. The housing has a slot open through the front that receives a mating connector therein. The housing has contact openings through the rear wall and a ground clip channel in the rear wall open at the rear. Signal contacts are held in the housing and arranged in pairs. The signal contacts are received in corresponding contact openings and are arranged within the slot to mate with the mating connector. Ground contacts are held in the housing and are arranged between corresponding signal contacts. The ground contacts are received in corresponding contact openings and are arranged within the slot to mate with the mating connector. A ground clip is loaded into the ground clip channel. The ground clip engages the ground contacts to create a ground circuit between the ground contacts engaged by the ground clip.