Electrical Connector Ground Coupling Bar Cross-Talk Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrical connectors experience undesirable cross-talk due to the close spacing of signal contacts, which compromises signal integrity, especially in miniaturized and high-speed electronic communications.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector design featuring an insulative housing with signal contacts and a ground contact network that includes a conductive ground coupling bar, which electrically connects ground contacts in columns to reduce cross-talk between differential signal pairs both within and perpendicular to the columns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If signal contacts are closely spaced to achieve miniaturization, then device size is reduced, but cross-talk between adjacent signal contacts increases
Solution Approach 1:
Ground contacts are introduced as intermediary elements positioned between adjacent signal contacts. These ground contacts act as mediators that intercept and divert electrical fields, preventing direct interference between signal contacts while allowing the signal contacts to remain closely spaced for miniaturization.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful electrical fields causing cross-talk are extracted and redirected to the ground contacts. By providing dedicated ground paths, the interference energy is removed from the signal path and directed to ground, eliminating cross-talk while maintaining compact signal contact spacing.
2Ease of manufacture
If ground contacts are individually isolated to simplify structure, then manufacturing is easier, but cross-talk reduction between differential signal pairs is ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple ground contacts are electrically connected and merged into a unified ground network. This combining of ground contacts creates an extended ground plane that effectively shields multiple signal pairs simultaneously, providing superior cross-talk reduction while maintaining simple individual ground contact structures that are easy to manufacture.
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 conductive ground coupling bar effectively minimizes cross-talk between signal pairs, enhancing signal integrity in high-speed communications by ensuring electrical communication among ground contacts while isolating signal contacts.
Implementation Method 1
The ground coupling bar places each of the plurality of ground contacts mounted to the first side in electrical communication with each other, further places each of the plurality of ground contacts mounted to the second side in electrical communication with each other, and further places each of the plurality of ground contacts mounted to the first side in electrical communication with each of the plurality of ground contacts mounted to the second side
Implementation Method 2
The electrically conductive ground coupling bar helps to reduce crosstalk between differential signal pairs along the respective columns, and helps to reduce crosstalk between differential signal pairs in a direction perpendicular to the columns
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector is provided having an electrically insulative connector housing that supports a plurality of signal contacts, as well as a plurality of ground contact networks. The ground contact networks include a conductive ground coupling bar supporting a plurality of ground contacts along a pair of columns that are spaced apart along a row direction.