Three-Row Connector Ground Coupling for Crosstalk Shielding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical connectors face issues with resonance frequency problems and cross-talk between differential signal pairs due to inadequate grounding structures, as seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 11,108,183 and 9,166,343.

Innovation Solution

The electrical connector design features a substrate with specific arrangements of signal and ground contacts, including a coupling element that interconnects ground contacts across multiple rows, forming a shield box configuration to enhance grounding and reduce interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ground contacts are arranged in traditional configurations, then device complexity is reduced, but resonance frequency problems and cross-talk occur between differential signal pairs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal integrityVSAvoidgrounding structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling element merges multiple ground contacts (first ground contact from first row, second ground contact from first row, and selected ground contacts from second and third rows) into a single interconnected structure, forming a unified ground shield that reduces resonance and cross-talk while maintaining signal integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The grounding structure transitions from traditional two-dimensional planar arrangements to a three-dimensional configuration by stacking ground contacts across multiple rows (first, second, and third rows) and interconnecting them vertically and horizontally, creating a volumetric shield that enhances electromagnetic interference protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If coupling elements interconnect multiple ground contacts across rows, then electrical shielding is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectromagnetic interferenceVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple ground contacts and coupling elements are merged into an integrated assembly where the coupling element simultaneously connects multiple ground contacts across different rows, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying the overall manufacturing process while maintaining enhanced shielding performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12548949B2Electrical connector having three rows of contacts and a coupling element interconnecting selected ground contacts thereof

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 FOXCONN (KUNSHAN) COMPUTER CONNECTOR CO LTD

AI summary

An electrical connector includes: a substrate having plural holes; plural contacts mounted in the corresponding holes, the plural contacts including a first row of contacts arranged as a pair of signal contacts flanked by two ground contacts, a second row of contacts having four ground contacts on one side of the first row of contacts, and a third row of contacts having four ground contacts on another side, each contact including a body and an upper arm; and a coupling element interconnecting the two ground contacts of the first row to selected ground contacts of the second and third rows, wherein the upper arm of each of the plurality of contacts has a contacting convex facing upward, and the four ground contacts of the second row are connected side by side and the four ground contacts of the third row are connected side by side.