Electric Connector Ground Metal Fitting for Signal Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed electric signals transmitted through connectors with ground terminals only at the corners and centers of both sides of the shell are prone to noise interference due to lack of nearby ground terminals.
Innovation Solution
An electric connector design featuring a housing with a central space for a ground metal fitting that extends along the terminal arrangement direction, including elastic connecting portions and cut portions for uniform contact with a ground plate, ensuring all terminals are grounded effectively, thus reducing noise interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If ground terminals are only provided at the four corners and centers of both sides of the shell, then the device complexity is reduced, but noise effect on electric signals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ground metal fitting is divided into multiple segments including a first connecting portion, a second connecting portion, and an intermediate connecting portion. These segmented ground terminals are distributed along the terminal arrangement direction, providing ground connections at multiple locations without requiring a complex continuous ground structure throughout the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The ground metal fitting acts as an intermediary element that bridges the gap between the limited ground terminals on the shell and the multiple signal terminals. It provides additional ground reference points for signal terminals located between the corner and center ground terminals, effectively reducing noise without adding complex ground terminal configurations to the shell.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If ground terminals are added at more locations, then noise effect on electric signals is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple ground connecting portions (first, second, and intermediate connecting portions) are merged into a single integrated ground metal fitting component. This unified structure provides ground connections at multiple locations along the terminal arrangement direction while maintaining simple manufacturing and assembly processes, avoiding the complexity of multiple separate ground terminals.
Solution Approach 2:
The ground metal fitting changes its physical state from a rigid structure to a flexible one through the elastic portions with cut portions. This flexibility allows the ground fitting to adapt to manufacturing tolerances and assembly variations, providing reliable ground connections at multiple locations without requiring precise positioning that would increase device complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If elastic portions with cut portions are used in the ground metal fitting, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ground metal fitting incorporates elastic portions with cut portions that allow it to deform flexibly during assembly. This dynamic characteristic enables the rigid ground fitting to adapt to manufacturing tolerances and achieve uniform contact with the ground plate, improving manufacturing precision without requiring extremely tight tolerance controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic portions with cut portions enable the ground metal fitting to self-adjust during assembly. As the fitting is inserted and compressed, the elastic portions deform to accommodate variations in the ground plate position and surface, automatically achieving uniform contact without requiring precision adjustment mechanisms or complex assembly procedures.
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 design effectively removes noise effects from high-speed electric signals by ensuring all terminals are grounded uniformly, enhancing signal integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the first connecting portion of the ground metal fitting is an elastic portion bended along a first inner wall forming the convex space, and the second connecting portion of the ground metal fitting is an elastic portion bended along a second inner wall forming the convex space
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electric connector, including: a housing placed on a circuit board and including a receiving concave portion formed by a substantially square-cylindrical-shaped inner wall surface and receiving a mating connector, and a center convex portion disposed between a pair of opposed walls forming the receiving concave portion; a plurality of terminals accommodated in a plurality of terminal grooves formed in each of the pair of the opposed walls; and a ground metal fitting connecting with a plate-shaped ground plate included in the mating connector, wherein the housing includes a space accommodating the ground metal fitting, where the space is disposed in the central area between the pair of the opposed walls and extends in the arrangement direction of the terminals, the upper part of the space communicates with an opening formed in the center convex portion, and receives the mating ground plate.