Electrical Connector Ground Piece Reducing Cross-Talk
Solution Overview
Problem
As electronic devices require higher data speed transmission, electrical connectors on PCBs experience cross-talk between multiple contacts, leading to decreased data transmission quality and speed.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector design featuring an insulative housing with a metallic ground piece pressed into a spacer, which includes an elastic contact beam to expand the surface of grounding contacts, reducing cross-talk and lowering impedance between contacts without affecting the connector's footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If additional contacts are added to enhance data transmission, then data transmission speed is improved, but cross-talk between contacts increases
Solution Approach 1:
A metallic ground piece is introduced as an intermediary element positioned between adjacent contacts. This ground piece acts as a shield that blocks electromagnetic interference between contacts, reducing cross-talk while allowing multiple contacts to operate simultaneously at high speeds. The ground piece is pressed into a spacer and makes contact with grounding contacts, creating an effective electromagnetic barrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The grounding function is extracted and separated from the contact structure itself, placing dedicated grounding contacts and a separate metallic ground piece between the signal-carrying contacts. This separation allows the signal contacts to be optimized for high-speed data transmission while the grounding system independently handles electromagnetic shielding and cross-talk reduction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If ground piece is added between contacts for cross-talk protection, then cross-talk is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The metallic ground piece serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as an electromagnetic shield to reduce cross-talk, provides a reference ground plane for signal integrity, and mechanically fills the spacer to maintain contact alignment. The grounding contacts also serve dual purposes as both signal references and mechanical support points.
Solution Approach 2:
The metallic ground piece is nested within the spacer structure, which itself is integrated into the connector housing. The ground piece fits into the cavity of the spacer, creating a compact nested arrangement that adds shielding functionality without significantly increasing the overall connector footprint or complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If ground piece is pressed into spacer, then cross-talk protection is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer is pre-formed with a precisely engineered cavity and slot structure that guides the metallic ground piece into its correct position during assembly. The slot dimensions and orientation are predetermined to ensure proper alignment of the ground piece with the grounding contacts, eliminating the need for complex post-assembly adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The metallic ground piece is designed with an elastic contact beam that automatically adjusts its position and contact pressure when pressed into the spacer. This elastic deformation allows the ground piece to self-align with the grounding contacts and maintain optimal electrical contact without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances on the spacer cavity dimensions.
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 solution effectively decreases cross-talk between contacts and lowers impedance, enhancing data transmission quality and speed while maintaining the connector's size and assembly ease.
Implementation Method 1
The ground piece comprises an elastic contact beam for abutting against the grounding contact so that the surface of the grounding contact is expanded
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing, a plurality of first and second contacts retained in the insulative housing and a metallic ground. Each first contact comprises a first contact portion and a first mounting portion. Each second contact comprises a second contact portion and a second mounting portion. The first and second mounting portions are respectively arranged in first and second rows. The second contacts comprise a grounding contact. The ground piece comprises an elastic contact beam for abutting against the grounding contact so that the surface of the grounding contact is expanded. As a result, cross-talk occurred between the contacts can be decreased.