Electrical Connector Ground Shield Commoning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrical connector systems with gaps between ground shields reduce shielding effectiveness, leading to electrical resonance and signal interference, especially at higher signal transmission speeds.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector design includes a conductive base with chambers and shroud walls that electrically connect ground shields to the base at multiple points, ensuring continuous grounding and improved shielding effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If ground shields are not electrically commoned in the region between circuit boards, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but shielding effectiveness deteriorates due to gaps between adjacent ground shields
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the ground shields by electrically connecting them to a common conductive base through multiple contact locations. This combining approach eliminates the harmful gaps between shields while maintaining manufacturing simplicity, as the commoning is achieved through the base structure rather than additional complex components.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive base serves as an intermediary element that electrically connects the ground shields at multiple points. This mediator provides continuous grounding between shields without requiring direct shield-to-shield connections, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing ease and shielding effectiveness.
2Productivity
If signal transmission speeds are increased, then productivity is improved, but electrical interference and resonance worsen due to insufficient ground shielding
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the ground shields through multiple electrical connections to a common base, the patent creates continuous shielding that effectively suppresses electrical resonance and interference, enabling higher signal transmission speeds without degradation in signal integrity.
3Device complexity
If ground shields are connected at only one location, then device complexity is reduced, but shielding effectiveness deteriorates due to inadequate grounding continuity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the grounding connection into multiple contact locations between the ground shields and the conductive base. This segmentation provides distributed grounding points that ensure shielding effectiveness while keeping each individual connection simple, avoiding the need for complex single-point connection structures.
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
This design enhances signal integrity and performance by reducing electrical interference and resonance, thereby improving the overall electrical performance of the connector system.
Implementation Method 1
The dielectric body engages the interior sides of the ground shield to electrically insulate the signal contacts from the ground shield
Implementation Method 2
The exterior sides of the ground shield engage the chamber walls at multiple contact locations along a height of the base between the front side and the rear side to electrically connect the ground shield to the base at the multiple contact locations
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes a housing and contact assemblies. The housing includes shroud walls and a base having a front side and a rear side. The front side of the base and the shroud walls define a cavity configured to receive a mating connector. The base is electrically conductive and has chambers extending therethrough that are defined by chamber walls. The contact assemblies are received in the chambers. Each contact assembly has a signal pod surrounded on at least two sides by a ground shield. The signal pod includes a dielectric body holding a pair of signal contacts. The dielectric body engages interior sides of the ground shield to electrically insulate the signal contacts from the ground shield. Exterior sides of the ground shield engage the chamber walls of the base to electrically connect the ground shield to the base.