Electrical Connector Grounding Bar Segmentation for Crosstalk Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical connectors experience significant signal crosstalk at high-frequency transmission rates above 24 Gbps, degrading the quality of high-frequency signal transmission.

Innovation Solution

The electrical connector design includes an insulative housing with a base seat and a mating portion, featuring differential signal terminal pairs and grounding terminals with a first and second grounding bar connected by a bridging portion, which eliminates potential differences and enhances high-frequency transmission performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional grounding structure is used, then device complexity is reduced, but signal crosstalk increases at high-frequency transmission rates above 24 Gbps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal crosstalkVSAvoidgrounding bar structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The grounding structure is divided into two separate grounding bars (first grounding bar and second grounding bar) instead of using a single conventional grounding structure. The first grounding bar contacts the free ends of grounding terminals while the second grounding bar contacts the retaining portions, creating segmented grounding paths that reduce signal crosstalk at high-frequency transmission rates above 24 Gbps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A bridging portion is introduced as an intermediary element to connect the first grounding bar and the second grounding bar. This bridging portion electrically connects the two grounding bars while maintaining their spatial separation, allowing the grounding structure to eliminate potential differences between grounding terminals without requiring direct contact between all grounding points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If transmission rate is increased to 24 Gbps or higher, then productivity and data transmission capability are improved, but signal crosstalk phenomenon becomes more obvious

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission rateVSAvoidsignal crosstalk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The first grounding bar and second grounding bar are electrically connected through the bridging portion to maintain equipotential conditions across all grounding terminals. This equipotential grounding structure eliminates potential differences between grounding terminals, thereby reducing signal crosstalk and enabling high-frequency transmission at 24 Gbps and higher rates without degrading signal quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #12Equipotentiality

3Reliability

If single grounding structure is used, then manufacturing process is simplified, but potential differences between grounding terminals cannot be eliminated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connectivityVSAvoidgrounding bar assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The first grounding bar, second grounding bar, and bridging portion are integrated as a unified grounding assembly that ensures reliable electrical connectivity across all grounding terminals. While the structure is more complex than a single grounding bar, the integrated design ensures consistent electrical potential and reliable grounding connections throughout the connector.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 configuration significantly reduces signal crosstalk, ensuring good high-frequency transmission quality even at higher data rates by ensuring electrical connectivity and minimizing potential differences between grounding terminals.

Implementation Method 1

The first grounding bar and the second grounding bar are connected by a bridging portion thereof

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical Conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS9490585B2Electrical connector with imprived grounding bar

Publication Date: 2016.11.08 FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LTD

AI summary

An electrical connector includes an insultive housing and defining a base seat and a mating portion extending from the base seat. A plurality of conductive terminals are retained in the mating portion and include a plurality of differential signal terminal pairs and grounding terminals, each conductive terminal defines a contacting portion disposed on the mating portion, a retaining portion fixed to the base seat and a connecting portion extending outside of the base seat, the contacting portion of each grounding terminal has a free end extending toward the inside of the mating portion and abutting against a first grounding bar. A second grounding bar defines a base portion and a plurality of abutting portions extending from the base portion and abutting against the retaining portions of the grounding terminals. The first grounding bar and the second grounding bar are connected by a bridging portion thereof.