Electric Connector Impedance Matching via Contact Width Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric connectors for high-speed digital signaling face impedance mismatches due to the absence of a ground contact at the outermost differential pair, leading to degraded transmission characteristics, which cannot be effectively addressed by adding a dummy ground contact or modifying the shield cover without increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
The electric connector features an insulative body with contacts arranged in two rows, where the width and area of specific contacts are adjusted to match impedance without adding a dummy ground contact or changing the shield cover, by positioning and overlapping the contacts in a staggered manner to ensure optimal impedance matching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a dummy ground contact is added or the shield cover shape is changed to improve impedance matching, then impedance matching is improved, but the number of components and assembly steps increases leading to increased costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adjusting the width of specific ground contacts (particularly the outermost ground contact) to have different dimensions than standard ground contacts. This localized modification to the contact structure achieves impedance matching without requiring additional components or complex assembly procedures, thereby resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the width parameter of the ground contact (specifically making the outermost ground contact wider than standard contacts) to adjust capacitance and achieve impedance matching. This parameter change approach allows impedance matching to be achieved through simple dimensional adjustment rather than adding components, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and device complexity
2Manufacturing precision
If the width of the outermost ground contact is increased to match impedance, then impedance matching is improved, but the contact structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making only the outermost ground contact wider than standard ground contacts, while keeping the majority of ground contacts with standard dimensions. This localized structural variation achieves impedance matching without significantly complicating the overall contact structure, thereby resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and shape complexity
Data Source
AI summary
An electric connector includes an insulative body and groups of contacts. The contacts are disposed in spaced relationship inside the body and arranged in at least two rows in a lateral direction of the body. The groups of contacts include a plurality of first contacts; and a plurality of second contacts located in a different row from a row where their associated first contacts exist, the second contacts being arranged next to the first contacts. Out of one of the first contacts and one of the second contacts subject to impedance tuning, one of these two contacts has a width and an area thereof adjusted in accordance with a difference in impedance from impedances between other first and second contacts.