Electrical Connector Assembly With Interlocking Shield Parts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing I/O connectors face challenges in achieving high-density, high-data-rate transmission while maintaining electrical separation and reliability, as increased frequency requirements and manufacturing tolerances are difficult to meet without compromising connector width or latching mechanism support.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector assembly with a housing comprising shield parts, printed circuit boards, strain relief, and a metallic holder, along with screws that interlock the components to provide a robust holding force and reliable latching mechanism, ensuring effective electrical separation and manufacturing precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the connector is made smaller to increase density, then the terminal arrangement becomes more dense, but the electrical separation between terminals decreases leading to signal degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from planar terminal arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration where terminals are arranged on multiple layers and at different heights. This vertical stacking allows increased terminal density without reducing the horizontal electrical separation distance, thus maintaining signal integrity while achieving higher density.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs nested shielding structures where internal shields are positioned within outer shields, creating multiple layers of electromagnetic protection. This nested arrangement provides enhanced electrical separation and cross-talk reduction while maintaining a compact overall connector size.
2Speed
If signaling frequency is increased to improve data rate, then data transmission performance improves, but the tolerance requirements for terminal locations and physical characteristics become more stringent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates self-aligning features such as positioning protrusions and recesses that automatically guide terminal alignment during assembly. This self-service mechanism reduces the impact of manufacturing tolerances by allowing the connector components to self-correct minor misalignments, enabling high-frequency operation without requiring extremely tight manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes terminal geometry parameters including enlarged contact surfaces, adjusted pad sizes, and modified trace widths to compensate for frequency-related tolerance issues. These parameter changes improve signal stability and reduce sensitivity to manufacturing variations at high signaling frequencies.
3Quantity of substance
If the connector width is increased to accommodate more terminals, then terminal density increases, but the plug cannot fit into standard width routers and servers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves increased terminal capacity by utilizing the vertical dimension through multi-layer PCB stacking and three-dimensional terminal arrangements. This allows more terminals to be packed into a connector with standard width dimensions, eliminating the need to increase connector width while still accommodating high-density requirements.
4Reliability
If a latching mechanism is added to maintain mated connectors together, then connector reliability improves, but the housing structure requires additional support that may increase size or complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the latching mechanism directly into the housing structure by forming latching features as integral parts of the housing walls rather than as separate components. This merging approach provides reliable latching functionality while minimizing additional housing complexity and maintaining a compact overall structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector assembly (100), comprises: a housing (1) comprising a first shield part (15), a second shield part (16) assembled with each other; at least one printed circuit board (2) disposed in the housing; a strain relief (5) disposed in the housing and sandwiched by the first shield part and the second shield part; a metallic holder (8) surrounding the housing and binding the first shield part and the second shield part; and a pair of screws (9) respectively assembled to the housing along opposite directions and interlocking the first shield part, the second shield part, the strain relief and the metallic holder together.