Compact Connector Design Resolving Width and Assembly Trade-offs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors for cables with multiple wires face challenges in achieving compactness and ease of assembly while maintaining superior transmission performance, as they often result in increased width due to U-shaped contact arrangements, leading to issues like intra-pair skew and crosstalk.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a plug portion with first and second contacts, where the second contacts have a shorter length and are positioned closer to the inserted portion, avoiding juxtaposition with wider wire connecting portions, and a ground terminal that ensures electrical connection without direct wire contact, improving assembly ease and reducing crosstalk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If U-shaped contacts are arranged with wire connecting portions in the same row, then the connector width increases, but the assembly space for wire connecting portions is sufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensional reorganization by arranging wire connecting portions across multiple rows instead of a single row. Specifically, wire connecting portions are disposed at first and second positions along the connecting direction, forming multiple rows. This multi-row arrangement provides sufficient assembly space for wire connecting portions while maintaining a compact connector width, effectively resolving the contradiction between compactness and assembly accessibility.
2Area of stationary object
If contacts are compactly arranged to reduce connector width, then the connector becomes compact, but transmission performance deteriorates due to intra-pair skew and differential impedance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the contact arrangement into distinct functional zones: terminal portions for jack connection, wire connecting portions for cable attachment, and ground contacts for shielding. By segmenting the contact layout and assigning specific positions for each function, the design maintains proper spacing between signal elements to prevent intra-pair skew and differential impedance issues, while still achieving a compact overall width through optimized positioning of these segmented elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing different contact configurations in different regions of the connector. Signal contacts are arranged with specific spacing in the terminal portion area to maintain transmission performance, while wire connecting portions are positioned in separate rows to facilitate assembly. Ground contacts are strategically placed near signal contacts to provide local shielding. This region-specific optimization allows compact overall dimensions while maintaining high transmission performance in critical signal areas.
3Device complexity
If ground contacts are eliminated to reduce connector complexity, then the connector structure is simplified, but crosstalk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ground contacts as intermediary elements between signal contacts and the connector housing. These ground contacts serve as mediators that provide electromagnetic shielding for signal transmission lines. By incorporating these intermediary ground elements, the design effectively suppresses crosstalk between adjacent signal pairs while maintaining a relatively simple overall connector structure. The ground contacts are strategically positioned to provide shielding without adding excessive complexity to the connector assembly.
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 design allows for a narrower connector width, enhanced assembly reliability, and improved transmission performance by avoiding crosstalk and maintaining ground potential, thus alleviating the burden on workers and ensuring consistent connector quality.
Implementation Method 1
the first movable contact portion is placed into elastic contact with a signal contact of the jack when the inserted portion is inserted to the jack, thereby to establish electric connection with the signal contact
Implementation Method 2
the second movable contact portion comes into elastic contact with a ground contact of the jack when the inserted portion is inserted into the jack, thus being electrically connected with the ground contact
Implementation Method 3
a guide member accommodated in the case and formed of an insulator for guiding the plurality of wires to the plug portion
Data Source
AI summary
A connector includes a plurality of first contacts and a plurality of second contacts. Each first contact includes a first movable contact portion and a wire connecting portion having a greater width than the width of the first movable portion and connected to a wire. Each second contact is shorter than the first contact and includes a second movable contact portion and a ground contact portion which is not in direct contact with the wire. A contact accommodating member accommodates the first contacts and the second contacts in juxtaposition with each other in such a manner that the wire-side ends of the second contacts are positioned closer to an inserted portion than the wire connecting portions of the first contacts. A guide member includes a ground terminal which comes into contact with the ground contact portion of the second contact.