Board-to-Board Connector Shielding via Shell Contact Geometry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing board-to-board connectors fail to provide sufficient electromagnetic shielding due to gaps between conductive shells and contact pieces, leading to electromagnetic wave radiation.

Innovation Solution

The design features a first shell with a curved portion and a second shell with a convex portion, both with rectangular frame-like shapes, where the curved portion of the first shell contacts the second shell, and the convex portion of the second shell contacts the first shell, increasing contact length and enhancing shielding effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If contact pieces are used to connect conductive shells, then ground connection is achieved, but gaps are formed around contact pieces causing electromagnetic wave radiation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveground connectionVSAvoidelectromagnetic wave radiation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the contact pieces from the conductive shell structure and replaces them with integrated protruding portions formed directly on the shell. This extraction eliminates the gaps that formed around separate contact pieces, preventing electromagnetic wave radiation while maintaining ground connection functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the ground connection function with the shell structure itself by forming protruding portions directly on the conductive shell. This integration eliminates the need for separate contact pieces and their associated gaps, achieving both ground connection and EMI shielding simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If L-shaped conductive shell bodies are used, then frame structure is achieved, but contact length between shells is insufficient reducing shielding effect

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveframe structureVSAvoidshielding effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extends the contact between shells from a single-point or single-line contact to a multi-dimensional contact by creating protruding portions that contact along their lengths. This dimensional extension significantly increases the contact length and improves shielding effectiveness while maintaining the frame structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11404809B2Electrical connector assembly with shielding shells surrounding each of first and second connectors

Publication Date: 2022.08.02 JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS IND LTD

AI summary

In a connector assembly in which a first connector and a second connector are fitted to each other, a first shell, which has a rectangular frame-like shape and serves as an outer shell of the first connector, includes curved portions on upper ends of respective sides of the rectangle, and a second shell, which has a rectangular frame-like shape and serves as an outer shell of the second connector, includes convex portions, which are elongated along respective sides to be slender, on outer surfaces on the sides of the rectangle. The curved portions and the convex portions are positioned so that the curved portions and the convex portions are partially overlapped with each other. The convex portions are in contact with the first shell through the entire lengths, and the curved portions are in contact with the second shell through the entire lengths.