Board-To-Board Connector Shielding for Crosstalk and Contact Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional high-speed connectors face challenges in reducing crosstalk between contacts and achieving a stable contact structure while maintaining cost-effectiveness, due to the instability of conductive resin members and increased costs associated with their use.
Innovation Solution
A board-to-board connector design featuring a receptacle unit and plug unit with arranged ground and signal contacts, incorporating shielding plates separated in the orthogonal direction to reduce noise, and a floating structure with elastic deformation to stabilize contact points, along with a conductive resin member for grounding, to enhance stability and reduce crosstalk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conductive resin member is attached to dull the waveform of transmission characteristics, then crosstalk between contacts is reduced, but the contact structure becomes unstable and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
A floating housing is introduced as an intermediary component between the fixed housing and the contacts. The floating housing can elastically deform to absorb misalignment and stabilize contact points, while separately, shielding plates are positioned between signal contacts to reduce crosstalk. This mediator approach allows independent optimization of contact stability and crosstalk reduction without compromising either.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is segmented into distinct functional components: a fixed housing for structural support, a floating housing for contact stabilization, and separate shielding plates for crosstalk reduction. The shielding plates are further segmented to be positioned between specific signal contacts. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction between contact stability and crosstalk reduction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a conductive resin member is attached to dull the waveform of transmission characteristics, then crosstalk between contacts is reduced, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive conductive resin material with inexpensive metal shielding plates that can be easily manufactured and assembled. The shielding plates are simple metallic components that can be mass-produced at low cost, eliminating the need for costly conductive resin materials while achieving the same crosstalk reduction effect through electromagnetic shielding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical/chemical approach of using conductive resin to dull waveforms with an electromagnetic approach using metal shielding plates. The shielding plates create electromagnetic barriers that reduce crosstalk through electromagnetic field interaction rather than through material conductivity, thereby reducing material costs.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If shielding plates are added to reduce crosstalk, then noise isolation between channels is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding plates are merged with the housing structure, where the housing serves dual purposes: providing mechanical support and housing the shielding plates. The floating housing combines contact stabilization functionality with structural support, reducing the need for separate components and simplifying the overall device structure despite the added noise isolation capability.
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 connector achieves a stable contact structure with reduced crosstalk and cost-effectiveness by using shielding plates to isolate noise between channels and an elastic floating structure to correct misalignment, effectively addressing the limitations of previous technologies.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically deformable elastic deformation portion interposed between these two supporting piece portions
Implementation Method 2
attaching a conductive resin member in contact with the contacts to dull the waveform of the transmission characteristics
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment, a connector includes a receptacle unit and a plug unit, and electrically connects external boards by inserting, fitting and connecting the plug unit into the receptacle unit in a first direction. The receptacle unit includes a plurality of first contacts arranged at predetermined intervals in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and connected at one end to a first external board.The plug unit includes a plurality of second contacts corresponding respectively to the first contacts and arranged in the second direction, each of the second contacts having one end connected to the other end of the first contact and the other end connected to the second external board. At least either of the receptacle unit and the plug unit includes a plurality of shielding plates that are provided so as to be separated from each other in at least the second direction and each correspond to a different channel.