High-Speed Electrical Connector Shielding for Signal Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-speed backplane electrical connectors struggle to transmit differential signals at speeds above 56 Gbps due to inadequate shielding and misalignment of terminal pairs, which leads to signal crosstalk and interference.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector assembly incorporates an insulating housing with terminal pairs and shielding sheets featuring inner and outer elastic pieces that protrude towards and away from the terminal pairs, respectively, to enhance ground connection and shielding, improving signal transmission efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If terminal pairs are arranged in a staggered configuration without metal shields, then device complexity is reduced, but signal transmission quality deteriorates at high speeds (25 Gbps or higher)
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding structure is segmented into multiple independent shielding sheets, each corresponding to a specific terminal pair. Each shielding sheet includes separate inner and outer elastic pieces that can independently contact ground terminals, allowing individual optimization of shielding for each signal pair while maintaining overall system manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
Elastic pieces serve as intermediary elements between the shielding sheets and ground terminals. These elastic pieces provide flexible electrical connection, ensuring reliable ground contact while accommodating manufacturing tolerances and assembly variations, thus improving signal transmission quality without requiring rigid complex structures.
2Reliability
If traditional shielding structures are used, then signal shielding is provided, but ground connection effectiveness is insufficient leading to crosstalk at 56 Gbps and above
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding structure implements local quality optimization by providing dedicated inner elastic pieces for each terminal pair that make direct contact with corresponding ground terminals. This localized shielding approach targets specific crosstalk sources at critical signal interfaces, effectively reducing signal interference and improving transmission stability at high speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding sheet combines conductive shielding material with elastic contact pieces to create a composite structure. This composite design provides both electromagnetic shielding and reliable electrical ground connection, addressing both signal interference and ground effectiveness simultaneously for improved high-speed signal transmission.
3Ease of manufacture
If simple terminal arrangement is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but impedance matching deteriorates reducing transmission speed capability
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic pieces are designed with specific dimensional parameters (length, width, thickness) and material properties (elastic modulus) that can be adjusted to optimize impedance matching. By controlling these parameters, the shielding structure achieves proper impedance matching for high-speed signals while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that is easy to manufacture.
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
This configuration optimizes ground connection and reduces signal crosstalk, enabling transmission speeds of up to 112 Gbps or higher by improving impedance matching and shielding effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic pieces of each shielding sheet include an inner elastic piece protruding toward an associated terminal pair and an outer elastic piece protruding away from the associated terminals pair
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes: an insulating housing; plural terminals held on the insulating housing, the terminals are arranged in terminal pairs for transmitting differential signals; and plural shielding sheets held on the insulating housing, each of the shielding sheets includes: at least two walls shielding the terminal pair in at least two directions, and plural elastic pieces extending from the at least two walls in order to cooperate with a mating connector; wherein the elastic pieces of each shielding sheet include an inner elastic piece protruding toward an associated terminal pair and an outer elastic piece protruding away from the associated terminals pair.