Connector System for UTP and STP Cable Impedance Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connectors for twisted pair cables, such as STP and UTP cables, lack compatibility, resulting in different impedances and requiring distinct structural designs, making it difficult to replace one type of cable with another without significant structural changes.

Innovation Solution

A connector structure with UTP and STP connection terminals, where UTP terminals are arranged closer together and STP terminals farther apart to adjust impedance, allowing for easy replacement without large structural changes, and utilizing a common configuration for both, including a dielectric and housing design that accommodates the terminals with resilient contact pieces for efficient mounting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If UTP connection terminals are arranged close to each other to reduce impedance, then impedance control for UTP cables is improved, but the connector structure becomes less adaptable to STP cables which require larger terminal spacing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpedance controlVSAvoidcable type compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The dielectric is divided into multiple pairs of accommodating portions, with each pair designed for specific cable types. The UTP dielectric has closely-spaced accommodating portions for UTP terminals, while the STP dielectric has widely-spaced accommodating portions for STP terminals, allowing each segment to be optimized for its specific impedance requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connector system achieves universality by providing separate dielectric designs (UTP dielectric and STP dielectric) that can be selected based on cable type. Each dielectric maintains a common basic structure with accommodating portions, but with different spacing configurations to support both UTP and STP cable types within the same connector framework

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If separate connector structures are designed for UTP and STP cables to accommodate different impedance requirements, then impedance control is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpedance controlVSAvoidconnector structure variation

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dielectric designs incorporate local quality differences specifically in the spacing of accommodating portions while maintaining common structural elements elsewhere. The UTP dielectric has closely-spaced accommodating portions in specific regions, while the STP dielectric has widely-spaced portions, allowing localized optimization without redesigning the entire connector structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of designing one common dielectric and trying to accommodate both cable types, the invention inverts the approach by creating specialized dielectric designs for each cable type. The UTP dielectric and STP dielectric are designed with opposite spacing characteristics, each optimized for its specific cable type's impedance requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Manufacturing precision

If UTP and STP connectors use different terminal arrangements to meet impedance specifications, then impedance control is improved, but ease of manufacture and cost reduction become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpedance controlVSAvoidmold design and cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The dielectric is segmented into standardized components with repeating accommodating portion patterns. The UTP dielectric uses closely-spaced accommodating portions while the STP dielectric uses widely-spaced portions, but both follow the same basic mold design framework, allowing for efficient manufacturing and tooling reuse

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the spacing parameter of accommodating portions based on cable type requirements. The UTP dielectric has a first spacing value for closely-spaced terminals, while the STP dielectric has a second spacing value for widely-spaced terminals. This parameter variation allows impedance optimization without fundamentally changing the manufacturing process or mold structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11101602B2Connector system for accommodating either UTP or STP connection terminals

Publication Date: 2021.08.24 AUTONETWORKS TECH LTD

AI summary

A connector structure enables the replacement of an STP cable (10B) and a UTP cable (10A) without making a large structural change. UTP connection terminals (21A) to be connected to respective wires (11) of the UTP cable (10A) are arranged to be proximate in a width direction by being accommodated into accommodating portions (26) of a UTP dielectric (22A) proximate in the width direction. STP connection terminals (21B) to be connected to respective wires (11) of the STP cable (10B) are farther apart in the width direction than the UTP connection terminals (21A) by being accommodated in accommodating portions (26) of an STP dielectric (22B) spaced apart in the width direction. The UTP connection terminals and the STP connection terminals are set such that protrusions (34) projecting out from box portions (27) in a common direction when accommodated in the accommodating portions (26).