Electrical Connector Terminals with Variable Dimensions for Signal Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors face issues with high frequency signal transmission due to increased interferences, parasitic capacitance, and abrupt impedance changes, which degrade the quality and efficiency of signal transmission, especially as connectors shrink in size.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector design includes conductive terminals with varying thicknesses and widths, where the contact portions are thinner and narrower than the main body portions, and is enclosed by fixing pieces with through holes to adjust impedances and incorporate ground sheets with contact arms for improved grounding and electromagnetic interference shielding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If connectors shrink in size to increase integration, then manufacturing capability and compactness are improved, but high frequency signal transmission quality deteriorates due to increased interferences, parasitic capacitance and impedance changes
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive terminal structure is divided into different regions with different properties: the contact portion has reduced thickness and width compared to the main body portion. This local variation in dimensions reduces parasitic capacitance at the contact interface while maintaining the overall compact connector size and signal transmission capability
2Object-generated harmful factors
If conductive terminals are made thinner and narrower at contact portions, then parasitic capacitance and impedance changes are reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive terminal is segmented into distinct portions: a contact portion with reduced dimensions and a main body portion with full dimensions. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized independently - the contact portion for reduced capacitance and the main body for mechanical strength and electrical performance
Solution Approach 2:
The thickness and width parameters of the conductive terminal are changed locally at the contact portion compared to the main body portion. This parameter variation reduces the opposing area between contacting terminals, thereby reducing parasitic capacitance and improving impedance control
3Object-affected harmful factors
If ground sheets with contact arms are added, then electromagnetic interference shielding and grounding ability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ground sheet is merged with the fixing piece structure, where the ground sheet includes contact arms that extend through holes in the fixing piece to contact ground terminals. This integration provides electromagnetic shielding and improved grounding without requiring completely separate components
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 enhances the stability and quality of high frequency signal transmission by reducing capacitance effects and impedance changes, thereby meeting industry standards for high-speed data transmission.
Implementation Method 1
Capacitance between the neighboring conductive terminals increases due to increased opposing areas of the conductive terminals during the connection. The capacitance and the impedances are correlated, so that the impedance changes due to the contact of conductive terminals
Implementation Method 2
A ground sheet is disposed on a surface of the fixing piece. The ground sheet includes a plurality of contact arms. The contact arms are electrically connected to a plurality of ground terminals of the conductive terminals through certain through holes of the fixing piece. A grounding ability of the ground sheet and an electromagnetic interference shielding ability can be improved by the ground sheet
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes an insulator body including a mating cavity formed by a top plate, a bottom plate and two lateral plates. Two surfaces of the top plate and the bottom plate facing each other have a plurality of terminal trenches. A plurality of conductive terminals are respectively arranged in the terminal trenches of the insulator body. Each of the conductive terminals has a contact portion, a welding portion and a main body portion connected to the contact portion and the welding portion. The welding portions extend out of the insulator body respectively. Each of thicknesses of the contact portions is less than each of thicknesses of the main body portions, or each of widths of the contact portions is less than each of widths of the main body portions.