High-Density Edge Connector Layout for Crosstalk and Insertion Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors face challenges in achieving high-density, high-frequency signal transmission while maintaining connection stability and minimizing crosstalk, especially in miniaturized systems where increased terminal density leads to signal distortion and mechanical stress issues.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates longer and shorter electrical contacts with twisted configurations and lossy materials, arranged with ground terminals and shielding plates to reduce crosstalk and insertion force, allowing for high-density connections without lengthening the connector and enhancing signal integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If electrical contacts are arranged at high density to increase transmission capacity, then the number of signals that can be transmitted increases, but crosstalk between signals increases and signal integrity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into multiple independent channels, each containing a signal terminal and ground terminal. This segmentation isolates adjacent signal pairs, reducing electromagnetic coupling and crosstalk between neighboring signals while maintaining high density arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
Ground terminals are positioned between adjacent signal terminals to act as electromagnetic shields. These ground terminals serve as intermediaries that block and dissipate electromagnetic fields, preventing crosstalk between signal pairs while allowing high-density signal transmission.
2Length of moving object
If connector length is reduced to achieve miniaturization, then the size of the electronic system decreases, but signal transmission quality deteriorates due to increased density
Solution Approach 1:
The connector design utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement of contacts with varying lengths (longer and shorter electrical contacts). This dimensional variation allows optimization of signal paths and shielding effectiveness without increasing the overall connector length, maintaining signal quality in miniaturized form factors.
3Quantity of substance
If the number of electrical contacts is increased to handle more signals, then transmission capacity increases, but mechanical stress on the connector increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector structure is segmented into multiple independent terminal units, each with its own mechanical support and mounting features. This segmentation distributes mechanical stresses across multiple localized areas rather than concentrating them, allowing high contact density without excessive overall mechanical stress.
4Reliability
If ground terminals are added to reduce crosstalk, then signal integrity improves, but the density of electrical contacts decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The design merges signal and ground terminals into integrated terminal structures where each terminal unit contains both signal and ground contacts. This merging allows ground terminals to provide shielding without occupying separate space that would reduce overall contact density, as the ground and signal contacts are combined in compact terminal assemblies.
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 effectively reduces crosstalk, stabilizes connections, and allows for higher transmission rates, such as 32 Gbps, while minimizing mechanical stress on the connector, thus improving signal integrity and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
two strips of lossy material electrically coupled to the plurality of ground terminals... the two strips of lossy material extend in a direction parallel to the row on opposite sides of the at least two signal terminals and the at least two ground terminals
Implementation Method 2
two shields configured and arranged such that the two or more of the at least two signal terminals and the two adjacent ground terminals are between the at least two shields, with the two adjacent ground terminals contacting the two shields
Data Source
AI summary
A high density edge connector that provides robust operation and good signal integrity. The connector is configurable to have sections tailored for high speed signals, which may be differential, or low speed signals. The connector may be assembled from signal terminals and ground terminals, either of which may be mounted within an insulative housing of the connector at any location along a row aligned with a slot of a mating interface. Shield members or lossy members may optionally be included for high speed segments, either or both of which may be electrically coupled to the ground terminals. Insertion and retention force may be limited, despite a dense array of contacts pressing on a card inserted into the connector by shaping the portions of the signal or ground contacts that act as beams generating that force. Such force may be limited with twists in the beams and/or splitting the beam portions.