Edged Coupled Connectors Impedance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-density electrical connectors face challenges in maintaining uniform impedance due to variable separation of components, leading to signal reflections, attenuation, and degradation of signal integrity, especially at high frequencies, as they often require significant force to achieve the designed mating position, which can result in variability and impedance changes.
Innovation Solution
The use of projecting members, either dielectric or conductive, positioned between or adjacent to the connectors, which reduce or eliminate impedance changes by maintaining a consistent dielectric constant and spacing, regardless of separation, thereby ensuring a uniform impedance profile across the mating region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If connectors are designed with high density to increase the number of circuits in a given area, then the data transmission capacity is improved, but the electrical interference between adjacent signal conductors increases and impedance control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary dielectric member with a specific dielectric constant positioned between the signal conductors of the first connector and the corresponding signal conductors of the second connector. This dielectric member acts as a mediator to maintain consistent electrical characteristics and impedance control across the mating interface, reducing electrical interference between adjacent conductors while preserving high-density data transmission capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dielectric parameter (dielectric constant) of the material positioned between the connectors to optimize impedance control. By selecting a dielectric member with a specific dielectric constant that matches or complements the connector materials, the system maintains uniform impedance across the mating interface even when conductors are in partial contact, thereby reducing signal reflections and interference
2Reliability
If significant force is applied to achieve the designed mating position, then electrical contact is established, but impedance changes and signal integrity degradation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The dielectric member serves as a mediator that maintains consistent electrical characteristics between connectors during the mating process. It ensures that impedance remains uniform whether the connectors are fully mated or in partial contact, eliminating the need for significant mating force while preserving both electrical contact reliability and impedance precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a form of beforehand cushioning by positioning the dielectric member to provide consistent electrical coupling before full mechanical contact is achieved. This dielectric member compensates for variations in mating force and separation, ensuring impedance uniformity is maintained from the outset of the mating process rather than requiring precise force control
3Ease of operation
If connectors are separated to allow easy mating and demating, then ease of operation is improved, but impedance variability and signal reflections increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dielectric member acts as a persistent intermediary that maintains electrical coupling between connectors across the full range of separation distances. This allows operators to easily mate and demate connectors without concern for impedance variability, as the dielectric member ensures consistent electrical characteristics whether the connectors are fully mated, partially separated, or fully demated
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 approach enhances signal integrity by maintaining consistent impedance across the mating region, reducing signal reflections and attenuation, and improving performance at high frequencies, even when connectors are not fully mated, thus addressing the variability in separation and impedance issues.
Implementation Method 1
the use of projecting members, either dielectric or conductive, positioned between or adjacent to the connectors, which reduce or eliminate impedance changes by maintaining a consistent dielectric constant and spacing
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical interconnection system comprising one or more insulative projecting members. The electrical interconnection system may comprise a first connector and a second connector. Each connector may comprise one or more projecting members extending along the mating direction. When the connectors are mated, the projecting member(s) may be configured to affect the impedance of the signal conductors of the connectors. In a partially mated position, the projecting member(s) may be configured to fill at least a portion of the region separating the connectors, thereby replacing air that might otherwise exist in that separation with a dielectric member. Because this dielectric constant is closer to what would be experienced in the fully mated position, the magnitude of the change in impedance as a result of separation may be less than had the entire space been filled with air.