Elastic Ground Shielding Plate for High-Speed Connector Crosstalk

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing high-speed connectors suffer from significant signal crosstalk due to structural limitations of ground shielding plates, which affects transmission rate and quality, particularly at high frequencies.

Innovation Solution

The connector design incorporates a ground shielding plate with multiple elastic elements, including spring arms and contact parts, that form multiple signal return paths and reduce loop inductance, allowing for improved electrical connection reliability and reduced resonance phenomena when mated, thereby optimizing signal transmission performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a traditional ground shielding plate structure is used, then the connector structure is simple, but signal crosstalk is serious and transmission quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal crosstalkVSAvoidground shielding plate structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ground shielding plate is segmented into multiple independent elastic elements (at least two) disposed between adjacent terminal modules. Each elastic element includes spring arms and contact parts that can independently form signal return paths, dividing the shielding function into multiple segments that collectively reduce crosstalk more effectively than a single continuous shield.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic elements are configured to provide contact in multiple directions (first direction and second direction perpendicular to each other). This multi-dimensional contact capability creates additional signal return paths in different spatial dimensions, reducing loop inductance and crosstalk by utilizing three-dimensional space for signal return rather than being constrained to a single plane.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If multiple elastic elements are added to the ground shielding plate, then signal return paths increase and crosstalk reduces, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidground shielding plate structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple elastic elements are merged into a single integrated ground shielding plate assembly. The spring arms and contact parts of different elastic elements work together to form multiple signal return paths simultaneously, combining their individual shielding effects into a unified system that improves reliability without requiring separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic elements incorporate spring arms that provide dynamic contact capability. These spring arms can elastically deform to maintain reliable electrical connection under varying mechanical conditions (mating, thermal expansion, vibration), ensuring consistent signal return path quality and electrical connection reliability throughout the connector's operational life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the contact part is made rigid for stable connection, then connection stability improves, but adaptability to mating variations decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidmating adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The contact part utilizes elastic deformation of spring arms to change its physical parameters (position, contact force) in response to mating variations. This allows the contact part to adapt to different mating conditions while maintaining reliable electrical connection, as the spring arms can deform within elastic limits to accommodate dimensional tolerances and assembly variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The solution effectively reduces signal crosstalk and enhances transmission performance by increasing signal return paths and maintaining reliable electrical connections, supporting data transmission rates of up to 56 Gbps or higher.

Implementation Method 1

Each elastic element includes a first spring arm, a second spring arm, and a contact part. A first end of the first spring arm and a first end of the second spring arm are separately connected to the body, and a second end of the first spring arm and a second end of the second spring arm are separately connected to the contact part. During disposition, the contact part is biased toward the first direction relative to the body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4050738B1Connector and electronic device
Publication Date: 2024.01.31 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4050738B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4050738B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4050738B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

This application provides a connector and an electronic device, to reduce signal crosstalk phenomena and optimize signal transmission performance of the connector. The connector includes a base, a plurality of terminal modules disposed on the base, and a ground shielding plate. The plurality of terminal modules are disposed in parallel in a first direction, and the ground shielding plate is disposed between two adjacent terminal modules. The ground shielding plate includes a body and at least two elastic elements disposed on the body, each elastic element includes a first spring arm, a second spring arm, and a contact part, a first end of the first spring arm and a first end of the second spring arm are separately connected to the body, and a second end of the first spring arm and a second end of the second spring arm are separately connected to the contact part. The contact part is biased toward the first direction relative to the body, and is configured to electrically connect to a ground shielding plate of a mated connector.