Flexible Substrate Communications Jack with Crosstalk Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional communications jacks suffer from crosstalk noise due to industry-standardized configurations, which existing compensation circuits struggle to fully cancel, especially at higher frequencies due to delayed injection of compensating crosstalk.
Innovation Solution
The use of flexible printed circuit boards with staggered jackwire contacts and separate springs to reduce signal current carrying paths, allowing for shorter jackwire contacts and improved crosstalk compensation by injecting compensating crosstalk closer to the plug-jack mating point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional jackwire contacts are used with long signal current carrying paths, then mechanical connection is established, but crosstalk noise increases and compensation effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The jackwire contact is divided into two separate components: a stationary contact portion mounted on the circuit board and a movable contact portion on the plug. This segmentation allows the signal path to be shortened while maintaining mechanical connection functionality, thereby reducing crosstalk noise between adjacent contacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact geometry is changed from a single long linear path to a staggered two-dimensional arrangement. The stationary and movable contact portions are positioned at different locations, creating a shorter effective signal current carrying path while still establishing proper electrical connection through the plug insertion.
2Reliability
If compensating crosstalk is injected at delayed timing, then circuit complexity is reduced, but crosstalk cancellation performance deteriorates at higher frequencies
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit configuration is designed so that compensating crosstalk is injected at the earliest possible moment when the signal enters the jack, rather than being delayed. This preliminary action ensures that crosstalk cancellation is effective across all frequency ranges, particularly at higher frequencies where timing is critical.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If jackwire contacts are made shorter to reduce crosstalk, then contact force and reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the contact system are optimized for different functions: the stationary contact portion provides stable electrical connection and low crosstalk, while the movable contact portion on the plug provides the necessary mechanical force and compliance. This local optimization allows shorter overall contact paths without sacrificing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact system transitions from a static long contact wire to a dynamic system where the movable contact portion deflects upon plug insertion. This deflection provides the necessary contact force while the stationary portion maintains a short signal path, achieving both low crosstalk and high reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Communications jacks include at least first through third jackwire contacts and a flexible substrate that has a first finger and a second finger. The first jackwire contact and the third jackwire contact are each mounted on the first finger and the second jackwire contact is mounted on the second finger.