Flippable Electrical Connector Shielding for Super Speed Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors face challenges in handling super speed signaling due to the cost and signal degradation associated with built-in MUX (or SS switch) and require an improved shielding solution for future USB applications.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector design featuring an insulating housing with a metallic bracket and shielding that includes a front mating port section with no supporting legs, providing enhanced shielding and mounting capabilities on a printed circuit board, while allowing flappable insertion and efficient signal transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a MUX (or SS switch) is built into the silicon to handle super speed signaling, then the connector can support super speed signals, but the cost increases and signal degradation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the MUX/SS switch component from the connector structure entirely. Instead of integrating a complex switching mechanism into the silicon, the design uses a simple insulating housing with contacts that can be flipped or repositioned to achieve the same functional outcome of supporting super speed signaling without the associated cost and complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is divided into separate functional components: an insulating housing, individual contacts with mounting tails, and a shielding structure. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and assembled in different configurations to support super speed signals without requiring an integrated complex switching mechanism
2Reliability
If a MUX (or SS switch) is built into the silicon to handle super speed signaling, then the connector can support super speed signals, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive insulating housing materials and standard metal contacts rather than costly integrated switching components. The simple construction using common materials like plastic housing and metal contacts significantly reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining the ability to support super speed signaling through proper contact arrangement and shielding
Solution Approach 2:
By removing the expensive MUX/SS switch component entirely and replacing it with a simple mechanical flipping or repositioning mechanism using standard connector components, the patent achieves super speed signal support at a fraction of the cost of integrated switching solutions
3Ease of manufacture
If supporting legs are split from the shielding, then mounting is simplified, but shielding effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the supporting legs as an integral part of the shielding structure rather than separate components. The shielding forms a continuous metallic enclosure that includes the legs as extensions, ensuring that the electromagnetic shielding effectiveness is maintained while still providing the necessary mounting functionality to the printed circuit board
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector adapted for mounting on a printed circuit board, includes an insulating housing including a rear base and a front mating tongue, a plurality of contacts retained in the insulating housing and including contacting sections arranged on the mating tongue and mounting tails out of the insulating housing a shielding retained on the insulating housing and including a front mating port section thereby defining a mating cavity between the mating port section and the mating tongue and a metallic bracket attached on the shielding. The bracket defines a pair first supporting legs adjacent to the mating port sections which has no supporting leg split therefrom.