Floating Connector Mount for Short-Stub Circuit Board Mating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication system connectors have long contact lengths due to the need to accommodate large dimensional tolerance accumulation between circuit boards, which degrades signal integrity performance.
Innovation Solution
A circuit board assembly with a compressible mating interface, featuring a spring-loaded connector that can float relative to the circuit board, allowing the connector to accommodate mating tolerance without extending contact lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the contact length is extended to accommodate circuit board mating tolerance, then the mechanical mating reliability is improved, but the signal integrity performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is designed with a floating mounting mechanism that allows dynamic movement in the mating direction. The connector can move independently relative to the circuit board to accommodate tolerance variations, eliminating the need for extended contact lengths while maintaining reliable mating across the full range of tolerance conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector assembly is segmented into movable and fixed components. The floating mounting feature allows the connector body to move independently from the circuit board, separating the mechanical tolerance accommodation function from the electrical contact function. This enables short contacts to achieve both mechanical reliability and signal integrity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the contact stub length is increased to ensure continuous mating across tolerance ranges, then the mechanical connection stability is improved, but the signal reflection and energy loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The floating mounting mechanism provides dynamic adjustment capability, allowing the connector to maintain stable electrical contact through movement rather than through extended stub length. The connector can shift position to compensate for mating variations while keeping the electrical path short, thereby maintaining signal energy and reducing reflections.
3Reliability
If the contact length is extended to cover the full tolerance distance, then the mechanical mating robustness is improved, but the connector's electrical performance at high speeds deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The floating mounting feature enables the connector to dynamically adjust its position during mating, ensuring robust mechanical connection without requiring long contact stubs. This dynamic capability allows the electrical path to remain short, preserving high-speed signal transmission performance while maintaining mating robustness across the full tolerance range.
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 improves signal integrity by reducing the length of electrical stubs, which minimizes signal degradation and enhances performance, especially at high speeds.
Implementation Method 1
The biasing member is compressible along a compression axis parallel to the mating direction to allow the electrical connector to float in the mating direction relative to the circuit board
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit board assembly includes a circuit board and an electrical connector having a connector housing holding contacts in a contact array. The connector housing has a mating end configured to be mated with a mating electrical connector in a mating direction. The electrical connector has cables terminated to the contacts and extending from a cable end. A connector mount is used to locate the electrical connector relative to the circuit board. A bracket is coupled to the mounting surface of the circuit board. A biasing member is coupled to the bracket and the mounting feature and is compressible along a compression axis parallel to the mating direction to allow the electrical connector to float in the mating direction relative to the circuit board.