Ground Clip Cable Assembly for Dense High-Frequency Card Termination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional communication systems face challenges with signal and power output due to long electrical paths on circuit boards, cable assembly limitations, and ineffective grounding structures, particularly at higher frequencies, leading to reduced electrical performance and increased size.
Innovation Solution
A cable assembly with a ground clip featuring a bottom ground rake and top ground hood is used to securely couple cables to a circuit card, providing improved electrical connections and reduced cable spacing requirements, enhancing signal integrity and power transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional cable termination techniques are used, then adequate spacing is provided for cable routing, but the overall size of the electronic assembly increases and cable density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The ground clip structure utilizes three-dimensional space by extending ground hoods above the cable and ground rakes below the cable, allowing cables to be positioned in multiple spatial dimensions. This enables tighter packing of cables in the vertical dimension while maintaining adequate routing space, thereby increasing cable density without increasing the overall assembly footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The ground clip structure nests multiple functional elements within a compact form factor. The ground hoods, ground rakes, and mounting features are integrated into a single ground clip assembly that surrounds and supports the cable, allowing multiple grounding and support functions to be consolidated in a small volume, thus increasing cable density while reducing overall size.
2Reliability
If conventional grounding structures are used, then simple construction is maintained, but grounding effectiveness deteriorates at higher frequencies
Solution Approach 1:
The grounding structure is segmented into multiple discrete elements including ground hoods positioned above the cable, ground rakes positioned below the cable, and multiple grounding tabs. This segmentation allows each element to address specific grounding requirements at different locations around the cable, improving overall grounding effectiveness at high frequencies while maintaining a modular construction approach.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the grounding structure are positioned at specific locations around the cable - ground hoods above, ground rakes below, and grounding tabs at various points. This local positioning optimizes the grounding effect at each specific location, providing enhanced high-frequency performance by addressing electromagnetic field distribution locally around the cable rather than using a uniform grounding approach.
3Ease of operation
If cable spacing is increased, then cable routing is facilitated, but system size increases and cable density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The ground clip structure extends into the vertical dimension with ground hoods above and ground rakes below the cable, utilizing three-dimensional space for grounding functions. This frees up horizontal space that would otherwise be required for grounding elements, allowing cables to be positioned closer together in the horizontal plane while maintaining adequate routing clearance, thus increasing cable density without compromising routing ease.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable assembly includes a cable having an insulator holding a first signal conductor and a second signal conductor and a cable shield surrounding the insulator. Exposed portions of the signal conductors extend forward of an end of the insulator for termination to a circuit card. The cable assembly includes a ground clip coupled to the end of the cable. The ground clip includes a bottom ground rake below the cable and a top ground hood above the cable. The bottom ground rake includes a window that receives the exposed portions of the first and second signal conductors therethrough. The bottom ground rake includes a lower grounding tab electrically connected to a lower portion of the cable shield and the top ground hood includes an upper grounding tab electrically connected to an upper portion of the cable shield. The bottom ground rake is coupled to the circuit card to support the cable relative to the circuit card.