Electrical Connector Ground Terminal Width Layout for Lower Crosstalk
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors suffer from significant crosstalk between signal terminal pairs due to the positioning of ground terminals, which are of the same shape as the signal terminals and only one is disposed collinearly with the signal terminal pairs.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector design includes signal transmission paths soldered to a circuit board with ground members soldered to the circuit board, where the ground connecting portions are wider than the signal connecting portions, positioned between the signal connecting portions of adjacent signal transmission paths to reduce crosstalk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If ground terminals are positioned between adjacent signal terminal pairs with the same shape and single terminal arrangement, then the electrical connector structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but considerable crosstalk is generated and concentrated around the ground terminal
Solution Approach 1:
The ground terminal is designed with different shapes for its connecting portions versus its contact portions. The ground connecting portions have a width greater than that of the signal connecting portions, creating local structural differentiation. This local quality change enhances the ground terminal's ability to shield adjacent signal terminals, reducing crosstalk without complicating the overall manufacturing process
Solution Approach 2:
The ground terminal employs an asymmetric design where the ground connecting portions have a different width compared to the signal connecting portions. Specifically, the ground connecting portions are wider, creating an asymmetric structure that improves electromagnetic shielding effectiveness. This asymmetry disrupts the symmetric crosstalk pattern between adjacent signal terminals, thereby reducing interference
2Object-affected harmful factors
If ground terminals are positioned between adjacent signal terminal pairs, then crosstalk prevention is expected, but the ground terminal shape being identical to signal terminals limits effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The ground terminal features local quality differentiation with ground connecting portions having a greater width than signal connecting portions. This localized structural enhancement improves shielding effectiveness at critical interfaces without requiring complete redesign of all terminal components, thus limiting the increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the dimensional parameter of the ground terminal by making its connecting portions wider than those of signal terminals. This parameter modification enhances the ground terminal's shielding capability and reduces crosstalk effectiveness without fundamentally altering the overall device architecture or requiring complex additional components
Data Source
AI summary
In an electrical connector wherein signal transmission paths 53 have signal connecting portions 53C soldered to signal circuit units on a circuit board, ground members 54, 55 have ground connecting portions 54C, 55C soldered to ground circuit units on the circuit board, and the ground connecting portions 54C, 55C are positioned in the arrangement direction of the signal transmission paths 53 between the signal connecting portions 53C of adjacent signal transmission paths, a width range WG between the opposite end locations of the ground connecting portions 54C, 55C of the ground members 54, 55 in the width direction, which is parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board and perpendicular to the arrangement direction, extends beyond the width range WS of the signal connecting portions 53C of the signal transmission paths 53.