Header Transition Connector Eliminates Midplane Circuit Boards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connector systems require midplane circuit boards, which increase cost and size, and retooling is necessary when eliminating these boards, leading to complex and expensive designs.
Innovation Solution
A header transition connector that directly mates two receptacle connectors without a midplane, featuring a housing with separate cavities for signal and ground contacts, allowing differential signal transmission and electrical shielding, and adaptable to different connector types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a midplane circuit board and header connectors are used to join line cards and switch cards, then electrical connections can be established, but the system cost and overall size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the midplane circuit board from the electrical connector system. By designing two receptacle connectors that mate directly to one another, the patent removes the intermediate midplane component, thereby reducing system size and cost while maintaining electrical connection capability between line cards and switch cards
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a header transition connector as an intermediary component that enables direct mating between two receptacle connectors. This transition connector with pin-type contacts on one end and receptacle-type contacts on the other serves as a mediator that facilitates electrical connection without requiring a midplane circuit board, thus resolving the contradiction between connection reliability and system size
2Reliability
If midplane circuit boards and header connectors are used, then electrical connections are established, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the expensive midplane circuit board from the system. By designing direct-mating receptacle connectors with a transition connector, the patent removes the need for costly midplane manufacturing and assembly, thereby reducing overall system cost while maintaining electrical connection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The header transition connector is designed with universal applicability to mate with standard receptacle connectors. The pin-type contacts and receptacle-type contacts are configured to work with existing connector designs, eliminating the need for expensive custom midplane circuit boards while maintaining electrical connection capability across different card types
3Volume of stationary object
If two receptacle connectors are designed to mate directly without a midplane, then system size and cost are reduced, but retooling is required at great expense
Solution Approach 1:
The header transition connector serves as an intermediary that bridges standard receptacle connectors. By using this transition connector with pin-type and receptacle-type contacts, the patent enables direct mating configurations without requiring expensive retooling of existing connector designs, thus reducing system size while avoiding high retooling costs
Solution Approach 2:
The transition connector is designed with universal compatibility to work with existing receptacle connector standards. This universality allows direct mating configurations to be achieved without requiring costly retooling of production lines, maintaining economy while reducing system size
4Device complexity
If two receptacle connectors are designed to mate directly without a midplane, then system complexity is reduced, but connector design becomes complicated and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The header transition connector acts as a simple intermediary component that enables direct mating between two receptacle connectors. Rather than designing complex custom connectors, the patent uses this transition connector to achieve direct mating, thereby reducing overall system complexity while avoiding expensive custom connector design and manufacturing
Data Source
AI summary
A header transition connector includes a header housing having a first end and a second end with a separating wall separating a first cavity from a second cavity. The separating wall has signal contact openings and ground shield openings therethrough. Header signal contacts are held in corresponding signal contact openings and arranged in pairs carrying differential signals. The header signal contacts have first mating ends in the first cavity and second mating ends in the second cavity for mating with first and second receptacle connectors, respectively. Header ground shields are held in corresponding ground shield openings and have walls surrounding associated pairs of header signal contacts on at least two sides thereof. The header ground shields have first mating ends in the first cavity and second mating ends in the second cavity for mating with the first and second receptacle connectors, respectively.