High-Speed Plug-in Card Connector Shielding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing signal transmission methods between circuit boards, such as orthogonal connectors, suffer from poor shielding performance, leading to instability and potential signal interruption.

Innovation Solution

A high-speed plug-in card connector is designed with reversely arranged terminal assemblies, featuring a metal sheet, conductive plastic, and injection-molded terminal strips, where the conductive plastic connects the metal sheet to the ground terminal, and metal snap joints are used to secure the electronic card, enhancing shielding and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional connectors are used for signal transmission between circuit boards, then signal transmission is achieved, but shielding performance is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshielding performanceVSAvoidconnector structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite materials by combining metal sheets with conductive plastic materials to create terminal assemblies that provide both structural integrity and effective electromagnetic shielding. The metal sheet provides baseline shielding while the conductive plastic enhances grounding capabilities, together resolving the shielding performance issue without requiring overly complex structural modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes thin metal sheets as shielding structures within the connector assembly. These metal sheets are strategically positioned to provide electromagnetic shielding while maintaining a compact form factor. The thin film approach allows effective shielding without significantly increasing the overall device complexity or size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Productivity

If manual assembly methods are used for connector components, then assembly flexibility is maintained, but assembly time is long and production efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidassembly process
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple components into integrated assemblies that can be manufactured as unified structures. The terminal assembly integrates metal sheets, conductive plastics, and terminal strips into a single coordinated unit, enabling faster assembly operations and improved production efficiency while reducing the complexity of manual assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements pre-assembled terminal assemblies with pre-positioned metal sheets and conductive plastics. These pre-prepared components are designed to be quickly installed into the final connector assembly, significantly reducing on-site assembly time and improving overall production efficiency without requiring complex real-time assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If metal sheet and terminal strip are connected without conductive plastic, then assembly is simpler, but contact reliability and high-speed performance are unstable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact reliabilityVSAvoidassembly process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive plastic acts as an intermediary material between the metal sheet and the terminal strip grounding structure. This intermediate layer ensures reliable electrical contact and effective grounding while maintaining ease of assembly through its conformable nature that adapts to the mating surfaces, providing both reliability and manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If housing alone is used to secure electronic card, then structure is simpler, but offset or signal interruption occurs due to wear and tear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal transmission stabilityVSAvoidconnector structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates metal snap joints as preventive measures against future wear and tear issues. These snap joints are designed to maintain secure mechanical and electrical contact over time, compensating for potential housing degradation before it occurs. This proactive approach ensures long-term signal transmission stability without requiring overly complex additional structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 provides improved shielding and high-speed signal integrity by ensuring reliable contact between metal components, reducing assembly time, and preventing signal offset or interruption, thus enhancing production efficiency and signal transmission performance.

Implementation Method 1

The conductive plastic is formed on the side of the metal sheet by injection molding and connects the metal sheet with the ground terminal of the terminal strip

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

The conductive plastic is formed on the side of the metal sheet by injection molding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInjection molding:

Implementation Method 3

Metal snap joints are provided on both upper and lower ends of the bar-shaped groove

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical fastening: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentUS10276985B1High-speed plug-in card connector
Publication Date: 2019.04.30 AMPHENOL COMML PROD (CHENGDU) CO LTD
  • US10276985B1 patent drawing
  • US10276985B1 patent drawing
  • US10276985B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A high-speed plug-in card connector comprising two terminal assemblies with reversely arranged internal structure and a housing. Each terminal assembly includes a metal sheet, a conductive plastic, and an injection-molded terminal strip. The conductive plastic is formed on the side of the metal sheet by injection molding and connects the metal sheet with a ground terminal of the terminal strip. The conductive plastics of the two terminal assemblies are located in the very middle of the connector. The conductive plastics fix the two terminal assemblies together with a snap-in connection. The housing is clamped at the end on the side where the two terminal assemblies are snapped together.