Impedance Adjustable Ribs in Electrical Connectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical connectors are designed for specific impedance profiles, requiring multiple connectors for different devices, leading to increased material and labor costs, complexity, and inability to adapt to varying impedance needs.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable electrical connector system featuring a tuning body with parallel ribs made of dielectric materials, which can be inserted into the connector to alter impedance profiles by changing the dielectric characteristics between electrical contacts, allowing for quick adaptation to different impedance requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional electrical connectors are designed for specific impedance profiles, then each connector can perform optimally at its designed impedance profile, but multiple different connectors must be purchased or manufactured for electrical devices that require different impedance profiles, resulting in significant material and labor costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the electrical connector's impedance profile adjustable rather than fixed. The tuning body with movable ribs allows the connector to dynamically change its impedance characteristics to match different electrical devices, resolving the contradiction between optimized performance and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the connector by introducing a tuning body that modifies the dielectric characteristics between contacts. By adjusting the position of ribs on the tuning body, the impedance profile parameter can be changed to suit different devices, enabling one connector to replace multiple fixed-impedance connectors.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional electrical connectors are designed with different impedance profiles in different portions of the array of electrical contacts, then different impedance profiles can be provided to certain electrical contacts, but the construction becomes complex and material choices become cumbersome, making it costly to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the impedance adjustment function into a separate tuning body component that can be independently adjusted. Instead of designing complex integrated structures with different impedance profiles built-in, the tuning body divides the adjustment function into movable ribs that can be positioned independently, simplifying the overall construction while enabling differentiated impedance profiles.
Solution Approach 2:
The tuning body acts as an intermediary element between the connector housing and the electrical contacts. It mediates the impedance characteristics by being positioned between the contacts, allowing complex impedance differentiation to be achieved through a simple intermediate component rather than modifying the fundamental connector structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional electrical connectors are designed with different impedance profiles in different portions of the array of electrical contacts, then different impedance profiles can be provided to certain electrical contacts, but each electrical connector only provides the specific impedance profile for which it is designed and cannot be readily adapted to different electrical devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the connector adaptable through the dynamic tuning body with movable ribs. This allows a single connector design to be manufactured and then adjusted in the field or during assembly to provide different impedance profiles, eliminating the need to manufacture multiple specialized connectors while maintaining ease of production.
Solution Approach 2:
The tuning body provides multi-functionality by enabling a single connector to serve multiple impedance profile requirements. The same connector base can work with different tuning body positions to accommodate various electrical devices, making the manufacturing process more efficient while achieving universal adaptability.
4Reliability
If a different electrical connector must be designed and manufactured for each different impedance profile that is required, then each connector can be optimized for its specific impedance profile, but material and labor costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal connector platform that can be manufactured once and then adapted to multiple impedance profile requirements through the adjustable tuning body. This eliminates the need to manufacture multiple specialized connectors, significantly reducing material and labor resources while maintaining optimized impedance performance for each application.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of manufacturing different connectors with different physical structures, the patent allows parameter changes (impedance profiles) through the adjustable tuning body. This keeps the base connector design standardized and manufacturable, while enabling parameter customization without additional manufacturing complexity or resource consumption.
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
Enables the electrical connector to be easily tuned to various impedance profiles, reducing the need for multiple connectors and manufacturing complexity, while maintaining performance across different devices and impedance settings.
Implementation Method 1
The tuning body includes a dielectric material. The plurality of ribs is arranged to fit between electrical contacts of the electrical connector when the tuning body is inserted into the electrical connector
Data Source
AI summary
A tuning body to be inserted into an electrical connector includes a base end and a plurality of ribs extending from the base end. The plurality of ribs is parallel or substantially parallel with respect to each other and is arranged to fit between electrical contacts of the electrical connector when the tuning body is inserted into the electrical connector. The electrical connector includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a first connector body arranged between the first side wall and the second side wall, and a second connector body arranged between the first side wall and second the second side wall. The second connector body is arranged a predetermined distance apart from the first connector body, and the electrical contacts of the electrical connector extend between the first connector body and the second connector body.