Impedance Control Component for Wire Termination
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cable type connectors, the transition from twisted cables to individual wire terminals creates impedance discontinuities that degrade signal integrity due to mismatched impedance in the wire management area.
Innovation Solution
An electrically conductive component with a base wall and end walls, featuring insulation displacement slots and lead-in sections, is mechanically and electrically attached to the wires to maintain impedance matching with twisted sections by spacing the component's walls equidistant from the wire axis, ensuring consistent impedance across the connector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wires are separated and straightened in the wire management area, then individual wire termination is enabled, but impedance discontinuities occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary structure (the conductive component with base wall and side walls) that mediates between the straightened wire and the terminal. This intermediary maintains a controlled impedance environment by providing a reference plane and consistent geometric relationship, allowing wire termination while preventing impedance discontinuities from degrading signal integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the wire management structure by positioning the base wall and side walls at specific equidistant intervals from the wire axis. This parameter control maintains consistent impedance characteristics through the wire management area, enabling both wire separation and signal integrity
2Reliability
If the base wall and side walls are spaced equidistant from the wire axis, then impedance matching is achieved, but component complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specifically configured zone (the wire management area with equidistant base wall and side walls) that provides impedance matching properties. This localized structural feature maintains signal integrity only where needed in the wire management area, rather than requiring complex impedance control throughout the entire connector assembly
3Reliability
If the conductive component is attached to individual wires, then impedance control is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the impedance control function with the existing wire management structure by integrating the conductive component (base wall and side walls) into the terminal housing. This combination allows impedance control to be achieved through a single integrated component rather than requiring separate impedance control elements, simplifying the overall manufacturing process
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector assembly having a housing with terminal receiving passages. The terminal receiving passages have wire receiving portions. Wires are positioned in the wire receiving portions. The wires have cable jackets and center conductors. Electrically conductive components for controlling impedance of sections of the wires are positioned in the wire receiving portions of the terminal receiving passages. The electrically conductive components includes base walls with end walls, The end walls extend in a direction which is essentially perpendicular to planes of the base walls. The base walls have lengths which are approximately equal to lengths of the wire receiving portions of the terminal receiving passages. Insulation displacement slots are provided on the end walls. Lead-in sections extend from the insulation displacement slots in a direction away from the base wall.