Inverted Coaxial PCB Connector for High-Density RF Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrical assemblies face challenges in connecting components on a main card backplane to mezzanine cards with limited space, especially at high signal frequencies, requiring connections that maintain signal integrity while occupying minimal space.
Innovation Solution
An inverted coaxial connector with a conductive shell, dielectric insert, and contact that terminates on one side of a PCB but has a mating interface accessible through a through-hole, allowing connections to be made on the opposite side, ensuring signal integrity and minimal board space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If components terminate to both sides of the mezzanine card to increase surface area, then more components can be housed, but the connections between main card backplane and mezzanine card become complicated and space is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The connector inverts the conventional arrangement by having the bulk of the connector structure terminate on the component side of the mezzanine card while the mating interface extends through the card to be accessible on the opposite side. This inversion simplifies connections by allowing through-hole routing that maintains signal integrity without requiring complex multi-sided interconnections
Solution Approach 2:
The connector utilizes the third dimension (depth/through-hole direction) by extending the mating interface through the mezzanine card thickness. This allows components to be mounted on one surface while the connector provides access to the opposite side, effectively using vertical space to resolve horizontal space constraints and simplify connection routing
2Reliability
If connections occupy minimal space at high signal frequencies, then signal integrity is maintained, but available board space is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The inverted connector configuration allows the signal path to travel through the mezzanine card via a controlled through-hole rather than requiring long surface traces. This inversion of the connection approach maintains signal integrity at high frequencies by minimizing trace length and exposure to interference while using minimal board space
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
An electrical assembly (2) having a substrate (52) and an RF connector (10). The substrate (52) has an opening (50) which extends from a first surface (54) of the substrate to a second surface (56) of the substrate. The RF connector (10) includes a conductive shell (12), a dielectric insert (14) and a contact (16). The conductive shell (12) has a mating connector receiving portion (18) and a substrate mounting portion (22). The substrate mounting portion (22) has a substrate mounting surface (24) which engages the first surface (54) of the substrate (52). The mating connector receiving portion (18) extends from the substrate mounting surface (24) through the opening (50) to the second surface (56) of the substrate (52). The contact (16) has a surface mount portion (37) positioned proximate the substrate mounting surface (24) of the substrate mounting portion (22). The surface mount portion (37) is mechanically and electrically engaged with a contact pad (62) on the first surface (54) of the substrate (52).