Jogged Vertical Connector Contacts for Signal Skew Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Right-angle electrical connectors experience signal skew due to differing contact lengths, which affects signal propagation time and complicates orthogonal connector applications.
Innovation Solution
The use of jogged contacts in vertical connectors to match and equalize the lengths of signal contacts in right-angle connectors, ensuring simultaneous signal arrival at the midplane by adjusting the length of contacts in the vertical connectors to compensate for differences in the right-angle connectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If contacts in right-angle connectors have different lengths to accommodate orthogonal mounting, then the connector can be mounted perpendicular to the board, but signal skew occurs between differential pairs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension to contact length compensation by stacking multiple layers of contacts with different lengths. Instead of adjusting length in a single plane, contacts are arranged in multiple layers where each layer compensates for skew in a different dimensional direction, allowing orthogonal mounting while maintaining signal synchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the length parameter of contacts in a systematic pattern across multiple layers. By varying contact lengths in a controlled manner across different layers, the patent compensates for signal skew while maintaining the orthogonal mounting geometry. This parameter adjustment is done progressively through the stack rather than uniformly.
2Manufacturing precision
If contact lengths are equalized to eliminate signal skew, then signal propagation is synchronized, but the connector cannot accommodate orthogonal mounting configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the connector into multiple separate layers, each containing a subset of differential pairs. This segmentation allows each layer to have customized contact lengths optimized for its specific signal requirements, while the overall stack maintains orthogonal mounting capability. Each layer can be independently designed and assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the vertical stacking dimension to resolve the conflict between equal length and orthogonal mounting. By distributing contacts across multiple vertical layers, the patent achieves effective length equalization through the stack while maintaining different horizontal projections that accommodate orthogonal mounting requirements.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple layers with different contact lengths are used to compensate for skew, then signal skew is reduced, but connector complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple layers of contacts with different length characteristics into a single integrated connector assembly. By combining the skew-compensation function, orthogonal mounting capability, and signal routing into one unified multi-layer structure, the patent achieves precise signal synchronization without requiring separate compensation components.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-layer contact structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides orthogonal mounting capability, compensates for signal skew, routes different signal pairs, and maintains mechanical integrity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components and simplifies the overall system design.
Data Source
AI summary
Connector systems include electrical connectors orthogonally connected to each other through shared through-holes in a midplane. An orthogonal vertical connector includes jogged contacts to offset for or equalize the different length contacts in the right-angle connector to which the vertical connector is connected. A first contact in the right angle connector may mate with a first contact in the vertical connector. A second contact in the right angle connector may mate with a second contact in the vertical connector. The first contact in the right angle connector may be greater in length than the adjacent second contact of the right angle connector. Thus, the second contact of the vertical connector may be jogged by the distance to increase the length of the second contact by the distance.