LAN Linking Device With Insulated Capacitive Compensation Circuit

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current connection devices for local area networks suffer from parasitic coupling and impedance matching issues due to suboptimal contact geometry, leading to high insertion losses and poor transmission performance.

Innovation Solution

A connection device with a compensation circuit featuring capacitive coupling means using a conductive element insulated from conductive tracks, with a dielectric substrate, and flexible sheet material for effective capacitive coupling, reducing parasitic components and enhancing transmission performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional contact geometry is used in RJ45 connectors, then manufacturing is simple, but parasitic coupling increases and impedance matching deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission performanceVSAvoidcontact geometry complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a compensation circuit as an intermediary element between the connection units to counterbalance parasitic couplings. This circuit includes capacitive coupling means with a conductive element insulated from the tracks, dielectric substrate, and flexible sheet material, which acts as a mediator to improve impedance matching and reduce near-end crosstalk without requiring complex contact geometry modifications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If compensation circuit is added to improve transmission, then transmission performance improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission performanceVSAvoidcircuit structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs flexible sheet material as the dielectric substrate for the compensation circuit. This flexible film structure allows the compensation circuit to be integrated into the connector without significantly increasing device complexity, while still providing the necessary capacitive coupling to improve transmission performance and reduce parasitic effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If capacitive coupling is implemented with connected tracks, then coupling strength increases, but parasitic components increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling effectivenessVSAvoidparasitic components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an insulated conductive element as an intermediary for capacitive coupling. This conductive element is electrically insulated from the first and second tracks while providing capacitive coupling between them through the dielectric substrate. This intermediary approach enables effective coupling while minimizing direct electrical connection and associated parasitic components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 transmission performance and impedance matching while maintaining simplicity and economic feasibility by minimizing parasitic components and optimizing capacitive coupling precision.

Implementation Method 1

said capacitive coupling means comprise a conductive element electrically insulated from said first track and second track while it has a surface comprising a portion facing, through a dielectric, a surface of the same orientation of a section of the first track and another facing portion, through said dielectric, of a surface of the same orientation of a section of the second track

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDielectric: Dielectric

Implementation Method 2

said circuit comprising capacitive coupling means between at least a first said conductive track and a second said conductive track

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP2076942B1Linking device for local area network
Publication Date: 2014.08.06 LEGRAND FRANCE SA
  • EP2076942B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2076942B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2076942B1 patent drawingFigure 6~9

AI summary

This device comprises two connection units and a compensation circuit provided with tracks (4D, 6D) for connecting these units and with capacitive coupling means between at least two of said tracks, comprising a conductor element (36) exhibiting a surface (49) comprising a portion opposite a surface of a section of a first of said tracks (4D) and another opposite a section of the second of said tracks (6D) with said conductor element (36) which is electrically insulated from said two tracks (4D, 6D).