Layered Connector Board Layout for USB-C Cable Termination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional USB Type-C standard compliant transmission cables have a large number of core wires, leading to increased complexity and difficulty in connecting cables to connector boards due to the smaller pad size on the board.

Innovation Solution

A connector board design that includes a substrate with terminals for connecting differential pair wires and a shield terminal, arranged to facilitate easier connection of communication cables with reduced core wire count, allowing for increased conductor thickness and improved manufacturing flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the number of core wires is increased to support USB Type-C standard compliance, then communication capability and versatility are improved, but the number of pads on the connector board increases, making each pad smaller and cable connection more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoidcable connection workability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connector board is divided into multiple layers (first substrate and second substrate) with signal terminals and shield terminals distributed across different layers. This segmentation allows the connection structure to be divided into manageable parts, improving workability despite the increased number of connections required for USB Type-C compliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes the vertical dimension by forming signal terminals and shield terminals on different layers (front surface and back surface) of the connector board. This three-dimensional arrangement allows multiple terminals to be positioned without occupying the same planar space, maintaining adequate pad sizes while supporting the required number of cores.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the number of pads is increased to accommodate more core wires, then cable connection capability is improved, but the area of each pad decreases, making connection work more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable connection capabilityVSAvoidpad area
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The connector board utilizes vertical stacking with signal terminals on the front surface and shield terminals on the back surface. This dimensional approach allows the same board area to accommodate more terminals without reducing individual pad sizes, as terminals are distributed across different z-levels rather than competing for planar space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Area of stationary object

If the connector board size is reduced for compactness, then device integration is improved, but the number of pads must be reduced, limiting cable connection options

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnector board areaVSAvoidcable connection options
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By arranging signal terminals and shield terminals on different layers of the connector board, the invention effectively increases the available terminal capacity without increasing the planar footprint. This vertical arrangement allows compact board design while maintaining support for multiple core wires required for USB Type-C compliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4518589A1Connector board
Publication Date: 2025.03.05 HIRAKAWA HEWTECH
  • EP4518589A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP4518589A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4518589A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A connector board configured to be electrically connected to a terminal of a communication cable including a differential pair wire composed of two signal wires, each signal wire having a conductor at a center and an insulation layer covering the conductor, wherein the signal wire or the differential pair wire is provided with a shield layer. The connector board includes a substrate; a pair of terminals formed on one surface of the substrate and configured to be connected to the conductors of the two signal wires; and a shield terminal formed on the one surface of the substrate and configured to be connected to the shield layer, and the shield terminal is arranged on a communication cable-side of the pair of terminals.