Low-Profile PCB Contactors With Separate RF and Signal Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
The miniaturization of electronics has led to a challenge in packaging multiple printed circuit boards (PCBs) closely together due to the size constraints of traditional board-to-board connectors and contactors, which hinder efficient electrical communication of data and radio frequency signals.
Innovation Solution
The development of low-profile board-to-board interface contactors featuring a conductive base body with a peripheral seat, an elastic and conductive lid, and a conductive pin, along with insulating interposers and spring mechanisms, providing separate conductive pathways while maintaining a compact design to accommodate varying PCB orientations and spacings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If traditional board-to-board connectors are used, then reliable electrical coupling is achieved, but the connector size increases, preventing close PCB packaging
Solution Approach 1:
The contactor is divided into separate functional components: a base body with mounting legs, a peripheral seat for ground contact, a central aperture for signal pins, and an elastic lid. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall size while maintaining electrical coupling reliability through distributed contact points.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic lid is positioned within and conforms to the peripheral seat structure, with the conductive pin nested within the aperture. This nested arrangement maximizes space utilization and minimizes the overall footprint of the contactor, enabling close PCB packaging without compromising electrical connection reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If PCBs are packaged closely together, then device miniaturization is achieved, but traditional connectors cannot accommodate varying PCB orientations and spacings
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic lid is designed to be deformable, allowing it to adapt to varying PCB orientations and spacings. When PCBs are non-parallel or at different distances, the elastic lid deforms elastically to maintain reliable electrical contact, providing dynamic adaptability without requiring a taller contactor structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The contactor utilizes changes in elastic deformation parameters to accommodate varying PCB configurations. The elastic lid's ability to change its physical state (deform) allows the contactor to adapt to different spacing and orientation parameters while maintaining a compact height profile.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conductive pathways are separated for ground and signal, then electrical interference is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The contactor structure is segmented into distinct conductive pathways: the peripheral seat provides ground contact pathways while the central aperture accommodates signal pins. This spatial segmentation of conductive paths reduces electrical interference between ground and signal while maintaining a relatively simple integrated structure rather than multiple separate components.
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
These contactors enable efficient electrical coupling of data and RF signals between PCBs with reduced height and width, allowing for closer PCB proximity and accommodating non-parallel orientations, thus facilitating the miniaturization of electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic and conductive lid positioned over the peripheral seat of the contactor base body
Implementation Method 2
a spring positioned over the spring seat flange of the contactor base housing, The spring provides a spring bias between the spring seat flange of the contactor base housing and the upper rim of the contactor shield
Data Source
AI summary
Low profile board-to-board interface contactors are described. In one example, a board-to-board interface contactor includes a contactor base body having a peripheral seat and an aperture, an elastic and conductive lid positioned over the peripheral seat of the contactor base body, and a conductive pin extending through the aperture in the contactor base body. The contactor base body can include one or more mounting legs, and outer surfaces of the peripheral seat and the mounting leg can be plated with one or more metals and be conductive. The elastic and conductive lid can be embodied as a conductive foam material. The interface contactor can provide a first conductive pathway between the elastic and conductive lid, the peripheral seat, and the mounting leg, and a second conductive pathway through the conductive pin.