Offset Contact Field for Connector Reducing Near-End Crosstalk
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors with wire contacts face issues of near-end crosstalk and reflections, particularly in twisted pair cabling, due to point contact difficulties and increased crosstalk caused by parallel surfaces, which prior attempts to address have either failed to resolve or worsened.
Innovation Solution
A contact field with offset metal contacts made of sheet metal, where at least two feeder sections are arranged offset to each other, and the third and sixth sections are offset to adjacent ones, providing a staggered arrangement that reduces parallel surfaces and enhances contact stability, suitable for RJ45 connectors and telecommunications systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If wire contacts are used in connectors, then the connector structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but point contact problems occur leading to reflections and contact reliability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the contact geometry parameter from wire (point contact) to contact sheet (surface contact). This parameter change transforms the contact mode from point-to-point to surface-to-surface, eliminating point contact problems while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard sheet metal fabrication processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional wire contacts to two-dimensional contact sheets. This dimensional change expands the contact area from a line/point intersection to a surface intersection, providing stable surface contact that eliminates point contact issues while preserving manufacturing simplicity.
2Reliability
If contact sheets are used to improve contact stability, then contact reliability improves, but near-end crosstalk increases due to parallel surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetric offset positioning of contact sheets relative to the wire pairs. The contact sheets are positioned at offset locations rather than symmetrically aligned, which breaks the parallel surface geometry and reduces near-end crosstalk while preserving the surface contact stability benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds spatial offset positioning in the transverse dimension to the contact sheet arrangement. By positioning contact sheets at offset locations rather than directly parallel to wire pairs, the solution eliminates harmful parallel surface interactions while maintaining surface contact advantages.
3Reliability
If parallel contact surfaces are used, then contact area is maximized for stability, but near-end crosstalk is increased between adjacent wire pairs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric offset positioning where contact sheets are deliberately placed at non-aligned positions relative to adjacent wire pairs. This asymmetric arrangement reduces the parallel surface area between contact sheets and wire pairs, thereby reducing near-end crosstalk while preserving adequate contact area for stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by positioning contact sheets with specific offset characteristics at different locations. Each contact sheet is positioned to optimize local contact quality while minimizing local crosstalk interaction with adjacent wire pairs, achieving both contact stability and crosstalk reduction.
Data Source
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AI summary
The contact field has an insulating material housing (5) and multiple metallic contacts (4) for a connection with a twisted-pair socket, where each metallic contact has a feed line section (6) for a connection with a printed circuit board. The metallic contacts are formed from contact plates, where two of the feed line sections are arranged offset relative to other feed line sections. The contact field is provided under specification of Category 6a.