Optical-Electrical Connector with Coaxial PCB Contacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors for optical fibers and electrical conductors face challenges in transmitting high-frequency signals with high bandwidth due to signal integrity issues caused by non-coaxial contacts and lines, leading to transmission faults.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a printed circuit board with continuous coaxial signal transmission, utilizing coaxial electrical conductors with internal and external conductors and a dielectric, where the electrical conductor is connected to the board via non-planar contacts and multiple connecting areas for improved shielding and impedance control, allowing for high data rates and bandwidth up to 100 GHz.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If non-planar coaxial contacts are used with continuous coaxial signal transmission, then signal integrity and electromagnetic compatibility are improved, but device complexity increases due to the non-planar design and multiple connecting areas
Solution Approach 1:
The internal conductor contact is nested within the external conductor contact, forming a coaxial structure where the internal contact is surrounded by the external contact. This nesting arrangement provides electromagnetic shielding and maintains continuous coaxial signal transmission, improving signal integrity while managing the complexity through a compact hierarchical design.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact structure transitions from a planar two-dimensional arrangement to a three-dimensional non-planar coaxial configuration. By adding the radial dimension with internal and external conductors arranged concentrically, the design achieves continuous coaxial signal transmission and improved electromagnetic compatibility, justifying the increased structural complexity.
2Reliability
If the diameter of the electrical conductor is reduced to at most 100 μm, then impedance-controlled transmission is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conductor diameter is precisely controlled within a specific range (at most 100 μm, particularly at most 85 μm or 75 μm) to achieve the desired impedance characteristics. By optimizing and constraining the diameter parameter, the design enables impedance-controlled transmission while the patent acknowledges that this requires correspondingly high manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical conductor exhibits different quality requirements at different locations: the diameter is precisely controlled along its length to maintain impedance control, while the connection areas allow for variations in thickness and shape to facilitate bonding to both the optical fiber and the electrical component on the printed circuit board.
3Reliability
If continuous coaxial signal transmission is implemented, then transmission faults are reduced, but the ease of manufacture decreases due to the complex connection requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The connector integrates multiple functions into a single component: the non-planar coaxial contact structure combines the functions of electrical connection, mechanical alignment, and electromagnetic shielding. The internal and external conductors are merged into a unified coaxial assembly that maintains continuous signal transmission, reducing transmission faults while consolidating manufacturing steps.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a connector (1), in particular for connecting an optical fiber (3) and an electrical conductor, comprising a printed circuit board (5); at least one electrical contact (7) which in each case has at least one internal conductor contact (11) and one external conductor contact (9); at least one electrical conductor (13) which has at least one internal conductor (15), one external conductor (17) and also one dielectric (19); wherein the electrical conductor (13) is connected, at a first end (21), to the electrical contact (7), and wherein the electrical conductor (13) is connected, at a second end (23), to an electrical component (25) which is arranged on the printed circuit board (5).