Orthogonal Electrical Connector Assembly Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional direct mate orthogonal electrical connector assemblies face challenges in efficiently mating and demating while maintaining electrical communication between substrates oriented perpendicular to each other, often resulting in complex designs that compromise reliability and data transfer rates.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates orthogonal electrical connectors with insulative housings and leadframe assemblies, featuring right-angle contacts and air ventilation openings to facilitate secure mounting and efficient data transfer between substrates, ensuring reliable communication and reduced crosstalk across different data rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional direct mate orthogonal electrical connector assemblies are used, then electrical communication between perpendicular substrates is achieved, but the design complexity increases and reliability is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoiddesign complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connector assembly is divided into two separate orthogonal connectors (first and second electrical connectors), each mounted on a different substrate. This segmentation allows each connector to be independently designed and optimized, reducing overall design complexity while maintaining reliable electrical communication between the perpendicular substrates through their mating interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If conventional orthogonal connector designs are used, then mounting of perpendicular substrates is achieved, but data transfer rates and signal quality deteriorate due to crosstalk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transfer ratesVSAvoidcrosstalk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Air ventilation openings are introduced as intermediary spaces within the insulative housings of the orthogonal connectors. These openings facilitate proper airflow and thermal management, reducing heat buildup that can cause signal interference and crosstalk, thereby enabling high data transfer rates with minimal signal degradation between perpendicular substrates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10770814B2Orthogonal electrical connector assembly
Publication Date: 2020.09.08 FCI USA LLC
  • US10770814B2 patent drawing
  • US10770814B2 patent drawing
  • US10770814B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A direct mate orthogonal electrical connector assembly includes first and second electrical connectors configured to be mated to respective first and second substrates such that the second substrate is perpendicular to the first substrate.