PCB Connector Layout With Equal Electrical Lengths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connector systems for printed circuit boards require significant installation space and struggle to maintain consistent data transmission quality, especially at high frequencies, due to variations in impedance and capacitance at connection points.
Innovation Solution
A circuit board connector design with inner conductor contacts having equal total electrical lengths and asymmetric geometries, coupled with an insulator that adjusts capacitance, allowing for a compact layout while maintaining signal propagation time consistency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If contacts are arranged side by side in a connector system, then data transmission quality can be maintained with equal length contacts, but the installation space requirement increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a planar side-by-side contact arrangement to a three-dimensional stacked configuration. Multiple contact levels are arranged vertically one above another, with upper contacts positioned behind lower contacts. This vertical stacking in the third dimension reduces the horizontal footprint while maintaining equal electrical path lengths through careful geometric design of the contact traces.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector structure implements nesting by placing upper contact levels within the spatial envelope defined by lower contact levels. The vertical sections of upper terminals are arranged behind the vertical sections of lower terminals, creating a nested hierarchical arrangement that maximizes space utilization while preserving signal integrity.
2Area of stationary object
If the connector is arranged at the edge of the printed circuit board with parallel plug-in direction, then board space is used effectively, but maintaining constant impedance and capacitance parameters becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric contact geometries and arrangements to compensate for the edge-mounted configuration. The contact traces and shielding structures are deliberately designed with asymmetric dimensions and positions to balance the electrical parameters. This asymmetric design allows the connector to achieve constant impedance and capacitance values despite the non-centrical board mounting position.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector implements local quality optimization by varying the geometric parameters of individual contact elements based on their specific positions. Each contact trace width, spacing, and shielding distance is locally adjusted to compensate for edge-effect influences, ensuring that all contacts maintain identical electrical characteristics despite the asymmetric board mounting location.
3Productivity
If multiple connectors are placed on a printed circuit board, then data transmission capacity increases, but the installation space requirement for each connector becomes more constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes vertical stacking of contact levels to reduce the horizontal space occupied by each connector. By arranging contacts in multiple vertical tiers with upper contacts positioned behind lower ones, the connector footprint is minimized, enabling higher connector density on the printed circuit board while maintaining full data transmission capacity through multiple parallel contact pairs.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention comprises a circuit board connector (1) for connection with a mating connector. The circuit board connector (1) has an outer conductor (2) comprising a base body (3) and a mating section (4), a first and a second inner conductor contact (5.1; 5.2) which are arranged at least partially within the outer conductor (2), the first inner conductor contact (5.1) comprising a first coupling end (6.1) and a first contact end (7.1), and the second inner conductor contact (5.2) comprising a second coupling end (6.2) and a second contact end (7.2), and an insulator (8) which galvanically isolates the first and the second inner conductor contacts (5.1; 5.2) from the outer conductor (2). The first and the second coupling ends (6.1; 6.2) are configured to electrically couple the respective inner conductor contact (5.1; 5.2) to a circuit board. The first and second contact ends (7.1; 7.2) are formed, connecting the respective inner conductor contact (5.1; 5.2) to be electrically connected to an inner conductor contact element of the mating connector. The shortest distance between the first coupling end (6.1) and the first contact end (7.1) is not equal to the shortest distance between the second coupling end (6.2) and the second contact end (7.2). The total electrical length of the first inner conductor contact (5.1) is equal to the total electrical length of the second inner conductor contact (5.2). The first and second contact ends (7.1; 7.2) are arranged parallel to each other on a main plane (9) and in the plug section (4). The first and second inner conductor contacts (5.1; 5.2) are arranged at least partially within a receiving space (10) of the base body (3). The main plane (9) divides the receiving space (10) into a first space section (11.1) and a second space section (11.2), the first space section (11.1) being asymmetrical to the second space section (11.2).