High-Speed Plug Connector With Lossy Material for Crosstalk Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors face challenges with electrical resonance and crosstalk, which affect signal integrity, especially as electronic systems become smaller and more complex. Additionally, plug connectors often occupy significant space, hindering miniaturization efforts.
Innovation Solution
The proposed electrical connector features a housing with a base portion and a tongue portion, where conductive elements, including signal and ground conductors, are held by slots. A lossy material is integrated into the housing, coupled to the ground conductors, and spans the joint between the base and tongue portions to reduce electrical resonance and improve signal integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional electrical connectors are used without lossy material, then the structure is simpler and manufacturing is easier, but electrical resonance and crosstalk occur affecting signal integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by integrating lossy material (such as ferrite beads or lossy dielectric material) into the connector housing structure. This composite construction allows the connector to simultaneously maintain structural integrity and provide electromagnetic interference suppression, reducing electrical resonance and crosstalk without requiring separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The lossy material is merged with the housing structure to form an integrated component. Rather than being a separate element, the lossy material becomes part of the housing itself, combining mechanical support and electromagnetic shielding functions into a single unified structure, thereby reducing overall complexity.
2Reliability
If connectors are designed for high frequency operation with proper shielding, then signal integrity is maintained, but the connector occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The lossy material is nested within the existing housing cavities and structural voids. By utilizing the internal space of the housing for electromagnetic shielding purposes, the design achieves high-frequency signal integrity without adding external dimensions or increasing the overall connector volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The lossy material is strategically placed in specific locations where electromagnetic interference is most problematic, such as near high-frequency signal paths and ground connections. This localized approach provides effective shielding only where needed, minimizing the total amount of material required and reducing overall connector size.
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
The integration of the lossy material effectively reduces electrical resonance and crosstalk, enhancing signal integrity and allowing the connector to operate at higher frequencies. Additionally, the design minimizes space usage, facilitating more compact and reliable electronic systems.
Implementation Method 1
A lossy material is integrated into the housing, coupled to the ground conductors, and spans the joint between the base and tongue portions to reduce electrical resonance
Implementation Method 2
A lossy material is integrated into the housing, coupled to the ground conductors, and spans the joint between the base and tongue portions to reduce electrical resonance and improve signal integrity
Data Source
AI summary
A connector for use with high speed signals. The connector has a housing, which includes a base portion extending in a longitudinal direction and a tongue portion extending from the base portion in a mating direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The housing has slots extending through the base portion to surfaces of the tongue portion and configured to hold terminals. The housing has a lossy material sized and shaped to couple with at least the portions of ground terminals held in the base portion along their lengths. The lossy material may protrude towards spaces between the portions of signal terminals held in the base portion along their lengths. The tail portions of the terminals may jog toward a plane that the lossy material extends. Such a connector may be used to meet signal integrity requirements in connectors designed for 64 Gbps and beyond.